GM-Volt.com Chevy Volt Waiting List Hits 10,000 Members
Today we have hit a major milestone. 10,000 people have signed up on our waiting list, expressing their desire to buy a Chevy Volt. This site was started on January 12, 2007 in response to GM unveiling the Chevy Volt five days earlier. It was my intent to create a place where like-minded people interested in driving this car could convene to observe and discuss the development and eventually create an ownership community.
Even more importantly, it was my hope that this site could serve as a beacon to GM, continuously showing them how enthusiastic and how ready the public is for such a car. I didn’t want them to let the concept die, as the initial reports after the unveiling suggested it might.
I didn’t realize how meaningful this site would become. In June, GM reached out to me and invited me to their headquarters for the first time, allowing me to interview engineers directly involved in the Volt project. From there, I’ve had the opportunity to interview many GM and battery executives along the way, all the while striving to provide the latest and most accurate information. It’s come so far that I’ve even met and interviewed CEO Rick Wagoner and Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz.
I think so far the site has been a success. GM knows well about us and their executives regularly admit they read the site.
There have certainly been ups and downs, and the effort has at times been trying, but remains fun and exciting. I’ve been called everything from a cult-leader to a shill. Nonetheless we carry on. The fact is I am a Volt enthusiast. I want the world to drive electric cars, and as an American, I want GM to lead the way. It’s my right to feel that way. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and all can have a voice here.
We need to spread the word. Many people still do not know about this car, and its potential benefits. Tell your friends and families about it, and send them to GM-Volt.com.
Next goal 20,000.
Popularity: 6%
(38 votes, average: 5 out of 5) 
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January 26th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Congratulations, Lyle!!! NOW you’ve reached a point, with a wait-list of 10,000, that the world-wide press will respond to. I’d suggest getting a press release together & emailed/faxed to as many media outlets as you can. If anyone ever doubted gm-volt.com would have a major impact on the marketing success of the Chevy Volt, achieving 10,000 on our wait list will dispel all such doubts!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Lyle:
10K on the waiting list in just over a year!
I would say that you are doing a great job in getting the word out about this vehicle!
Keep up the good work, and I hope GM continues to provide you with up to date information.
I hope this site is one of the first to introduce interior and exterior pictures and full specs of the finalized Volt to the world.
On to 20K!!!!!!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Link forwarded! If we all make an effort, we can reach 20K in a month. Whatever you think of the Volt specifically, I hope we can all agree that electric cars will help lead us to a cleaner and healthier environment!
January 26th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Lyle,
As I and others say quite often, you’re doing a GREAT job with this site. The seemingly never ending flow of new and relevant information brings me back every day (several times a day I might add).
I found this site via a Google search after seeing a GM commercial With the Volt in it and wondering WHAT IS THAT?!?!… I’ve become a huge fan of the Volt now and see its potential to be a catalyst in several areas. Getting us OFF foreign oil, cleaner air, and a MUCH lower cost to drive vs. gasoline come to mind first.
But I’d really love to see GM become the leader of the pack in all of this and bring US made vehicles to the forefront of technology, innovation, performance, quality, and value. I currently drive a 2005 Toyota Tacoma quad cab, it’s a GREAT vehicle. But I’d trade it today for a Volt!!
January 26th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Way to go Lyle.
Good luck with the site in the future. Most of us here are behind you 100%. If you’re a shill you’re our shill.
Thanks again for this great site and all the work you put into it. You’ve done a fantastic job.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:15 am
For every ONE who bothers to speak out and raises their hand for a Volt, there are HYNDREDS (perhaps thousands) who quietly wait in the shadows.
EVERY executive knows this simple fact.
Keep up the hard work, Lyle.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am
I can’t say i’ve ever been GM’s biggest fan. But since the promise of the Volt, my only gripe is that they won’t sell it internationally, or more specifically to me, in Australia.
Hopefully the volt will be enough to motivate Toyota to produce something better than the joke they call the prius. However i’d rather GM was the leader and not toyota. Toyota had the opportunity, and they chose to perpetuate the reliance on the ICE. For changing the paradigm with the Volt, GM is to be congratulated.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Congratulations, Lyle!!!
Keep up the good work on the site and the interviews.
This is one of the first sites I read in the morning when I get up.
