Volt

[Steve Dallas]

I find it amusing how some people are so anti-electric. I love gas powered cars as much as anyone.

Gas, however, is expected to reach 4.50 a gallon for REGULAR by Memorial Day. It may continue to go higher. I can, and probably will continue to shell out money for gas.

That being said, electric cars are clean and effecient...and there is a place for them. Electricity is cheap, and abundent. With further technology, ranges on these cars will continue to increase.

I doubt I'll ever get rid of my SS...but I was looking at the Volt more out of curiousity and as a second car for commuting. I've also been looking at the Tesla...and like the look of their sedan that will be coming out in 2012.

I definately wouldn't mind having this:

[Sevn86]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

I find it amusing how some people are so anti-electric. I love gas powered cars as much as anyone.

Gas, however, is expected to reach 4.50 a gallon for REGULAR by Memorial Day. It may continue to go higher. I can, and probably will continue to shell out money for gas.

That being said, electric cars are clean and effecient...and there is a place for them. Electricity is cheap, and abundent. With further technology, ranges on these cars will continue to increase.

I doubt I'll ever get rid of my SS...but I was looking at the Volt more out of curiousity and as a second car for commuting. I've also been looking at the Tesla...and like the look of their sedan that will be coming out in 2012.

I definately wouldn't mind having this:

I like the Tesla!

[Hoss]

Steve what is the cost of the Tesla sedan that you are wanting. The sports car is over $100,000. I am thinking you are better off paying $4.50 a gallon for gas.

The price for the electric Jag is high and not practical for most of the people. Jag's in America aren't in big demand. It sounds like you really want a electric car. You would need deep pockets.

[DarkObsession]

I got to drive the Volt and I think it's awesome. If I were rich enough to afford the Camaro and a Volt, I'd do it.

Still, I would rather drive my Camaro than a Volt but I still like the Volt

That said, it is ridiculously overpriced. The car is nice but it is comparable to $30,000ish cars, not $40,000ish cars. As I understand it, the extra cost is from GM putting a bullet proof battery in it that can go 40 miles or so without a recharge. The tax rebate doesn't make that $40,000 price any easier to swallow and I do think it is dishonest that Chevy is even advertising the price AFTER the rebate because as someone else said on here, it isn't a certainty that you will get the rebate. The price is $40,000, period.

[chevyk1]

I really like the Volt but seems to be one of those cars you are better off waiting for a deal on a used one.

[Cbrenthus]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

I find it amusing how some people are so anti-electric. I love gas powered cars as much as anyone.

Gas, however, is expected to reach 4.50 a gallon for REGULAR by Memorial Day. It may continue to go higher. I can, and probably will continue to shell out money for gas.

That being said, electric cars are clean and effecient...and there is a place for them. Electricity is cheap, and abundent. With further technology, ranges on these cars will continue to increase.

I doubt I'll ever get rid of my SS...but I was looking at the Volt more out of curiousity and as a second car for commuting. I've also been looking at the Tesla...and like the look of their sedan that will be coming out in 2012.

I'm not "against" electric, I just think that it is the result of propaganda rather than actual facts. The issues I have with electric cars are:

1. How much energy does it take to charge? I really haven't been able to find this out, but wouldn't want to replace $200 in gas with $300 in electric bills

2. Electricity comes from energy, just like gas. Except for a few wind, solar, nuclear, or water plants, most electricity still comes from carbon based energy, so even though the car may be clean during use, its still creating pollution.

3. What do replacement batteries cost?

4. For the Volt in particular, whatever happened to it being an electric vehicle? I heard all along that it was all electric, but at the last minute, it turns out its a hybrid all along.

[mickss]

The one strike against electric vehicles is what`s known as the "long tail pipe" meaning the electric vehicle its self does not pollute but depending on the source of it`s electrical power (fossil fueled electric generators) do.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by Hoss

Steve what is the cost of the Tesla sedan that you are wanting. The sports car is over $100,000. I am thinking you are better off paying $4.50 a gallon for gas.

The price for the electric Jag is high and not practical for most of the people. Jag's in America aren't in big demand. It sounds like you really want a electric car. You would need deep pockets.

I've heard it will be in the 50k range. Which isn't much more than the Volt.

[Milk 1027]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

I find it amusing how some people are so anti-electric. I love gas powered cars as much as anyone.

Gas, however, is expected to reach 4.50 a gallon for REGULAR by Memorial Day. It may continue to go higher.

