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GM-Volt.com on NBC Nightly News
April 22nd, 2008 | Posted in: Public Opinion
We have achieved another milestone here at GM-Volt.com. On earth day, 4/22/2008, NBC Nightly News aired a segment about the Chevy Volt featuring our site GM-Volt.com.
My thanks and appreciation to reporter Brian Thompson who did an excellent job creating the segment. With each new foray into mainstream media, we are all helping to get the message out about the Chevy Volt and what it represents, the profoundly important ability to drive without the use of gasoline.
Popularity: 6%
(15 votes, average: 4.8 out of 5) 
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Posted by: Lyle
95 Responses to “GM-Volt.com on NBC Nightly News”
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April 22nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
is this the national news or just the local NY news?
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Love how he says “unproved technology” at the end..
HELLO…It was ‘proven’ back in the EV-1 days. It isn’t unproven at all.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Good job Lyle, exactly what is needed…turning the heat up! Did anyone catch the Nova episode tonight with the Magliozzi brothers(click and clak)? Another outstanding Nova episode, and the Volt was mentioned. I’ll have this up on Youtube soon.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Lyle
Hang in there. I think we are winning. Thank you for what you have done. IMHO you have forced GM to build the volt.
Take Care
Arch
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Bravo Lyle. Any exposure is terrific exposure and exposes the general public to the existence of the Volt program.
I’d like to see that youtube video from Nova when it gets loaded.
Now GM, any chance we can see the finished design and it actually on the road in late summer early fall? If you had this on the road now or this year, there wouldn’t be any other car manufacturers left standing as you’d corner the market with people standing in line to buy one. Its really that bad out there for most consumers right now….people simply are running out of places to cut in their budgets to pay for rising fuel costs.
Wished you could pull a rabbit out of your hat like so many manufacturers were able to do during WWII.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Lyle
Thank you for providing this forum. You are playing an important role that contributes to the betterment of the human condition.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
#6 ThombDbhomb et. al.
And that is truly what its all about in the end. Not just saving money personally, or having a smaller footprint on the planet, but creating a better world for our children and leaving it in better shape than we received it. That should be what we strive for and Lyle, the contributors to this site, and GM and their dedicated Volt Team Members are all helping to move us in that direction. Truly a remarkable time.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Kudos to the Volts “#1 Cheerleader”
I love how some people are refering to it as a “cult”, and “it’s gonna be huge”.
That’s what we want. A revolution in transportation. I hope the E-REV is like the i-pod…imagine hundreds of accessories for the “the E-REV”. Like the E-REV bumper mounted electric barbeque, or add on solar trickle chargers, or…
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
From the video, I see Lyle is a member of my Mac “cult” as well. I knew he was brilliant.
I thought this was much better than the Nova coverage, since Nova implied GM was dragging out the development and also didn’t mention it’s priority within the GM organization.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Paul-R #9
No telling how long it took Nova to put that piece together, but fair to say it wasn’t completed last week.
I’ve yet to see a bad Nova episode, this one included. What we have to keep in mind is that most of us on this forum are on the cutting edge WRT developments regarding EVs and the like that change on a dime.
One clue to the timeliness of info was the interview of Martin Eberhard, he was still with Tesla at the time!
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
WOW! What a suberb little news segment. That’s going to get the “watercooler speculators” talking at the office tomorrow! Perhaps not as much as Democratic Primaries or a polygamy ranch, but people are really starting to grasp at any sign of relief from gas pains. Anybody want to take bets on Lyle’s web counter statistics?
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Lyle,
Perhaps you could clarify. Your clip came from a local affiliate, right? I have a copy of tonight’s NBC news with Brian Williams and you’re not on it.
Doesn’t really matter, coverage is coverage I just wanted to clarify.
Thanks
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Lyle, great job! That’s really great publicity! I hear that Leno may have and opening if a few weeks :)??!
Grizzly, I did watch the “Cars of the Future” segment on Nova tonight. They had some good things to say about the Volt, but some of it was really out-of-date. I didn’t like the quote from the Wall Street Journal reporter that the Volt is “essentially an imaginary car”. Perhaps that was at the ‘07 Detroit Auto Show, They later stated that “GM hopes to start producing the car by the end of the decade”, but still hinted that the batteries aren’t ready yet.
