Volt Birth Watch 182: Whitacre Projects Volt Profit At "Low $30k" Price Point

Nice as the 335d is, it's not remotely a competitor. That car is for rich Europhile dieselheads who, given BMW's sales of the car and the incentives they're piling on, don't seem to exist in any significant number. The 335d's sales performance should be a lesson to anyone who thinks auto enthusiasts know or represent anything about the market. The Volt is meant for commuters who want to, for whatever reason, be it economic or environmental, not use gas. There are a lot more of these people, if Prius sales and markups are any indication.

psarhjinian writes, "A lot of people will pay a premium not so much to save money, but to not use gasoline wherever possible. I know this is very hard for auto enthusiasts to understand, but economy and emissions are just like speed or handling: there’s a premium for it, and there’s a market for it. There are people who will gladly pay for this level of economy,..." Define "a lot." I think this number isn't particularly big. And "gladly pay... for economy?" That's practically an oxymoron. In a note further up, you mention the BMW's sales. Well, look at the price. It's $43K. The median car price is something like $22K. The Prius is pretty well within that budget and even those thinking "Corolla" but who put a premium on major fuel economy can at least consider the car. Ah, yes, those that would get off gas altogether... Have you been inhaling the fumes at GM-Volt? For $22K, you can dramatically reduce your consumption of fuel... and many do... but many don't. And there's a diference between an extra $2-3K (less if you consider the Prius "mid-size") and an extra $13K to satisfy an abstract desire. Especially if you're married, have kdis or other obligations. Psharhjinian also writes, "Disclaimer: I like the idea of this car. I think a lot of people who live within the typical commuting radius will find it very appealing, too, as will fleets who can easily support the power infrastructure." I'm not opposed to the idea, myself. However, GM's implementation of it is extremely expensive (maybe it's just premature... battery prices need to fall) and the engine is way too big. Think of the gas engine, the recharger, as a life boat. You don't expect to use it much at all. On a cruise ship, the lifeboats are practically insignificant, in terms of the total mass of the ship. On the Volt, the "lifeboat" is big enough to propel a Cruze-sized car under normal circumstances. That's way out of proportion to its supposed mission. It's way too big. The entire system suffers as a result. More mass in the engine means more frame needed, more brakes, more everything. More of everything reduces performance and range. This car should have a tiny range-extender and be purely optimized for battery operation. In fact, a better arrangement would be a trailer-mounted extender. Not going too far? Leave the genset at home. Or, better yet, don't buy one... rent one when you need one.