Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

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Perian

Discussion Starter · Jan 13, 2015 (Edited by Moderator)

Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

Chevy Bolt EV Forum

The Financial Times

January 13, 2014

Article Quotes:

General Motors has made an audacious attempt for leadership of the electric vehicle market, with a “game-changer” concept car that boasts a 200-mile battery range but only a $30,000 price tag.

Its Chevrolet Bolt, if manufactured, would represent a powerful challenge to Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors and its efforts to produce a mass-market electric car for about the same price.

Tesla’s Model S, its cheapest current vehicle, has a 208-mile range on a single battery charge and sells for $74,570, after allowing for US tax incentives.

Analysts have suggested it will prove difficult to manufacture the vehicle for the projected price tag. But Ms Barra suggested the company was serious about the Bolt, which she called a “game-changer”.

“This is no stripped-down science experiment,” she told delegates in Detroit. “It’s an all-electric vehicle for the real world.”

In 2014, pure electric vehicles accounted for just 0.4 per cent of total US auto sales, although the spread of charging stations in California is helping to increase sales. Car makers insist that a growing number of consumers are interested in pure-electric vehicles, although recent sharp falls in fuel prices have hit sales of hybrid vehicles — the most popular class of partially-electrified vehicles in the US market.

After unveiling the Bolt, Ms Barra set out the powerful advantages that she believes GM enjoys in the electric vehicle market. “We have the people, the production facilities, the engineering, the design and the manufacturing knowledge and we have the will to make this even more of a competitive advantage for Chevrolet and General Motors,” she said at the show.

In response, Tesla said it was “great” to see companies finally building compelling electric cars. “This is a positive step forward for the industry,” it added.

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Perian

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

Perian said:
In response, Tesla said it was “great” to see companies finally building compelling electric cars. “This is a positive step forward for the industry,” it added.

After the polite and professional corporate media response, the Tesla public relations manager got his broker on the phone and shorted his company stock.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
General Motors and the media are harping on the estimated selling price of the Chevrolet Bolt. They both use the figure $30,000. It is important to note that the $30,000 price point is only attained after factoring in the government $7500 clean energy incentive. The Chevy Bolt is a $37,500 concept and possible production vehicle before options and possible freight charges.

Reactions: 4

b4z

· #3 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

The mainline manufacturers will do it better and cheaper than tesla. And I'm still weirded out by the fact that tesla doesn't post monthly sales.

Reactions: 2

theamcguy

· #4 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

Are you kidding me a $30,000 golf cart and that is a game changer? Look at that thing it is a roller skate on wheels.

Reactions: 2

Ambalanche

· #5 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

I'll call it a game changer when it's on the road and for sale!

Reactions: 4

BlackGTP

· #6 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

I like it, but how is it a game changer? Is it that much different than the Leaf (I know the range is a longer)? Or is it a game changer because they can actually book a profit on it?

Reactions: 1

rsbaker

· #7 · Jan 13, 2015 (Edited)

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

This is indeed a Game Changer if the 200 mile range is correct. This is the magic number that everyone who kneels at the Tesla altar says they want, an electric car with 200 miles of range in the mid $30k price range. I also imagine that GM could offer cheaper Bolt versions with 100 miles of range or 150 miles of range with commensurate drops in price. After all the Chevrolet Spark EV has an MSRP of $26,820.00. I could definitely see GM offering a Bolt at or just below than the aforementioned $30K with top end models in the mid to high $30s. The best part is that the Bolt is NO Spark. It is a much more substantial vehicle. I Hope GM can get this Car to market in 2016 as a 2017 model. GM has now set a bar with 50 Mile Volt and the 200 mile Bolt that Tesla and others will have to meet.

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baloo

· #8 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

Perian said:
IMPORTANT NOTE:
General Motors and the media are harping on the estimated selling price of the Chevrolet Bolt. They both use the figure $30,000. It is important to note that the $30,000 price point is only attained after factoring in the government $7500 clean energy incentive. The Chevy Bolt is a $37,500 concept and possible production vehicle before options and possible freight charges.

It's also worth noting that the $7,500 tax credit is limited to 200k units per manufacturer. GM has sold 70-75k Volts so far.

A high volume EV introduced a few years down the road may exhaust the remaining credits quite quickly, unless the program is extended.

hobzac75

· #9 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

I'm

theamcguy said:
Are you kidding me a $30,000 golf cart and that is a game changer? Look at that thing it is a roller skate on wheels.

Yes, it's about time they put wheels on roller skates. I'm tired of walking around in my skates.

Reactions: 3

sepi

· #10 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

I've dialed back my positive response to the VaporVolt part Duh after seeing the hideous detailing in the rear on that car and there can be no interior room in the backseat with that roof line.