I think everyone should be care full on responding to news release from GM about the VOLT, any product going through design and in to production goes has many changes, setbacks and goals are made.
YES I will buy Volt if its under $30k,
$40K I have to run the numbers and look real hard at it
Keep up the good work Lyle and I hope we all can be driving a Volt in 2 years
January 26th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Lyle,
Great job on the site. I am impressed you have a full time job and manage to manage this site as well and you don’t even get paid for this.
I hope every employee works just as hard on the car to get it out soon!
G
January 26th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Lyle,
Have you kept track of the waiting list timestamps? I’d be curious what number I am. I think I signed up somewhere in the seven thousands. Can you check for me?
Thanks
January 26th, 2008 at 9:59 am
The Volt was all over the local news here in mid-Michigan (WSGW AM-790). They began by talking about the Detroit Auto Show, discussing all of the electric and alternative cars on display. Then then went on to discuss other manufacturers who are gearing up whole departments of engineers to begin working on electric vehicle development. Then the discussion turned to the Volt and where it is and how it came to be.
An interesting side note was Bill Clinton’s speech in South Carolina yesterday. He was talking about Hillary’s platform and that she wants to plow billions into getting this country off of oil and into electric cars. He spoke about the Volt, its range and all the benefits of owning it. The crowd was incredibly enthusiastic and applauded a number of times while he was explaining it.
I hope GM is excited about all the press and exposure. I sure am.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I agree. You have done a great job Lyle.
It would be interesting to see a plot of the waiting list size by week since it was started. Then you could point out the growth rate when people thought the Volt would sell for less than $30k and what the new growth rate is now that everyone expects the Volt to cost more than $40k.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Several people asked to be removed from the waiting list after the $40k cost announcement. Does the waiting list count reflect the total number of sign-ups or the actual number of people on the list?
January 26th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I started a spreadsheet on 9 Dec and have updated it every Saturday; starting to get a nice trend line. Lyle probably has all the weekly numbers from day-one… a graph/chart showing the waiting list trend would be a nice addition to the blog.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Bryan K #12 & #13:
I TOTALLY agree with your #12 …a simple plot of #’s wait-listed by week from Jan ‘07 to Jan ‘08 (using Excel) should be highly useful to GM because it should reflect the effect of the $30K expectation vs the $40K possibility.
However, I disagree with your #13 because it’s probably not worth the effort …and remember there are likely to be perhaps hundreds of potential “wait listers” that have simply never been aware of gm-volt.com!
January 26th, 2008 at 10:34 am
…I meant to say, “there are likely to be perhaps hundreds of potential “wait listers” that have simply never been aware of gm-volt.com FOR EVERY NAME ON THE WAITING LIST!
January 26th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Thanks Lyle,
We all need to push for Electric Cars - as well as solar panels to power them from our homes. Also, American Industry needs to maintain a manufacturing base for the good of our economy. This will help the balance of payments 2 ways: A) US CARS & B) US Fuel.
It will also make the air cleaner and slow the
threat of Global Warming … which would flood NYC, New Orleans, All of Florida, and many other coastal areas. The devastation from a 40 ft sea rise would be very hard to recover from for the USA as well as the world.
I have 7040 watts of PV on my roof and I am waiting for the plug in vehicle to use my surplus generation.
Steve
http://www.goldenoldy.org
“The Sustainable Museum of Sustainable Transportation”
January 26th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I’m not always the most positive person, I generally am a pessimist. I am always skeptical of the release date, I am one of the people who think the the site is a little over the top and ’shilley’ and I was less than thrilled at the ‘40K issue’
….but at the end of the day if a electric car is actually mass produced, regardless if the math vs gas doesn’t hold up, it will be a good day.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Lyle,
Thank you for introducing this vehicle and the people behind it. This is a new way for regular people to influnce the free market. I love the free enterprise system and I like the idea that we consumers can bend it to our will. This is, after all, the way the system is supposed to work. Let GM make a smar and efficient car and let GM sell them by the thousands.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:45 am
16. nasaman
I agree totally. Just yesterday I was talking to someone in the financial business who was oblivious to the development of the Volt…. You mean like the Prius? No, not like the Prius, it will go 40 miles on battery…. Yada Yada Yada - I give the whole spiel and tell them about gm-volt.com. Almost no one that I talk to has heard much about it, but that will change over time.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:06 am
In the television ads for the Volt, GM should mention this website, at least in the small print. Eh?
