Comments on: Who’s Got it Right, GM or Honda?

By: Jonathan Bell

Jonathan Bell — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:46:33 +0000

Shame on GM for taking Honda’s designs. It reminds me of that Chinese automaker that caused a big ruckus by copying BMW’S SUV design. The Chevy Volt concept is very reminiscent of the Honda Civic, let alone the Insight.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:20:03 +0000

I don’t believe Honda does not have any plans for an electric. I think they are not telling the truth.

By: Bennie Beaver

Bennie Beaver — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:38:57 +0000

Volt and all electrics, fuel cells, and hydrogen are the future. Battery technologies are accelerating exponentially. Check out this Web Site archives for the last six months “kurzweilAI.net/news/rss” and be amazed. There are batteries in the labs producing ten times plus the power. It can be done if we put the investment in and believe. It’s time to get off hydrocarbons and save up to $700 billion for our economy. GM took the big step, and now, lets make it work…unlike the old EV GM abandoned. Yes, with the U.S. and world economies in trumoil the government may need to help, but sometime that is the price for success…like after the 1929 recession. Lets get on with a better environment and sustainable future.

Truck driver/miner Web Page GOOGLE Keyword “Dr. Warpenstein” or “drwarpenstein.com”

By: David N

David N — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:27:20 +0000

First, if 1% of the fleet was electric (and dominated by the volt) we are talking about 2 million vehicles. If GM were to sell 1 million volts in the first 4 years of production I think they would be estatic.

Secondly, the price tag will not be $35,000. Particularly, if the government funds the develpment with cheap loans. If it is, then GM will look pretty bad and will fail.

By: RealityBytes

RealityBytes — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:23:07 +0000

I think the Volt is a great concept, however, the price tag will limit the market of buyers ready to shell out 35K, including myself. Perhaps as years pass the technology will make the car more affordable, but for now I will opt for the Insight when it becomes available next year. Based on my commute, the Volt will provide the better mpg than the Insight, but because of the price differential, it will take a lot longer to realize any savings greater than what the Insight will provide in the first 5-8 years of ownership.

By: shawn

shawn — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:44:55 +0000

to all the folks trying to compare the cost difference between these two cars…… stop it …..your insane……you could never buy a drop of gas or pay for a single charge in your volt and it over a ten year period it will cost you as much as hybrid in battariy replacements. li ion battaries have a life span just like the batt in your cell phone the technology for the battaries is not here yet. When it is we will be reading about honda and toyota evs not gm publicity stunts

By: gm

gm — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:46:21 +0000

Last time I checked both Honda and Toyota were actually making money where GM is loosing boatloads. My belief is that a viable, successful and affordable EV will be more of an evolutionary process rather than a revelation like GM seems to think. Both Honda and Toyota will continue to evolve their hybrids to a point where they will replace current ICE economy cars for the same price. They will then turn to full EV and develop that. They will continue to be profitable companies during this process which will allow them to develop a real world affordable EV much like they did with their current hybrids. I see a lot of folks saying that the ‘Prius’ was a gamble on Toyota’s part. That is ridiculous. It was more of an experiment than anything else. You see, Toyota was never in the midst of a ‘turnaround’ like GM is. Toyota keeps turning a profit which allows it to develop the Prius over time until it is perfected. Honda is doing much the same. As for GM, many seem to think that they need something like the Volt to save the company. That is why the car will fail as it will hastily be brought to market. The fact is that no matter how good this Volt is, it will not outsell the Honda/Toyota hybrid offerings and will not even be close to an economical option. The only hope for GM is that they can survive long enough to perfect an EV before Honda and Toyota do.

By: D. B.

D. B. — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:24:20 +0000

I have never cared for that garish looking boxy tricked out Volt concept car. I think it appeals. as many concept show cars do, to a certain kind of car fan. Nothing wrong with that, everyone has different tastes regarding style. But I am overjoyed GM modified the look. I will have to see the car in person, but at this point I have no problem with the look, and when viewed next to that ugly Honda … but some people here actually like that Honda look. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Regarding the crystal ball – when people start hearing of their neighbors having to hit the petrol station only every 2 months, they will be signing up in droves to purchase a Volt. IF the Volt is reasonably priced. 40 grand range means it will be mainly green aficionados purchasing. Lower price means lots of people will purchase – once they see concrete examples of neighbors doing just fine with the 40 mile battery range. If Volt is a decent price and well built, and petrol costs don’t plunge, the car will in my opinion do much better than Honda and others predict. Pundits are underestimating the real world allure of rarely having to visit a petrol station – owners will feel like it runs for free due to the lower fuel (electric) costs and deferred payment (monthly bill) compared to immediate impact of petrol pump cost. GM just has to get these things in the field at reasonable price.

By: terryk

terryk — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:08:14 +0000

Agreed. I have finally come to grips with that and do see the Volt as the better of the bunch in style.

By: THOM

THOM — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:19:02 +0000

The government is push the volt.. GM is getting subsidies they wouldnt be getting if they copied other hybrids.

And for you who dont like the looks, get over it. You can not change physics (aerodynamics). All low CD vehicles with same general interior capacity will look the same!