Never-the-less, it still came across as a great plug for the Volt.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:22 pm
# 12 George K
a great plug for the Volt
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Lyle - As always, a very well done interview!
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 am
#6, ThombDbhomb wrote: Lyle … you are playing an important role that contributes to the betterment of the human condition.
Ditto! Nice job Lyle …
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 am
Great Stuff Lyle.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:37 am
Just another thank you, Lyle.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:20 am
MUCH better coverage than Fox biz. They seemed to get all of the pertinent facts right. No attempt to make Volt Nation look like a marginal group. The interview with the employer who encouraged his employees to sign up was compelling.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:29 am
P.S. Any chance that the NBC Nightly News or MSNBC will pick it up? Can we start an e-mail campaign to get them to do so? Send the NBC 4 link to:
letters@msnbc.com
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:54 am
On the Click and Clack NOVA special, GM gave no straight answer on the release date. In fact, no year was mentioned. Still 2010?
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 am
Lyle, let your beard and hair grow out, and the Volt and you can become folk heros. (smile here). Seriously, great job!
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:23 am
Great job, Lyle!
I found another positive link regarding GM and hybrid vehicles:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/23/autos/gm_missing_hybrids/?postversion=2008042304
GM appears to be getting serious about fuel economy.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:00 am
As usual Lyle, GREAT JOB!!
Pretty soon Lyle is going to need an agent, when they start calling about the movie rights……………..
Can they get Tom Cruise to play the part of Jim I ???????????? More likely, it will be Ernest Borgnine……….
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 am
Great Job Lyle :
You have paid for your VOLT many times over. I would hate to think what all this free publicity would cost GM if they had to pay for it ?
I just hope GM doesn’t forget all of us that have signed up for the purchase of a VOLT, at stuck by them in their effort to change the history of automotive travel.
God Bless America !!!
Tom
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 am
Good stuff, as always. The Nova episode was really good, but some of the information was obviously dated. The Volt segment could have been a year old. And no need to wait for youtube, the video is all on the pbs website
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Great interview, Lyle! Thank you for your tireless efforts!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 am
Thanks Lyle,
I’m a school teacher, computer technology. This site and the 20+ other sites dedicated to their respective “horseless carriage” makes me think of a little cheer they use in football season.
What do we want? A TOUCH-DOWN !!!
WHEN do we want it? NOW !!!
To mutilate it here. . .
What do we want? A Chevy-VOLT!!!
When do we Want it ? NOW !!!!
Thanks Lyle for being the best cheerleader and helping to get our voices heard.
Individually, we have an idea about what we want.
At Volt-Nation, together we have a VOICE to declare it.
You’ve gotten us noticed.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 am
Cantjam #27
Being also a teacher, I may complement your comment by saying that one of the main results of game theory is that cooperation is the best way to achieve a common goal AND individual strategies.
And being Belgian, to remind that our national motto is “Strength lies in unity” or more literally “Union makes power”. exactly what I think is happening with this site and events like Volt-Nation.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 am
Good Job Lyle! I think it may be time to start selling T-shirts in addition to the bumper stickers. That will be an additional source of $$$ to operate this site and also another form of advertisement for this site and the Volt.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 am
Way to go, Lyle. How you find the time to do all of this is beyond me.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 am
I’d love to have a T-Shirt.
And/Or Ball Cap.
Could somebody help Lyle out with this?
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Great job, Lyle but these reporters (and everyone else) need some coaching.
How can I tell? The reporter said “In SOME circumstances it won’t need gas at all.” Come on!!
Lyle, every time you speak the following statistic MUST to be emphasized FIRST:
Question: Mr. Dennis, why are you so enthusiastic about the Volt?
Answer: “Well, Mr. Reporter. The Volt has a 40 mile all electric range and a 400 mile total range. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 78% of ALL round trips and 92% of all one way trips are less than 40 miles, so in MOST circumstances the Volt won’t use any gas at all! On those rare occasions when it does use gas it will get between 50 and 150 MPG or more”
This is you new mantra! Memorize it!
Make sure you ask him to read a short flyer (talking points) which includes:
1) The USDOT study data which includes MPG at each point in the study and compare $/Gallons Per Mile vs. $/Electricity Per Mile at peak rates just to be conservative.
http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/06/how-did-gm-determine-that-78-of-commuters-drive-less-than-40-miles-per-day/
2) That the current grid can currently handle ¾ of the entire US fleet without building new power plants if the vehicles are charged off peak between the hours 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM and that this is when most of the cars will be recharged charged anyway.
