GM-Volt.com Chevy Volt Waiting List Hits 10,000 Members
Today we have hit a major milestone. 10,000 people have signed up on our waiting list, expressing their desire to buy a Chevy Volt. This site was started on January 12, 2007 in response to GM unveiling the Chevy Volt five days earlier. It was my intent to create a place where like-minded people interested in driving this car could convene to observe and discuss the development and eventually create an ownership community.
Even more importantly, it was my hope that this site could serve as a beacon to GM, continuously showing them how enthusiastic and how ready the public is for such a car. I didn’t want them to let the concept die, as the initial reports after the unveiling suggested it might.
I didn’t realize how meaningful this site would become. In June, GM reached out to me and invited me to their headquarters for the first time, allowing me to interview engineers directly involved in the Volt project. From there, I’ve had the opportunity to interview many GM and battery executives along the way, all the while striving to provide the latest and most accurate information. It’s come so far that I’ve even met and interviewed CEO Rick Wagoner and Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz.
I think so far the site has been a success. GM knows well about us and their executives regularly admit they read the site.
There have certainly been ups and downs, and the effort has at times been trying, but remains fun and exciting. I’ve been called everything from a cult-leader to a shill. Nonetheless we carry on. The fact is I am a Volt enthusiast. I want the world to drive electric cars, and as an American, I want GM to lead the way. It’s my right to feel that way. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and all can have a voice here.
We need to spread the word. Many people still do not know about this car, and its potential benefits. Tell your friends and families about it, and send them to GM-Volt.com.
Next goal 20,000.
Popularity: 29%
(37 votes, average: 5 out of 5) 
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124 Responses to “GM-Volt.com Chevy Volt Waiting List Hits 10,000 Members”
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Congratulations, Lyle!!! NOW you’ve reached a point, with a wait-list of 10,000, that the world-wide press will respond to. I’d suggest getting a press release together & emailed/faxed to as many media outlets as you can. If anyone ever doubted gm-volt.com would have a major impact on the marketing success of the Chevy Volt, achieving 10,000 on our wait list will dispel all such doubts!
Lyle:
10K on the waiting list in just over a year!
I would say that you are doing a great job in getting the word out about this vehicle!
Keep up the good work, and I hope GM continues to provide you with up to date information.
I hope this site is one of the first to introduce interior and exterior pictures and full specs of the finalized Volt to the world.
On to 20K!!!!!!!!
Link forwarded! If we all make an effort, we can reach 20K in a month. Whatever you think of the Volt specifically, I hope we can all agree that electric cars will help lead us to a cleaner and healthier environment!
Lyle,
As I and others say quite often, you’re doing a GREAT job with this site. The seemingly never ending flow of new and relevant information brings me back every day (several times a day I might add).
I found this site via a Google search after seeing a GM commercial With the Volt in it and wondering WHAT IS THAT?!?!… I’ve become a huge fan of the Volt now and see its potential to be a catalyst in several areas. Getting us OFF foreign oil, cleaner air, and a MUCH lower cost to drive vs. gasoline come to mind first.
But I’d really love to see GM become the leader of the pack in all of this and bring US made vehicles to the forefront of technology, innovation, performance, quality, and value. I currently drive a 2005 Toyota Tacoma quad cab, it’s a GREAT vehicle. But I’d trade it today for a Volt!!
Way to go Lyle.
Good luck with the site in the future. Most of us here are behind you 100%. If you’re a shill you’re our shill.
Thanks again for this great site and all the work you put into it. You’ve done a fantastic job.
For every ONE who bothers to speak out and raises their hand for a Volt, there are HYNDREDS (perhaps thousands) who quietly wait in the shadows.
EVERY executive knows this simple fact.
Keep up the hard work, Lyle.
I can’t say i’ve ever been GM’s biggest fan. But since the promise of the Volt, my only gripe is that they won’t sell it internationally, or more specifically to me, in Australia.
Hopefully the volt will be enough to motivate Toyota to produce something better than the joke they call the prius. However i’d rather GM was the leader and not toyota. Toyota had the opportunity, and they chose to perpetuate the reliance on the ICE. For changing the paradigm with the Volt, GM is to be congratulated.
Congratulations, Lyle!!!
Keep up the good work on the site and the interviews.
This is one of the first sites I read in the morning when I get up.
I think everyone should be care full on responding to news release from GM about the VOLT, any product going through design and in to production goes has many changes, setbacks and goals are made.
YES I will buy Volt if its under $30k,
$40K I have to run the numbers and look real hard at it
Keep up the good work Lyle and I hope we all can be driving a Volt in 2 years
Lyle,
Great job on the site. I am impressed you have a full time job and manage to manage this site as well and you don’t even get paid for this.
I hope every employee works just as hard on the car to get it out soon!
G
Lyle,
Have you kept track of the waiting list timestamps? I’d be curious what number I am. I think I signed up somewhere in the seven thousands. Can you check for me?
Thanks
The Volt was all over the local news here in mid-Michigan (WSGW AM-790). They began by talking about the Detroit Auto Show, discussing all of the electric and alternative cars on display. Then then went on to discuss other manufacturers who are gearing up whole departments of engineers to begin working on electric vehicle development. Then the discussion turned to the Volt and where it is and how it came to be.
An interesting side note was Bill Clinton’s speech in South Carolina yesterday. He was talking about Hillary’s platform and that she wants to plow billions into getting this country off of oil and into electric cars. He spoke about the Volt, its range and all the benefits of owning it. The crowd was incredibly enthusiastic and applauded a number of times while he was explaining it.
