[GM Volt] 230 MPG - How many would consider buying it now?

That's pretty crazy.... saving a lot of people loads of money, I think it's worth the 35k to 40k.

 

I have heard that the knock on these cars is that the battery packs eventually have to be replaced and the cost is pretty ridiculous.

Any truth to this?

 

it's not worth it in 2010, financially. Unless you're putting a value on environmental benefits, then i have no clue.

Chevy Volt basic: $35,000
Honda Insight fully loaded: - $23,100
Price difference: = $11,900
high price of gas: / $5 per gallon
gallons of gas: = 2,380 gallons
Insight mileage: * 40 miles/gallon
miles you can drive: = 95,200 miles

so, with $35 large you can (1) buy a basic (no features) chevy volt and not drive it anywhere OR (2) buy a fully loaded (nav included) honda insight and drive it 90,000 miles.

both of them get tax rebates, so i skipped that part. The second generation volt is supposed to be around $20,000. I'll agree with you then.

 

No battery lasts forever. All these people driving around in their Prius and similar things are in for some rude shocks in a few years. Which of course means that the used car market is going to get screwed up, because people will quickly learn NEVER to buy a used hybrid or electric car unless absolutely guaranteed that the batteries are new, which will then jack up the cost of used cars to shocking levels. Yay.

 

Yes, when I said "knock on these" I was referring to all these hybrid types as well.

Seems like the cost of replacing a battery pack doesn't make much sense.

 

I hate the way it's mileage is rated. The longer the trip you take in the car the less mileage you are getting.

 

What's the estimated cost/charge in terms of kW hours?

 

I think they said it will take 40 cents to charge it overnight.

 

I would probably still get a Tesla over the Volt

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-gm-volt-goes-230-mpg-2009-8

 

the MPG is highly misleading. My understanding is that if you need to take a trip..say from Houston to Dallas. The Battery lasts the first 40 miles and the rest is Gas-powered and the mpg for a 250mile trip is more like 40-50mpg. Still a very good mpg though. The 230mpg is only when you don't drive more than 40 miles in a day...which luckily is less than most people drive..unless they work far away..

 

Am I missing something here? For a person that drives 15k miles per year, this will reduce your gas purchases by about 500 gallongs per year. Depending on gas prices, that could run between $1,000 and $1,500 per year. Is it really worth paying $40k for a car, even after the rebate, for a vehicle that will save you a grand a year?

 

depends on the tax credit, i guess???

 

No. But you can feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside because you can pretend you are helping the planet, and you can't put a price on THAT.

 

I don't think it's economical enough just yet for me to buy one but it's a huge step and I think in another 5 years we will have choices that include more affordable electric cars with more range and hopefully better looks. It's progress.

 

That's what I'm saying.

 

Actually, it makes little econimical sense for Anyone to buy a brand new car..they are the largest thing people buy that goes DOWN in Value. It makes better economical sense to buy a 2yr old car.