3) That it’s much easier to control the pollution from ONE power plant than it is to control that of tens of thousands of electric cars.
4) That electricity is a domestic product whereas oil is imported.
5) That electricity can be made from renewable sources and even on the roof of your home.
(can anyone think of anything else that should be on this info flyer?)
Hopefully, GM will put this info on the Volt brochures and on the window sticker of EACH Volt in the showroom.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:17 am
Been coming to this site for at least 8 months and never noticed the “wait list” page until watching the video
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:30 am
#30, VaBchJim. I’m for the T-Shirts also. I will buy mine and two for the kids.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:33 am
I’ll buy at least five t-shirts. Several as gifts to friends who are fascinated by the Volt but dont’ come to the site or haven’t signed up for one on the wait list.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
Tim # 33, You can’t talk about the 400 mile range in that way because it sounds like it is a limitation. It can go an additional 400 miles using gas and then you can pull into a gas station to fill up again.
I agree with everything you say. It’s just that one needs to be careful when talking about the extended range. I know what you mean, but I’m not so sure the general public does.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:58 am
Yup, the simpler you keep it the easier it is for everyone to understand.
It’s an electric car with a 40 mile electric range that can be extended by using gasoline/E85.
Interesting thing about the NOVA segment is that they thoroughly cover Hydrogen, and really spell out it’s current limitations. However, GM still has plans of proliferating it throughout China, the reasoning is that they don’t currently have a gasoline infrastructure to replace. Still doesn’t make sense to me.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Great job Lyle. You are our face and voice to GM and the media. You do a truly outstanding job.
Now, get them to get the Volt out in early 2010 to beat Toyota’s plug-in Prius.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
#33 Tim These are very good talking points. We all need to memorize them along with Lyle. Individual conversations remain the most effective means of persuasion, and many of these points are not understood by most people.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
#33 Tim
How about…
It will reduce noise pollution
It will be zippy (torque!)
Fewer moving parts during 78% of ALL round trips and 92% of all one way trips; so, less wear and tear on mechanical system.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:56 am
Companies who sponsor NASCAR and other race cars have a formula for the value of a minute of TV exposure, which rapidly adds up to millions of dollars. Here we have a highly credible professional, with no known financial ties to GM, presenting the case for this new product. What is the value of that to GM? Priceless!
Before I saw this, I was intending to comment on my visit yesterday to the Bob Lutz - Fastlane blog. I used to visited it quite often, but do so much less frequently since I found GM-Volt.com, which is several orders of magnitude better.
This volunteer run blog has MANY more posts, and MANY, MANY more comments than the corporate run and sponsored Fastlane blog. I mean, you make them look like total amateurs. I would suggest that GM should sponsor GM-Volt, except that the independence from GM is one of the more important reasons for the powerful moral authority of this blog. As to the corporate GM FYI blog, the less said the better.
Awesome work Lyle!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:13 am
I have been over to Fastlane a few times.
I have really been unimpressed with the following.
GM-VOLT is great. We can comment, debate, argue, agree, and spread the word. What a great site this is, Lyle. Thank you.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
Thanks for all the positive comments and feedback. A few tidibits.
I only use my mac laptop on occasion, like it or not I am a longstanding PC/Microsoft user, I do try to diversify by having an Apple laptop, shown in the clip.
Actually I spoke at long length with Brian Thompson, only a few snippets of that video are used for the segment. What the reporter winds up reporting is up to them. Believe me I always explain the concept as well as I can , but not everyone quite gets it..a big challenge for GM and one of the benefits of this site (I hope).
This segment only appeared in NY Nightly News, but I was told the Nielson rating for that episode puts it at 250,000 viewers..I wish it would get nationally syndicated.
Volt Nation was actually almost filmed for the Nova episode, but they decided against it at the end..I spoke for an hour to the producer.
And GM isnt paying me (although my wife wishes they would!)..they do fly me out to their press events and put me up in hotels,..the same treatment (or better) is given to all journalists.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
what about the test that should be in April. we don’t hear something about that…..i wonder….
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
In response to #5:
You say that people would stand in line to get a Volt and that the consumer situation is really bad right now with increased fuel costs and no more room to adjust their budgets.
