Will Consumers Buy The Chevy Volt And Nissan Leaf?

[atlaw4u]

Are you willing to plug in?

Frank Langfitt - NPR - August 12, 2010

In a few months, GM plans to launch its most anticipated vehicle in ages: the Chevy Volt. After years of hype, the Volt will join Nissan's Leaf as the nation's first mass-market electric cars.

The vehicles are dramatically different — and how consumers will respond, nobody knows. But everyone in the auto industry will be watching to see what works, what doesn't — and if America's automotive future is electric.

The Chevy Volt

When you drive the Chevy Volt, there's a moment when everything changes. You can actually hear when it switches into extended-range mode.

I test-drove a Volt around the RFK Stadium parking lot in Washington, D.C., and experienced one of its key selling points. The car can only drive 40 miles on electric battery power, but it also has a gas engine that kicks in — and, GM says, allows the Volt to go about 300 miles.

That range is the car's competitive advantage. Many people worry an electric car will run out of juice and strand them. They also wonder about the strength of a battery-powered engine. Just to see, I slammed the accelerator to the floor, and the car took off, reaching nearly 50 miles an hour with surprising speed. ... [Read More]

[RobertSmalls]

Some folks will buy, but plug-in cars will remain a niche for a LONG time.

Hybrids have been around for over a decade, and we all agree they're pretty good and not outrageously expensive. But only 3.5% of new car buyers choose one.

[southerncannuck]

I think that your location affects how you view these cars. For the urban folks, these will be popular.

[Butterfly Mage]

I don't see the point of the Volt. For short drives, the Leaf is better. For long drives, the Insight/Prius is better. All three cars cost MUCH less than the Volt.

[Kurz]

They should've gone for a Diesel Generator.
It could probably get 40's in MPG charging the battery.

[worthywads]

Originally Posted by Butterfly Mage

I don't see the point of the Volt. For short drives, the Leaf is better. For long drives, the Insight/Prius is better. All three cars cost MUCH less than the Volt.

Probably a waste of time explaining this again but.......

The volt can be driven for months without any gas for daily commute and even weekend activity but is available for longer trips........whenever. Not the 30mpg you persist an preaching.

The leaf is for short trips only, unless you are leapfrogging from outlet to outlet. It will not be available for longer trips.

The Insight/prius use gas everytime....... not like the volt.

Still an expensive toy but you don't seem to want to understand how it might be useful for people that don't want the Leaf as an additional car, which is my guess what most early buyers will do. Few will only have a leaf, many could only have a Volt.

[paratwa]

Originally Posted by Kurz

They should've gone for a Diesel Generator.
It could probably get 40's in MPG charging the battery.

But that would weigh alot more too. The thing has to weigh alot already carrying that battery capacity.

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by Butterfly Mage

I don't see the point of the Volt. For short drives, the Leaf is better. For long drives, the Insight/Prius is better. All three cars cost MUCH less than the Volt.

The Volt is a great concept....if you had been clearer you would have said you don't see how GM's implementation is going to work.

[atlaw4u]

I like them both but for the money - I will take the Leaf. We use my wife's car for long trips or we could rent a car for the few times a year we travel long distances.

[Butterfly Mage]

I guess I should rephrase. I see the point of a $30k Volt, but not a $41k Volt. I like 40 miles of EV. I don't like an oversized 1.4L i4 as a backup.