January 26th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I have to admit that I am a GM-Volt.com addict. I have the need to come here everyday for the latest info and development. To 10k and beyond. Great job Lyte. Champagne anyone? Yes, it is too early. For the BBQ in 2010. FYI: everytime I send an email at home/work my signature is the address of this site.
From environmentally friendly to gas free
http://www.gm-volt.com
January 26th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Lyle, congratulations to you, and all who have been part of this effort. Whether a reader, or poster, or member of the list, or an official who has agreed to be interviewed, thanks for supporting this great effort!
January 26th, 2008 at 11:51 am
This has been such an upbeat and encouraging thread, I am sorry to cast a shadow but many of the names were entered when the Volt was supposed to be priced “comfortably below $30,000.” I am certainly hoping for GM’s success, but whoever brings out a PHEV with at least a 25 mile AER (either GM or Toyota or Ford) that I can afford will get my business. As I explained before, I loved the last Olds, but it was priced way above the Avalon. It looks like the PHEV Prius will be available in 2011, so price matters. Either would reduce air pollution and our dependence on foreign oil.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Congrats on the 10,000 mark. I’m a bit of an Aptera fan (the electric version) and they have a reservation list. I think they have only hit 1,129 so far. Of course, they started later and require a $500 deposit to get on the list. Hopefully, GM will soon start accepting similar deposits so you and the other Volt wanna be buyers can show them how serious you are.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:59 am
just remember (who killed the electric car) i hope this is not a repeat
January 26th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
This week there has been a lot of coverage in our local press about the actual local debut of the Smart.
According to the reports, there are 30,000 people on the $99 deposit list. The first year’s allocation (20,000 I read somewhere) would appear to be more than sold out. The customers are standing on one foot and then the other, waiting for their cars to be custom assembled in France and shipped over.
The power of these waiting/deposit lists, when properly administered by smart (no pun intended) people like Roger Penske, cannot be over estimated.
BTW, I checked with my younger son on his Mini Cooper. They paid down their deposit, and the car was assembled to order in England and delivered in 8 weeks. I believe that this is what they are quoting for the Smart as well.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
tom morgan (#26)
Don’t worry. GM has LOTS of competition because today’s market is entirely different than it was in the late 90s.
GM is just ONE of MANY companies working on E-REVs. The demand and pace of development is growing VERY rapidly.
Don’t want to pay $40K Volt, go buy one of the $25K Chinese E-REV that will hit US market around 2011 or just modify a used hybrid.
The future is economical electric choices.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Keep up the good work Lyle! I’m tired of sending my hard earned $ to the Middle East. For example, Google “Dubai before and after.” I also look forward to the day when I no longer see the pollution over our big cities. I plan on driving this car 30 miles to work one way, charge it at work, then drive it 30 miles back home. No gas! I’ve bought Japanese cars for the last 20 yrs and I’m going to give GM a try with this car because I believe in it and what they are trying to do.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Thanks for all the hard work.
I’m buying this car the second it comes out.
– Chuck
January 26th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Check this out from GM, http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/01/gm-introduces-b.html
January 26th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Kyle:
Looking forward to the Volt being made available to the public. The number on the list is unimportant compared to the Volt being avaibale.
Hope to be one of the first to own a Volt. keep up the great work!!
John.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Check this one out also, http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/
January 26th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
# 26 “
just remember (who killed the electric car) i hope this is not a repeat”
Since the movie, it’s certainly popular to blame GM for “killing” the electric car. But let’s not forget that the group was also composed of Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler, and Ford.
It’s funny how those 5 have been completely forgiven
January 26th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Plug-in hybrids are coming. Period. If not from GM then from eveybody else. GM will make the “Volt”, we all have to wait, and continue to “want-it”, “demand-it”, etc.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Tesla Says Roadster Passes Federal Crash Tests, check it out, http://blogs.edmunds.com/GreenCarAdvisor/194
January 26th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Hey GM…make this a hybrid with a sub 25K price?? check it out… http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=124222/pageNumber=1
January 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Just want to say, Lyle, how glad I am someone like you has the initiative and sticktoitiveness to foster this web site and continue your work.
