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dusanmalJun 11, 2011
It is not Leaf vs. Volt spat. Both cars aim at theoretical economy/fuel saving audience. Both cars cost so much more than their gasoline powered class counterparts that economy/fuel savings argument fails miserably (for Leaf break even point is 100000+ miles and for Volt 200000+ miles even with unreasonably friendly assumptions ex. 5$/gal gas, free electricity, "everlasting" batteries,...). No amount of advertising can alter that fact.
Real competition is Tesla. It is rich and fashionable toy, marketed as rich and fashionable toy at the price of rich and fashionable toy... Their future model also hits honesty point. It is luxury sedan, marketed as luxury sedan, priced as luxury sedan and people with such money and taste will consider it on its own merits.
It is time to realize that for considerable future electric (or mostly electric) cars are luxury non-economic item. Any energy savings are there to make rich feel better and more fashionable.
kasha34Jun 11, 2011
The VOLT will turn out to have a battery range of twenty five miles.
So it saves a gallon a day. The Leaf? Fifty miles maybe. Then it's useless for four to eight hours.
And you're right, of course. People will realize they cost too much, they're too much trouble. And it just ain't worth it.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
nerysJun 11, 2011
you are correct but NOT for the reason you think.
they will remain luxury non economic items BY CHOICE OF THE MANUFACTURER primarily GM in making sure no one could use the NIMH battery tech that "WOULD" make electric cars cheap and viable.
we can EASILY make an electric car 4 door midsize sedan with a 100 mile range per charge and a lifespan on that battery of over 20-25 YEARS. They can do this using off the shelf parts in an ECONOMY bare bones no frills (just AC) car for $13,500 full retail no subsidies.
THEY REFUSE TO and GM made sure of it.
the only reason these cars are not viable is they are forced by GM to use the only other usable battery tech available. LITHIUM based batteries which are simply NOT viable.
Nissan did an amazing thing managing to get a nearly 100 mile range battery down to $10,000 but based on the range and lifespan of lithium batteries that tech is not viable till they can make that same battery pack for less than $1300. (to be cost per mile competitive with NIMH)
for a true solid 100 mile range battery nissan would need to up it to a $15,000 pack.
If they took something like a ford fiesta or a hyundai elantra or a nissan sonata made them BAREBONES and put a basic simple no special computerized display NIMH power system and direct drive motor into it they could sell that FULL RETAIL for under $13,500
but only with NIMH tech. because a 100mile range NIMH battery if you could buy one would be $4500 and THAT Is the magic.
and that battery would last 20-25 YEARS for the average driver (over 250,000 to 300,000 miles)
and before you say what happens if you want to go over 100 miles?
thats easy.
DRIVE THE GOD DAMNED GAS CAR YOU ALREADY HAVE.
for the daily GRIND back and forth to work 99% of us can use a 100mile range car even a 65 mile range car.
my commute is 54 miles one way. SO I drive to work charge at work drive home. this is not rocket science folks this is easy.
the tech is here its ready its mature GM made certain you can not have it.
I would not take a volt if they offered it to me for FREE. well ok I would so I could rape the battery and motor system from it and sell it and install that system in my Minivan. maybe. or maybe just BURN the carcass to vent my anger.
udetherJun 11, 2011
The VOLT will turn out to have a battery range of twenty five miles.
So it saves a gallon a day. The Leaf? Fifty miles maybe. Then it's useless for four to eight hours.
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wanghbnJun 11, 2011
Just passing through........
langfordJun 11, 2011
I'm just waiting for the inevitable commercial with an electric car driving through the woods while Kermit the Frog sings It's Not Easy Being Green. You know it will happen, the commercial practically writes its self.