People still look at and buy Base models?
:laughing3:
People usually look at the sticker price as one of the criteria when they go to purchase a car. If they realize it costs $ xxx dollars to get the "uprated" interior it is one more variable in the decision making process. If the buyer doesn't realize that there are two levels of interior trim and end up with the base model trim...
A US gov't funded battery maker that produced faulty batteries, and has the troubled low volume Fiskar car company as their "main customer", goes bankrupt and that spells the end of electric cars and hybrids?
:laughing3:
I thought it was amusing that you didn't comment on it given your affection for the hybrid and electric cars as you have made known in past posts. I usually counter that by saying hybrids will be the minority and plug in electric hybrids will be even less than that when it comes to market share.
The full electric cars fill a niche market and with the recent improvements in ICE technology, the financial analysis is heavily in favour of a current gasoline or diesel powered car. Hybrids, especially a used one, make far more sense. You won't have any range anxiety to deal with either. A used prius is probably the best return on investment based on cost per mile.
Full electric battery cars don't make a lot of sense - using batteries to store energy from the grid is not efficient. Using batteries or flywheels to store kinetic energy during vehicle deceleration does make sense, and that is why ICE-Hybrids are more likely to be successful than full electric vehicles. You don't need such a massive battery pack to make an ICE-hybrid work.
The volt is a damn good engineering feat of how to make an plug in electric car. Most people have basic arithmetic skills, and can do a financial analysis on owning a volt. Even after being heavily discounted (and likely sold at a loss) and receiving gov't tax incentives, it does not (at least a few months ago) make financial sense to own one. Chevrolet dealers in Metro Detroit recently cut the lease rate to 199/month for 24 months on the volt, based on dealer incentives received from GM. That made far more financial sense, and the dealers lots were cleared pretty quick.
Yes, market innovators may lose money in the first few years before they get off the ground, but too much Government interference is skewing the way this industry works. Look at the "flex fuel" credits manufacturers received for making E85 compatible powertrains. OEM's had massive fleet fuel economy credits because they made flex fuel vehicles. Notice all the huge SUV offerings from Ford, GM. Chrysler were flex fuel capable. Similar legislative issues exist for full-electrics and hybrids which artificially drive sales. Sales of hybrids in California plummeted after they no longer permitted hybrid to use the HOV lane with a single occupant. This was the main driver behind hybrid sales in California. Last I checked Ontario had an equally stupid piece of legislation that allows certain hybrids to use the HOV lane on the highway - precisely the operating conditions where hybrids offer essentially no advantage.
