The long wait is almost over, within this year, the new hybrid Chevy Volt is about to go out for sale. But when General Motors Corp. said its new Chevrolet Volt electric car would cost $41,000 and up, many consumers and industry insiders winced. A lot of people consider 40k a considerable amount for purchasing a car. After all, the same amount gets you into the Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz luxury range. Many people at the 2010 Plug-In Exposition in San Jose liked the car but didn't like the price. There are a lot of desirable vehicles for the same price that the typical buyer would choose over the Volt despite the electric car’s advanced technology and high fuel economy. Chevrolet and other car makers seem to have forgotten that in general, people who want to save fuel also want to save money.
Even more bad news for the Volt; George Magliano, an analyst with IHS Automotive, says the Volt is an important ”statement vehicle” for GM. Indeed, it “makes a bigger statement than the Toyota Prius,” a hybrid sedan that for years has been the reigning symbol of environmental friendliness. “But do I think it’s going to be a volume seller? No,” he says.
The Volt could lose out to the $32,780 Nissan Leaf expected to go on sale around the same time. Chevrolet says its car is worth more in part because its gasoline engine generates electricity when the battery runs low. But Mr. Magliano says extended range may be less of a selling point for buyers, many of whom have more than one vehicle anyway. Those buyers are still going to use their conventional gasoline-powered vehicle for long road trips.
It just seems this car will be killed before it can even take flight. In times like today, who wants to spend +30k on an eat-your-greens commuter car? A more viable option would to buy yourself a fuel efficient car like the Honda Fit or the Nissan Versa.
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