I’d like to think that people will not be rushing out to purchase this vehicle. If the consumer budget situation is getting very tight I doubt that most consumers will have the ability to get one at the projected price of $30,000. Consumer who have the money would be in a position to get one, most consumer’s who don’t have huge savings will not have the means to get one. The situation I see happening is that if there was a mass availabilty of Volts (or any other electric type vehicle) that could drastically reduce peoples expenditure on fuel people who are looking to save money by trading in would try to do so but might find that there current, low fuel economy vehicles will not be worth much on trade in becuase there will be little market for them. These people will that want better economy and lower fuel costs instead will flood the compact market to find a better fuel economy conventional ICE vehicle.
I don’t see vehicles such as the Volt being miracle money savers for regular consumers looking to save money at the pumps. Even if they could get a Volt the fuel savings would likely be diverted to a higher car payment per month with probably would leave budget situations still at a tight level.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Jean-Charles @ 29:
“And being Belgian, to remind that our national motto is “Strength lies in unity” or more literally “Union makes power”. exactly what I think is happening with this site and events like Volt-Nation.”
Glad you keep reminding us these things from time to time. I agree entirely.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Excellent segment!
The momentum is certainly building…
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
VaBchJim #30 Good idea.
Quoting and adapting Rashiid #35 to my personal situation :
“#30, VaBchJim. I’m for the T-Shirts also. I will buy mine and a thousand for the students of my school (… if they reserve theirs).”
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
calgaryvolt, #46 says, “don’t see vehicles such as the Volt being miracle money savers for regular consumers looking to save money at the pumps. Even if they could get a Volt the fuel savings would likely be diverted to a higher car payment per month with probably would leave budget situations still at a tight level.”
I agree, wholeheartedly. The Volt’s price seems to keep going up along with the gas prices. At some point, the Volt may very well not be worth it economically. Environmentally sure, but not economically. It is a real concern of mine. Money is tight for many people. I am now spending $12.02 for gas daily. This is just back and forth to work on my 101 mile round trip at $3.69 a gallon for gas.
In the beginning of the week, it was $11.85 a day. My car gets 31 MPG.
Let me make an assumption (which I doubt will hold true) and say gas will remain steady at $4.00 a gallon throughout the year. For me, the cost of going back and forth to work will be $3,258.06
. My Hyundia cost 13.4K out the door. That is a lot of gas and a lot of years to make up the difference in the price of the Volt.
However, the proper determination can’t be made now because we really don’t know for sure what 2010 or 2011 will bring for the price of the Volt or the cost of gas.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
#33 Tim,
Excellent highlight of the Volt’s capabilities and impact on our transporation system.
I might suggest a final summation:
“Given the disruptive nature of the global world oil supply/demand situation, and the rapidly escalating prices for petroleum products, Bob Lutz, the Vice Chairman of Global Product Development for GM has stated it best “The Electrification of the Automobile in Inevitable”
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Great article about the cost of gas and how it’s climbing.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/04/23/gas.prices/index.html
I know its cnn, but whatever.
As far as the fuel savings for the volt here’s my calculations:
current fuel expenditures per week: $45.00
weeks in the year: 52
Quick math 45.00 * 52 = 2340.00 a year
$2340.00 is what i’ll save. So lets see at a price point of say 40K after incentives it will take me 4 years to get down to 30K, 8 years to get down to 20K, and 12 years to own my volt for 10K.
And these numbers are based off gas being $3.35 (in in NJ lowest in country) imagine what the numbers will look like when gas is $4.50.
Or better yet when there is a 2 mile line at the gas station and everyone is only allowed to buy 5 gallons at $7.50 a gallon, and you have to carry a shotgun in your car for safety. I’ll still be getting my 50 miles all EV, and if i need to go 60 a day i’ll still only need what 4 gallons of gas for the month.
To the guys who think this car is over priced. In 2012 when you can’t get a Volt, and there is no gas to buy, and the value of your ICE car has been reduced by 75% because the whole country is trading them in because there is no gas. You can buy my Volt for 80K, and the mortgage to your house, and you will pay it because you won’t be able to afford your house after you get fired from your job because you can’t get to work.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:16 pm
44 Lyle…….
You (and your distaff secret weapon) are doing a PHENOMENAL job as “the Volt’s #1 cheerleader” ….as NOVA’s Car’s of the Future writers put it last night!!!
