The early adopters will be people like me, double 6-digit income professional families, West or East coast types. $35-40 K is OK, especially if options like leather are available and GPS standard. The key will be to look distinct and to have good quality interior materials. Most of us live in Luxury SUV neighborhoods. The demographic is the same as the Prius.

BTW my listed price to pay was $38,000, but deposit was small, $1200. I should rethink the deposit, as $2500-3000 is more realistic.

uses 47kw motor, top speed 81mph, range 100 miles, uses a gear box and differential to drive the rear wheels.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/03/mitsubishi_deli.html

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/08/mitsubishi-mo-1.html#more

it uses a similar battery pack to the Volt, a 16kwh pack, has a range of 100 miles and does not have a range extender gas engine. It is a much smaller car and it will sell for $27,500

I would love to have one!

The basic i-Miev car in gas powered form would be about $10k, a basic Volt sized car maybe $20k??, so about $10k difference.. so the Volt at about $37k is about right. Eventually the battery cost will come down.. if they make enough of them.

here is more detail:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/02/mitsubishi-moto.html

If your that smart, remove the engine. It’s your after you’ve bought it. I for one would not want to worry if I going to make it home when the traffic is heavy and,,,,,, for a million other reasons.

That’s why GM is coming out with the Cruze. If you can not afford the Volt, buy the Cruze. GM is in business to make money. Sorry, if the Volt is too expensive to start with but it is no different than any other new high tech product like flat screen TV’s for example.

I’d like to remove it anyway.

Advise for GM : Go ahead and produce the Volt at $40 K. You need to keep top management happy. But GM want to be a leader produce another model that sells fo $17 to 28 K.

Get an all electric motor cycle XM3500Li for $4k to tide you over; 50 mph and 80 mile range.

I think GM want to pocket the Tax credit money. Or, this is a collector’s item for Jay Leno, not for average Joe. No wonder they are making only 10k units for the 1st year production.

These shortsighted top people in GM are really pissing away an optunity to do something good, for GM, for average people and for the country.

Take my name off the waiting list, if the price is not below $30k before rebate.

Prius Initial Cost: $22.160
Cost per Mile: $0.08041
Lifetime Energy Cost: $9,649.57
Total Cost: $31,809.57

Volt Initial Cost: $37,500
Cost per Mile: $0.03944
Lifetime Energy Cost: $4,732.91
Total Cost: $42,232.91

You would think the Volt would become a much better deal with more expensive gas. But at $37,500, it’s not until gas prices are around $8.60/gal that the Volt breaks even with the Prius.

How much do we expect gas to be by 2012? It will most likely be more than it is today. But $8.60/gal? Let’s pick a number between todays price and the magic number for the Volt to be affordable. Let’s assume gas will be $6.15/gal. How much will the Volt need to be at that price to break even with the Prius? $32,294.09. GM knows that we can expect a $5,000 tax credit toward the Volt (if either candidate keeps their promise). That brings the price to $37,294,09, almost exactly what Wagoner predicts.

So I think GM is counting on a $5,000 tax credit AND $6/gal gas. That’s the only way people will buy the Volt at that price.