I hope GM is excited about all the press and exposure. I sure am.
I agree. You have done a great job Lyle.
It would be interesting to see a plot of the waiting list size by week since it was started. Then you could point out the growth rate when people thought the Volt would sell for less than $30k and what the new growth rate is now that everyone expects the Volt to cost more than $40k.
Several people asked to be removed from the waiting list after the $40k cost announcement. Does the waiting list count reflect the total number of sign-ups or the actual number of people on the list?
I started a spreadsheet on 9 Dec and have updated it every Saturday; starting to get a nice trend line. Lyle probably has all the weekly numbers from day-one… a graph/chart showing the waiting list trend would be a nice addition to the blog.
Bryan K #12 & #13:
I TOTALLY agree with your #12 …a simple plot of #’s wait-listed by week from Jan ‘07 to Jan ‘08 (using Excel) should be highly useful to GM because it should reflect the effect of the $30K expectation vs the $40K possibility.
However, I disagree with your #13 because it’s probably not worth the effort …and remember there are likely to be perhaps hundreds of potential “wait listers” that have simply never been aware of gm-volt.com!
…I meant to say, “there are likely to be perhaps hundreds of potential “wait listers” that have simply never been aware of gm-volt.com FOR EVERY NAME ON THE WAITING LIST!
Thanks Lyle,
We all need to push for Electric Cars - as well as solar panels to power them from our homes. Also, American Industry needs to maintain a manufacturing base for the good of our economy. This will help the balance of payments 2 ways: A) US CARS & B) US Fuel.
It will also make the air cleaner and slow the
threat of Global Warming … which would flood NYC, New Orleans, All of Florida, and many other coastal areas. The devastation from a 40 ft sea rise would be very hard to recover from for the USA as well as the world.
I have 7040 watts of PV on my roof and I am waiting for the plug in vehicle to use my surplus generation.
Steve
http://www.goldenoldy.org
“The Sustainable Museum of Sustainable Transportation”
I’m not always the most positive person, I generally am a pessimist. I am always skeptical of the release date, I am one of the people who think the the site is a little over the top and ’shilley’ and I was less than thrilled at the ‘40K issue’
….but at the end of the day if a electric car is actually mass produced, regardless if the math vs gas doesn’t hold up, it will be a good day.
Lyle,
Thank you for introducing this vehicle and the people behind it. This is a new way for regular people to influnce the free market. I love the free enterprise system and I like the idea that we consumers can bend it to our will. This is, after all, the way the system is supposed to work. Let GM make a smar and efficient car and let GM sell them by the thousands.
16. nasaman
I agree totally. Just yesterday I was talking to someone in the financial business who was oblivious to the development of the Volt…. You mean like the Prius? No, not like the Prius, it will go 40 miles on battery…. Yada Yada Yada - I give the whole spiel and tell them about gm-volt.com. Almost no one that I talk to has heard much about it, but that will change over time.
In the television ads for the Volt, GM should mention this website, at least in the small print. Eh?
I have to admit that I am a GM-Volt.com addict. I have the need to come here everyday for the latest info and development. To 10k and beyond. Great job Lyte. Champagne anyone? Yes, it is too early. For the BBQ in 2010. FYI: everytime I send an email at home/work my signature is the address of this site.
From environmentally friendly to gas free
http://www.gm-volt.com
Lyle, congratulations to you, and all who have been part of this effort. Whether a reader, or poster, or member of the list, or an official who has agreed to be interviewed, thanks for supporting this great effort!
This has been such an upbeat and encouraging thread, I am sorry to cast a shadow but many of the names were entered when the Volt was supposed to be priced “comfortably below $30,000.” I am certainly hoping for GM’s success, but whoever brings out a PHEV with at least a 25 mile AER (either GM or Toyota or Ford) that I can afford will get my business. As I explained before, I loved the last Olds, but it was priced way above the Avalon. It looks like the PHEV Prius will be available in 2011, so price matters. Either would reduce air pollution and our dependence on foreign oil.
Congrats on the 10,000 mark. I’m a bit of an Aptera fan (the electric version) and they have a reservation list. I think they have only hit 1,129 so far. Of course, they started later and require a $500 deposit to get on the list. Hopefully, GM will soon start accepting similar deposits so you and the other Volt wanna be buyers can show them how serious you are.
just remember (who killed the electric car) i hope this is not a repeat
This week there has been a lot of coverage in our local press about the actual local debut of the Smart.
According to the reports, there are 30,000 people on the $99 deposit list. The first year’s allocation (20,000 I read somewhere) would appear to be more than sold out. The customers are standing on one foot and then the other, waiting for their cars to be custom assembled in France and shipped over.
The power of these waiting/deposit lists, when properly administered by smart (no pun intended) people like Roger Penske, cannot be over estimated.
BTW, I checked with my younger son on his Mini Cooper. They paid down their deposit, and the car was assembled to order in England and delivered in 8 weeks. I believe that this is what they are quoting for the Smart as well.
tom morgan (#26)
Don’t worry. GM has LOTS of competition because today’s market is entirely different than it was in the late 90s.
GM is just ONE of MANY companies working on E-REVs. The demand and pace of development is growing VERY rapidly.
Don’t want to pay $40K Volt, go buy one of the $25K Chinese E-REV that will hit US market around 2011 or just modify a used hybrid.
The future is economical electric choices.
