How much would it cost?
Let's say I filled up the gas tank upon purchasing the Volt. With my daily routine, I would never burn the slightest drop of fuel, except on a few rare occasions (2-3 times a year, at the most). My annual average mileage is 20,000 kilometers (about 55 km a day), including long trips. If I didn't travel at all, my daily mileage would hover around 40 km. For a full six-hour recharge of the battery, I probably would not use more than 8 kW/h through a 110-volt outlet. Right now, the cost of a single kW/h is about 6 cents. Therefore, my electricity bill for the Volt would amount to 48 cents a day and $14.40 a month.
The car I'm driving now burns about $183 worth of gasoline per month. That's huge! And, honestly, I'm quite ashamed to admit it. If I were to switch to a Volt, I would save $168.60 a month. Now that's more the way I like it!
Can I afford to buy a Volt?
My current vehicle carries a selling price of $27,999, but since I leased it for 27 months at 4.59 percent, I will only pay $450 a month during the entire term. Obviously, I have to add fuel costs, which gives me a monthly total of $618.60. That's probably the amount I would need to pay for a Volt at $35,000.
Fuel is not cheap; everyone knows it. So you have to take it into account when purchasing or leasing a new vehicle. At $35,000 (including electricity costs), the Volt would cost me roughly $620 a month, or the same amount that I will be spending over each of the next 27 months. Bottom line: I can afford it.
What about availability?
That's another issue. Last year, GM told journalists that about 10,000 units would be produced. How many of those will be headed to Canada? Hard to say. Most likely, we'll have to be ready to place our orders as soon as we can.
I'm hoping GM will revise its early forecasts because, I my mind, there are a lot more people interested in this type of vehicle. Ten thousand Volts would quickly fly off showrooms. Remember how Chrysler had anticipated that only 10,000 PT Cruisers would be sold in the first year? No less than 80,000 potential customers put their names on the waiting list. As a result, the automaker's sales were greatly affected.
I wish you, me and everyone out there the chance to get their hands on a Chevrolet Volt. I think we've reached this point as a consumer society. But who else than GM will be able to meet our needs?
photo:General Motors
Let's say I filled up the gas tank upon purchasing the Volt. With my daily routine, I would never burn the slightest drop of fuel, except on a few rare occasions (2-3 times a year, at the most). My annual average mileage is 20,000 kilometers (about 55 km a day), including long trips. If I didn't travel at all, my daily mileage would hover around 40 km. For a full six-hour recharge of the battery, I probably would not use more than 8 kW/h through a 110-volt outlet. Right now, the cost of a single kW/h is about 6 cents. Therefore, my electricity bill for the Volt would amount to 48 cents a day and $14.40 a month.
The car I'm driving now burns about $183 worth of gasoline per month. That's huge! And, honestly, I'm quite ashamed to admit it. If I were to switch to a Volt, I would save $168.60 a month. Now that's more the way I like it!
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Can I afford to buy a Volt?
My current vehicle carries a selling price of $27,999, but since I leased it for 27 months at 4.59 percent, I will only pay $450 a month during the entire term. Obviously, I have to add fuel costs, which gives me a monthly total of $618.60. That's probably the amount I would need to pay for a Volt at $35,000.
Fuel is not cheap; everyone knows it. So you have to take it into account when purchasing or leasing a new vehicle. At $35,000 (including electricity costs), the Volt would cost me roughly $620 a month, or the same amount that I will be spending over each of the next 27 months. Bottom line: I can afford it.
What about availability?
That's another issue. Last year, GM told journalists that about 10,000 units would be produced. How many of those will be headed to Canada? Hard to say. Most likely, we'll have to be ready to place our orders as soon as we can.
I'm hoping GM will revise its early forecasts because, I my mind, there are a lot more people interested in this type of vehicle. Ten thousand Volts would quickly fly off showrooms. Remember how Chrysler had anticipated that only 10,000 PT Cruisers would be sold in the first year? No less than 80,000 potential customers put their names on the waiting list. As a result, the automaker's sales were greatly affected.
I wish you, me and everyone out there the chance to get their hands on a Chevrolet Volt. I think we've reached this point as a consumer society. But who else than GM will be able to meet our needs?
photo:General Motors