At the present time I drive a little VW Golf and over the past three years have averaged 49 mies per gallon, the last year on mainly B-100 soy bean diesel. It can be done and the Volt will certainly go a long way towards our energy independence.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Ford’s next generation Escape Hybrid is starting to emerge. GM needs to get busy in a hurry, or may just miss the “boat” so-to-speak…check it out… http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2008-01-24-ford-escape-plugin-hybrid_N.htm
January 26th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I think its safe to say that none of us here think you’re a shill for GM Lyle.
In many ways, you’ve done more to advertise and promote the Volt than even GM has.
Thanks for all the time and effort you’ve put into this, and congrats on the wait list breaking 10K.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
#34 George K
“# 26 “
just remember (who killed the electric car) i hope this is not a repeat”
Since the movie, it’s certainly popular to blame GM for “killing” the electric car. But let’s not forget that the group was also composed of Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler, and Ford.
It’s funny how those 5 have been completely forgiven”
Maybe it’s because Toyota and Ford relented and allowed lessees to buy Rav4 ev’s and Rangers, while GM charged for the dings and dents before they crushed them. And with all the talk about how batteries aren’t ready yet, these 10+ year old cars are still on the road. PG&E still has 200 or so of them. I see one driving around Palm Springs all the time.
Don’t get me wrong,I really hope GM pulls this off. This will really shake things up. If they don’t, I’ll just buy a plug-in from another manufacturer. I will never buy a non plug in car again, I don’t care the cost.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Lyle, congratulations. This site has become a “must visit” site for me. It is the first thing I check in the morning and the last one I check at night. I have learned so much from it. I think I became aware of it a few months after you started it. Plug-in technology is very important to me. I really want GM to succeed (even though the last GM car I bought was back in 1986). Keep up the good work, Lyle. I have a great deal of respect for you.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
HI: I want to order a die cast chev volt,.
But the order will not go .Can you help Bill sawatsky.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Congratulations on 10k.
I joined this site about 3 months ago and have mentioned it to just about anyone who would listen. Sometimes you see their eyes glaze over, and sometimes you see them light up when they realize the implications of this automobile.
Traditionally I am not an anti oil, greenie type, however we are at a point where political, enviromental, economic and technical intrest are all converging. We all may have different motivations but the end result is the same.
In the long run it matters little what the volt sells for because it wont be produced in a vacuum. The free market will determine what options, models, price and features eventually become available.
Be optimistic.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
When did the 40K announcement come out ???
January 26th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Lyle:
Shill? Cult Leader? I don’t think you are trying to dupe anyone, nor does your ego seem oversized. I really appreciate what you are doing and I am eager for the information you make avaliable.
I am very excited about the pending availability of PEVs. Thanks to you, I can more easily follow developments towards GM’s, and others’, PEVs. Because the Volt will probably be the first to market, I am especially interested in it. I hope it realizes its original concept. If it differs slightly from its original concept, that is understandable- my projects don’t always turn out the way I envisioned them.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Lyle - 10k is quite a landmark - congrats! Thank you for this site and all you do for the E-REV cause.
I love having a place where I can go and read up on the latest Volt developments and then debate the finer points of the development with the community.
Now GM just needs to get you a production-version of the Volt for review. Hopefully this will occur later this year. Cmon GM!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Lyle, Your communication efforts are evolving upward and onward. I’m trying to tie the Volt technology to solar power as I upgrade my PG&E grid-tied system to accommodate the charging schedule of the Volt.
Keep up the motivation with GM, battery contractors et al.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Mike #45 if you’re talking about the price, it was never announced. There was a release from GM that they might not/won’t be able to keep it under 30K. The 40K was ensuing speculation. There was quite a bit of heated debate about that.
They’re going to have to stick to their original price target. I’ve seen it written that Toyota has made a profit on every Prius, and that’s not true. They were in the red for quite a while.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
nasaman @ 1,
GOOD idea about Lyle sending out a press release to all the major media outlets. Fast way to get exposure.
Congrats Lyle.
On the 30K vs 40K, this is an opportunity for GM. Play with purchasing, leasing, and financing here. You can do a lot with this battery and you mise well exploit it WHILE BENEFITING THE CONSUMER.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Continental AG announced a deal with Maxwell to
buy Ultracapacitors for creating electric buffer system for a major auto manufacturer and for a 2010 model.