I don't know enough of the Bolt Golf Cart to render any positive impression. We all know that when Total Recall Motors introduces a product for sale, it is always half the product it should be.

ksr

· #11 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

The movie about Tucker and his car was pretty poor as history. But the theme of the big guys rising up and squeezing the small guys out of the picture is valid. Eventually that will happen to Tesla. With their vast resources, GM, Ford, VW, Toyota, etc. will eventually make Tesla a footnote in history. They'll eventually do electric vehicles cheaper, possibly better, and will make life very difficult for Tesla.

Reactions: 2

Chassis Guy

· #12 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

rsbaker said:
This is a Game Changer if the 200 mile range is correct.

I agree. I had a Volt loaner at one point, and for my almost-50-mile drive to work, it was not working well for me. I told people at the time that if they could get the electric range up to 150-200 miles, and lower the price a bit, I would be all over it. If this comes out at $30K and 200 mile range, all my wishes from 2011 will have come true.

In fact, THIS vehicle could even logically replace my HHR some day, space-wise. I would miss my turbo, but all-electric also sounds pretty good to me.

Ed753

· #13 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

I like it, think it will fill a niche' but "game-changer"!? :think:

Seems a bit strong, this car is about the size of a Sonic right; most people don't want a car that small.......... (at least not until gas is $9.00/gallon or there is a charge plug available at almost every business)

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baloo said:
It's also worth noting that the $7,500 tax credit is limited to 200k units per manufacturer. GM has sold 70-75k Volts so far.

A high volume EV introduced a few years down the road may exhaust the remaining credits quite quickly, unless the program is extended.

Correct, and through December 2014 GM has sold (in the US):

Volt - 69,462
ELR - 1,310
Spark EV - 1,683
-------------------------
Total - 72,455

So by the time this car comes out, they'll have less than 100,000 sales remaining, and possibly as few as 50,000 sales remaining.

I found this, clarifies the credit:

Like the prior program of income-tax credits for purchase of a hybrid-electric car, which ended several years ago, there's a cap on how many cars from each maker qualify for the credits.

But whereas hybrids were capped at 60,000 vehicles per carmaker, plug-in vehicles have a higher cap: 200,000 cars per manufacturer.

That applies to sales in the United States only, and once that number is achieved, the credits start to phase out over a one-year period starting in the second quarter after that total is reached.

For two quarters, the credit is halved; for a third quarter, it is set at 25 percent of the original amount.

And then, it's done.

The relevant rules can be found on the IRS website, including the phaseout:

The qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit phases out for a manufacturer’s vehicles over the one-year period beginning with the second calendar quarter after the calendar quarter in which at least 200,000 qualifying vehicles manufactured by that manufacturer have been sold for use in the United States (determined on a cumulative basis for sales after December 31, 2009) (“phase-out period”).

Qualifying vehicles manufactured by that manufacturer are eligible for 50 percent of the credit if acquired in the first two quarters of the phase-out period and25 percent of the credit if acquired in the third or fourth quarter of the phase-out period. Vehicles manufactured by that manufacturer are not eligible for a credit if acquired after the phase-out period.

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Al465

· #14 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

b4z said:
The mainline manufacturers will do it better and cheaper than tesla. And I'm still weirded out by the fact that tesla doesn't post monthly sales.

Tesla wants people think that the monthly sales are better than what they really are. They are not an honest company and want to continue the hype as long as they can.

meniisoc

· #15 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

It's not a game changer, it's just a concept car.
And it looks like they used the same designers they used to "design" the korean built cheap chevvy's.

The model 3 will decimate this attempt from GM.

Reactions: 1

Butz

· #16 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

Perian said:
After the polite and professional corporate media response, the Tesla public relations manager got his broker on the phone and shorted his company stock.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
General Motors and the media are harping on the estimated selling price of the Chevrolet Bolt. They both use the figure $30,000. It is important to note that the $30,000 price point is only attained after factoring in the government $7500 clean energy incentive. The Chevy Bolt is a $37,500 concept and possible production vehicle before options and possible freight charges.

I was hoping it would be $30,000 before the tax credit.

Reactions: 1

jwvrod

· #17 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

I don't see anything wrong with the price, i just think they would have more momentum with a mainstream car or cuv.

Reactions: 1

spd98

· #18 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

What platform is this thing on?

Also what is the second door handle (interior) for?

steve333

· #19 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

hmmmmm, not sure about this one. That front end is not exactly attractive. Tesla seems to have hit a certain buyer that wants style along with the enviro boast

Edge

· #20 · Jan 13, 2015

Re: Chevy Bolt: “This is no stripped-down science experiment." - "A game changer"

I kinda feel like GM also thought the first Volt was gonna be a game changer.

Reactions: 2

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