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I know some don't like the packaging but CUVs are selling in ever increasing numbers and should help with sales more than if this were a sedan. I was very impre

I know some don't like the packaging but CUVs are selling in ever increasing numbers and should help with sales more than if this were a sedan. I was very impressed with the range they obtained with both EPA and how some individual drivers fared. Going to be real curious what drop off it experiences in winter. I am seriously considering a lease for one of these, I would not buy any first generation practical EV; I don't consider any of the sub 100 gang to be practical. What I am really curious about is how this will effect pricing on the short range EVs. I don't see the pricing to remain steady on anything short of 200 miles going forward. Even Consumer Reports likes it, though they state the boxy form is dork like it in no means goes full dork like the i3. Again, CUVs are the where the market is hot now and this was a great choice by GM. CR review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIYG0NR42LU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIYG0NR42LU

mr337 10y ago
It will trash the short new and used EV market less than 200, Leaf, i3 etc. Even now the depreciation on Leafs are crazy, and this just makes it more so. The way I look at it right now the EV market is like fast moving computers, everyone is scared to buy in that they will miss the next upgrade and have buyers remorse, and that is the 200m mark. This just confirms it.
- aetherson 10y ago
  My father was leasing a Leaf. He just leased a new one, brand new, otherwise identical to the one he had before, and substantially lowered his (already insanely low) lease payments. If I were in a two-car household, I'd probably make a Leaf my second car right now because, for all that it's a way worse first car than a 200 mile range EV, it's not much worse of a second car, and the cost pressure downward on it is insane right now.
  - mr337 10y ago
    Agreed, I bought a used one with 25K miles for $10k about 14 months ago. The pricing is even worse now and for our family it has become our primary car, we are putting around 2500 miles each month and drive our ICE twice a month. I'm a bit worried about the battery but looks like I'll be getting it replaced before the battery capacity warranty is up (60k miles).
    - mrfusion 10y ago
      Why are you getting the battery replaced? Expensive? Are you noticing range fallling?
      - mr337 10y ago
        Yup, I'm at 76% of the original capacity, and that makes a huge difference running heat or doing highway miles. Out of warranty, to get a new battery, you don't get to keep the core, is $5,500. That warranty runs out at 60K miles. I was delighted to see the Bolt warrantied for 100K miles but will need to look at the details to see if that covers accelerated capacity degradation.
        djrogers 10y ago
        Ack - 25% capacity drop in 25k miles? Is that normal for leafs, or did the PO have particularly poor driving habits?
        antisthenes 10y ago
        25,000 miles is about 300 full cycle recharges for a Leaf. That is definitely the cycle number where you'll start to see a capacity drop, but 25% still seems very high for that range. First and 2nd gen batteries will generally have to be replaced around 600 +-10% cycles. It's 'normal' for all pure EV vehicles - so the durability of the battery pack is directly proportional to its capacity.
wccrawford 10y ago
I have a Chevy Sonic now and like the way it looks, and this thing looks a little more SciFi than the Sonic. I think saying it looks "boxy" or "dorky" is wrong, and it's in the eye of the beholder. There's no need to tell people how they should feel about it, so I'm disappointed in that reviewer.
gbrown 10y ago
If you're not ready to make the jump, the Volt gets to play electric car for most journeys, kicking over to being a fuel efficient hybrid for long ones. The Gen 1 is cheap right now, and gets around 42 electric miles in the summer, 35 in the winter. The newer ones have increased range.
- davisr 10y ago
  I have a 2013 Volt, and in the summer I actually get around 55 miles to the charge, one just needs to learn to be less aggressive with the accelerator (there's an indicator on the dash that helps with this).
  - gbrown 10y ago
    I started out by doing that, but now I just ignore it and drive as usual. The 42 mile range is enough to get to and from work (my wife and I actually carpool, and she can charge it for free at work).

mr337 10y ago

It will trash the short new and used EV market less than 200, Leaf, i3 etc. Even now the depreciation on Leafs are crazy, and this just makes it more so. The way I look at it right now the EV market is like fast moving computers, everyone is scared to buy in that they will miss the next upgrade and have buyers remorse, and that is the 200m mark. This just confirms it.

aetherson 10y ago
My father was leasing a Leaf. He just leased a new one, brand new, otherwise identical to the one he had before, and substantially lowered his (already insanely low) lease payments. If I were in a two-car household, I'd probably make a Leaf my second car right now because, for all that it's a way worse first car than a 200 mile range EV, it's not much worse of a second car, and the cost pressure downward on it is insane right now.
- mr337 10y ago
  Agreed, I bought a used one with 25K miles for $10k about 14 months ago. The pricing is even worse now and for our family it has become our primary car, we are putting around 2500 miles each month and drive our ICE twice a month. I'm a bit worried about the battery but looks like I'll be getting it replaced before the battery capacity warranty is up (60k miles).
  - mrfusion 10y ago
    Why are you getting the battery replaced? Expensive? Are you noticing range fallling?
    - mr337 10y ago
      Yup, I'm at 76% of the original capacity, and that makes a huge difference running heat or doing highway miles. Out of warranty, to get a new battery, you don't get to keep the core, is $5,500. That warranty runs out at 60K miles. I was delighted to see the Bolt warrantied for 100K miles but will need to look at the details to see if that covers accelerated capacity degradation.
      - djrogers 10y ago
        Ack - 25% capacity drop in 25k miles? Is that normal for leafs, or did the PO have particularly poor driving habits?
        antisthenes 10y ago
        25,000 miles is about 300 full cycle recharges for a Leaf. That is definitely the cycle number where you'll start to see a capacity drop, but 25% still seems very high for that range. First and 2nd gen batteries will generally have to be replaced around 600 +-10% cycles. It's 'normal' for all pure EV vehicles - so the durability of the battery pack is directly proportional to its capacity.

wccrawford 10y ago

I have a Chevy Sonic now and like the way it looks, and this thing looks a little more SciFi than the Sonic. I think saying it looks "boxy" or "dorky" is wrong, and it's in the eye of the beholder. There's no need to tell people how they should feel about it, so I'm disappointed in that reviewer.

gbrown 10y ago

If you're not ready to make the jump, the Volt gets to play electric car for most journeys, kicking over to being a fuel efficient hybrid for long ones. The Gen 1 is cheap right now, and gets around 42 electric miles in the summer, 35 in the winter. The newer ones have increased range.

davisr 10y ago
I have a 2013 Volt, and in the summer I actually get around 55 miles to the charge, one just needs to learn to be less aggressive with the accelerator (there's an indicator on the dash that helps with this).
- gbrown 10y ago
  I started out by doing that, but now I just ignore it and drive as usual. The 42 mile range is enough to get to and from work (my wife and I actually carpool, and she can charge it for free at work).