Could this for VOLT or Mercedes S400/300 Hybrid ?
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/4cb3ed9b4369f94634a540d88e0e1874.htm
January 26th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Lyle
The first time I came here, I knew you were doing something important, but I never thought you would be as successful as you have been. Congratulations on your accomplishment and I look forward to reading this blog for the next three years or so.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
If wanting to reduce oil consumption, clean up air pollution, preserve US jobs, and preserve the US manufacturing base makes a person a cult member, then I plead guilty as charged.
Mike G., #45:
It came from yet another ill considered remark by Mr. Lutz several days ago. Rashiid dug it up and posted the quote again on one of the very recent threads. If not the last one, then the one before it.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Noel, and Mike G. Here is the $40K quote again. This quote is from Bob Lutz.
“I don’t know. You’d like to have it at about $30,000 for the customer, but what I’m hearing from the team is we’re not going to get there. They say we might get there on the second generation, and they say if they had a lot more time they might be able to cost-optimize it. I don’t want to wait for cost optimization. I’d rather come out in 2010, and if it costs closer to 40 than 30, well, that’s too bad.”
The link is here:
http://www.gm-volt.com/2008/01/16/lutz-first-volts-will-cost-more-than-30000/#comments
January 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
not only does GM read this site.
Yesterday I meet my congressman and invited him here. I had a prepared note for him. This is just up his street, he had sponsored a bill for Uncle Sam to purchase 60,000 plugins. The bill didn’t pass.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Rashiid # 54
Thanks, I forgot that Lutz had mentioned a fuzzy 40, and again, he did say “if”.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
No problem, Grizzly.
Yes he did say “if”. But what a firestorm that comment made though.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Yes because for most Americans, 30 to 40K is a threshold leap.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Ten thousand on the waiting list is a lot of people. Hopefully we can get the number up to 50 or 100 thousand over the next couple of years. I don’t remember so much hype about a car three years before it is even produced. Congrats Lyle.
By the way …I went to the St. Louis auto show last night. GM had a lot of nice cars there. My favorites were as follows:
Cadillac CTS
Camero concept (hot car)
Malibu
Solstice
Unfortunately, the Volt was not there. I am considering buying a CTS to hold me over until 2010. My daughter turns 16 this year and I am considering buying her a Pontiac G5.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I’m very hopeful to see the “GM VOLT” on the market. And hopeful the price will be reasonable. We as the American People deserve this chance at an electric car. We have been knocked around, stolen from, lied to, taken advantage of, but mostly VICTIMIZED by not only the oil companies gloating in their billion dollar profits, but it looks to me a whole lot of others are in bed with the oil companies lavishing in the billion dollar profits.
Now as I see it it is OUR turn to lavish in saving money from gas and at the same time driving a beautiful, classy GM Volt and feel relieved and also proud that someone is on our side. Thanks GM.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
On your 10 k list… it would be nice…really great if GM offered the Volt to us in the order that we signed up.. The we could be given a choice of if we still wanted the Volt at $ 30 K or the new pricing of $ ???
Pick Me !!! Pick ME !!!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Whats a Camero?
January 26th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
# Robert.V Says:
January 26th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Whats a Camero?
**** *****
I think they’re cookies like Vienna Fingers
but by a different company ;).
January 26th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
It is important that the writers in the $30K/$40K discussion think some more about how prices of new cars are determined. They are NOT going to be determined as some number set by GM. What GM is going to decide is how many to produce.
Undoubtedly GM will take into account the availability of components, most notably the big battery, and the prices, and the assembly capability, and probably many other things. Still, in the end all they will decide is HOW MANY. Yes, they will put a sticker price on the window. But, as we all know, that price will go up or down at every dealership, so that buy the end of the model year, every unit will be sold above sticker, at sticker, or below sticker.
That is, GM will decide the number to be made, and the market will decide the price. What GM is doing with the 30K/40K discusssion is trying out the response to various prices, so that they can try to set the sticker price fairly close to the market price. That’s sensible because it leads to an orderly market.
