Gov't Motors' Electric Edsel

IBD Editorials ^ | August 2, 2010 | Investors Business Daily staff

[Kaslin]

Industrial Policy: The administration's electric car represents both the genius of American technology and the stupidity of its government. Imagine Rube Goldberg with $50 billion. Buy now and get a free 40-mile-long extension cord.

It wasn't exactly Michael Dukakis riding in a tank wearing a Snoopy helmet, but it was close. President Obama, who reportedly hasn't driven an inch himself since taking office, visited a GM plant in Hamtramck near Detroit on Friday to drive a Chevy Volt 10 feet off an assembly line. It was a perfect image, as the American economy is being driven off a cliff by this White House.

The administration, at taxpayers' expense, has labored mightily and brought forth an Edsel that needs to be recharged. If a camel is a horse designed by committee, the Chevy Volt is a car designed by government. It is a perfect example of industrial policy run amok, of what happens when government picks winners and losers. Without heavy subsidies and government ownership, it never would have been built.

The base sticker price is about $41,000, comparable to the base price for a BMW 335i. For that price, you could also get a good-sized SUV that can seat more than four people and get all your stuff back from the big-box store.

There's a $7,500 tax credit offered by our utterly bankrupt federal government that's supposed to help, but even a presidential commission in 2009 said the Volt "will likely be too expensive to be commercially successful in the short term."

[TheBattman]

I’ve gotten mail from Nissan over the last several months (am a Nissan owner) pushing their own electric vehicle - the “leaf”. From what I can gather, it outperforms the GM offering in pretty much every category... and was not subsidized by the Federal Government.

[Nowhere Man]

That thing is mofugly. As much as I thought this car was a true lemon, I’d take the 1972 Bel Air my family had over this monstrosity.

[goodtomato]

“The Dolt”, and I'm not talking about the car!

[Psalm 144]

The Chevy Dolt.

[upchuck]

LOL!!

“Electric Edsel”

Absolutely love it.

[Psalm 144]

‘With Assembly Plant Manager Teri Quigley riding shotgun, Obama drove the car 10 feet, a ride he pronounced “pretty smooth.”’

[oyez]

Here in West TN, last night the low temp was like 82 Degrees F. Anybody had an air conditioner had it churning all night. I don't think the grid can handle a charging heap of electric batteries on top of this kind of stress.

Somebody is going to get an ear-full when the blackout start.

[M-cubed]

If a camel is a horse designed by committee, the Chevy Volt is a car designed by government. It is a perfect example of industrial policy run amok, <<
LOL...anyone know how to “brick” a camel for more mileage?
..it's like getting an extra extension chord.....old joke I know..but the comparison is perfect!

[Uncle Ike]

” Somebody is going to get an ear-full when the blackout start. “

That is, of course, assuming that they actually sell enough of them to have an impact on the grid...

I’m betting not.... ;)

[upcountryhorseman]

Is it possible that the U. S. Government engineered the
possibilty of toyota quality deficencies (later found to
be operator error) in order to push G.M. and Chrysler?

[Izzy Dunne]

It takes hours to recharge the vehicle, which for now must be done at home in the absence of recharging stations

Wow, that's just insane.

The darn thing won't even charge it's own battery?

You would think that once you kick in the gas engine, the battery would charge.

[TheBattman]

I’m not going that far, though the attempted lynching by the Feds was definitely political in nature.

That being said, not all of the Toyota issues were user problems (though testing has shown that mashing the brake pedal would stop ANY production Toyota, even with the throttle stuck wide-open).

Funny - even with the Toyota recalls - GM has had FAR more recalls in the same time period, and over their history, both in actual number of mandatory recalls and in number of affected units.

[P-Marlowe]

If you read some of the comments at the IBD site, the libs seem to think that because the car is electric that it is somehow more "environmentally friendly" than a gasoline car and that it does not emit CO2.

These people are all morons. This car runs for 40 miles on coal and then when it's coal power gives out it runs on gasoline.

And what happens if everyone starts driving electric cars? The drain on the electrical grid will cause either a need for new coal powered electrical plants in every neighborhood or there will be rolling blackouts everywhere. I suspect that the libs would prefer to shut down the electrical grid to building new power plants.

Liberalism is a mental disorder. The Volt is a car built by morons for morons.

[goodtomato]

At least it is a “flex fuel” vehicle.....coal and oil!

[Rca2000]

It WILL recharge it's own battery, by the on-board engine generator!!

The “40 mile range” is ONLY the “pure electric range” —BEFORE the generator kicks in to recharge it—or charge it by the A/C line. This is known as a “PHEV” “Hybrid” as it has SOME “purely electric range” before the gasoline needs to be used to recharge. With about 10 gallons of gas—I would bet about 500 miles of range!!

I am NOT a fan of “electric cars” —but this IS a MUCH better idea—with a substantial battery pack—than the Prius. Had the EV-1 had this ability..probably 50,000 would have been sold by now--maybe more....

[Ole Okie]

You would think that once you kick in the gas engine, the battery would charge.

I assumed that also, but nope, it has to be plugged in for the battery to top up.

[wally_bert]

That is assuming anyone has any money and there is any real electric generation capability if the watermelons in the regime get their way.

[The Good Doctor]

"It takes hours to recharge the vehicle, which for now must be done at home in the absence of recharging stations"

Where does the eletricity come from?

(Note to Democrats: the correct answer is not "the battery" or "your house".)

[meyer]

Is it possible that the U. S. Government engineered the possibilty of toyota quality deficencies (later found to be operator error) in order to push G.M. and Chrysler?

It's not only possible, but very likely. It fits the pattern of the two-bit Chicago politician, and Obama is that.