Keep up the good work Lyle! I’m tired of sending my hard earned $ to the Middle East. For example, Google “Dubai before and after.” I also look forward to the day when I no longer see the pollution over our big cities. I plan on driving this car 30 miles to work one way, charge it at work, then drive it 30 miles back home. No gas! I’ve bought Japanese cars for the last 20 yrs and I’m going to give GM a try with this car because I believe in it and what they are trying to do.
Thanks for all the hard work.
I’m buying this car the second it comes out.
– Chuck
Check this out from GM, http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/01/gm-introduces-b.html
Kyle:
Looking forward to the Volt being made available to the public. The number on the list is unimportant compared to the Volt being avaibale.
Hope to be one of the first to own a Volt. keep up the great work!!
John.
Check this one out also, http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/
# 26 “
just remember (who killed the electric car) i hope this is not a repeat”
Since the movie, it’s certainly popular to blame GM for “killing” the electric car. But let’s not forget that the group was also composed of Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler, and Ford.
It’s funny how those 5 have been completely forgiven
Plug-in hybrids are coming. Period. If not from GM then from eveybody else. GM will make the “Volt”, we all have to wait, and continue to “want-it”, “demand-it”, etc.
Tesla Says Roadster Passes Federal Crash Tests, check it out, http://blogs.edmunds.com/GreenCarAdvisor/194
Hey GM…make this a hybrid with a sub 25K price?? check it out… http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=124222/pageNumber=1
Just want to say, Lyle, how glad I am someone like you has the initiative and sticktoitiveness to foster this web site and continue your work.
At the present time I drive a little VW Golf and over the past three years have averaged 49 mies per gallon, the last year on mainly B-100 soy bean diesel. It can be done and the Volt will certainly go a long way towards our energy independence.
Ford’s next generation Escape Hybrid is starting to emerge. GM needs to get busy in a hurry, or may just miss the “boat” so-to-speak…check it out… http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2008-01-24-ford-escape-plugin-hybrid_N.htm
I think its safe to say that none of us here think you’re a shill for GM Lyle.
In many ways, you’ve done more to advertise and promote the Volt than even GM has.
Thanks for all the time and effort you’ve put into this, and congrats on the wait list breaking 10K.
#34 George K
“# 26 “
just remember (who killed the electric car) i hope this is not a repeat”
Since the movie, it’s certainly popular to blame GM for “killing” the electric car. But let’s not forget that the group was also composed of Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler, and Ford.
It’s funny how those 5 have been completely forgiven”
Maybe it’s because Toyota and Ford relented and allowed lessees to buy Rav4 ev’s and Rangers, while GM charged for the dings and dents before they crushed them. And with all the talk about how batteries aren’t ready yet, these 10+ year old cars are still on the road. PG&E still has 200 or so of them. I see one driving around Palm Springs all the time.
Don’t get me wrong,I really hope GM pulls this off. This will really shake things up. If they don’t, I’ll just buy a plug-in from another manufacturer. I will never buy a non plug in car again, I don’t care the cost.
Lyle, congratulations. This site has become a “must visit” site for me. It is the first thing I check in the morning and the last one I check at night. I have learned so much from it. I think I became aware of it a few months after you started it. Plug-in technology is very important to me. I really want GM to succeed (even though the last GM car I bought was back in 1986). Keep up the good work, Lyle. I have a great deal of respect for you.
HI: I want to order a die cast chev volt,.
But the order will not go .Can you help Bill sawatsky.
Congratulations on 10k.
I joined this site about 3 months ago and have mentioned it to just about anyone who would listen. Sometimes you see their eyes glaze over, and sometimes you see them light up when they realize the implications of this automobile.
Traditionally I am not an anti oil, greenie type, however we are at a point where political, enviromental, economic and technical intrest are all converging. We all may have different motivations but the end result is the same.
In the long run it matters little what the volt sells for because it wont be produced in a vacuum. The free market will determine what options, models, price and features eventually become available.
Be optimistic.
When did the 40K announcement come out ???
Lyle:
Shill? Cult Leader? I don’t think you are trying to dupe anyone, nor does your ego seem oversized. I really appreciate what you are doing and I am eager for the information you make avaliable.
I am very excited about the pending availability of PEVs. Thanks to you, I can more easily follow developments towards GM’s, and others’, PEVs. Because the Volt will probably be the first to market, I am especially interested in it. I hope it realizes its original concept. If it differs slightly from its original concept, that is understandable- my projects don’t always turn out the way I envisioned them.
Lyle - 10k is quite a landmark - congrats! Thank you for this site and all you do for the E-REV cause.
I love having a place where I can go and read up on the latest Volt developments and then debate the finer points of the development with the community.
Now GM just needs to get you a production-version of the Volt for review. Hopefully this will occur later this year. Cmon GM!!!
Lyle, Your communication efforts are evolving upward and onward. I’m trying to tie the Volt technology to solar power as I upgrade my PG&E grid-tied system to accommodate the charging schedule of the Volt.
Keep up the motivation with GM, battery contractors et al.
Mike #45 if you’re talking about the price, it was never announced. There was a release from GM that they might not/won’t be able to keep it under 30K. The 40K was ensuing speculation. There was quite a bit of heated debate about that.
They’re going to have to stick to their original price target. I’ve seen it written that Toyota has made a profit on every Prius, and that’s not true. They were in the red for quite a while.
nasaman @ 1,
GOOD idea about Lyle sending out a press release to all the major media outlets. Fast way to get exposure.
Congrats Lyle.
On the 30K vs 40K, this is an opportunity for GM. Play with purchasing, leasing, and financing here. You can do a lot with this battery and you mise well exploit it WHILE BENEFITING THE CONSUMER.
