Fuel prices have spiked so quickly that many have not been able to change their behavior. In time, people will adapt. Its not like nobody saw this one coming. Remember hurricane Katrina in 2005? Gas prices shot up very quickly after the Gulf coast refineries went offline. There were stories of abandoned pickup trucks left where they ran out of gas because the owner couldn't handle the $200 fill ups. Line ups at gas stations as frequent price increases were announced. Sound familiar? The Volt was (and still is) a great solution.
I also recall a list published in Popular Mechanics that had a full bus as the most efficient method of people transport. Others on the list were trains, planes and automobiles. The least efficient way to move people...an empty bus.
Maybe this oil price spike is a 'make money while you can' thing...ie: before ICE becomes obsolete.

 

Fuel prices have spiked so quickly that many have not been able to change their behavior. In time, people will adapt. Its not like nobody saw this one coming. Remember hurricane Katrina in 2005? Gas prices shot up very quickly after the Gulf coast refineries went offline. There were stories of abandoned pickup trucks left where they ran out of gas because the owner couldn't handle the $200 fill ups. Line ups at gas stations as frequent price increases were announced. Sound familiar? The Volt was (and still is) a great solution.

Many people have short memories and fail to plan ahead. I have also lived through the 70's gas shortages/gas lines. This gas price cycle has happened again and again.

When I bought the 2011 Volt gas prices were about $4.25/gal. Based on 2011 to 2022 inflation that would be $5.53/gal today. Huh, whatdoyaknow?

One reason I bought the Volt in 2011 was to de-couple me from that s#*%. Of course, prices eventually dropped, people forgot and bought big trucks and gas hungry cars again. Still, gas prices were relatively low when our second car needed replacing but I bought the Bolt EV. Now that gas has gone up to $5/gallon I'm pretty insulated against oil company greed but many who expected cheap gas forever are up in arms.

Who could have guessed that gas prices might spike up again? /s

Anyway, retired or not, if I needed a car now I'd buy an EV. Time to stop being a gasoline addict.

 

You're so right on that empty bus. Every time I see one with only a couple of people on it. I'm reminded why my county taxes are so high and why the transit authority keeps asking for more money to keep their empty buses running. Have they not heard of a smaller vehicle?

 

"You will own nothing and be happy". Don't we just love Cloward and Piven? The big squeeze.

I saw us heading through the fourth turning and thought the Volt was a safe choice...still think so. Most total EVs are too expensive for the average bloak...and pensioner.

 

Well said. I've reiterated this point multiple times on various forums but anybody who's feeling the squeeze from expensive gas has not adequately planned. At the very least everyone should have sourced a used cheap Prius by now. It always was and still is a pretty affordable option. And before the Prius there were plenty of fuel efficient economy cars built in the 80s 90s and early 2000s.

 

my volts are allowing me to retire, gas is no effect to that end
solar panels are next, becouse when we all switch to ev's what do you think the price of power is going
its my inflation fighter
doesnt cover everything, but it will put me in good shape

 

Solar is definitely a strong goal. Having trouble justifying the cost in the short term though. Electricity is and probably will continue to do be cheap for a while in my area (we're part of an energy co-op) the break even period is really quite long with the install cost around here.

 

Energy independence it is they way to go, but the governments will find a way to get money from you for using it somehow.

Solar, wind, water, battery all affect something in some way and someone will charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege to use it. Electric grids here in the US in the cities you can not disconnect from it The law everywhere I have been you must have electricity or the city will condemn your home. In Denver you can not be "off Grid" you must be connected to the electrical grid and can not exceed a certain amount of production. Batteries for everything I have found seem to be from China. Dependance on other countries for supplies takes you out of the safe spot and vulnerable to loose your savings just to try and keep up. I am glad I have electric vehicle by sheer luck at the moment but I am waiting for the other shoe to drop and what are they going to do to us now.

Heck I was shocked I got charged an extra 150 on my last registration for having the BEV, not sure why and the lackies sitting across from me in the BMV had no clue either. Add to that here in the US the retirement age is now for Social insecurity is 67 years old.

 

Energy independence it is they way to go, but the governments will find a way to get money from you for using it somehow.

Solar, wind, water, battery all affect something in some way and someone will charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege to use it. Electric grids here in the US in the cities you can not disconnect from it The law everywhere I have been you must have electricity or the city will condemn your home. In Denver you can not be "off Grid" you must be connected to the electrical grid and can not exceed a certain amount of production. Batteries for everything I have found seem to be from China. Dependance on other countries for supplies takes you out of the safe spot and vulnerable to loose your savings just to try and keep up. I am glad I have electric vehicle by sheer luck at the moment but I am waiting for the other shoe to drop and what are they going to do to us now.

