Chevy Volt Sales

Chevy Volt

Here's a funny and sarcastic story of Chevy Volt sales that my Dad caught on the Weekly Standard Car Talk yesterday. 

Hey everybody--it's the Age of the Electric Car! Sales numbers for the Chevy Volt are out and you'll never guess how many of these future machines consumers gobbled up in the month of February. Go ahead and try. I'll wait.Is that your final answer? Okay. Well the real number is:

281.

Yup. 281 Volts were sold in February. That might sound terrible to you, but it's actually really strong. Because Nissan only sold 67 Leafs (Leaves?), and the Leaf is both cheaper and, as far as over-priced econo-boxes go, way better than the Volt. So really, the Volt is doing pretty great. In fact, if you had told GM execs last year that the Volt was going to out-sell the Leaf by more than 4-to-1, they would have been thrilled.

Now if you wanted to be a Grumpy Gus and fixate on the bad news, it's true that the trend isn't great. In January, GM moved 321 Volts, so February represents a 12 percent decline. But again, there's a bright side: Leaf sales dropped by 23 percent! So actually, the Volt has better legs than its prime competitor, too.

What, you want more good news? Okay, how about this: Because the Volt and Leaf sales are so . . . emerging, taxpayers saved money! The government gives everyone who buys one of the overpriced Volts or Leafs $7,500. So every electric car that doesn't sell is money back in our pocket!

The only real problem is what these numbers mean for President Obama's goal of having 1 million electric cars on the road by 2015. At this rate, it'll take 232 years to hit that mark. But never fear. As Fred Barnes reminds us, Washington won't ever give up trying to influence how Americans drive. They'll think of something.

Bonus Fun Fact: The Volt's 2011 production run was originally supposed to be 60,000 units. GM cut that number to 10,000 units. At this rate, the Volt is on track to sell 3,612 Volts this year. (Assuming sales don't decline any further.)

I, more than most people, desperately want the electric cars to take off, so that I can have a car to buy, seeing as how we are between cars.  Imagine a future for your kids, that ride/drive cars but have never pumped gas?

I did yet another survey for the Nissan Leaf yesterday that asked endless questions about my perception and what the hindrance was to sales...lack of charging stations, perceived battery shortfalls, how many electric cars did I think would be sold by 2015?  all sorts of goofy questions.  At the end, I was asked if I had any questions and concerns....my answer?  Why can't I go to a dealership and try and electric car now?  Why is it that I live near the Volt manufacturing facility but can't test drive a Volt?  How come the Toyota Rav 4 EV was available in the mid-90's and now totally unavailable even after all this time?

Our family is the perfect candidate for an electric vehicle - we have short commutes and a garage.  We can easily charge the EV at home and do all of our running around within a few miles from our house....and yet we wait.....

Astrid

Nissan LEAF - one step closer

The interior looks really cool!  hope the steering wheel is on the left for America...

I received an email from Nissan LEAF the other day letting me know that it's time to have my electricity checked...and of course I'm paraphrasing.  Unless I change my Nissan LEAF Reservation Profile by March 1, 2011, Nissan LEAF will forward my house address to my local utility for verification procedures. 

Astrid, to ensure safe and uninterrupted electric service, Nissan plans to share your LEAF™ purchase decision and your street address with your local utility beginning next month. The utility will use this information strictly for service planning. Your information will not be shared, sold or used for any other purposes. If you are unwilling to share your address, simply edit your profile to decline this option before March 1, 2011.

I'm not sure what this means exactly?  Does Nissan think that I might have misinformed them that I live in a house without electricity?  Does Nissan think that my utility provider DTE (Detroit Edison) is not capable of providing appropriate services once I get an electric car? 

I didn't change my Reservation Profile so my address will be forwarded to DTE on March 1, 2011.  I'm curious to see where this goes!