Continental AG announced a deal with Maxwell to
buy Ultracapacitors for creating electric buffer system for a major auto manufacturer and for a 2010 model.
Could this for VOLT or Mercedes S400/300 Hybrid ?
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/4cb3ed9b4369f94634a540d88e0e1874.htm
Lyle
The first time I came here, I knew you were doing something important, but I never thought you would be as successful as you have been. Congratulations on your accomplishment and I look forward to reading this blog for the next three years or so.
If wanting to reduce oil consumption, clean up air pollution, preserve US jobs, and preserve the US manufacturing base makes a person a cult member, then I plead guilty as charged.
Mike G., #45:
It came from yet another ill considered remark by Mr. Lutz several days ago. Rashiid dug it up and posted the quote again on one of the very recent threads. If not the last one, then the one before it.
Noel, and Mike G. Here is the $40K quote again. This quote is from Bob Lutz.
“I don’t know. You’d like to have it at about $30,000 for the customer, but what I’m hearing from the team is we’re not going to get there. They say we might get there on the second generation, and they say if they had a lot more time they might be able to cost-optimize it. I don’t want to wait for cost optimization. I’d rather come out in 2010, and if it costs closer to 40 than 30, well, that’s too bad.”
The link is here:
http://www.gm-volt.com/2008/01/16/lutz-first-volts-will-cost-more-than-30000/#comments
not only does GM read this site.
Yesterday I meet my congressman and invited him here. I had a prepared note for him. This is just up his street, he had sponsored a bill for Uncle Sam to purchase 60,000 plugins. The bill didn’t pass.
Rashiid # 54
Thanks, I forgot that Lutz had mentioned a fuzzy 40, and again, he did say “if”.
No problem, Grizzly.
Yes he did say “if”. But what a firestorm that comment made though.
Yes because for most Americans, 30 to 40K is a threshold leap.
Ten thousand on the waiting list is a lot of people. Hopefully we can get the number up to 50 or 100 thousand over the next couple of years. I don’t remember so much hype about a car three years before it is even produced. Congrats Lyle.
By the way …I went to the St. Louis auto show last night. GM had a lot of nice cars there. My favorites were as follows:
Cadillac CTS
Camero concept (hot car)
Malibu
Solstice
Unfortunately, the Volt was not there. I am considering buying a CTS to hold me over until 2010. My daughter turns 16 this year and I am considering buying her a Pontiac G5.
I’m very hopeful to see the “GM VOLT” on the market. And hopeful the price will be reasonable. We as the American People deserve this chance at an electric car. We have been knocked around, stolen from, lied to, taken advantage of, but mostly VICTIMIZED by not only the oil companies gloating in their billion dollar profits, but it looks to me a whole lot of others are in bed with the oil companies lavishing in the billion dollar profits.
Now as I see it it is OUR turn to lavish in saving money from gas and at the same time driving a beautiful, classy GM Volt and feel relieved and also proud that someone is on our side. Thanks GM.
On your 10 k list… it would be nice…really great if GM offered the Volt to us in the order that we signed up.. The we could be given a choice of if we still wanted the Volt at $ 30 K or the new pricing of $ ???
Pick Me !!! Pick ME !!!
Whats a Camero?
# Robert.V Says:
January 26th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Whats a Camero?
**** *****
I think they’re cookies like Vienna Fingers
but by a different company ;).
It is important that the writers in the $30K/$40K discussion think some more about how prices of new cars are determined. They are NOT going to be determined as some number set by GM. What GM is going to decide is how many to produce.
Undoubtedly GM will take into account the availability of components, most notably the big battery, and the prices, and the assembly capability, and probably many other things. Still, in the end all they will decide is HOW MANY. Yes, they will put a sticker price on the window. But, as we all know, that price will go up or down at every dealership, so that buy the end of the model year, every unit will be sold above sticker, at sticker, or below sticker.
That is, GM will decide the number to be made, and the market will decide the price. What GM is doing with the 30K/40K discusssion is trying out the response to various prices, so that they can try to set the sticker price fairly close to the market price. That’s sensible because it leads to an orderly market.
Now it is to the great credit of Lyle and gm-volt.com (and all of you writers) as well as GM that interest has been stimulated, buyers are evident out there, and the market price has gone up. Perverse for us loyalists in some ways, yes, but overall a good thing, as it generates planning for a higher number of cars to be made.
Sweet One more Milestone closer to the Biggest Auto revolution in Automobile History.
Congrats to our cult leader Lyle Dennis!!
I picked up this site about 3 months ago after seeing it in a cnnmoney.com article (I think). I hate to admit I’ve been here almost every day since then. Keep up the excellent work.
Grizzly Noel and Rashiid, Thanks for the follow-up on the 40K quote. Pretty incredible bunch of people on this site!!
You’re quite welcome, Mike G.
Robert.V #62:
Whoops …meant to type Camaro. I hope they will have a plug in version some day. In my opinion, it is the coolest looking car I have ever seen (within my price range).
Don’t forget about the effects of inflation. If you are infrequent car buyers like me, it can be a real eye opener. Our last new car was a 93 Chrysler LH which was a first year car that I just had to have and I paid a premium. In 2007 dollars it is well north of $30k. See:
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
Perhaps GM can get some extra marketing mileage, raise a little $, gain some good will (hopefully for free), etc. Offer numbered reservations for $1000 (or more)with the terms of returning the $ plus 10% annual interest if the customers Volt is not delivered within 3 years. This would commit the buyer to buy and GM to build. I know this amount of $ would be pocket lint for GM, but they have to 10% for bonds anyway.