Now it is to the great credit of Lyle and gm-volt.com (and all of you writers) as well as GM that interest has been stimulated, buyers are evident out there, and the market price has gone up. Perverse for us loyalists in some ways, yes, but overall a good thing, as it generates planning for a higher number of cars to be made.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Sweet One more Milestone closer to the Biggest Auto revolution in Automobile History.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Congrats to our cult leader Lyle Dennis!!
I picked up this site about 3 months ago after seeing it in a cnnmoney.com article (I think). I hate to admit I’ve been here almost every day since then. Keep up the excellent work.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Grizzly Noel and Rashiid, Thanks for the follow-up on the 40K quote. Pretty incredible bunch of people on this site!!
January 26th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
You’re quite welcome, Mike G.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Robert.V #62:
Whoops …meant to type Camaro. I hope they will have a plug in version some day. In my opinion, it is the coolest looking car I have ever seen (within my price range).
January 27th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Don’t forget about the effects of inflation. If you are infrequent car buyers like me, it can be a real eye opener. Our last new car was a 93 Chrysler LH which was a first year car that I just had to have and I paid a premium. In 2007 dollars it is well north of $30k. See:
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
January 27th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Perhaps GM can get some extra marketing mileage, raise a little $, gain some good will (hopefully for free), etc. Offer numbered reservations for $1000 (or more)with the terms of returning the $ plus 10% annual interest if the customers Volt is not delivered within 3 years. This would commit the buyer to buy and GM to build. I know this amount of $ would be pocket lint for GM, but they have to 10% for bonds anyway.
Please forgive the redundancy if this has been suggested already.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
#64
I agree somewhat. I’m sure GM has bean counters that tell them they can sell X amount of cars at X amount of dollars.
I suspect GM is also getting a better handle on what the cost of the battery is going to be and all of the futuristic electronics (dash/roof) ect… Since they’ve now determined the base cost of the car will be closer to the mid/high 30’s compared to the high 20’s, I believe we’ll have much better idea of the actual MSRP within a year.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Hey Lyle,
Your growing waiting list for the Volt is being reported on The Energy Blog.
GM-Volt.com Reaches Major Milestone: Waitlist for Chevy Volt Climbs to 10,000
http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2008/01/gm-voltcom-reac.html
January 27th, 2008 at 10:15 am
On anyother note, anyone gotten their Chevy Volt die cast model yet? I ordered the first day Lyle reported. Hasn’t arrived yet.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Lyle,
As always, great thanks for your outstanding work and congratulations on the milestone. I have been reading this site since the week it opened and I’m always impressed with the depth of knowledge and level of reporting that you provide. The other key component to the success of this site is the community that has spring up around it. This too is a credit to your efforts. You have continually fostered a candid yet polite discussion of the topics posted here and it is as much of a joy to read the comments as it is to read the articles.
I predict we will reach 20K faster than 10K. I also look forward to the day when we too can post about our personal experiences with the Volt!
January 27th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Dave, I haven’t received mine either. And because I didn’t create an account, I can log in to see if it shipped.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:47 am
This is technology that should have been refined thirty years ago. It seems that the big oil companies have such control over the progress of non-oil burning technology. The USA put a man on the moon in 1969 and look at the progress then when all that was at stake was to beat the Russians. Right now we have a vehicle on Mars that is running on battery power fueled by the sun. Our world can’t continue to move like a tortoise on developing battery technology either to power our automobiles or heat our homes. If the government would appropriate the money it spends on wars towards clean fuel technology we could all be driving volt- like automobiles. GM should strive to build the Volt with the utmost care in quality control and withing the price range of average americans. This should be their ultimate goal. The rest will take care of itself.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Lyle,
I want to echo what so many others have said. You do a great job!
Like Rashiid Amul and others, this is the first place I come to in the morning and the last in the evening. If the truth were known, I check back often throughout the day looking for the latest news.
I’ve become more enthusiastic about the Volt than even my very first car (a 1939 Ford) many years ago. That enthusiasm is now starting to cause me a real problem. I have to have one. And, my wife just told me a few days ago that she wants one too! Now what am I going to do?
