[HoosierRon]

At Last: Behind the Wheel of Volt Test Mule

In fact, recently, at GM’s Milford Proving Ground, I drove an official “engineering development vehicle” with the 16-kwh lithium-ion battery pack we’ve been testing for our E-Flex System and I have to say – pun half-intended – it was electrifying.

Maximum Bob autographs the mule...

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Awesome. More Volt news.

 

[ohmywrd8]

I can't wait for this. I just wish it was priced more like the Prius. But I hate the Prius. Booooo.....!!!!!!

 

[zete]

This is going to be huge when it finally bows. I don't think any of us will appreciate how big it will be, especially if the platform can work on a variety of vehicles. It will literally be the dawn of the practical electric car. And I think that will be as big a deal as was the introduction of the affordable car by Henry Ford a century ago.

 

[rhvfd10]

Forward into history!

 

[Pinnacle]

Just great, Lutz the klutzz is putting his grafitti on the car. Paint job needed now.

 

[PA Dweller]

Its great that this vehicle is coming and seems to be doing so well, but I really want to see them do something with the high price.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

As someone stated in the comments to the blog, affordability is VERY important. It really needs to come in under $30k, otherwise it is just a toy. If it comes in higher they better figure out how to make the price drop quickly!

 

[johnstarnes]

This is going to be huge when it finally bows. I don't think any of us will appreciate how big it will be, especially if the platform can work on a variety of vehicles. It will literally be the dawn of the practical electric car. And I think that will be as big a deal as was the introduction of the affordable car by Henry Ford a century ago.

I share that hope! Here's hoping it is not standard corporate BS.

 

[63GrandSport001]

At $4.30 a gallon of gas you have to take into account how much your fuel costs are per month and right now Im paying about $400 a month for the car note and near $400 a month for gas.

So if the Volt is less then $800 a month then it makes economical sense to me personally and I wouldn't be shocked if there are a ton of people that are in this same boat. So even at about $40,000 Id still buy it and it would still make sense.

 

[racy]

This is going to be huge when it finally bows. I don't think any of us will appreciate how big it will be, especially if the platform can work on a variety of vehicles. It will literally be the dawn of the practical electric car. And I think that will be as big a deal as was the introduction of the affordable car by Henry Ford a century ago.

Zete, you're correct - and I don't think the term "affordable" can be overstated in this instance. As one of the bloggers mentioned in the original article, the true impact of the Volt will happen when it becomes affordable to hundreds of thousands of consumers.

The year they sell as many Volts as Toyota sells Camrys, is the year that will mark the permanent and continual decline in fossil fuel consumption in the United States. The rest of the globe will eventually follow the U.S. quickly over the years following.

 

[joemac]

As someone stated in the comments to the blog, affordability is VERY important. It really needs to come in under $30k, otherwise it is just a toy. If it comes in higher they better figure out how to make the price drop quickly!

Even with current gas prices near $4, with only 100k units to fill a market that will move 15 million vehicles, at a $40k MSRP, they will have no problems moving them. Who knows what gas prices will be in 2.5 years when the Volt starts to hit showrooms. It can't get here soon enough.

 

[minnfang]

Eventually, if and when we settle on the right battery, our E-Flex System engineers will have a lot of integrating, tuning and tweaking to do before the Volt is ready for prime time.

Now why did he have to go and say "if" - it kinda made me a little queasy.

 

[fp115]

Zete, you're correct - and I don't think the term "affordable" can be overstated in this instance. As one of the bloggers mentioned in the original article, the true impact of the Volt will happen when it becomes affordable to hundreds of thousands of consumers.

The year they sell as many Volts as Toyota sells Camrys, is the year that will mark the permanent and continual decline in fossil fuel consumption in the United States. The rest of the globe will eventually follow the U.S. quickly over the years following.

That won't be possible for a while due to the battery demand, build the car would be possible, just without the battery. Battery companies tend to be a bit slow at producing.

Now why did he have to go and say "if" - it kinda made me a little queasy.

When leadership approves vehicles it means that they are able to guarantee the vehicle. Making it as public as they did and with Wagoner saying it means they should be out on November 10th, 2010.

 

[PontiacBixler]

I really think that GM should take the "Sony PS3" approach with the Volt.

Let it be a loss-leader to generate tremendous buzz on the streets and in the industry. I agree with the many on here, the Volt should not be priced at anything higher than $35k at its maximum configuration with starting prices beginning at around $25k-$29k.

If dealers can't keep them on the lot then good, let the dealer try to side sell a Malibu Hybrid to the walk-in customer that wanted a Volt.

 

[PA Dweller]

Why can't GM eat the cost on the Volt like they do with the 2-Mode system? They might lose money on the vehicle for the first few years but it would whoop the Prius's ass and get more people to shop Chevy again. Plus it would give GM positive press which IMO is priceless.