There have been some critiques of the way the MPG is calculated. Personally I agree with it so long as you go in with eyes wide open. Most people are concerned about MPG for their daily commute, and many people spend time in stop and go traffic. For this target buyer, the Volt is ideal. The fact that the MPG drops way down for a 70 mph 2000 mile vacation trip is irrelevant for the commuter application. Honestly, what percent of your annual mileage is commuting, what is leisure travel, and are you typical? An enhanced "ideal buyer" is someone who has photovoltaics and feeds the grid during high demand daytime hours and then charges the Volt during low demand nightime hours.

 

Yeah, The EPA hasn't tested the Volt yet. So the estimate is from Chevy. Also, the other hybrid car manufacturers are starting to use the same ploy.
The shorter the test, the higher the mileage when you are talking about hybrids. If the test ends before using the gas engine, how can you figure MPG? Does that mean the test needs to go on for a full tank of gas then calculate it? What is a reasonable test length? I don't think that has really been defined yet. As soon as the EPA comes out with those parameters, I think you will see other manufacturers touting the same kind of numbers. Just my opinion.
BTW, I DO think the Volt is a step in the right direction.

 

Advertising them here in Canada but for $40000. I can buy one heck of a lot of gas for the difference between that and an HHR.

 

Sorry guys, I thought those were official numbers. Anyways, 62 mpg while charging the batteries is a decent prius-buster. Plus is looks better. They just need to knock the price down another 10-15k.

I wonder if they'll list a cost per mile figure as well. Hyping the miles per gallon of gasoline can be a bit misleading where gasoline is not the primary energy source. Those first 40 miles aren't free.

 

I agree, the price is way too high, hopefully it will come down after a few years. $20k-$25k is where they need to shoot for, that is what I feel most people can afford. For $40k, with some rough calculations, you could buy a 2010 HHR and buy 10 years worth of gas to put in it. I calulated this based on what I drive, about 20kmiles a year.. and assuming gas averages around $3/gal.

 

I have been intrested in this car since it was first unvailed and am glad to see gm taking this step. Although they were headed here, I can see the gov./president taking credit for it as they own part of gm. (still makes me sad to see my gm partially owned by the gov.) anyways, I would look into one as a daily driver in a few years when the price lowers. I am not a tree hugger, so I look at the cost and right now it would not be practical for me. As stated all the gas I could buy with the difference.

Definatly better then the smart cars as you dont have to pick between a passanger or 2-3 bags of groceries to haul. It is a family car. Interested to see the daily cost of just using the electricity for those 40 miles.

 

I would hate to see someone run the batteries down with a kicka$$ stereo. Who's gonna be able to give it a jump?

 

As far as I know, trains already use diesel engines to provide electricity to make the wheels turn. I believe the volt is the basic setup. nothing new.

 

Dr. Emmett Brown and his DeLorean.

 

Hahaha....yeah he could with a few banana peals in the Mr. fusion powered flux capacitor.