And regarding Tim’s well-intended suggestions in #33, I respectfully disagree with him….. for MOST encounters with other people, whether they take place on an elevator or in a TV interview, I’ve found it’s important to keep a story like a moon shot, or the Volt story, VERY simple. I often just say something like……
“GM’s Volt runs with NO gas & with NO performance limitations, for less than ONE-FIFTH the cost of conventional cars. For example, driving 40 miles at 20mpg costs about $7.00 for gas, but costs less than $1.00 for the Volt.”
(I let that sink in, and if the person asks more about it, I answer their questions. I might also mention that “the Volt is totally non-polluting in normal daily driving, and for a trip like from NY to LA, it gets better mileage than any hybrid available.”)
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
JPhillips, #52: Like mine at #50, your last two paragraphs are speculation. We will have to meet in 2012 and discuss who was right in 2008.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Nasaman, #44. I used to start out simple too. I told them the car will go 640 miles on a 12 gallon tank of gas. That got them interested. Then I explained 150 MPG and the 50 MPG. But my lead-off comment (my attention getter) is gone now. The price (who knows what the price will be!?) keeps going up. I don’t brag about the car as much as I used to.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Sorry nasaman, I meant to refer to your #54 comment. Not #44.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
If all you are going to do is look at the energy cost, then the Volt is not for you. I didn’t spend $25000 for an 8 year old electric truck to save money… WE HAVE TO STOP USING OIL!!!
That’s the bottom line. We have screwed up the earth and will be feeling the effects for decades (assuming we can change things in time).
The Volt is a step in the right direction, mainly because it’s a major manufacturer and not a boutique car buiider. Gas is still a cheap energy source even at $5.00 a gallon. BUT, electricity is cheaper, and can be made with no environmental consequences via wind, solar, tidal, etc.
The earth needs the Volt to be a hit. (We really shouldn’t be able to sail ships through the north pole…)
Sorry to sound like a treehugger nut, but those Earth day programs got to me (again).
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
So….who is designing the t-shirt and when can I order it. Lyle: any chance GM would give us a “first look” photo to put on it. I’d buy a bunch to give to friends etc. I suspect they would sell like hot cakes!
Dwayne
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
#57 Eletruk:
Is your truck one of those S-10’s from those guys in Arizona? How is it working out? What is the real useful range? I am really interested. Good for you!
Please do not apologize for your comments. They are 100% dead right, IMHO.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
It’s the Factory built Ford Ranger EV. I love driving it. I get about 40 miles on a charge, about 500WH/mile, not the most effiecient electric vehicle, but I never have to gas it up!
The vehicles the auto manufacturers built for the Californica zero emissions mandate are really quite impressive. I would really love to have the RAV4 EV, but they just are too expensive (if you can find somebody willing to part with one.) When I got my Ranger, there was one up on eBay around the same time, I think it finally went for $67,000.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
#60 Eletruk:
Is it able to keep up on the freeway? What does that do to the range? How long do you have to charge it to get the 40 miles? I commute 24 miles each way, but I could charge at work. It’s about 2/3 freeway.
I looked into the S-10s a few months ago, but I chickened out over the range issue. I have to say though, that after reading these comments here this week, I have gone from starting to think about the Mitsu electric to trying to figure out if I can ride a bike to work!
$67K for an electric Rav4? I guess there’s a message there!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
It has no problem keeping up on the freeway, it’s electronically limited to 72mph. If I drive on the freeway, I might get 10% less mileage. Stop and go, and hills have a bigger effect than running at a steady speed. If you can charge at work, then I wouldn’t think you would have any range issues. It does take 220 to charge, but if your business has 3 phase, you can use 2 legs to charge at 208. It can charge up to about 85% in 3 hours, full charge is about 6 hours (mostly at the top 10% of the batteries the management system starts load balancing which takes longer that just fast charging).
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Rashid Amul #54
Your right it is speculation, but isn’t everything on this site that dosen’t come right from GM.
Honestly it’s not like what i’m proposing would be setting precedent, remember the opec embargo?
As far as my calculations, and yours for that matter. They are realistic, have no slant, and is an actual projection of the fuel cost i will avoid when i buy a volt.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
nasaman #53: I agree with the short and simple idea. When I talk about the Volt, I say “Right now I use about 50 gallons of gas per month for my usual driving. With the Volt, I expect to use about 5 gallons per month for the same amount of driving. That usually gets their attention. Then I go into the 40 mile AER, etc.
