Official pricing for GM Cruze and Volt released for the UK

[soda72]

http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/10/chevrolet-cruze-to-start-under-16000-in-uk-volt-under-30000-in-2012/

Looks like the GM-volt could be priced around $27,000 to $28,000 dollars and the GM cruze between $15,000 and $16,000 by 2012.  The volt price comes somewhat as a surprise since it was rumored to be priced around $40,000.  GM seems to be hedging their bets by having both the cruze and volt available.  This should protect GM as to whether or not people are willing to buy an electric car in the future.  Another plus about the gm-volt price, assuming the prices mentioned are accurate, is that it will be competitive with the Toyota Prius.

If they allow the $7,500 tax credit for buying an electric, it might make it worth the added cost to get a gm-volt instead of buying something cheaper like the cruze. 

[Shuffler]

Electric cars will never make it in the US. Might be good for a smaller place though.

[soda72]

Electric cars will never make it in the US. Might be good for a smaller place though.

As long as gas is in the tank the gm-volt will go just like any other car in the US does today, it's not a pure electric car.   The Volt is a series vehicle meaning only the electric motor powers the car at all times, the gas engine is just a generator, making electricity to keep the batteries in a steady state of charge.  The Gm-volt will be in competition with hybrid cars like the Prius that use a small electric motor for low speed driving, but switch to a regular gas engine for acceleration and faster speed driving.  If GM can keep the price reasonable compared to the Prius it should do quite well here in the US.

[cobia38]

  just wait till you have to replace the battery, the $$ you think you save ... just went out the window



.

[avionix]

  just wait till you have to replace the battery, the $$ you think you save ... just went out the window



.

 

[straffo]

  just wait till you have to replace the battery, the $$ you think you save ... just went out the window



.

Give me the brand and model of a gazoline car not having any part to be replaced.

I want one.

[soda72]

  just wait till you have to replace the battery, the $$ you think you save ... just went out the window
.

Yes the batteries are very expensive, this can be seen by comparing the price difference between the volt and cruze.

My interest in gm-volt technology is not that it will 'save money on gas', nor do I care if it will help with the environment but rather how it could reduce the United States dependency on Foreign Oil.   The volt concept being applied to other models over the long term will give consumers a choice to do something else other than send money to OPEC.  

  

[bj229r]

The 'Volt' goes 40 miles on a charge. It's 26 miles from my house to the office.....

[Getback]

The 'Volt' goes 40 miles on a charge. It's 26 miles from my house to the office.....

I'll bet your employer will be watching the electric meter very closely.

[Nilsen]

I'll bet your employer will be watching the electric meter very closely.

Filling up the battery is actually very cheap, and if they want to be branded as enviromentaly friendly or carbon neutral (most will tro to go that way soon) they may actually love the fact that he drives an electric car to work. Great for PR and to be competitive in the future you want that brand. However much some hate the enviromental awareness that is growing they cant afford not to be onboard.

[soda72]

The 'Volt' goes 40 miles on a charge. It's 26 miles from my house to the office.....

It would be nice if it had more range, but the cost of the existing batteries they plan on using are to expensive to add more for additional range.  If they are able to reduce the cost on the batteries they would be able to extend the range without adding any additional cost.  However on the plus side for those who fall under the scenario you just gave would still be able to get home since it has a gas powered generator to keep the car going when the battery runs low.  As long as it is filled with gas it will go just like every car on the US roads does today.

[Rash]

Id like to go completely off the grid.  One of those cool cars that run on underground pig gas would do the trick.  If I had the choice, I would go with the underground pig gas car covered in cow skin with a harpoon mounted on top.

[Dragon]

The 'Volt' goes 40 miles on a charge. It's 26 miles from my house to the office.....

Is that with the heat and/or A/C turned off?  I wonder how accessories effect the battery life.

[soda72]

Is that with the heat and/or A/C turned off?  I wonder how accessories effect the battery life.

That range is suppose to be with heat or A/C turned on, not to mention using lights during the night, and playing the radio as well.  What I understand is that once the battery energy goes below 50% the generator will kick in to keep the battery at a steady state, allowing you to run all your accessories. 

[Bodhi]

Id like to go completely off the grid.  One of those cool cars that run on underground pig gas would do the trick.  If I had the choice, I would go with the underground pig gas car covered in cow skin with a harpoon mounted on top.

lol