You mean it's not already that much where you are?

[Fogey]

Gas prices are not hurting me very much.

[DarkObsession]

Originally Posted by Cbrenthus

I'm not "against" electric, I just think that it is the result of propaganda rather than actual facts. The issues I have with electric cars are:

1. How much energy does it take to charge? I really haven't been able to find this out, but wouldn't want to replace $200 in gas with $300 in electric bills

2. Electricity comes from energy, just like gas. Except for a few wind, solar, nuclear, or water plants, most electricity still comes from carbon based energy, so even though the car may be clean during use, its still creating pollution.

3. What do replacement batteries cost?

4. For the Volt in particular, whatever happened to it being an electric vehicle? I heard all along that it was all electric, but at the last minute, it turns out its a hybrid all along.

1. I don't have exact figures, but I've heard that - generally speaking - it will be cheaper to use electricity rather than gas. Plus if you have off peak billing from the power company, you can program the Volt to charge when electricity is cheapest. Of course, if everyone goes to electric cars then the cost of electricity will go up...

2. Agreed and people don't seem to realize that 57% of the electricity in the country is coal which is more than any other single source. So yes, you are just moving where the pollutants come out when you use an electric car.

3. I don't know what the batteries for the Volt cost, but for a Civic Hybrid (my friend just had to replace his) it was $20,000. Yes, $20k for a replacement battery. However, the government has mandated that batteries have to be covered by a 10 year warranty from the manufacturer, regardless of use so he did get his free but if you are out of warranty... YIKES
4. I've never heard of the Volt ever being slated to be strictly electric but just because it's a hybrid doesn't mean it is a traditional hybrid. The Volt is 100% electric for the first 40 miles before it kicks on its generator to charge up the battery. So basically it's a series hybrid rather than parallel like the Prius is. This has some obvious advantages, one being that if you commute less than that every day, you won't use a drop of gasoline.

[upflying]

The Volt is like a VCR from the 80's. The technology is interesting but it has a long way to go. Wait a few years when batteries get better and Volt's are plentiful. Watch price go down to $23,995 when that happens.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by Cbrenthus

I'm not "against" electric, I just think that it is the result of propaganda rather than actual facts. The issues I have with electric cars are:

1. How much energy does it take to charge? I really haven't been able to find this out, but wouldn't want to replace $200 in gas with $300 in electric bills

2. Electricity comes from energy, just like gas. Except for a few wind, solar, nuclear, or water plants, most electricity still comes from carbon based energy, so even though the car may be clean during use, its still creating pollution.

3. What do replacement batteries cost?

4. For the Volt in particular, whatever happened to it being an electric vehicle? I heard all along that it was all electric, but at the last minute, it turns out its a hybrid all along.

Remember that this varies depending on how you use the car. If you have a commute that is less than 40 miles per day, you will never need to use the gas part of the car. This is where it differs from hybrids like the Prius which require gas to generate the electricity to charge the car...and where the MPG for those vehicles come into play.

1. In reading up on this, the cost is dependent on how far you drive. Let's assume that you use the car for your commute and you commute 30 miles a day. According to some articles and reviews I've read, it would cost 25-30 dollars a month to charge the car from your house. Some services are offering charging (like when you're at work) for 40 dollars a month, unlimited. I expect that these services are charging more than the actual cost to charge a car. Still...pretty damn good considering it would cost 200-240 a month to do the same in the Camaro.

2. Most intelligent people know this. I personally am for more nuclear plants (even with what's going on in Japan). Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have a lot of Hydro energy as well. Overall, though, the pollution from modern nuclear reactors is minimal compared to what cars produce. Many anti-electric people argue that the chemicals to create green cars is a lot, but that's true of any vehicle produced. I'm not a tree hugger in any sense of the word...I look at Electric vehicles as an effecient and cheaper method of travel...especially as the technology gets better. And that will happen.

3. They are probably expensive, and not something I've researched. It would be something I'd ask about, especially on how it's covered in warrantee. Also, how long are the batteries expected to last.

4. Well, some call the Volt electric, and others call it Hybrid. I think it's a car that you really can't classify because it depends on how you use it. It's fully electric if you drive it in a way where the gas engine (generator) doesn't kick in to charge the batteries. Unlike a Prius, it can be run entirely off of the battery charge. It's not really intended to run long distances on electric alone.

[Milk 1027]

I sat in one. Pretty freaking cool. Like the all touch sensitive center console.