Flextreme Dream: Europe key to Volt success?
The Saturn Flextreme: For America, for Europe, for the world?Soon, GM will begin building a significant number of cars off the next generation Delta platform. That means models such as Cobalt, Astra and Opel will share the same platform, largely bridging the platform gap between much of Europe and America. More interesting, however, these models will also share the same platform with the Chevy Volt and the E Flex Drive.
Thus, as I was reading a story regarding how an almost-production-ready Volt could debut at the Paris auto show, I started wondering how much of an impact the Volt, and/or the Opel Flextreme - also an E Flex Drive vehicle - could impact Europe.
With gas prices at $8.00 or higher in many parts of Europe, it seems that perhaps the Volt could have an even bigger impact in Europe than in America, at least initially. Maybe GM could even sell the Volt closer to real world costs in Europe than in America thanks to high fuel costs.
Could Europe be key to Volt success?
Labels: Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, e flex system, saturn flextreme concept
posted by Dahcredyns at
6:52 AM
6 Comments:
The Volt might be a success for rich people, but it will mean nothing to the average person until costs come WAY, WAY down.
All this electric car talk is a bunch of silliness. We need a sub $15,000 solution. Maybe a small cheap hybrid could be the key, but electric cars are just Hollywood nonsense.
Anyone planning a $15,000 hybrid that achieves 50 mpg+ anytime soon?????
Didn't think so.
The newest tech is not typically the cheapest. But a successful Chevy Volt is going to have a huge impact even if it's a little pricey. We just have to be patient.
I don't disagree with your sentiment, but the point I was trying to get it is, could Europe be a major key to Volt success?
Electric cars are more compelling in dense, urban areas, especially dense urban areas with high liquid fuel costs.
Since gas is so much more expensive in Europe and Europeans are used to paying more for automobiles, it seems that a vehicle like the Volt might actually make more sense in Europe than in the US.
dont forget, that traction control, among other technologies were devoloped by higher end car companies like mercedes... you have got to think long term here... the technology is expensive at first.. traction control is on hyundais now... just an example... closed-minded people go nowhere..yes these new elec cars are expensive... but toyota toughed it out and they are the only profitable game in town 20 grand is reachable now too, no?? i just hope gm's accountants have the balls to tough out the volt in the first couple of years...
gm's board has already given Volt final approval. so the accountants need to figure out how to survive until the Volt with seriously declining auto sales, especially sales on their most profitable products.
Obviously it would be more advantageous to Europeans because they pay on average close to $9.00 a gallon for gasonline. This means they would recover (and afterward begin saving) on the purchase price twice as quickly than Americans. This also takes into consideration they have a short commute (most Europeans adapted long ago to living in close proximity to where they work) and would primarily not use gasoline in the Volt.
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