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Volt price approaches $40,000 USD
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Written on: 07 October 2008 [16:21]
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Lensman
 Topic creator
registered since: 31.05.2008
Posts: 75
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The Race for the Electric Car is a good overview of the state of the art. No one has figured out how to make an electric car cheap. Tesla plans to sell its four-door sedan for $60,000; Lutz at GM wants the Volt to be more of an everyman car. "I started out very optimistically and said 'I think we can sell this thing for $20,000.' And that turned out to have been, like, one of those 'I wish I hadn't said that.' And then we started hoping for well below 30. And now we're trying to keep it south of 40," Lutz says. "$40,000 is not an everyman car by any stretch," Stahl remarks. "That's true," he agrees. To get buyers, GM will have to sell the car at a loss, which is bad news for a company already burning a billion dollars in cash every month. "I'll tell you what, we can afford a tiny little loss on a car. But we can't afford a $20,000 loss per car. That's just not on," Lutz tells Stahl. Now, before anyone says "this proves the electric car will never compete against gassers", a gentle reminder that this is the first generation of PHEVs. It's hardly surprising they can't compete directly on cost with gassers, which are a mature technology. Remember, at the beginning of the 20th Century, it took many years for the gasser to win out against the steam car and the electric car. They were still selling the Stanley Steamer in 1926, altho Ford's "Model T" debuted in 1908. So give the electric car a few years. It *will* win out. [This article was edited 1 times, at last 07.10.2008 at 16:27.] |
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Written on: 07 October 2008 [20:21]
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childress
Administrator
registered since: 14.08.2007
Posts: 136
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You'll find very little of that attitude on this board, and very little on any knowledgable EV board on the 'net. What you WILL find is a ton of historic sketicism when GM announced a 20-grand price for the Volt. Surprise, surprise, and it makes GM look like they didn't know what they were saying. It's even worse that Lutz didn't know how to spin it correctly in the interview -- with gas prices over US$5 in the South, $40,000 IS an everyman's Electric Car: In an EV, you're 'pre-paying' for the bulk of your fuel costs up front in the purchase price. One-third to one-half of the vehicle cost is in the batteries, which must be replaced periodically, which is why I label it a 'fuel' cost. That price is offset by the negliable amount it takes to charge (especially if a variable/market-rate price plan is available in your area and you charge at night or off-peak), is offset if you care about zero-emissions (and you can get green energy in your area -- I can't unless I throw up my own panels and I don't have the $$$, and Central Illinois is not ideal for solar panels, and a windmill intown probably wouldn't make my neighbors happy) It's not the cost, it's the fact that American's are not trained to think/invest long-term... yeah, I'll buy the biggest house I can and flip it in a year, pay off the mortgage and buy an even bigger house... Most high schools that teach investing strategy say 'the best way is to invest long term' and then go right into a contest to see who can turn the biggest market gain in a 6-month time period... it's little wonder which part the kiddos remember... Lutz should be smacked upside the head for agreeing to Stahl's remark: the correct response is "It IS for everyman who wants to pay $1 for a fillup versus $60," and then highlighting that it requires less maintenance, less brake wear, state incentives, etc. Plug-in (bio)diesel MiniVan. That's where the $$$'s at. Mimic the Prius with the options packages to drive up the price for the high-end luxury models. GM is still showing their inferior grasp of the market. Commute suck? Twike it; You'll like it!
http://www.uiuc.edu/goto/twike |
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Written on: 18 October 2008 [17:00]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 517
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Finally I had the chance to view the full length of this video as well. I think both contenders will have their chance. But GM (Lutz) looks not very good in this interview. Its not convincing at all and if I would be an investor, I would think twice! The Volt will come, the price is secondary for GM. Sounds like it is mainly image polishing and only little green enthusiasm. Tesla on the other side comes across as innovative company. It does depend on the sale of the Roadster and therefore promotes it whenever the chance comes up for it. But they have the disadvantage of being small and new to the car business. I have the impression that the Silicon Valley people are taking the steps needed to get their foot into the door of the car business. In order to succeed, GM not only needs to build the VOLT, they will also have to prove that the Volt is the beginning of a CHANGE. More important is, the company and the people behind it fully support the idea. I don't think Steve Jobs would sound very convincing trying to sell Windows Vista either.  Cheers Stefan ecocarforum.com - Green Car Network
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