JPhillips #63: Heck, half of the info reported here from GM could also be called speculation!!!!!!! Just look at the reported costs, initial quantities to be produced, availability, and pricing………
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
#52 JPhillips
Your position is that the Volt is not overpriced at $40k. You must have enough money that the price doesn’t bother you. We should all be so lucky. Are you supporting a higher priced Volt to bolster your GM stock holdings? What people need is a good product at an affordable price. $40k may be affordable for you. But, what about the average Joe?
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
ThombDbhomb #65:
That was not what I got out of his post. I read it to mean that if situations change drastically, as they possibly could in the next 3 or 4 years, that a $40K Volt might not look so expensive.
But I also think that to expect a real car from a real manufacturer with brand new technology to be priced like a Kia Rio, is also very much wishful thinking. The Th!nk is a very small BEV with no range extender, and made out of plastic body panels, but it will be priced over $20K and you have to lease the batteries!
If those are my choices, I will spend the extra money, and buy the Volt.
Also, if an outright purchase is too expensive, wouldn’t a short term lease make sense, until Gen-2 or Gen-3 of the E-Flex platform becomes available, hopefully at a lower price point?
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Let’s all keep in mind that none of us know the price of a Volt yet. We have lots of speculation based on comments made by Lutz and various other people. And, speculation is all that it is. Beyond any shadow of a doubt GM marketing is well aware that as price goes up sales volume goes down, but pricing in the end will depend on possible supply (that is, available numbers of batteries), market conditions (such as price of gas, Toyota, Think, etc), the opinions of GM officers (rational or irrational), national politics, CAFE requirements (which will allow sale of another vehicle or two each time a Volt is sold) and all sorts of things not known to us at the moment. So its a fun topic to discuss, but still just speculation.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Looks like GM could really use the Volt and an expanding E-flex lineup/
http://tinyurl.com/3eas9g
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
#66 Jim I
Yesterday, JPhillips posted,
“There is alot of guys on here acting like 35-40K is a ridiculos price for a car…”
He supported his contention by noting that many people today drive $35k to $40k cars. So, I based my #65 response on yesterday’s comment, together with today’s.
I presume JPhillips will clarify what he meant. However, if I got it wrong, I apologize in advance.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
#66 Jim I
#67 RB
You points are rational. I appreciate that.
As far as price goes, this blog serves as a voice for consumers. We are trying to exert influence over the Volt. One of the things we should all want is the lowest price we can get. You don’t go into a negotiation with the position that the seller’s price is too low. We are shooting ourselves in the foot by doing that. We should be reasonable, but not to our detriment.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
T Shirts? GM Should be giving them to all of us loyal followers for free..
Tell you what Lyle… you can keep my T shirt if you can GM to send me my VOLT in late 2009 (Black with all the options) at whatever price it will be going for….
I figure I will be saving anywhere from $175 - 250 / month just in gas savings alone.. ( I have a “modified” 07 MAXX right now that averages 31 - 33 MPG (combined city / highway ) (Canadian gallons). And I fuel up every 3 - 4 days ($45 -60 each time)… I NEED the Volt out there now…
Coming out with the Volt in late 2010 - mid 2011 in Central Alberta Canada may be too long a wait for me as my 07 MAXX will be due for trading in by Mid 2010 ( the car will have at least 200 K KMS on it by then) And whichever Electric / Hybrid that best suits me at that time will be in my driveway…
Let’s pick up the pace GM….. the car needs to be out there NOW..
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
#33 Tim,
Here’s a few talking points:
- As the electrical grid gets greener, the Volt you buy today will produce even less air pollution and GHG in the future.