Please forgive the redundancy if this has been suggested already.
#64
I agree somewhat. I’m sure GM has bean counters that tell them they can sell X amount of cars at X amount of dollars.
I suspect GM is also getting a better handle on what the cost of the battery is going to be and all of the futuristic electronics (dash/roof) ect… Since they’ve now determined the base cost of the car will be closer to the mid/high 30’s compared to the high 20’s, I believe we’ll have much better idea of the actual MSRP within a year.
Hey Lyle,
Your growing waiting list for the Volt is being reported on The Energy Blog.
GM-Volt.com Reaches Major Milestone: Waitlist for Chevy Volt Climbs to 10,000
http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2008/01/gm-voltcom-reac.html
On anyother note, anyone gotten their Chevy Volt die cast model yet? I ordered the first day Lyle reported. Hasn’t arrived yet.
Lyle,
As always, great thanks for your outstanding work and congratulations on the milestone. I have been reading this site since the week it opened and I’m always impressed with the depth of knowledge and level of reporting that you provide. The other key component to the success of this site is the community that has spring up around it. This too is a credit to your efforts. You have continually fostered a candid yet polite discussion of the topics posted here and it is as much of a joy to read the comments as it is to read the articles.
I predict we will reach 20K faster than 10K. I also look forward to the day when we too can post about our personal experiences with the Volt!
Dave, I haven’t received mine either. And because I didn’t create an account, I can log in to see if it shipped.
This is technology that should have been refined thirty years ago. It seems that the big oil companies have such control over the progress of non-oil burning technology. The USA put a man on the moon in 1969 and look at the progress then when all that was at stake was to beat the Russians. Right now we have a vehicle on Mars that is running on battery power fueled by the sun. Our world can’t continue to move like a tortoise on developing battery technology either to power our automobiles or heat our homes. If the government would appropriate the money it spends on wars towards clean fuel technology we could all be driving volt- like automobiles. GM should strive to build the Volt with the utmost care in quality control and withing the price range of average americans. This should be their ultimate goal. The rest will take care of itself.
Lyle,
I want to echo what so many others have said. You do a great job!
Like Rashiid Amul and others, this is the first place I come to in the morning and the last in the evening. If the truth were known, I check back often throughout the day looking for the latest news.
I’ve become more enthusiastic about the Volt than even my very first car (a 1939 Ford) many years ago. That enthusiasm is now starting to cause me a real problem. I have to have one. And, my wife just told me a few days ago that she wants one too! Now what am I going to do?
Lyle,
Keep up the good work. I know I’m being redundant but oh well. I check for your updates first thing in the morning and last thing at night. It’s almost as good as seeing the UPS truck pull up when you post an update. I still have hopes that the Volt will come in under 30 grand maybe in a striped version or something Then I will be able to afford one. CW
James Adams #77:
I agree with most of what you say with only one or two caveats…
First, when you say, “The USA put a man on the moon in 1969 and look at the progress then when all that was at stake was to beat the Russians.” …Those of us who worked on the Apollo program were told there was a GREAT DEAL MORE at stake than simply beating the Russians to the moon …namely avoiding loss of the cold war to the USSR! That’s why Apollo was given an extremely-high *military* priority rating; the “moon shot” payoff was MUCH more than simply embarrassing the USSR …it gave us the world’s most advanced launch vehicle technology (the Saturn C5 is still the world’s most powerful rocket, including our Shuttle & anything the Russians, Europeans or Chinese have). In the minds of our top Air Force Generals, Apollo was needed for the cold war to be sure we could launch much bigger payloads than the Soviets. In fact, we’re now reverting to several key breakthroughs from Apollo for the next moon launches to establish a permanent base on the moon as a first step to the manned exploration of Mars.
One other caveat… NASA has developed very sophisticated spacecraft batteries that last 20 years unattended in the harsh environment of space. However, like NASA fuel cells, these batteries are far too expensive for commercial use without significant additional development (as has been going on with fuel cells) to make them commercially viable. Lithium Ion research seems to be on its way to achieving this, but with great recurring battery costs, and more research money should be made available to pursue commercializing the Stanford silicon nanowire work and/or other hopeful battery technologies. The Japanese government has always heavily supported this kind of research …we MUST start doing much more of it if we hope to have our automotive industry survive!
I’m in complete agreement with everything else you say… “Our world can’t continue to move like a tortoise on developing battery technology either to power our automobiles or heat our homes. If the government would appropriate the money it spends on wars towards clean fuel technology we could all be driving volt-like automobiles. GM should strive to build the Volt with the utmost care in quality control and within the price range of average americans.”
I’ll underscore that by adding that the US Government indeed SHOULD have invested Billions in battery technology years ago. But what could we expect when two big oilmen were running the US Government?!? As we all know, that will change in Jan 2009.
Lyle, someone above mentioned home-solar to power our Volts. I do remember Nanosolar’s promise to make a home-charging kit for EVs. If there is a lull in the action at GM I’d appreciate an update from Nanosolar.
P.S.
If anyone who lives in California glossed over post #33, you might want to go back and take a second look at Phoenix Motors. They are making a wait-list for California consumer sales. All-electric trucks and SUVs, lithium batteries, 10 minute charge time, 95 mph, available soon.
