PDA

View Full Version : Chevy Volt vs. Tesla Model S.

CaptainPike
April 3rd, 2009, 11:49 pm
Does anyone know how much the Volt will cost??

Tesla Motors is selling the Model S for 50k. Compared to the Chevy Volt, I'd have to say the Model S is far better. The Volt gets 40 miles without using gas. The Model S can get up to 300 miles and never uses gas anyhow.

And what is with the goofy looking windows on the Volt? Are you not supposed to be able to see the road?
ThrowCop
April 3rd, 2009, 11:54 pm
I was really excited with the Volt prototype. Sadly, the radical lines were all but destroyed by idiots in marketing.

The Tesla S is quite cool so far. Can't wait to see a review. I would love to buy an electric car that got me as far on a "tank" as my regular pickup.

And the Volt can still use it's gas-powered generator to get ou down the road for 300+ miles.
CaptainPike
April 4th, 2009, 2:53 pm
I didn't notice before but the Model S won't be released until 2012. I was wondering why I hadn't hear much about it.
BillBrown
April 4th, 2009, 2:54 pm
I didn't notice before but the Model S won't be released until 2012. I was wondering why I hadn't hear much about it.

Maybe they're having trouble communicating with Tesla.
Samm
April 4th, 2009, 6:46 pm
Does anyone know how much the Volt will cost??

Tesla Motors is selling the Model S for 50k. Compared to the Chevy Volt, I'd have to say the Model S is far better. The Volt gets 40 miles without using gas. The Model S can get up to 300 miles and never uses gas anyhow.

And what is with the goofy looking windows on the Volt? Are you not supposed to be able to see the road?

I have heard that the Volt was supposed to cost in the $30,000 range, but the word now is that the price will be closer to $35,000.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/chevrolet_gm_volt_price_goes_up_wipers_stereo.php
waynevan
April 5th, 2009, 7:59 am
I didn't notice before but the Model S won't be released until 2012. I was wondering why I hadn't hear much about it.

Probably because it was originally priced at a hundred thousand dollars and thus eliminated as a vehicle for most consumers. I wonder of Obama had anything to do with halving the price...........
waynevan
April 5th, 2009, 8:00 am
I have heard that the Volt was supposed to cost in the $30,000 range, but the word now is that the price will be closer to $35,000.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/chevrolet_gm_volt_price_goes_up_wipers_stereo.php

Plus ten percent for Obama's coming luxury tax on any car over thirty grand.
waynevan
April 5th, 2009, 8:53 am
Here is an interesting car. A 100 mph biodeisal sports car that goes from zero to sixty in six seconds. There is a fifteen second commercial before the video.

http://www.weather.com/multimedia/videoplayer.html?clip=13957&from=36hr_outlet_video
CaptainPike
April 5th, 2009, 11:56 am
Probably because it was originally priced at a hundred thousand dollars and thus eliminated as a vehicle for most consumers. I wonder of Obama had anything to do with halving the price...........

I didn't know the price was that high. I knew their other cars were around 100k.
waynevan
April 5th, 2009, 12:47 pm
I didn't know the price was that high. I knew their other cars were around 100k.

I had a thread on the Tesla a couple of years ago and they were a hundred grand. I'm just wondering how the price came down so radically. Perhaps economy of scale, but it happened pretty quickly.
CaptainPike
April 5th, 2009, 12:58 pm
I had a thread on the Tesla a couple of years ago and they were a hundred grand. I'm just wondering how the price came down so radically. Perhaps economy of scale, but it happened pretty quickly.

I haven't kept up with it as much, but I thought the Model S was much newer than the others and maybe that's why the price was less.

I just don't get why the Volt has such a pitiful range. I know it can use gas, but they should have given it a much better range on battery power.
Samm
April 5th, 2009, 7:19 pm
Plus ten percent for Obama's coming luxury tax on any car over thirty grand.

That would include all "green" cars I believe...
Samm
April 5th, 2009, 7:28 pm
I haven't kept up with it as much, but I thought the Model S was much newer than the others and maybe that's why the price was less.

I just don't get why the Volt has such a pitiful range. I know it can use gas, but they should have given it a much better range on battery power.

Everything is a compromise with electric cars... put in the battery power to significantly extend the range and you significantly increase the size, weight (which affects useable payload) and the cost. The Volt is designed as a commuter... most commutes are under 40 miles; if you have to drive 50 or more, it has the gas back-up/generator.

Quite frankly, that is the wave of the immediate future - gas/electric. It will be many many years (if ever) before there are electric cars that are capable of a significantly greater range at a reasonably affordable price.
ThrowCop
April 5th, 2009, 7:41 pm
Everything is a compromise with electric cars... put in the battery power to significantly extend the range and you significantly increase the size, weight (which affects useable payload) and the cost. The Volt is designed as a commuter... most commutes are under 40 miles; if you have to drive 50 or more, it has the gas back-up/generator.

Quite frankly, that is the wave of the immediate future - gas/electric. It will be many many years (if ever) before there are electric cars that are capable of a significantly greater range at a reasonably affordable price.True. I would be in line for a Volt if it looked good & got me 50 miles on battery & a 300+ mile range on a tank of gas for the generator.
WhiteHatBobby
April 5th, 2009, 9:40 pm
The Volt prototypes have been based off the original GM Epsilon platform (Saab 9-5, et al) to save money on testing. The street Volt will not be based off any current or future GM architecture.

Some plans are to put a diesel instead of a gas engine. GM has a Polish-built Duramax 4-cylinder engine that Honda pays to use in European Civics. The Polish plant (thanks, Ronald Reagan and Lech Walensa) builds the small Duramax engine and is a byproduct of American companies who wanted to invest in the Iron Curtain after Reagan put the KO on the Hammer and the Sickle.
Samm
April 5th, 2009, 11:04 pm
True. I would be in line for a Volt if it looked good & got me 50 miles on battery & a 300+ mile range on a tank of gas for the generator.

No doubt, but it would cost more (because it would need at least 20% more batteries.) Besides, you are quibbling over 10 miles... its range on a tank of gas is 300+ miles even with the down-sized gas tank in the final prototype.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/08/chevy-volts-gas-tank-gets-downsized/
waynevan
April 6th, 2009, 7:47 am
That would include all "green" cars I believe...

Unless they have changed the wording, there are no restrictions or exceptions, simply ANY car.
Wookinstien
April 6th, 2009, 8:24 am
I still want this car.....

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/Wookinstien/Aptera.jpg

www.aptera.com

Here is a nice addition

The Aptera 2 Series vehicle (electric and hybrid) will range in price from the mid-$20,000s to the mid-$40,000s, depending on options and powertrain.
ThrowCop
April 6th, 2009, 9:38 am
No doubt, but it would cost more (because it would need at least 20% more batteries.) Besides, you are quibbling over 10 miles... its range on a tank of gas is 300+ miles even with the down-sized gas tank in the final prototype.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/08/chevy-volts-gas-tank-gets-downsized/Well, 50 miles is a nice, round number. ;)

And yes, the specs are rating it for over 300 miles per tank. I just hope the production unit meets that spec. I would love to have one.
Samm
April 6th, 2009, 3:50 pm
Well, 50 miles is a nice, round number. ;)

And yes, the specs are rating it for over 300 miles per tank. I just hope the production unit meets that spec. I would love to have one.

I believe there is a link at whitehouse.gov where you can place an order. Be sure to mention Obama's name... he works on commission. ;)