- Less impact from an oil embargo
-Likely eligibility for grants from your local power company and government subsidies and tax breaks
Here are some other candidate talking points from a 2004 Electric Power Research Institute report on PHEV economics (page 1-8):
- Less maintenance (due to the electric componentry and EV miles)
- Substantially fewer trips to the gas station,
- Less noise/vibration,
- Improved acceleration,
- Convenience features such pre-heat/pre-cool with the engine off or use of 120 V appliances (tools, TVs, refrigerators, lights, etc) from the vehicle electrical system,
- Better handling due to balanced weight distribution, and
- Better handling and other benefits due to lower center of gravity
http://www.epriweb.com/public/000000000001009299.pdf
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
According to the Wall Street Journal, GM is absolutely sincere about the Chevy Volt, but for all the wrong reasons. GM will develop the Chevy Volt, but ONLY as a bargaining chip to work with Congress to develop CAFE in a way that protects GM’s SUVs. In a way, as ethanol credits fade, Volt credits will kick in.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120890912345836455.html
It’s not that GM is turning green. GM just wants to use the Volt to influence or comply with CAFE. That’s why they seem to be OK with the NHTSA recent call for cars to reach 35.7 mpg average which is even more strict than the just imposed CAFÉ standard.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/22/automakers-respond-to-new-nationwide-fuel-economy-proposal/
And this is why they slam Biofuel critics in Beijing. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/23/gm-ceo-wagoner-slams-biofuel-critics-in-beijing/
And this is why they insist on wasting so much money on Hydrogen research. And this is why they called for more tax payer subsidies of ethanol, electric cars and hybrids.
It’s all about protecting their most profitable vehicles (SUVs & Light Trucks) from government MPG regulations why they soak the taxpayer for $Billions in subsidies.
This may backfire BIG TIME if GM is unprepared for $6.00 gasoline which will kill fuel sucking vehicle sales in the US market.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
$20k Think, $40k Volt hmm? Battery lease, Battery own hmm?
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
#63, JPhillips. Yes, I do remember the oil embargo. I am 44 years old and wasn’t driving at the time. However I do remember sitting in line in the back of the parents car. I remember a gas station worker putting a sign on the car in front us saying “Out of gas”. I remember my father losing his mind over that one.
I drive 101 miles a day and don’t relish the thought of another oil embargo, or some other kind of gas shortage. I understand the desire to have a car such as the Volt. Like you, I can afford the car at a premium. But I won’t. I support the masses. It needs to be affordable for everyone.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
#70 Thomb I agree. Reasonable, but direct and clear. We of course represent ourselves directly but I think many others indirectly, as the writers on this blog pretty accurately reflect what people tell me when I talk to them about the Volt.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
#74 Rashiid Amul
Thank you. I am 49 and I remember the oil embargo also. One way to lessen the chances of an oil embargo repeat is for the masses to reduce oil consumption. For the masses to do so, the masses need an affordable Volt.
As has been stated before, the Volt needs to be a people’s car. That is the best way for the Volt to make a difference in this world. Otherwise, it is just a status symbol. Status symbols might satisfy the elite, but widespread market saturation will reduce emmissions, reduce oil dependence, pump $ into the US economy…
I want a Volt for my own selfish reasons. I want many others to have a Volt too. It just seems like the right way to go in this day and age.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I’m sorry everybody. The topic is “spreading the word” about the Volt. I strayed.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I was sorely disappointed with the NOVA spin. From “imaginary car” to the “but the batteries aren’t available yet”, it almost seemed to poo poo the whole idea. I know it takes time to produce the show, but I’d think “educational” tv would be more current with it’s info. They could have at least added 30 seconds to the end of the episode that says, “Since the taping of this episode Gm has *insert recent facts here*”
II guess it’s all the more important for us to be “singing the praises” in harmony with Lyle’s great work.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:35 am
You’re welcome, ThombDbhomb #76. I grew up with no money.
We had food on the table, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads. The bare minimum. I’m not way now as I have a great job in IT. But I won’t begrudge anyone who can’t afford this car, and I truly believe it should be a car for everyone. GM can have a run away hit, if they produce this car right, and price it right. It is really up to them on how they want to become a successful car company again.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
#80 Rashiid Amul
I might have said “…if they want to become a successful car company again.” It’s still an open question whether they will or not, IMHO.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
As for the pricing, are we not asking the wrong question? To the question: Is the Volt going to be an affordable peoples car, I think there’s good evidence the answer is ‘No’. Perhaps the question could be: ‘What are GM’s plans for an affordable e-flex car’.
I think we’re limiting the vision and assuming that the Volt is the only e-flex in the pipeline. That’s doesn’t make sense to me. Isn’t it likely that the Volt is the first of many? That perhaps they’ll add a car or two per year?
If the Volt is a game changer as we believe it is, why assume it is the only one in the works?
