Comments on: Chevy Volt might be less than claimed

By: leftfield

leftfield — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 03:43:00 +0000

I imagine this car will be sold primarily to folks who are very
conscious of their “carbon footprint” and who are not put off by the price. This will likely be a limited market, but, with time and real-world experience I expect we will see more practical and affordable models coming out that will have broad enough appeal and the engineering to make a difference.

By: Jonathan DuHamel

Jonathan DuHamel — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 01:24:58 +0000

Energy efficiency is more than just gas mileage. What if we considered all the energy required to design, manufacture, use, maintain, and ultimately dispose of a vehicle? Last year, I posted a study conducted on 2005 model year vehicles. You may be surprised at what was most efficient. See: http://tucsoncitizen.com/wryheat/2009/06/14/which-vehicles-are-most-energy-efficient/

By: dr

dr — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 01:16:26 +0000

I did the same Jerry, with the Prius vs. the Fit and other sub-compacts. No comparison. It’s just not cost effective to buy the hybrid, yet. Even less so with the Volt.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:59:48 +0000

True, but the 18 thousand dollar difference between the price of the Prius and that of the Volt will likely buy all of the gasoline that the former will use during the entire time that you own and drive it.

I did the math when I bought my last car and even with high gas prices the standard automobile with good mileage costs less to own and operate over it’s service life than a hybrid version. That even included the tax credits.

As long as it costs more to buy the hybrid than to buy a regular car and the gasoline it uses they won’t catch on with most of us.

By: dr

dr — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:56:49 +0000

You still have to charge it up with electricity. How do you think the power is generated, by hamsters on a wheel? No. With fossil fuels. Very little is gained by using an all electric car. But it makes those that can afford it feel good about themselves and that’s what it’s all about in reality.
And by the way, my Honda Fit rolls along quite nicely up and down I-19 getting 42-44 mpg. For $16,500.

By: UrSTUPiD

UrSTUPiD — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:28:59 +0000

If you are making a 10 mile each way round trip, you will not use any gasoline at all. If that is all you do with your volt you will get infinite miles per gallon.