When is the pre-order option going to be available for people on this list? ^_^
Let me get this right, bush should have done more in battery technology. Why, didn’t Carter,or can’t keep it in his pant Clinton. Why hasn’t both house done something, stop trying to blame people and get it done. Both parties need to be replace, the run things and have put use in this mess
I am telling everyone about this car and website. It is about time a large car company is taking strides to produce a car that greatly reduces our dependence on foreign oil. It was sad when the EV1 was killed in the mid-90’s. But this seems promising so far. If I could afford to buy one of those Tesla electric cars coming out this year, I would, but the Volt might be the next best thing. Keep up the good work!
If any of you clicked the link and watched the bloggers press conference with Mr. Wagoner of GM, he proposed higher fuel taxes as a way to spur the public’s demand for higher efficiency vehicles.
While I think it safe to assume none of us really want to have to pay more for fuel, if the taxes were used to help make the Volt and other EVs more affordable, that may help soften the blow of the “closer to $40k” sticker price.
After reading this blog for several months and like others being addicted, it seems clear that a huge shift in the auto industry is so close to being a reality. It’s a no brainer! Like others have said, it achieves so many goals from environmental, to financial, to dependence on foreign oil, to revitalizing the US auto industry.
I like to see the free market at work, but the government really needs to wake up and see why they need to help make this happen!
Just my 2¢.
I would support a flat tax on vehicles based on their MPGs. Like say $500 for every 1 MPG below 30.
Then roll all that money up into building infrastructure for not just electric vehicles, but solar, wind, turbine (etc) power generation.
I don’t think I would turn around and give GM or any car manufacturer a check directly for development. I like the consumer buys–consumer gets a check system alot better. Competition increases efficiencies, and cuts out all the lobbying/political chaff.
It’s a proven system that works in many areas/countries for solar.
Good to hear 10K people have signed up on the waiting list. I think that means hundreds of thousands of people are actually considering this car.
I drove the EV1… for two days 150 miles.
If the VOLT is even close to the EV1 it most certainly will be a hit.
I don’t see anything getting close to the EV1 for many years. But as soon as enough people realize how simple the electric car is.. they will catch on.
I would love to see a EV1 fitted with the latest Lion batteries..just to see it’s performance with the new batteries. I had no problems diving the NiMH EV1. It hit 80mph like nothing and seemed it could go to 100 easily.
I’ll be ready in 2012 ..
GM….. GET IT DONE!
HOLD EVERYTHING!
I think we are missing a great opportunity! If congress can pass a bill that allows the very rich to deduct the price of a Hummer from thier taxes then why not something similar for us regular joes?
You (your taxes anyway) helped pay for those massive vehicles on the road. Now its time to turn the tables on them and have them help us pay for the vehicles we want to drive.
If we could get a tax deduction similar to what the Hummer owners recieved the 30K/40K qestion would be moot. The government would be paying us to buy one!
Incidently I agree with #83, stop trying to blame everything on your least favorite polatician.
Being a Republican, I have to weigh in on the comments made blaming Bush/Cheneny.
You are right. They are the worst that have ever lead this country. However, the others are right also. It’s the entire congress and past Presidents. They are all in bed with the lobbyists. Congress and the President are not there to help the average person on the street. They are there to help the rich and the special interest. The Hummer tax breaks need to go away and be replaced with EV tax breaks.
Hi lyle,
I was out the two last days without a computer.
Congatulations, like a lot of other people here said, I check gm-volt.com at least once a day with great pleasure and I’m truly disappointed if there is no new post a given day.
Perhaps I’ll see a doctor : this behaviour is an addiction. (just kidding)
As was said, being an economist, I agree with the idea that Bob Lutz was testing the market when he evoked the 40K $ possibility. There is no risk for GM to do that now, there are still so many options open, …
Wonder what will be the number on the counter of the waiting list on January 27th 2009, let’s hope well above 20,000.
Sorry guys, I am not as ready as some of you to condem Bush/Cheney. Have you forgotten the last 2-Presendital elections were nothing more than a choice between undesirables. From what I see the best of the worst were elected. And, the 2008 election is likely to be a rerun; a choice between undesirables!
Let’s take politics out of this forum once and for all and focus instead on the electrification of the automobile!
I’m going to stay out of politics on this site. I do agree with R.A. in post #89 in that we need some sort of effective tax credit for vehicles like the Volt.
I’ve got to wonder what the Japanese gov’t did to help Toyota launch the Prius for the price they did? I know for a fact that this thing not only happens all the time, but also that it was sold below cost, and I’m sure Toyota didn’t absorb the full cost.
Since we understand the costs involved with the Volt, why can’t the Fed Govt offer GM something to offset so that there won’t be a problem with the Volt coming to market with a <$30K price tag? Can’t directly subsidize, for obvious reasons, but surely the tax man could make this worthwhile to GM, and the consumer. It’s win/win.
I think the magic solution is to progressively raise the gasoline tax and use the proceeds for two purposes: improve our transportation infrastructure (rail, roads, bridges) and for very generous rebates on new fuel efficient and/or environmentally improved cars like the Chevy Volt.
With this approach, people will be more accepting of the increasing price of filling up because you have options: you can buy a new car with a generous government subsidy. Plus, the other part of the money would go toward reducing traffic congestion and for rail transit and for safer bridges. We need this type of infrastructure to remain productive in the world economy (i.e. our good infrastructure can allow us to retain higher salaries as long as we have a productivity advantage).
We may also need a gasoline “floor” tax. This tax would kick in if the price of gasoline goes below certain levels (for example, below $3) and would mean the price of gasoline would never go below the floor amount, regardless of supply/demand.
Since this is a pretty regressive tax, I could also see rebating some of this tax to those in the lower income quintile.
How about giving people a break on income tax if they live close to work?