[bray]

The Chevy Dolt will be the perfect symbol for this failure.

Pray for America

[P-Marlowe]

Where does the eletricity come from?

[ryan71]

Even Edsels were collected years later.

The Volt will be melted down and used to can tuna.

[Nervous Tick]

...the “leaf”. From what I can gather, it outperforms the GM offering in pretty much every category...

Including its name. "Leaf" is 7.8x10^6 times more green than "Volt", as the scientific illustrations below prove:

LEAF

VOLT

[Nervous Tick]

>> The Volt will be melted down and used to can tuna.

Those are going to be some interesting cans — lithium and plastic.

Really light, though. :-)

[Chode]

what kinda mileage does it get at -15deg???

[P-Marlowe]

Even Edsels were collected years later. The Volt will be melted down and used to can tuna.

Wrong. Because of the heavy metal batteries, it will have to be disposed of in a toxic waste dump.

[Nervous Tick]

>> what kinda mileage does it get at -15deg???

I r a engineer so I can calculate that for you.

How much do you eat, and how fast can you push a car?

[Kirkwood]

No worries. A/C will not be allowed in the future. Govt controlled thermostats will take care of that.

[CedarDave]

Do a keyword search for volt to see similar scathing reviews.

[Cobra64]

I don't think the grid can handle a charging heap of electric batteries on top of this kind of stress. Somebody is going to get an ear-full when the blackout start.

I mentioned this back in '07 when the Volt first appeared in the Detroit auto show.

It should be interesting to see CA go from brownouts to blackouts.

[Kirkwood]

“With about 10 gallons of gas—I would bet about 500 miles of range!!”

I’ll take that bet. How much do you want to lose?

[longtermmemmory]

I think it is about new taxes.

imagine how your electric bill will no have a road tax even if you are not stupid enough to buy an obamamobile.

[Nervous Tick]

>> It should be interesting to see CA go from brownouts to blackouts.

Particularly with that “BANANA” mentality they have out there.

[VAarea]

I assumed that also, but nope, it has to be plugged in for the battery to top up.

---

I consider that limitation a safety feature. Imagine the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning cases if these were left running for extended periods to charge in a closed garage!

[Cobra64]

.

.

[longtermmemmory]

Just wail until a “road tax” appears on people’s electric bills EVEN IF YOU DID NOT BUY THIS MONSTROSITY.

The volt is about taxation not transportation.

[seton89]

Are faggy low profile tires standard?

[raptor22]

Ping

[raptor22]

Ping

[P-Marlowe]

No worries. A/C will not be allowed in the future. Govt controlled thermostats will take care of that.

They will control my thermostat when they pry it from my cold dead wall.

[CedarDave]

Gotta see this!!

The Chevy Volt Dance

[CedarDave]

(I probably should be banned for posting that link. That GM-sponsored video was BAD!)

[longtermmemmory]

OH

MY

G*D!!!!!



This firmly establishes the Volt
and all who buy it
as the
MOST "BUNDLE OF TWIGG"Y THING ON THE MARKET!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvwTMZNWGuk&feature=player_embedded


This is not a parody
This is a real commercial
you will watch in horror at the sheer stupidity

The sad part is Democrats think this would help sell this lemon.

This humiliates anyone who buys it


BUMP

[SC Swamp Fox]

If I believed their numbers it might make a cost effective commuter car for someone (like me) that drives much less than 40 miles a day.

Their specs from the GM website:
Full charge: 110V 15 amps, 6.5 hours
That works out to 110 x 15 x 6.5 / 1000 = 10.73 KWhr

My electricity costs (Progress Energy of SC): $0.10 per KWhr

Cost for a full charge: 10.73 KWhr x $0.10/KWhr = $1.07

Specified range on electric only: 40 miles
Energy cost per mile: $1.07 / 40 = $0.027 per mile

Even if I run the A/C (this is SC) and it only gets 20 miles to a charge I could still make my 14 mile round trip for about $0.05 per mile.

This doesn't take into account the purchase price or the cost of battery replacement and/or disposal. It also doesn't take into account the road taxes that I'm sure they will figure out pretty quickly or the rising cost of electricity if these really become popular. I'm not going to run out and trade-in my F-150 to buy one.

[longtermmemmory]

the horror, the horror, the horror...

[bossmechanic]

Hilarious video.
Read the comments too.
Don’t care how ya cut it, this vehicle is headed for the heap. An anchor for any democrat.

[Tucker39]

I understand that the batteries in the Dolt require a 240V source to charge them. Technically, 240V is not even available from the grid, but even at 220V, it only INCREASES the load on the grid. Brownouts, anyone?

[Mike-o-Matic]

>> From what I can gather, it outperforms the GM offering
>> in pretty much every category...

Then you haven’t gathered enough.

After 80 or 100 miles, give or take, the Leaf is a shiny doorstop until you can recharge it*. Stop for gas every 300 miles or so, and in the Volt and you can drive indefinitely.

The first 40 miles are only intended to cover the “typical daily usage” of about 75% of Americans.

And that’s pretty much the whole point. Do you have a typical, <40mi/day driving pattern? You will rarely use ANY gasoline. Drive a bit more than that? You’ll use gas, but less than in a normal car. Need to go on a road-trip? No problem, just gas up.

---

* = By the way, the full charge on the Leaf takes over 24 hours from a 110v outlet. Volt’s 110v full charge is complete in 8-10 hours. Each can also charge from a 220v circuit (must be hardwired) in about half the time.

[Kirkwood]

That made the rounds last week, except it was a copy made from the audience where everyone was snickering at the lyrics.

The 3 dancing girls are OK. Just turn off the sound.