Bob Lutz: Chevrolet Volt may cost close to $40,000

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: crYnOid
Think of it this way. GM WANT to be first! If that means the car will cost closer to 40k than 30k so be it, but that is what it takes to be first. Enviromentalist will LOVE IT at any cost!!

It wont get wide spread appeal at 40k but after it is released expect GM to start working on making it cheaper.

Anyone could have been first, though. The price is the important thing. All the volt is is a prius with a larger battery and a wall charger. If they cannot hit a good price point, they've not done anything particularly special.

 

[PingSpike]

Skoorb is kind of right here...its not like they're building a car that runs on cold fusion...Its just an electric motor and some batteries. Its actually less complicated then the prius. While I appreciate that due to economies of scale the first versions of anything usually cost more...I'm actually wondering WTF it is suppose to cost 40K (probably 50K if the usual pie in the sky prediction shenanigans take place). I'm not saying that there is some conspiracy...just that I don't really understand why its so expensive?

I remember watching the guys at the autoshop class in highschool play with an electric compact car back in the 90s. Its range was shit and I don't think it was that fast, but I don't understand why they can't do better then that for less then 40 grand.

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Skoorb is kind of right here...its not like they're building a car that runs on cold fusion...Its just an electric motor and some batteries. Its actually less complicated then the prius. While I appreciate that due to economies of scale the first versions of anything usually cost more...I'm actually wondering WTF it is suppose to cost 40K (probably 50K if the usual pie in the sky prediction shenanigans take place). I'm not saying that there is some conspiracy...just that I don't really understand why its so expensive?

I remember watching the guys at the autoshop class in highschool play with an electric compact car back in the 90s. Its range was shit and I don't think it was that fast, but I don't understand why they can't do better then that for less then 40 grand.

High prices could simply be artificial ways to lower demand. Toyota did it with the Rav EV by charging $80,000, then saying there was no demand ..... .well no shit ...

 

[sandorski]

You have to factor in R&D and all that jazz, but I think that even though there are fewer Parts and what not, there's likely to also be Lower Supply of those Parts especially for a Corp like GM who Mass Produces things. As Supply reaches Demand, Part Costs drop and is likely why the 2nd Gen will meet the target Price. GM needs to not flee from the idea if the higher Price results in dismal Sales. Tough it out and when Prices drop people will come.

 

[Arkaign]

Combine tax rebates for cars of this type (maybe to help GM get the sticker cost down to $25k or so), with development of Thorium reactor systems for electricity generation, and we could revolutionize the US economy and transportation industry. Right now trillions of dollars in wealth leave our country to flow into the international oil companies. With the switch to electric + safe nuclear energy, we could keep that wealth from leaving, as well as virtually eliminate pollution from transport and electric generation. Thorium reactors are incredibly safe, compact, and far less expensive than huge conventional nuclear-electric plants of the cold war past.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity

Originally posted by: Nessism
Batteries cost a lot of money; it's not the manufacturers gouging on the price.

But batteries + electric drivetrain aren't going to cost anymore (or much more) and an ICE and and a transmission.

I just finished watching Who Killed The Electric Car? It lays out and makes a good case that the technology is there and is feasible. The problem is big oil, the car manufactures, and our current government.

As related to your post, the automobile manufactures don't want electric cars because they will lose guaranteed service money. A simpler car is easier and cheaper to maintain. If your main consumables are only a battery, tires, and the occasional failure in the rest of the system you have lost a lot of revenue. As it is now look at all the work you have to have done to keep a complex car running.

I remember the scene at the dealership where there is a table with a typical amount of parts for a Saturn - oil filters, muffler, bottles of oil, etc. The service guy said the EV-1 typically needed only a tire rotation and windshield fluid top-up LOL.

I can easily see how auto companies would stand to lose a shit-load of money on servicing from these electric vehicles.