Is the Chevy Volt hope or hype?

Oh I don't think it's hyped.  I think GM has done a very good job being specific about exactly what the Volt will be able to do.  Not too long ago they revealed that they had to change the body design of the Volt (which is why it looks much more Prius-like now than the initial sporty concept) in order to decrease the drag and get the all-electric range up to the claimed 40 miles per charge.  They're also going to have the batteries under warranty for 10 years, so they'd damn better well last that long.

They've also been forthright about the cost of the car, saying that it might be closer to $40k than the initial $30k projections.

There was also recently a story that Applied Sciences is working on a carbon nanofiber battery that will increase the Volt's all-electric range to 80 miles (potentially for the second generation version of the car).  GM has given the company $500k so far, so they're clearly interested in this possibility.

So I think it's safe to believe that GM will deliver on the promises made regarding the Volt, because they've been very careful about revealing when expectations about any feature of the car have changed.  The future of the company is basically riding on this car, so they have to be careful about not failing to meet expectations.

Well...November 2010 is still a pretty long way away.  I'm sure as we get closer, GM will tweak certain things here and there.  And undoubtedly, some of the specs will be rereported. Of course, it will be most interesting to see how their claims measure up once the car is in consumer hands.

GM certainly can do this. I drive a GM made electric vehicle today. It is a Chevy S10 Electric. It is not very aerodynamic, not light (~4300#), and has an older generation battery technology (NiMH) and still gets about 50 miles range on all electric. So if they are required to make the Volt due to consumer demand, competition, and/or emission standards, GM can deliver. If they don't someone else will.

The recent government incentive of $7500 for the Volt (and other plug-ins with 16kWh battery packs) will help make the price more affordable. Transportation is currently #2 CO2 producer, we need to do something. Not everyone can walk, bike, or bus. The freedom to jump behind the wheel and drive is a part of American culture that is not going away anytime to soon, so PHEVs are good way to maintain that freedom without it choking us to death.

My hope is that I can have the freedom to choose a full electric option at a reasonable price.  For my use the added "range extender" with the exhaust pipe and require support systems like radiator, gas tank catalytic converter, etc. is extra baggage.

I would love to apply my $7500 government credit to a company that includes a full electric choice. So far Aptera is the only affordable competitor that has taken my deposit ($500 returnable escrow) and given a reservation number.

Wow!  That's really exciting that you have a reservation on the Aptera.  Do you know when you'll get to test drive?

Wow, that is cool!

I've always thought that thing looks like a space-pod from 2050, not a car. You're sure to turn heads.....

The Oregon Gov just announced his new 2009 plan and it has a $5000 tax credit for plug-in cars.  Add that with the $7500 federal credit and now (in Oregon) you can get the $37,000 Volt for just $24,500. Now the price delta with a Prius (or new 2009 Insight) is not that big.

http://www.kgw.com/video/video-index.html?nvid=297387

I'm very happy with the PHEV that I have, and I have it now!  Not 2010 or whenever....

Oct. 1, 2010

We went to the AltCar Expo in Santa Monica to drive the Nissan Leaf that we already had ordered. We were so pleased that we were given the choice of a quick charge port (80% charge in less than 30 min.) No lugging around the dead weight of an engine,radiator, gas tank and exhaust pipe that Volt insists on for range extending. That weight is a drag. We didn't waste GM's time asking for a Volt test drive, but did try on the leg room. My son and I are 6' 4" tall and had comfortable head and leg room in the back seats of the Leaf, but were excruciatingly cramped in the back of the Volt. When we adjusted the Volts front seats the space was more than adequate for us, but only left room for young children in the back.

We already voted with our precious dollars going to the fine Leaf that more than meets our needs. Too bad ours will not come from the new Nissan Leaf plant in Smyrna, Tennessee (USA), but we didn't want to wait another 6 mo. for delivery.

I recently read this article that claims the volt is nothing more than a hybrid expected to get 30-50 mpg. http://community.ecoseed.org/_Volt-Fraud-At-Government-Motors/blog/2779707/29468.html hopefully this article isn't true. Haven't looked too far into it as of yet

I think people are making way too much out of that story.  If you're concerned about keeping the Volt in electric mode, there's an easy solution.  Don't drive over 70 mph!  There's already one disincentive - in most places, that's above the maximum speed limit.  I very rarely get up to 70 mph, so to me it wouldn't even be an issue.

The reports of 30-50 mph sound like rather extreme conditions, driving the car very fast, or in another case taking a very long trip without charging up the battery.  In normal conditions it still acts mostly like an electric car.  Just don't drive too fast and charge it up - problem solved.

Things are a little different over here on the East coast. People drive fast all the time no matter where they are here. Speed limit could be 55 and people will be going 80. It is ridiculous! Doesn't mean you have to go 80, but if you don't you will get honked at and given the single finger peace sign