Heck I was shocked I got charged an extra 150 on my last registration for having the BEV, not sure why and the lackies sitting across from me in the BMV had no clue either. Add to that here in the US the retirement age is now for Social insecurity is 67 years old.

My state has a $200 surcharge on PHEV and BEV. There's a $100 surcharge on non pluggable hybrid.
When I bought my Volt in February 2021, gas price was $2.70 a gallon and I knew it was just going to climb. I rationalized that I will be saving $360 a month back then by driving a Volt versus my truck. I am now saving just under $700 a month in fuel cost after including charging cost and additional registration fee. I'm just concerned since I've put 40K miles on the car in 16 months. What will this vehicle be like after 170k miles and 3 years from now?

 

Well if it's any consolation, the Volt has a history of shrugging off mileage while age is a real problem if there is one. But it doesn't much make a difference you would have had to travel the miles anyway most likely. May as well do it in something efficient.

 

As I've noted many times, an electric vehicle isn't right for everyone. My parents truck is now 17 year old, it's in good condition, has been well maintained, and there's no reason to change it. A low mileage EV isn't going to last 17 years without an obscenely expensive battery replacement.
The interference by the current administration that everything needs to be an EV is lunacy. The attitude from others that some people just need to give up their car and take a bus is elitist snobbery.

 

You need to understand more about batteries.
They are getting cheaper and more robust - almost by the minute.

That replacement battery will likely be 10x cheaper and give better range, so that used car at 17 years will be fantastic if all the other components are good.
So todays push for EVs will create tomorrows used EVs. Win Win.

NOTE: I only buy used cars and have won the battles much more often than lost, saving a boatload of money.

 

Mandated EVs and other governmental interventions into the market will, like all such interventions, disproportionally hurt the poor. Rich people can afford EVs and solar panels. An 18-year old working a fast food job cannot. Before cash for clunkers, a kid working a fast food job could buy a 10-year old car for a few thousand dollars and have reliable transportation. Once EVs are ubiquitous, that will no longer be the case. The 18 year old will be able to buy a 10 year old EV, because they'll be worth very little, but all he'll be buying is the requirement to replace an expensive battery in the near future. This harm will be visited upon the poor so smug rich liberals can feel like they "did something" about a non-existent problem. If you want an EV and solar panels, buy them, but don't mandate their use.

 

There is so much FUD to unpack in your statements.
1- The poor suffer so much by pollution of gas and diesel vehicles, much more than the money cost of EVs.
2- my 19 years old son will be able to buy a used EV in 5 years easily and cheaply. And it will save him money while using it.
3- the biggest LIE!! Climate crisis is real. Get your head out of the sand. My sons will bear the brunt of my stupidity, and of my generation's stupidity.
4- idiot "conservatives" are not conserving. Isn't that stupid? Instead they waste money. Just take health care. We pay 1/2 of health care compared to yours, AND, we don't worry about going broke or not getting services. As I go into my quiet years, I will not have any fears, I know that I will get very good coverage. My in-laws in there 90s do not have any concerns and are well taken care of.

 

I am a retiree who drives very little and bought a used Volt because, since I was 5 years old, I wanted to own an electric car and was afraid that I would die before that happened. It had nothing to do with saving money on gas, though that's a nice perk.

I owned a Insight G1 and Prius-C back when I was commuting, getting high mileage, but that had nothing to do with saving money on gas, either. I simply wanted to own those cars.

Besides, even at today's fuel prices, if I owned a decade-old Chevy getting 25mpg, I'd have to drive 45,000 miles to "break even" on the cost of the Volt, even further once fuel prices drop. That's gonna take longer than the Vot is probably gonna last! Might take longer than I am gonna last, in fact.

Wait a couple years for the price of used cars to drop (because it will) and they'll have their pick of lots of reasonable cars with decent price points. Until then, change the oil on a regular basis and otherwise maintain what you already drive!

