Quick Volt question

[the Teuton]

When it comes to market segments in the $30-40k car segment, this is what we know:

-BMW 3 Series are purchased by younger people generally who aspire to own premium-badged cars with sporting pretensions. The badge has a lot to do with it.

-Toyota Priuses are purchased by people who want a relatively affordable, statement-making eco car that makes them look like they're not trying to make a statement while trying to make a statement. I'm confused by the whole thing, too.

There are a lot of typecasts for a whole bunch of other cars in that price range, too. My question is this: Who is Chevy trying to target with this new Volt? I've seen a few commercials now, and I still don't have a clue.

It's too expensive to be mainstream, too limited in many different capacities to be a serious Prius competitor, and it's not a sporting car.

Other than Steve Wozniak and Leonardo DiCaprio, I haven't been able to really understand to whom it's meant to sell.

[GoCougs]

IMO fleets, especially government.

Not being a Toyota hybrid it won't sell worth a hoot.

[ifcar]

Many Toyota Prius buyers can afford to spend more, and just don't because it's already the best blend of fuel economy and everyday versatility. The Volt will compete for those customers.

[2o6]

It's not supposed to sell. It's supposed to make a lot of noise for GM.

[the Teuton]

It's not supposed to sell. It's supposed to make a lot of noise for GM.

It cost GM nee American taxpayers serveral billion dollars, and all it's supposed to do is "make a lot of noise?"

Hell, the Viper was under a billion and it revitalized a dying Chrysler in the 1990s. Talk about shitty return on investment...

[Rich]

I'm interested to see what induction charging can do for electric cars and electric hybrids.  (If it can happen someday)

It's be pretty sweet to have induction charging parking lots that induce charge without plugging anything in at all. 

[Laconian]

I'm interested to see what induction charging can do for electric cars and electric hybrids.  (If it can happen someday)

It's be pretty sweet to have induction charging parking lots that induce charge without plugging anything in at all. 

If the grid is going to have problems with cars attached with cables, imagine what 1/R^2 losses are going to do to it.

[Rich]

http://jalopnik.com/5727526/watch-a-tesla-roadster-get-charged-wirelessly

I didn't even hear about this when I wrote that

[2o6]

It cost GM nee American taxpayers serveral billion dollars, and all it's supposed to do is "make a lot of noise?"

Hell, the Viper was under a billion and it revitalized a dying Chrysler in the 1990s. Talk about shitty return on investment...

It didn't cost them anything, the car was in development FAR before the bailout.


I don't know, engineering a car as complex as the Volt (one thing that pisses me off, people constantly oversimplify how the Volt works) seems like it would cost a lot more money than creating a sports car with a big engine.

[Rich]

If the grid is going to have problems with cars attached with cables, imagine what 1/R^2 losses are going to do to it.

If there was a way they could harness all the static electricity I've had in my apartment the last couple of weeks, I think they'd be all set for a few years at least.

[ChrisV]

The Volt is supposed to appeal to peopel that want to work toward moving us off of foreign oil, while still providing a bit of gasoline range that pure EVS don't have yet. People who are early adopters and help drive teh technology (especially battery technology) forward so that it becomes more efficient and less costly for mainstream use.

Leasing one looks to be a pretty good option, as with the credits, you can lease for less than $300/month (about $350 if you just do it straight up). That gives you three years of ownership wth none of the worries about what it'd be like to deal with the batteries in 10 years. Fo rthe average person, that woudl mean a car that leases at a fairly good price that could possibly use almost no gasoline for daily driving (as I've said before, I could use it to commute with and run errands and never use that gas engine).

Unlike a Prius, you CAN use it without using gasoline. Unlike a Leaf, you CAN travel farther than 60 miles per day. It's what makes it a great gap bridger. Oh, and it feels a lot more powerful than the Prius does. And *I* think it looks better.

[GoCougs]

I'm interested to see what induction charging can do for electric cars and electric hybrids.  (If it can happen someday)

It's be pretty sweet to have induction charging parking lots that induce charge without plugging anything in at all. 

Actually, the product my company makes is inductively charged. Unfortunately, it is quite an inefficient (coils on send and receive devices) and temperamental (optimal charging is very sensitive to coil spacing) process.

[GoCougs]

It's not supposed to sell. It's supposed to make a lot of noise for GM.

Yep; but it is a well engineered thing.