Too many questions?
Since the debut of the , I’ve gone from huge advocate to critic. It’s not that I’ve given up on the Volt. If the battery is going to power the future of the automobile, then the Volt is critically important to GM’s future.
Still, the Volt’s game-changing potential will not be realized for at least a decade. Even then, any number of technological breakthroughs could quickly marginalize the importance of the Volt.
On the other hand, for the next 10 years, minimally, sales will dwarf Volt sales. Likewise, with Prius-derivatives and other upcoming , Toyota might be selling 1 million hybrids per year as GM sells 50,000 Volts per year.
Ultimately, the Volt isn’t a game changing vehicle for most Americans. Even according to Bob Lutz, it’s only a vehicle for the 5 percent of Americans that are willing to pay a good chunk of extra cash to help the environment or to fight foreign oil dependence.
Of course, the same could be said of the Prius. However, the Prius will be a cash cow in the next decade. So, perhaps the same future awaits the Volt.
Until then, the Volt’s game-changing abilities will be limited to perception. That alone could make the Volt an asset. Still, wouldn’t a few cars on the government’s Most Fuel Efficient list be even more game-changing?
Learn more:
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