Quote:
Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65
If you haven't heard people talking positively about the Volt outside of this thread then you simply haven't been paying attention.
And again, since when has the first generation of any technology ever been cheap? When flat screen LCD TVs first hit the market, I said the same thing you're saying right now, there's no point in paying a ton of money for that when the TVs we have right now work fine. A couple years later and I have a flat screen LCD TV sitting right here in this room.
Apparently again you haven't been paying attention. Just yesterday an article went out about GM searching for ways to up production of the Volt due to the fact that 240,000 people have expressed interest in the car. Granted not all 240,000 people are going to buy the car (obviously), but there IS demand for a car of this type.
Does it make economic sense for you? No. It doesn't even make sense for me to get a Volt. But just because it doesn't make sense for us doesn't mean that applies for everyone.
|
Flat screens were not expensive to make when they first came out. They were, however, in very high demand. Electronics are a bad example because the price has more to do with who has the technology and how much they can get for it than how much it costs to make. Something like an engine, or a battery does not follow the same path. With all the technology, modern production techniques, etc., why does a car cost more every year? Because there are significant quantities of raw materials, machine time, labor etc. that will NEVER go away that ultimately determine the price.
Look, I am not bashing the Volt in any way, I think it is by far the best of all the alternative fuel vehicles out there. The leaf is a gimmick, and the prius is nowhere near as capable. Plus I hope it does well for GM's sake. However, people keep talking about the batteries getting lighter, cheaper, etc., it will never happen. I sure hope I am wrong about that, but physics are a bitch and I just don't see it from what I know. I will be happy to eat my words if I am wrong, because I think it would spell a brighter future for all of us, but I think an electric car that costs anywhere near what today's cars do (while exhibiting similar performance) will never happen no matter how many they make.