Like if you live within 10 miles of work, you pay 10% less, and within 20 miles 5% less, or something like that.
o.Jeff #93:
There is no reason to believe the tax monies raised from a gasoline tax would be used for the intended purposes, just like highway taxes are already being used for other purposes.
The price of gasoline will continue to rise without any help from the government. This will encourage people to replace their ICE powered cars with E-REV cars.
I can agree with those who support income tax credits for those who purchase EV cars in all their forms. The credit should be based upon efficiency!
hopefully there will be a buick or cadillac of this type (sort of past the chevy cars now)
Honestly, I’m a little shocked at all the let the government bail out domestic automakers, let the government give me a big check/rebate talk. The big three have received more money from North American governments than any other business.
How about have the government pay for a free course that teaches it’s citizens common sense. It is a embarassment that the government is sending out 600-1200 bucks to every tax payer.
We live in a society where we don’t mind giving a kid a flu shot to save his life in a 3rd world country, or giving a farmer the tools to feed his family in Africa…but watch out if another country or non-US company gets strong enough to actually compete with us and we can’t afford our $40,000 Volt anymore.
Statik #97,
No bailout whatsoever. Seems you’re unaware of just how our foreign competition became so fierce. Many factors here. Good products, yes, but more to it.
Don’t have time to spell it out, but their help at “home” is but one part, they may also have an even stronger lobby than the big three. Let’s not even open the “equal access to markets” debate. That one is…well a …”closed door”.
Let’s also understand the word “dump” and how it applies.
Please don’t feed us this fertilizer.
Grizzly #98
You can’t say your wrong, don’t feed us ‘fertilizer’ and I don’t have time to prove it.
What happend in 1979 with Chrysler? They bailed them out. How about the 25 percent tariff on all trucks from Japan in the 80s?
But your right, since then they don’t call it bailouts anymore, what they do is give large financial incentives to build a new plant, or let them skate on paying their share of taxes that everyone else has to pay.
Example? How about the 500 million GM just got to make a flex plant in Oshawa…the one GM just took all the production out of?
Have you ever seen a government commercial for US based companies to come to Michigan? Please come here and hire some people, we will give you some land on the cheap and we will charge you next to nothing to make us your home.
I fully understand all governments want to try to protect and promote their own, but short of putting up a fifty foot wall and making yourself atonomous…you can’t do it, especially today.
What most people don’t understand is that GM, Ford and Chrysler are no more American than I am.
A few decades ago they realized they could make cars on the cheap in Canada, so they took some US production away and moved plants up here on the weak dollar and strong medical infrastructure.
In the 80s and 90s, they found they could avoid labor costs in Mexico, so they took more production away and made more cars there.
And if they can make cars in this millenium in China for half price in China….they will move it there.
I wish I could delete my own posts on the topic comments….I really don’t want to go down the road of big 3 vs. Japan…or the government subsidy issue.
Truthfully, the ‘lets give everyone a thousand bucks even though we don’t have any money ourselves’, has just been driving me nuts and I guess I vented a little…just disregard my comments in #97 and #99.
Grats on 10,000 again, lol.
We all know there a “courtship” between the oil companies and the government. When was the last time the oil companies really did a good thing for us the “common joe?”
We all know the name of the game is MONEY.
Come on GM… we need a break. If You make the “Volt” we will buy them. But the question is will we, the “common joe” get a break in the price?
Hopefully so.
Ethical Slip?
Ric Fulop of A123 Systems posted several ethusiastic reviews of the new Black and Decker VPX tools on Amazon.com. In an ehical slip, he does not disclose his relationship to the product.
http://www.amazon.com/DeWalt-VPX2102-Vpx-Hand-Vac/dp/B000WEPFUO
I wonder if A123 is going to get their batteries to GM by the end of the month?
How do I get on the waiting list?
Ken,
click “wait list” link in the menu bar above on the top of the page. Then read it. Type in your email address. Done.
Lyle: Congratulations with the community (and huge wait list) that you have created through your web site! I appreciate your professional approach and in-depth articles. I make http://www.gm-volt.com part of by “daily surfing” routine. Your hard work and enthusiasm is commendable!
Some good or bad news coming from me today.
A new car from a company from California will put on the market, next year (2009), an all new alluninum car,(very light), 0/60 in 6 sec., 80 miles of autonomy on the batteries lithium-ion. The top with solar capters will cool the car and recharge the batteries when pluggeg and on stand-by. And the look is not bad at all !
The car will be named KARMA…
What do you think of it Lyle ? A comment will be appreciated from all the 10 000 fans waiting for 2010 and maybe 2011 year?
The Karma, by Fisker, is $80,000 base. I don’t think that many Volt buyers can afford to be interested. Besides that, the release date is likely to change. If they can produce something by June of 2010 I will be very surprised. I do wish them luck though. It’s a nice looking car. Well, aside from the interior (TRON), it’s a nice looking car.
From all the posts here concerned about taxation it’s time that our Volt enthusiasts group also gets enthusiastic about http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer which offers a chance to influence the survival of our country.
Like one other old guy that posted here remembering his Ford, I remember our 1939 Plymouth, but I hope I can have and drive a Volt before I check out!
Amen I say.
GM needs to produce this car and put the technology into all of its line up. I am a Chevy man who still proudly drives his first car, a 1970 Monte Carlo! I also own a 2007 Silverado and a 2003 Impala.
America needs to reclaim her independence from the foreign influence of OPEC, Toyota and all of the other over-rated imports!