Astrid

Chevy Volt

Angie in the new Chevy Volt

I was talking to my friend Angie at the office and she mentioned that she had recently attended the Detroit Auto Show and was lucky enough to get a ride in a new Chevy Volt.  It's exciting that at least somebody I know has been close to an electric hybrid.  I asked her why she didn't get to actually drive the car and she said that she was there for a champagne event, and of course there's no drinking and driving!

Angie and I were talking about how long the wait is for an electric hybrid in Michigan.  But then I read on Wiki that Volts are available in Michigan as they are manufactured at GMs Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant.  Here's the rest of the story from wiki...

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and displaced the Toyota Prius as the most fuel-efficient car sold in the United States.

According to General Motors the Volt can travel 25 to 50 miles (40 to 80 km) on a 16 kW·h (10.4 kW·h usable) lithium-ion battery.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found in tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls, the all-electric range averaged 35 miles (56 km), with an energy consumption of 36 kWh per 100 miles (810 kJ/km), and the total range (using battery power first then electricity generated by the on-board gasoline-power generator) is 379 miles (610 km).  EPA rated the Volt's combined city/highway fuel economy at 93 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent in all-electric mode, and at 37 mpg-US (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg_-imp) in gasoline-only mode, for an overall fuel economy rating of 60 mpg-US (3.9 L/100 km; 72 mpg_-imp) combined.

The Volt's lithium-ion battery pack can be charged by plugging the car into a 120-240VAC residential electrical outlet.  No external charging station is required.  After the Volt battery is depleted, it switches to extended range mode, when a small 4-cylinder internal combustion engine burns premium gasoline to power a 55 kW (74 hp) generator supplying the electrical power to extend the Volt's range. In addition, while in extended range mode and travelling at highway speeds, the engine can engage mechanically via a clutch to combine with the electric motors for propulsion.The electrical power from the generator is sent primarily to the electric motor, with the excess going to the batteries, depending on the state of charge (SoC) of the battery pack and the power demanded at the wheels.

The suggested retail price for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt starts at US$40,280 excluding any charges, taxes or any incentives. Qualified buyers are eligible for a US$7,500 U.S. federal tax credit and additional incentives are available in some locations. The Volt is also available through a lease program with a monthly payment of US$350 for 36 months, with US$2,500 due at lease signing, and with an option to buy at the end of the lease.  The Volt will be initially sold in seven regions: California, Washington DC, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Austin, Texas. Nationwide availability in the U.S. and Canada is scheduled to begin with the 2012 model year commencing in late summer 2011.

The Volt seats only four people as the battery runs down the center of the car preventing a rear bench

And just today, I recieved an email from Chevy telling me about all the awards and accolades they've collected and how they'll need a bigger award cabinet - yeah right!.  The email also included a link to a vehicle locator  but this didn't turn up a Volt within a 25 mile radius of my zip code.

In the meantime, we're still on the short list for a Nissan LEAF, having plunked down our $99 last year on Earth Day.  If I remember correctly, during the first 24 hours of the reservation system, something like 6,000-8,000 people, including our family made their initial reservation.  After a few months when the reservation process concluded, about 20,000 had signed up.  I haven't seen or heard anything lately from Nissan indicating that a LEAF was coming our way soon.

While the Volt is probably closer to reality for us, it only seats 4 and very expensive....we may just wait and see an bit longer. 

But in the meantime, I have Angie who's been inside a Volt!

Astrid

Nissan LEAF and Chevy VOLT December Sales

One of the reasons that we, as a family, have not purchased a car to replace our aging "fleet" was that there weren't hybrid or all-electric options available other than the very expensive Prius.  It doesn't seem right to buy another gas/diesel car when the technology has been available since the 90's with the Toyota Rav electric models.  Last Earth Day (April 2010), I was one of the first few thousand Americans to place a $99 hold on a Nissan LEAF but even with that, we won't see any LEAFs in Michigan, let alone the Detroit area, until very late in 2011.