So, Lyle, can you ask the second question of the GM folks sometime?
Chris
April 24th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Hey Lyle,
Great job on the interview! Keep up the GREAT work! I check out the site here daily..
Put me down for the hats & t-shirts too! The more people that see the VOLT the faster the information will spread!
April 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
#82 Chris:
A concern might be that if the Volt does not attract a big purchase group GM could limit or kill the E-flex program. If it can’t get out into enough garages the technology might not flourish or get the bugs worked out. This is just my opinion though, it might not hold true.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
calgaryvolt #84:
I think that the bigger problem will be if GM does not produce enough units for the first year’s run. The last word was for 10,000 units. I think those will be gone in the first month, especially if gas goes over $4.00 per gallon and stays there………
April 24th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Hope it is coming sooner than later and I hope it has options like being able to use the car as a backup source of power for my house when the lights go out, that would be a real option no one else can offer!
April 25th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Excellent! GM should give Lyle his Volt at no cost for all he’s doing.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Lyle,
Great job, keep it up! Forget government regulation, the power of the free market forces are what drives lasting change. You are harnessing that.
Let’s build more Nuke plants, reprocess the uranium to cut costs and reduce waste, convert “gas stations” to “charging stations” and have removeavble battery cells that you can swap out. The infrastructure is already here in the USA(and worldwide), it just needs to be converted. Then, you can go wherever you could with a gas car, a LOT cheaper, and a LOT cleaner for the environment.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Lyle dear, Please tell Chevy to hurry and offer me my VOLT before I’m too old to drive. I’m on the list but time is moving fast, I fell for the car when it was shown in Fortune and when my mind is made up it must be honored. Again, HURRY, I,m 74 and counting. Marlene
April 25th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I am 61 and on the list. I truly hope to own a Volt soon, but am opting for a Toyota while I wait. Please hurry, Chevie VOLT
April 25th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Great concept but we will need more electrical plants cost of electricity is high now! Coal, nuclear, wind, solar, drill for more oil in Alaska, build more oil refineries. Oh my God can’t do that more pollution. Solution to our energy problem is a mixture of all! Cheaper solar panels perhaps. Strapping a generators on a exercise bike perhaps fat Americas can use some more exercise put it good use create electricity.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I really hope I my next car/suv is a Electric… I drove the EV1 in 2000 for two days all over LA while on vacation… every skeptic I took for a ride was converted in about 5 seconds and about a half mile down the road.
GM is on the right track. I wish them all the best of luck with this concept and I know their proving grounds are the best in the world … this car will be a game changer. Something very positive for a change!
Thank you for this site and thank you GM for the car.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
A lot of discussion on positioning th Volt in the market place. Its very clear to me that the Volt should be considered a perfect second car for a family that will be limited to less then 50 miles a day for maximum gasoline/diesel etc. avoidance at least in the first incarnation of this car. In my view the best way to optimize the Volt is for a family would be to use its existing car for occasionally long trip and suck up the gasoline cost as part of vacation expense and use the Volt for the more limited daily trip including driving to work. The vast majority of multi-car families do not use the multiple car for daily long distances and to those the Volt and Volt-like cars should work well. I too hope that the Volt can be had for a reasonable price for me to buy it as my second car. My Buick Regal (by the way the best car I have ever had) is perfectly positioned 110000 miles to be replaced by a Volt in the projected time frame. I have been on the waiting list for a long time.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Great job Lyle. Dont forget people that you can have an electric car right now. I just converted my geo metro from january till now. It only cost me $3000. It can go 40 miles a day and costs 3 cents a mile. Also, if you are wondering it goes 55 mph and burns the tires in first or second gear. The last time i bought gas it was under $3.00 a gallon. I’ve been driving it for a month and no problems to report at all! Check my car out and others on evalbum.com. Mine is the little yellow metro convertible. I am on the waitng list for a Volt but i couldnt wait. Email me if you wish hellraiser79@msn.com. Let everyone you know that electric cars are not the future, they are for right now and maybe we will finally see a mass-produced electric car.
April 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I’ve read a few comments like “if there is enough demand” and “if gas goes over $4.00/gal.” Well come on out to California folks, gas is $4.00/gal and I’ll bet my left nut over a million units could be sold in this state alone, easily… trust me. If it costs less than 50k I’ll buy 2 just for kicks.