P.S. My dad, who didn't have a whole lot of dough, bought a new car in his "old age." When I questioned the financial wisdom of such a move, he said, "just because I'm old doesn't mean I want to drive a sh!t-box like yours!" -- ouch

 

P.S. My dad, who didn't have a whole lot of dough, bought a new car in his "old age." When I questioned the financial wisdom of such a move, he said, "just because I'm old doesn't mean I want to drive a sh!t-box like yours!" -- ouch

I'm a bit like your dad. Except for a new $2000 VW Beetle, I bought used cars all my life. Kept them running a long time. I decide to buy a new Volt when they came out because I wanted to drive the future, I wanted to stop being an oil junkie, the car excited me and I could use some of the money I saved buying used cars (cash) to finally buy a new car (no loans, no financing). Whenever the stock market drops or melts down like it is now, it reminds me I could have bought a new car with all the money that just evaporated and I'd still have that car—unlike the stock market dollars that disappeared.

 

Life is too short to drive a sh!t-box…

My first two were new. Then, I had to transfer the loan on the 2nd one because I couldn’t afford it. That was 1979 and I’ve not owned new since, though I did lease, once.

I likely won’t buy another vehicle until the Volt gives me grief, which I hope is a long while from now because it’s one of the nicest cars I’ve owned. All the same, I despise having a car I can’t trust, so once it starts acting up, it’s gone!

 

As has been noted above, change is happening, daily...

https://www.techradar.com/news/this-solar-powered-electric-car-can-run-for-months-without-charging?

We may get to where we need to be, sooner than later ... I am hoping.

 

Essentially, then, the Lightyear 0 charges itself when exposed to the sun – meaning it can be driven for short distances (i.e. commutes of less than 44 miles) for months on end before needing to be plugged back into a traditional power source.

Based on my experience, the leading edges (and then some) of the hood and roof will be hit by stones. Hopefully the solar panels are very resistant to typical impacts. Hale dent damage? I like the concept but the costs vs. performance has always been the issue with solar panels on cars.

 

For our Volt, LG would have to keep the manufacturing equipment for our cell in operation going forward. They may still be producing the same form factor pouch cells however who knows how long that would be for. Considering the unique form factor and cooling of the pack, replacement cells would need to be nearly identical form factor to the original pouch cells.
If GM would release the source code for the management (chance none to slim and slim left the building) someone could potentially adapt future chemistry. GM would not want the linked liability so fat chance. Mix and match chemistry would likely not work...a complete rebuild of all modules would be necessary.

Some enterprising person could do it however I see the lawyers lurking in the mist waiting to pounce. A DIY person could buy all cells needed for a complete rebuild now (if available) and keep them for when they get to the dreaded battery failure point. I have rebuilt many engines and transmissions and would consider taking on the task if I had a shop at home with good lift equipment. I don't so that is only a thought.

 

Wrong thread, voltreg?

 

I think he was answering the question of battery swapping in the future, which would extend the life of Volts for people who buy one now.
I personally believe there will be a market for rebuilt batteries, and some is happening in France right now. There is a fellow who will even convert an ICE Renault to an EV Renault with a kit. The cost is around $10,000 for a 50-60 mile kit. Great for a city runabout.

 

I have a job that requires a 100 mile commute per day. If I make any stops, I need to use a little gas in my 2017 Volt. I am still getting about 60 to 70 miles in the summer and about 40 miles in winter. Right now, it is saving me over $.5.40 per day. I was allowed to charge at work and in the warmer months I would go 2600 miles between tanks of gas. Someone complained that it was like I was getting my trip to work paid for. I used to go through a brakes every two years and my breaks still feel like new because I mostly regen instead. I consider my care paid off after the first year. I just started vacation and expect to use 36 gallons from Iowa to North carolina. Last time, I stopped at places for free charges several times and enjoyed siteseeing while car charged. So, there are a lot more advantages that just saving money. But, I never expected the drop in brake expense.

 

I'm at a quandry on all of this...

I retired a year ago.
I bought a 2013 Volt about 6 years ago.
Kept my 2006 Ridgeline truck that only gets about 16 mpg - desert trips, and home depot trips mostly.
Buying the Volt saved me from putting 60,000 miles on the truck for the daily commute until I retired.
Now I drive maybe 5,000 miles per year.
The Volt has gone from 39 miles per charge to 29 miles per charge.
That still works for me for daily stuff.
But with used car prices up, it makes sense to sell it.
Especially considering the price of battery replacement, if that's needed.
But then if I sell it, I have to pay the huge prices on gas taking my Ridgeline instead.
Thought about replacing the Volt with an ebike, but I think that's a bad idea on city streets around me - I'm only 58 and not ready to die yet.

So, the Volt has gone from 39 miles to 29 miles per charge, which still works for what I need.
But could go to zero tomorrow if the battery fails in some way.
I could sell, and get maybe $10k or more - and that could pay for a lot of gas in the Ridgeline even if prices go up further.


