Check out a Consumer Reports 2012 buyer's guide - lots of info about adv. tech cars, especially electrified. Nice push by CR.
Agree that increase gas prices would NOT be good for the economy, but crushing debt is not either. Subsidies to companies raking in records profits are someplace we should look at cutting. If they need to stimulate the economy there are other ways do to it. Last I read the subsidies were more like 2$ a gallon (ignoring DOD) , and they would never do it cold-turkey so the economy would adjust as its phased out. My comment was more that until it the "feel" the impact of fuel economy they won't think about it. Yes the 35MPFD or .0285 is total cost for electric + gas for the dates given. My electric rates are very good (wind power at night in CO) and as its a co-op provider even their other fees are reasonable. Last Dec we paid $72, this December with the Volt, we paid $80. Raw rate is .049/kWr off-peak. Including proportioned fees + kwh, I pay about $.65 (normal charge ~11kw) to $.75 (full charge ~12.8). From full charge I'm getting 34-42 miles this time of year (depending on temp and trip). In the summer it was better, getting 40-55m per charge. I'd have used less gas (and hence be cheaper) if not for the "engine running due temp" for which I'm working on fix.
Oil company profits should be taxed at 100% until the amount they receive in subsidies is repaid each year. Giving billions to companies making billions in profits is just obscene.
Cheap gas is not manna from heaven, it is taxes diverted to subsidy. To the extent that more expensive fuel leads to conservation or more efficient use, expensive fuel is *good* for the economy, and of course great for the environment.
Agree, but not going to happen here. People will not make a more efficient choice since the burden(CAFE) is on the Automakers. Future Fuel Economy Mandates, Part I: 54.5 mpg is going to be hard to reach
CAFE actually works pretty well since politicians are too afraid to raise fuel taxes. Not sure how they plan to pay for roads though.
Gas prices will continue to edge up and force more people to buy fuel efficient cars even if the fed doesn't force their hand. Not as fast, but it will happen and already is. If gas was under $2/gallon now believe me I would not be driving a Prius.
The Fed could just slowly let the various subsidies fail to be renews (that will take years but be slower). Gas here has been going the wrong way, down to 2.82 over the weekend. What whould you drive and why.? If gas was under $2 gallon I'd still be driving my Volt -- its not about the money!
I'd probably be driving either a minivan or a larger sedan I guess... they are just nicer, larger cars
I would have bought the 2009 XC90 V8 from a friend in Dubai who moved and had to get rid, if the gasoline was 2 instead of 8$ a gallon. Would have had a blast driving it to Holland from UAE If only the RX450h came with 7 seats... (Came very, very close to owning a RX400h once (2k to low an offer in a blind-bidding of 40k))
603 Volts sold in January 2012. I heard the factory was shutdown for the expected slow demand and probably to integrate the battery fix.
Factory production in January is almost irrelevant to sales, since cars don't roll of the line straight into people's hands. Even the people on the chevy volt forum aren't able to spin this sales number. Some are trying, though, saying they're twice previous (January, 2011) sales. To belabor a point and beat a horse, I must again say that the Volt will never, ever have impressive sales numbers until it slashes its price massively. It is just too expensive for what it is, period.
For some perspective and a dose of reality: How many Prius PHV do you think will be delivered in March? .
Why is this exciting for you? Are you a holder of Toyota stock? Or just excited to be burning more gasoline as a society still?
200 times more Prius c await delivery in Japan. That's 120,000 orders already! It's a great example why supporters of Volt were told over and over again about the "too little, too slowly" concern. Instead of taking that seriously, they just pointed out how many Prius were sold back in 2000. The belief was there was still plenty of time available, that no competition would emerge anytime soon. Turns out, the demand wasn't there and GM doesn't have a second choice available. Now what? .