Here is an interesting article about how many LEAFs and VOLTs were sold in December of 2010.   See AP article here http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101231/ap_on_bi_ge/electric_car_sales 

GM sold between 250 and 350 Chevy Volts this month and Nissan's sales totaled less than 10 Leaf sedans in the past two weeks. Production for both is slowly ramping up.

It will be well into 2012 before both the Volt and Leaf are available nationwide. And if you're interested in buying one, you'll need to get behind the 50,000 people already on waiting lists.

Here's the You Tube link to the Polar Bear video where a polar bear comes down into the lower 48 and finds a LEAF owner to hug for helping stem the tide of global warming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNeEVkhTutY

Still waiting in Ann Arbor.....

Astrid

Astrid

New Mobility Concept: Nissan’s Two-Seat Electric Car

Nissan Motor Co.

Nissan’s two-seat electric car, the New Mobility Concept.

From the December 1, 2010 Wall Street Journal, an article about 2-seater electric cars for short excursions.  See article here http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2010/12/01/new-mobility-concept-nissans-two-seat-electric-car/?mod=rss_WSJBlog&mod=WSJ_Autos_Driversseat

Nissan Motor Co. released pictures today of an electric concept car called the New Mobility Concept. The tall, two-seat car that resembles a Smart Fortwo, is part of a broad transportation program the car maker is studying, which includes car-sharing and increased mobility for older drivers.

Nissan, which is about to begin selling its Leaf electric sedan later this month, says it is looking closely at the possibilities presented by electric vehicles. The car maker says one proposal under development involves sustainable, efficient and convenient transport tailored for elderly and single households.

More vapor-hype but it sounds like an interesting concept.

Astrid

Nissan LEAF - Rated for 99 MPG

Proposed EPA-DOT Sticker for EVs

The Detroit News reported today that the 2011 Nissan LEAF was recenlty rated by the EPA with the equivalent of 106 city and 92 mpg  highway for a combined 99 mpg.  See article here http://detnews.com/article/20101123/AUTO01/11230333/EPA--Leaf-has-73-mile-range

Nissan Motor Co. said Monday that its battery-electric Leaf will declare on its new vehicle window sticker that it gets the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon.

But the vehicle's range will be listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as 73 miles, below its advertised 100-mile range, the company said.

The 73-mile range "is about what we'd expect in the real world," said Roland Hwang, transportation policy director for the National Resources Defense Council. Regulators need to ensure the labels have accurate information, he said.

Astrid

Volt Named 2011 Motor Trend's Car of the Year

Dude, where's my car? 

Motor Trend Magazine has named the Chevrolet Volt its 2011 Car of the Year. General Motors Co. received the prestigious industry award this morning during a ceremony from inside a wind tunnel at the automaker's tech center in Warren.

Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie said the Volt — GM's $41,000 battery-powered car with a backup gas engine — is one of the most significant vehicles to receive the award in its 61-year history.

The accolades come just weeks before the much-anticipated Volt is scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms. The first Volts began rolling off the line at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck plant this month.

 

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20101116/AUTO01/11160384/GM-s-Volt-named-2011-Motor-Trend-Car-of-the-Year#ixzz15T2qrMeM

This is nice but yet....no LEAF or Volt in sight...

Astrid

Where's My Camera! - Smart for Two Electric Car

I work at EPA's National Vehicle and Fuels Emissions Laboratory.  The Laboratory was established in 1971, shortly after the creation of EPA.  It is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, near the headquarters of domestic automobile manufacturers to facilitate transfer of test vehicles back and forth.  One of the functions of the facility is to certify that vehicles and engines meet federal emissions and fuel economy standards. 

Front of building with sign

From where I sit in my viewbicle (cubicle with a view), I can see new model year cars delivered for fuel economy testing - the MPG ratings that are on new car stickers. 

Silverado on a dynamometer

And today I saw the cutest little car, the Smart for Two Electric Drive.  I didn't know Smart for Two had an electric version so I checked with wiki and here's what was on their webpage.