Hello,
I’m in a bit of a quandry and I have a question. First, let me say that I want a Volt. Now, should I sign up for the waiting list even though I’m planning on a second or third generation Volt? You know, just to to feed the interest meter? I mean is this waiting list for first model buyers or eventual buyers?
I am sure that living in Canada, I will be on the fifth generation…
In short, there is not much hope to own a Volt in 2010.
What is 10 000 cars for a population of over 300 000 millions people? Not much ! Without being persimistic, I will probably drive a japanese electric car before an American… They take too much time to get a car that different from their usual vision over 50 years to make me confident to win the pole position…
Yep !
Since driving my first hybrid-electric car in 1993 via a college senior engineering project, I’ve wondered why it’s taken so long to for them to come to market. Ironically, our 1993 Ford Escort Stationwagon hybrid-electric vehicle was somewhat similar to the concept Volt, in which our 600cc internal combustion engine recharged lead acid batteries when needed. People fear what they do not know, so I guess it’s up to people like us to educate the public and help electric vehicles become mainstream.
I’m not a big fan of dumping $30,000 on a first generation vehicle. If GM makes the Volt available to average people like me, I’ll be first in line at the local dealership. Big oil has us by the balls, but I’m happy to be a guinea pig and set a good example here in mountainous West Virginia.
With recent advances in battery technology, materials, and public acceptance, hopefully the Volt will change the way we drive each day. Long live the GM Volt.
I’m waiting for the Volt or something like it to hit the dealership before I buy another car. I don’t understand what’s taking so long to get an electric car on the market. I really hope GM can come through on this one after the bad PR moves they made with the EV1. My faith will be restored if they can.
LYLE, IT’S GREAT TO KNOW THAT YOU AND MANY OTHERS FEEL THE WAY I DO ABOUT THE CHEVY VOLT… I LOVE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO OWNING IT ONE DAY!
I WENT TO THE DC CAR SHOW TO SEE THAT CAR ONLY AND I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED, IN THAT I WAS OVERWHELM. I WALKED AWAY SAYING THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT CAR I OWN.
PLEASE KEEP-UP THE GOOD WORK AND FIND OUT ALL YOU CAN ABOUT THE FUTURE CAR OF OUR CHOICE.
WAIT HERE….. Let’s see… this is not correct.
HOW MUCH “$$$$” did they pay to get on the waiting list ???
Is there kind of a DEAL that says.. you must buy it when you are on the list???
When i hear this story… i think it’s made up. If they asked about 500 dollars to get on the LIST…
Just like aptera, tesla motors….. You have to PAY to get on the list.
Aptera has already more then 2000 people on the list ( PAYING 500 DOLLARS ).
Do you want to get on the GM VOLT list for 500 ?? then the list will be reduced to like… ALOT LESS…
Think about it.. Even i could make this up.
And some adding…
Who of you have signed up at the waiting list ?? have you got a verification number ?? like.. #5309 on the waiting list..
And… Where is the fucking list???
sigh..
I am a devout Chevy man, but they screwed up this time. What fool is willing to buy a car you have to plug in every forty miles? If Chevy built it right, you wouldn’t need a back up fuel cell either. It should be able to recharge itself while you drive, giving you an unlimited ability to drive for ever without plugging it in. If you could charge it once and then just drive it as far as you wanted or needed I would be two of them for me and the wife. Chevy needs to wake up and get with the program.
Dear Clueless (David, #117 above):
If your post is indicative of the mental capacity of the average American, we’re all doomed. Do some research on this car.
PS. It’s “forever”, not “for ever”………
I think the Volt might pull GM out of the grave BUT……get ready for NY to add a surcharge because they will be losing some of the extraordinary sales tax revenue they are currently raking in with the currrently high gas prices. They are keeping this hush-hush
They might even raise the Thruway tolls again using some idiotic excuse they need more money to fund Clinton’s ditch (the canal system)
If I buy a Volt I’ll make sure it has Florida plates on it. It’s a better gamble….3 numbers in the FL lottery will get you $6.00. 3 numbers in NY gets you $1.00.
I am concerned about who will actually be able to buy the Chevy Volt (at any price) once the car is released.
The reason for my concern is: My understanding that the Chevy Volt will be released (initally) in a few “Tier One” states, i.e. California, New York, etc. This appears to be very similar to the way Nissan released their new Hybrid. The interesting aspect to this is the fact that if you wanted to buy the Nissan Hybrid, you had to have PROOF OF RESIDENCY in their targeted states (no matter if you lived only 2-3 hours away from that state). This was confirmed to me by a the largest Nissan dealer in San Diego. The San Diego dealership was not permitted by Nissan headquarters to sell me this hybrid since I lived in Arizona (a short 3 hour drive away). Their excuse was that I did not have a physical address in California. So, I bought a Toyota Prius instead, (waiting on purchasing a Volt as soon as it gets into production,–providing GM will sell me one outside California).
However…
(If GM decides on taking the same path as Nissan, there are going to be alot of unhappy Volt pre-purchasing registrants not able to purchase a Volt if they live in second-tier states).
Tambien en otras partes necesitamos automoviles ecologicos
queremos algo viable, posible de comprar y ojala GM lo ponga a la ventapronto, yo quiero uno
Do you know if they will have a built in solar panel on the roof so that the car can charge using solar power (i.e. free). Would be very beneficial for people in southern states, and makes perfect sense.
The Tesla car is getting rave reviews and yet everyone bashes the Volt. I have no doubt that an electric vehicle is the way of the future.
I want a Volt even if I have to replace my Vette. (Ok, I can have both)
so, how do I get on the wait list for a Volt?