Considering BYD Auto already showed their plug-in hybrid at the DIAS last month and plans for it to go on sale this summer, that seems like a safe bet on your end.

 

Yes, but only with the assistance of the gasoline engine it carries (if I'm mistaken please let me know). What I was speaking of are the electric (only) vehicles that many manufacturers say they will have to market within the next couple of years.

To get back to the original question, I think the Volt is in danger of being too little too late for GM to make much of a splash with it. That doesn't automatically mean it was a mistake but I do wonder if GM would have gone down that path if they knew going in where they would be financially right now?

I suspect they wouldn't.

 

The problem with a pure-electric car is that you can't recharge it quickly. The Volt's main advantage is that it provides a useful pure-electric range (enough for most people to make their daily commute without ever engaging the gas engine), while still accommodating a road trip longer than the total range.

With a Tesla (or any other pure-electric car), if you want to go 1000 miles, you have to take an 8-hour break to charge it up every time you reach the end of it's range (which I think is 220 miles for the Tesla, so you'd need four of those breaks).

With the Volt, you just have to make a 5-10 minute stop for gas every 300 miles, and you can go as far as you want. If you happen to be stopping overnight and can plug it in, though, that'll save you some gas.

IMO, that is a huge usability issue for the all-electric cars, and the Volt solves it nicely.

 

The problem with that process is that an electric vehicle with an ICE doesn't satisfy the greenies nearly as much as a true electric vehicle and I also don't think it sounds as attractive to more mainstream buyers.

Most of what I've been reading coming from other brands are plug-in electrics (no ICE) with a 100 mile or more range between recharging and obviously, unless the infrastructure is put in place, they would always have to be considered "commuting only" vehicles. Now; I don't know how possible a 100+ mile range all electric is within the next two years or so as they are claiming but that is at least what they are claiming.

I know for me, it's unlikely that a forty mile range would get me to consider a Volt; especially at the price tag being thrown around and I'd simply never consider traveling long distances in one…maybe I'm just not the norm but I have better/more fun vehicles available for long-distance travel.

However, as a commuting only vehicle, a true electric is something I would consider; especially if the car is comparable (style, comfort, amenities) to a similarly priced ICE vehicle.

At the very least, I think we are going to see some very interesting things out of many manufacturers over the next few years.

 

That's not good.

As much as I disagree with the wisdom of the Volt given GM's current state of affairs, I don't believe the Volt will start any higher than $40K. No matter how big a tax break the Feds give, there is still going to be a window sticker with that price on it. IMO, it's going to be a bit of a shock. But 10K cars isn't an ambitious goal, so GM will no doubt have more demand than vehicles.


BTW, speaking of Tesla, 1500 are slated for this year's production. You have exactly 6 dealers (and service departments) nationwide. If you still want one, better cash in what's left of your IRA. The base price is now $109,000!

 

I heard a rumor that GM is considering repurposing part of the Truck and Bus plant in Flint instead of building a whole new plant. It'd be much less expensive that way, and FT&B is running way below capacity right now anyway.

That rumor came from an FT&B employee whose general credibility is in question IMO (i.e. he's a douche), so take it with a grain of salt.