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Read the rest of this articleSave the date: GM to launch hybrid Volt ahead of schedule
GM has been banking on the Chevy Volt for some time now, hoping the plug-in hybrid would give the company a needed boost in public image and profit. New GM chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre hopes than an earlier launch will help their cause.
The Volt was slated to be on sale in November but sources tell the Detroit Free Press that a late September or October target is more likely. Many have speculated that the Volt will cost about $40,000 before tax credits. Whitacre has basically confirmed the rumor stating that it will be about $32,000 after the credits, still higher than the Toyota Prius.
Much of the cost of the Volt is in the battery. GM recently opened the first American assembly plant for lithium-ion batteries in Brownstone, Michigan. The Volt’s 16 kilowatt battery is slated for production there with an estimated price tag between $8,000 to $16,000.
GM is being cautious will the rollout of the plug-in hybrid in order to gauge public opinion before going nationwide. The first markets will likely be in California, GM’s hometown of Detroit, and Washington D.C.
Whitacre said, "This is a bold journey for us. We want to do this for the environment... We think this is part of the future for us. We're putting a lot at risk here, but we're going to do it." GM has to take a risk to resuscitate their tarnished image and grab some buzz away from hybrids like the Prius and Leaf. The company hasn’t been profitable since 2004 and some are so angry about their federal bailout money that are holding protests at the upcoming auto show.
Innovation hasn’t been GM’s buzzword for many years but they are trying. They’ve certainly stoked the buying public with over fifty thousand people on a wait list at a Volt fan site. The addition of smartphone apps to aid Volt owners can’t hurt either.
It’s up to the public to decide if an American made plug-in hybrid can find a new home in their driveways. But if Elvis can have a comeback tour maybe it’s time for GM’s turn.
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I never thought i would feel sorry for Gm in general, but i do. Their management style and union instransience blew any chances of it ever becoming a world class car company again, at least in USA. (Overseas its started a clean slate with no unions and is doing very well in China for now).
I want a small full hybrid and for me that will most likely be a 5 door 'baby prius' scheduled for usa in late 10 early 11. It will average 65 on hwy and 50 in city and the hybrid train will be 'best in class'. Its bas will be 15k! ok with lots add ons thousands more still lots below ford or Volt.
I would love to buy a gm or ford, but their costs are way out there and will be for years.
A truly successful world class hybrid has to have a drive out below 23k for sure and hopefully less and that leave ONLY TOYOTA and poss Hondas Fit hybrid conversion in 2011 that for most are 'the competition'
The bailouts were the last straw. GM is dead to me. Period.
I reallllly want one of these! It's gonna be sucha good car, and actually quite green even though its sharp as hell in the looks department. I can't wait for its November release date: http://www.kaycircle.com/index.php?q=What-is-the-Chevy-Volt-release-date
I won't have a Japanese or German or Korean car, either because they are heavily unionized too. I don't mind if the American car company is dragged down by executive pay that is many times higher than foreign competitors as long as there is no union for the workers.
One thing that confuses me. How can Southwest Airlines be the most consistently profitable airline in American history, yet be the most heavily unionized airline today? Could it be that their management works with its workers to foster a shared value?
God bless America and God bless GM. Bring on that sexy Volt. Can't wait to own one and fly my Patriot flag high.
For a Chevy to succeed at basically Cadillac prices - the quality, the performance, and service have to be up to that level of expectation. The Volts success thus also hinges on how the dealerships treat their customer base. Problem dealerships will have to be reformed or eliminated. It will not be just a function of the car's own merits, for the Volt is not an eco friendly economy box but an eco friendly luxury sedan. The type of market the Volt is positioned for may very well end up spending another $25K in luxury or super hi tech options per car making the true total cost probably around 50K to 60K before tax breaks. Its not going to supplant the Prius, Insight or Honda Hybrid. Many will also find the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, or the Camry Hybrid to be just a better deal than the Volt. Even the Nissan Leaf will look overall much cheaper to run than the Chevy Volt for Metro use only. The Chevy Volt true competition will be luxury sedans PHEVs from Mercedes, Lexus, Infinity, BMW, VW/Audi. I wish Chevy the best of luck.
Two technical comments:
1. The Volt battery characteristic is 16 kilowatt-hours (kWh), not kilowatts (kW). The former is energy, the latter is power. Also, the useable amount of energy is allegedly 8.8 kWh.
2. The Nissan Leaf is an electric vehicle (EV), not a hybrid.
I think it's important for journalists to get the technical details correct when they are writing articles about technology. If they don't have the background and can't be taught it, then they either have to run their articles past somebody with the knowledge, or they shouldn't be writing the article at all.