So as a recent retiree, who drives maybe 5k per year now, some of them highway, some of them off-road, some of them going to get a yard of mulch, or some 4x8 sheets, I'm trying to figure out how best to handle the Volt and Ridgeline for the next 4 years. And then get a 3 year off lease electric truck to replace them both, for under $20,000. Still trying to figure out which steps to take to get there, though.

I like the Rivian - not sure it will survive.
I also like the Alpha Wolf truck - not sure it will happen or survive either.

Have also been considering getting an old-school VW Baja bug recently.
I like the simplicity.
Would love it if somebody were to make a new electric version of the VW Baja Bug.
For $10,000.

 

If you can get $10K out of it. That will give you 1428 gallons of gasoline if/when the price goes up to $7/gallon. If you ditch your Volt now that means, you can drive for 24K miles in your Honda Ridgeline. That's almost 5 years of driving if you only drive 5K per year.

I've heard a replacement cost for 1st gen Volt is between $3500 to $9000.
But even a degraded battery will still give you some range. Unless I'm mistaken, a reduced capacity battery will still give you a drivable vehicle; unlike a BECM failure.

You could also look at the added benefit of only paying for 1 car registration and 1 car insurance.
For me that's $900 a year x 5 years = $4500 ($250 registration + $650 car insurance)

That's having $10K in the bank and saving $4500 over the course of 5 years. Unless you have a sentimental attachment to the car or your driving needs change, I'd say get rid of it.

 

What I hope is not on the horizon. Electric utility rates going the same rate fluctuation as oil prices. My electric rate has been steady for as long as I can remember. With all the EV's coming on line, It's inevitable that the rates are going to increase substantially. Oil prices pretty much impact the price of everything. Well electricity rates is not far behind..

 

No doubt the cost of electricity will increase but unlike gasoline, electricity and utilities are highly more regulated than oil. The likelihood of electricity having the same impact as gasoline is much lower. Even if they doubled my cost that's still 14 cents/kWh. So to charge my Volt would cost me $1.40 instead of $0.70

 

The Senate is about to approve another 45 Billion for weapons. This time for the proxy war with Russia.

Please excuse me as I dismount from this high horse. 😁
[/QUOTE]
!2,000 miles a year X 10 makes 120,000 more miles + 70,000 now = 190,000 at 80 years old. Good news, my Prius has 245,000 now. Runs good but it's not for showing off. There is hope. No bus necessary. Infrastructure of a bus is awful waste to those who don't need a ride. While you are up, ask those riding to work swing and night shift at pay so low they ride a bus, why they are such blood suckers.
Americans these days always look at people worse off as the problem

 

The Senate is about to approve another 45 Billion for weapons. There is a stone wall against making the 1% pay for any of it. ...
The 1% don't pay the same rate of taxation others do. Far less of a percentage than those on the bus. ...

The other Big Issues!
Please continue!

 

They feel a squeeze from the government to electrify instead of stepping in to fix the refineries shut down and letting oil companies make record profits again.

Please excuse me as I dismount from this high horse. 😁

This is a Big Deal. In the 70's it was called Windfall Profits.
I wonder why this is allowed?
I have a good guess. Dollars donated to government officials, legally, by Oil Corporations.
This should be changed.
Why is neither side of the gobmint banging this drum?

Pleas continue!

 

An electric Hummer has to be the most sickening idea of 2022. OH sorry, wait there are worse.

 

reminds me of a joke
how do you know when a politician is lying

 

A lot depends on the level of retirement ( i,e. income level) and where you live. In the US, mass transit only works in the densely populated coasts ( I commuted into NYC for many years) The rest of the country is too spread out for that to work. The amount of gas used just for local daily errands can add up quickly depending where you live. The nation average daily mileage is around 40 miles per day which I can do easily in my Volt , even in the Winter, but at $5+ per gallon using a vehicle that gets less than 20mpg comes to $10/day or more works out to $300/month or $3600/pr. and don't forget the cost of repairs to keep a 10+year old vehicle running. I also have 7 year old SUV with 90k+ miles on it that gets about 18mpg just driving around town and 25 on the highway.I am thinking of replacing it with a RAV4 hybrid, when then become available again.
While the oil companies are no saints, this is the time of year they normally have to shut down to change from Winter to Summer formulations. They also have no control over the huge surge in travel now that Covid is diminishing.
Charles Rep;ka
2018 Volt.