Cost to operate a Chevy Volt

[OPC Patrick]

Right now natural gas is cheaper than coal to produce electric energy . The way I see it why buy a car that uses electric energy and go straight to a NGV. The infrastructure will have to be built buy both utilities, but I see natural gas winning in this race.

[Wulver]

is that with or without the $7500 or is it $10,000 rebate?

in five years, what will the trade in value be on all cars in the same condition?

ALL of the cars listed except the focus get the incentive because they all have a battery array and are electric or hybrid vehicles. Its a little too early to tell for the Volt but all of them (even the GMs ) have reasonable trade-in values. Trade-In values have more to do with public perception and popularity of certain types of vehicles depending on the current economic climate.

My truck is worth less than a same year sedan right now. Nobody wants old trucks as much as they want a car that will save them some scratch at the gas pump.

[TexMax]

This is not a fact as GM has been and continues to make very competitive vehicles. I own both a Chevy and a Ford and enjoy both of them.

OK........
I agree that the bailout in/was controversial and don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. I respect the need to protect American jobs and manufacturing and believe its a little too early for the American public to really honestly judge the fallout of that bailout.

I do believe (at least in theory) in "incentives" to promote and facilitate change.
Things like a college education, home ownership, marriage, clean air, PUBLIC parks, public hunting, and so on.

The more people that buy alternative fuel vehicles and technologies, the more research that is done and paid for by private companies to universities to develop new technologies.

Now to get back on topic, if you go to the five year projection of the total cost to own a particular vehicle (edmonds.com) then you can compare the total projected cost of each vehicle.

This is for 5 years:
A 2012 Chevy Volt is $41050

Its direct competitor is the Nissan Leaf I believe:
2012 Nissan Leaf $35,365

Remember the advantage of the Volt is that it has a gas engine to fall back on if/when the battery dies.

Really the numbers are not that far off.

Here are some more for example:

Chevy Malibu $37,720
2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid $37,775
2012 Ford Focus $33,483
2012 Honda Civic $34,097

2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty $66,414

Those comparison's are a joke. The volt is 'rated' at 93/95 city/highway mpg. There is zero (from what i can tell) consideration for energy cost which, as i attempted to point out earlier is minuscule in difference from the cost/mile of any regular fuel efficient car.


Cost of a chevy volt: $39,150
Cost of a honda civic: $15,500

[Wulver]

Cost of a chevy volt: $39,150
Cost of a honda civic: $15,500

If we are using MSRPs (which we all know are way low) then you must keep same things. A brief comparison of the civic packages would make the chevy volts base package comparable to the Civic LX package (except the volt still has 17 in wheels and some other adds).

31645 Cost of Volt
-3000 Average of TBH theoretical cost saving at $.04/mile at 15000 miles a year for 5 years
-7500 Incentive
=21145

The Honda Civic is 17,845. That's a difference of $3300. Now remember this is the 4 banger Civic with manual transmission most likely. Alot of consumers refuse to make that compromise.

There is a huge amount of technical innovation you are packing into that $3300. This also doesn't take into account the surge in popularity of electric vehicles in 5 years and the resale value may even make up that difference from a bottom of the line 4 banger Honda Civic

With these numbers the Nissan Leaf is even a better deal (with the chance of stranding you when the batteries die).

[blacksunshine]

what would you rather buy, a used dewalt cordless drill or a new one?

[Wulver]

what would you rather buy, a used dewalt cordless drill or a new one?

Have no idea what you are comparing? Depends. How much is a new battery for the drill?

How much is the drill?
Does the drill currently work?
If the battery dies in drill how much is it to replace?

We all know the prices of new vehicles are inflated anyways and buying used almost always yields cost savings. I have NEVER bought a new vehicle. And if and when I am in the market for a hybrid or full electric vehicle I will definitely be looking at those early adopters looking for savings.