January 27th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Lyle,
Keep up the good work. I know I’m being redundant but oh well. I check for your updates first thing in the morning and last thing at night. It’s almost as good as seeing the UPS truck pull up when you post an update. I still have hopes that the Volt will come in under 30 grand maybe in a striped version or something Then I will be able to afford one. CW
January 27th, 2008 at 11:58 am
James Adams #77:
I agree with most of what you say with only one or two caveats…
First, when you say, “The USA put a man on the moon in 1969 and look at the progress then when all that was at stake was to beat the Russians.” …Those of us who worked on the Apollo program were told there was a GREAT DEAL MORE at stake than simply beating the Russians to the moon …namely avoiding loss of the cold war to the USSR! That’s why Apollo was given an extremely-high *military* priority rating; the “moon shot” payoff was MUCH more than simply embarrassing the USSR …it gave us the world’s most advanced launch vehicle technology (the Saturn C5 is still the world’s most powerful rocket, including our Shuttle & anything the Russians, Europeans or Chinese have). In the minds of our top Air Force Generals, Apollo was needed for the cold war to be sure we could launch much bigger payloads than the Soviets. In fact, we’re now reverting to several key breakthroughs from Apollo for the next moon launches to establish a permanent base on the moon as a first step to the manned exploration of Mars.
One other caveat… NASA has developed very sophisticated spacecraft batteries that last 20 years unattended in the harsh environment of space. However, like NASA fuel cells, these batteries are far too expensive for commercial use without significant additional development (as has been going on with fuel cells) to make them commercially viable. Lithium Ion research seems to be on its way to achieving this, but with great recurring battery costs, and more research money should be made available to pursue commercializing the Stanford silicon nanowire work and/or other hopeful battery technologies. The Japanese government has always heavily supported this kind of research …we MUST start doing much more of it if we hope to have our automotive industry survive!
I’m in complete agreement with everything else you say… “Our world can’t continue to move like a tortoise on developing battery technology either to power our automobiles or heat our homes. If the government would appropriate the money it spends on wars towards clean fuel technology we could all be driving volt-like automobiles. GM should strive to build the Volt with the utmost care in quality control and within the price range of average americans.”
I’ll underscore that by adding that the US Government indeed SHOULD have invested Billions in battery technology years ago. But what could we expect when two big oilmen were running the US Government?!? As we all know, that will change in Jan 2009.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Lyle, someone above mentioned home-solar to power our Volts. I do remember Nanosolar’s promise to make a home-charging kit for EVs. If there is a lull in the action at GM I’d appreciate an update from Nanosolar.
P.S.
If anyone who lives in California glossed over post #33, you might want to go back and take a second look at Phoenix Motors. They are making a wait-list for California consumer sales. All-electric trucks and SUVs, lithium batteries, 10 minute charge time, 95 mph, available soon.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
When is the pre-order option going to be available for people on this list? ^_^
January 27th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Let me get this right, bush should have done more in battery technology. Why, didn’t Carter,or can’t keep it in his pant Clinton. Why hasn’t both house done something, stop trying to blame people and get it done. Both parties need to be replace, the run things and have put use in this mess
January 27th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I am telling everyone about this car and website. It is about time a large car company is taking strides to produce a car that greatly reduces our dependence on foreign oil. It was sad when the EV1 was killed in the mid-90’s. But this seems promising so far. If I could afford to buy one of those Tesla electric cars coming out this year, I would, but the Volt might be the next best thing. Keep up the good work!
January 27th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
If any of you clicked the link and watched the bloggers press conference with Mr. Wagoner of GM, he proposed higher fuel taxes as a way to spur the public’s demand for higher efficiency vehicles.
While I think it safe to assume none of us really want to have to pay more for fuel, if the taxes were used to help make the Volt and other EVs more affordable, that may help soften the blow of the “closer to $40k” sticker price.
After reading this blog for several months and like others being addicted, it seems clear that a huge shift in the auto industry is so close to being a reality. It’s a no brainer! Like others have said, it achieves so many goals from environmental, to financial, to dependence on foreign oil, to revitalizing the US auto industry.
I like to see the free market at work, but the government really needs to wake up and see why they need to help make this happen!
Just my 2¢.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I would support a flat tax on vehicles based on their MPGs. Like say $500 for every 1 MPG below 30.
Then roll all that money up into building infrastructure for not just electric vehicles, but solar, wind, turbine (etc) power generation.
I don’t think I would turn around and give GM or any car manufacturer a check directly for development. I like the consumer buys–consumer gets a check system alot better. Competition increases efficiencies, and cuts out all the lobbying/political chaff.
