Comments on: 2012 Volt Drives Family Off of Oil, Saves $30,000

By: A123

A123 — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:32:46 +0000

FYI,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/gm-volt-fire-said-to-prompt-us-probe-of-lithium-batteries/2011/11/11/gIQAi8tWDN_story.html

I don’t think the VOLT catches fire more easily than conventional cars, or hybrid cars (like Prius).

By: MrEnergyCzar

MrEnergyCzar — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:29:11 +0000

To bloggin: Answer to your question. I take a few 100 mile plus trips per month but mostly drive 40 per day or less. I'll drive in electric only mode 90% of the time. It's those random longer trips that kill. As an only car, it would be foolish for me to get a pure EV. As a second car it would make sense.

Thanks,

MrEnergyCzar

By: Cody

Cody — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:24:06 +0000

I would like to try and give a very clear example of Volt comparison. Let's do this monthly to make it easier to see, then add it all up to a 5 year cost. Assuming you drive 50 miles a day (70% city) including errands, 5 days a week, with 80 more miles on the weekend. Plus 2000 trip miles a year. Also, lets assume you can plug in at work most days. fuel @4.00/gal premium & $3.75 for regular

VOLT: commuting & wknd fuel cost= $2.40/week x 4=$9.60/month electricity=$60/month plus road trip costs about $18/month....
=============== $88 for 1526 miles each month

PRIUS: commuting & wknd Fuel cost = $103.00
plus road trip costs about $12.50/month.
=============== $115.50 for 1526 miles each month

Savings of about $27.50 per month. Now, if your home already had solar, and were producing excess power... then you'd be looking at a savings of about $87.00/month

So the first year .... you'll save at least $350
2nd year more than that...
3rd year more than that... fuel costs rising
4th year more than that...
5th year more than that... fuel costs rising
6th year more than that...
7th year more than that...
8nd year more than that... if gas hits $7.00/gal... then prius costs up 100% while the Volt fuel costs are up 50%. By now you have solar on your home...... so in the year 2020 your monthly costs to drive a Volt are about $30... while the Prius... gas miserly as it is... $190.00/month.
your saving potentially $160/month or about $1900/ EVERY year.

Oh, and it's a lot better car... funner to drive, faster, better looking and supporting american jobs.

By: bloggin

bloggin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:26:04 +0000

Great Article! It does seem the conflict most have with the Volt/GM, actually have nothing to do with the car itself, but all their own baggage they want to blame on the car. It's our first production plug-in hybrid. Currently with the longest EV range, besting the Prius Plug-In and the upcoming C-Max Energi, but lacking in the hybrid mpg when the engine kicks in. At about the same price as the Prius Plug-in.

Question for the author: Are you finding that your consistent trip miles require the 40-75 mile range, or would 15 miles really meet your ev driving range on a daily basis?

By: Jim Walker

Jim Walker — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:41:58 +0000

More than a bit ‘loosey goosey’ with your numbers and cost effectiveness analysis, aren’t we? And your headline claiming proposed savings of $30,000 is outrageous. Any body believing that claim is, shall we say, more than a bit gullible. You and your editors may be ‘fan boys’ of the ‘Government Motors’ Volt, but if you are going to publish, some journalistic integrity is in order. Also, your inflated savings claims come at considerable tax-payer expense ($7,500). You may feel priveleged, and therefore entitled, to this money that is ‘wrenched’ by the federal government from the pockets of others who may have actually worked for it, rather than merely being entitled to it. Therefore, since your Volt is 20% tax-payer owned, perhaps you should be a litle more humble and grateful and a little less arrogant in your interactions with said tax-payers.
I own a 2009 Prius that, by the way, I bought and paid for myself. Over a 10 year period my Prius would be far more cost effective and save me more than your Volt, as would be easily discerned from an complete and honest cost anaylis as opposed to the sloppy and biased set of numbers you present.

By: Capt. Concernicus

Capt. Concernicus — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:28:04 +0000

@ MyEnergyCzar,

I applaud your effort to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.

As an owner of a 2nd gen Prius I bought it to offset the spikes in oil/gas prices and so far it’s been very effective. I suspect that my next vehicle will be in 2016 or so. I’m very excited to see what cars will be like then. I always thought that starting around 2015 cars will have newer, more efficient alternative powerplants, longer range and would be less expensive as automakers get into their 2nd or even 3rd gen hybrids or EV’s.

Unfortunately I’m not a fan of the Volt. That’s my personal opinion that has deeper roots regarding GM.

Nissan here in Illinois had a Leaf out on display. My friend wanted to buy it, but Nissan would not sell it since Illinois is not one of the states that can sell it. Nissan said it was there to pique peoples interest. However, my friend was not happy because he likes the Leaf. So he’ll be waiting.

@James,

We know you won’t be happy until you can have the flux capacitor in your DeLorean. Don’t forget you’ll need 1.21 gigawatts if you’re going to do any time travelling.

By: Yegor

Yegor — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:14:18 +0000

Please do not resist your desire of punching it from a standstill when next to fancy sport sedans or any other car – it is a good advertising and it will crash the myth that fuel efficient cars are not powerful – it will really make people think!

By: dutchinchicago

dutchinchicago — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:44:39 +0000

@Duude: Volt comes with an eight year battery warranty so in the unlikely scenario that you need to replacement the battery in 6 or 7 years the cost will be $0.

By: Duude

Duude — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:32:30 +0000

Another not mentioned negative is the eventual degradation of the battery. In a few short years the battery won’t produce nearly as many gasoline-free miles. Then there’s the cost of battery replacement which could run $7500-10000 in 6 or 7 years. Hopefully, in 6 or 7 years batteries will advance at a miraculous pace. Perhaps bringing us to a battery that might have a 300 mile range, 200,000 mile duration and can be replaced for under $5000. But then I’m a dreamer.

By: dutchinchicago

dutchinchicago — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:32:03 +0000

Thank you for a great article.

I never really seriously considered the Volt. Mainly because they killed the electrical car doing untold damage to the planet and because I do not want to carry an ICE engine around (and maintain it) all the time for the 4 times/year I need it. I guess that the leaf is carrying a lot of extra battery around that I only rarely need (although I would have never bought it with <70 mile range).

After reading your article I feel that I should have given the Volt a closer look. Being 4 weeks away from becoming a Leaf owner I am starting to realize that there are no L3 stations anywhere in my state and that it will be affecting my road trips.