An electric, rechargeable version is being released in the UK as a lease vehicle on a limited basis. At the Smart Car Brooklands event in July 2008, a Smart EV was on display within "MercedesWorld" and a representative stated that the car would be for sale in the UK in 2010. Daimler will start the production of the electric Smart equipped with lithium-ion batteries in 2009 and production will ramp up to mass production by 2012.^[25] A Smart Forfour has been converted into a plug-in hybrid by Lithium Technology Corporation and Zytek Systems. The lithium-ion battery can propel the vehicle up to 84 miles per hour (135 km/h) and last on its own for up to 20 miles (32 km). The engine is a combination of a 68-horsepower (51 kW), 1.5-liter (92 cu in), 3-cylinder turbo charged diesel engine and two high-efficiency permanent-magnet electric motors. It was awarded by the Energy Saving Trust for the “Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge” project.^[26]

Daimler AG and RWE AG have launched the world's largest joint project for environmentally friendly electric cars. Daimler will provide more than 100 electric cars from Mercedes-Benz and Smart as well as the vehicle service.The new generation of Smart ED (electric drive) and electric-battery driven vehicles from Mercedes-Benz will come in use within the "e-mobility Berlin" project. RWE is handling the development, installation and operation of the charging infrastructure". The new project is also benefiting from the experience gained by Daimler during the current pilot project involving electro-mobility in London. Since last year, there has been a test fleet of first-generation Smart Fortwo ed cars . The start of serial production of battery-powered vehicles by Mercedes-Benz and Smart is in 2010.^[27] Smart ED is going to be sold in the European Union in 2010-07-01.^[28]

Naturally, I didn't have my camera in my back pocket so I couldn't show you and actual real live Smart For Two, so I had to resort to Yahoo Images. 

Astrid

LEAF versus Volt or Just Regular versus Electric Cars?

Nissan LEAF Dashboard

The online Wall Street Journal had a series of interesting articles this weekend about the future of electric cars, and it was about as expected - nobody really knows and everybody has an opinion.  See here.

I found it curious that one of the reasons that people might not switch to electric cars is the long charging time (8 hours)

"There are life-defining moments when you find out you can't go pick up your kid who is sick because you don't have enough charge in your car and the next day people come back to the dealership and hand over the keys,"

The other interesting factoid that I learned was that the price point for switching to an electric vehicle in terms of cost per gallon:

Absent the government incentives—which could be ended at any time—Boston Consulting Group's Xavier Mosquet estimates that gasoline prices must rise to $8 to $9 a gallon before electric cars will be cost-effective for buyers.  If fuel hits $4 a gallon—compared to under $3 today—and with the current government incentives still in place, the U.S. market might support up to 5% of total sales going to electric vehicles by 2020.

I can't wait to see how the story will really end in a few years - boom or bust?

We reserved a spot on the LEAF list last April and are one of approximately 20,000 people across America who registered before the process closed for the year.  Michigan is not on the short list for LEAF distribution until late 2011...or beyond! 

How about you....would you risk a dead car and sick kid or stick with a regular car?

Astrid

Tom Moloughney's Electric BMW Mini

My Dad is an avid reader and he frequently sends me links to interesting articles.  Today he nudged me to read an article in the Wall Street Journal about Tom Moloughney, owner and blogger with an electric BMW Mini.  Here is Tom's blog.
 

Tom was one of the first people in America to lease a beta version of a BMW Mini electric car.  He writes a blog of his day to day experiences.  In real life, he is a chef/restaurant owner living on the East Coast commuting 30 miles a day to his job.  I didn't realize that electric cars were somewhat available to a chosen few.

My family is still on the "short list" for a Nissan LEAF due out in Michigan sometime late 2011.....in the meantime, we'll just bike, bus, Zipcar, rent, walk, taxi, train, around....it's all good.

Astrid