It’s a proven system that works in many areas/countries for solar.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Good to hear 10K people have signed up on the waiting list. I think that means hundreds of thousands of people are actually considering this car.
I drove the EV1… for two days 150 miles.
If the VOLT is even close to the EV1 it most certainly will be a hit.
I don’t see anything getting close to the EV1 for many years. But as soon as enough people realize how simple the electric car is.. they will catch on.
I would love to see a EV1 fitted with the latest Lion batteries..just to see it’s performance with the new batteries. I had no problems diving the NiMH EV1. It hit 80mph like nothing and seemed it could go to 100 easily.
I’ll be ready in 2012 ..
GM….. GET IT DONE!
January 27th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
HOLD EVERYTHING!
I think we are missing a great opportunity! If congress can pass a bill that allows the very rich to deduct the price of a Hummer from thier taxes then why not something similar for us regular joes?
You (your taxes anyway) helped pay for those massive vehicles on the road. Now its time to turn the tables on them and have them help us pay for the vehicles we want to drive.
If we could get a tax deduction similar to what the Hummer owners recieved the 30K/40K qestion would be moot. The government would be paying us to buy one!
Incidently I agree with #83, stop trying to blame everything on your least favorite polatician.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Being a Republican, I have to weigh in on the comments made blaming Bush/Cheneny.
You are right. They are the worst that have ever lead this country. However, the others are right also. It’s the entire congress and past Presidents. They are all in bed with the lobbyists. Congress and the President are not there to help the average person on the street. They are there to help the rich and the special interest. The Hummer tax breaks need to go away and be replaced with EV tax breaks.
January 27th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Hi lyle,
I was out the two last days without a computer.
Congatulations, like a lot of other people here said, I check gm-volt.com at least once a day with great pleasure and I’m truly disappointed if there is no new post a given day.
Perhaps I’ll see a doctor : this behaviour is an addiction. (just kidding)
As was said, being an economist, I agree with the idea that Bob Lutz was testing the market when he evoked the 40K $ possibility. There is no risk for GM to do that now, there are still so many options open, …
Wonder what will be the number on the counter of the waiting list on January 27th 2009, let’s hope well above 20,000.
January 27th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Sorry guys, I am not as ready as some of you to condem Bush/Cheney. Have you forgotten the last 2-Presendital elections were nothing more than a choice between undesirables. From what I see the best of the worst were elected. And, the 2008 election is likely to be a rerun; a choice between undesirables!
Let’s take politics out of this forum once and for all and focus instead on the electrification of the automobile!
January 27th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I’m going to stay out of politics on this site. I do agree with R.A. in post #89 in that we need some sort of effective tax credit for vehicles like the Volt.
I’ve got to wonder what the Japanese gov’t did to help Toyota launch the Prius for the price they did? I know for a fact that this thing not only happens all the time, but also that it was sold below cost, and I’m sure Toyota didn’t absorb the full cost.
Since we understand the costs involved with the Volt, why can’t the Fed Govt offer GM something to offset so that there won’t be a problem with the Volt coming to market with a <$30K price tag? Can’t directly subsidize, for obvious reasons, but surely the tax man could make this worthwhile to GM, and the consumer. It’s win/win.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I think the magic solution is to progressively raise the gasoline tax and use the proceeds for two purposes: improve our transportation infrastructure (rail, roads, bridges) and for very generous rebates on new fuel efficient and/or environmentally improved cars like the Chevy Volt.
With this approach, people will be more accepting of the increasing price of filling up because you have options: you can buy a new car with a generous government subsidy. Plus, the other part of the money would go toward reducing traffic congestion and for rail transit and for safer bridges. We need this type of infrastructure to remain productive in the world economy (i.e. our good infrastructure can allow us to retain higher salaries as long as we have a productivity advantage).
We may also need a gasoline “floor” tax. This tax would kick in if the price of gasoline goes below certain levels (for example, below $3) and would mean the price of gasoline would never go below the floor amount, regardless of supply/demand.
Since this is a pretty regressive tax, I could also see rebating some of this tax to those in the lower income quintile.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
How about giving people a break on income tax if they live close to work?
Like if you live within 10 miles of work, you pay 10% less, and within 20 miles 5% less, or something like that.