Are You Buying Into All Of The EV Hype Or Is There Simply A Better Way?

I’ve always maintained that despite green noises about electric cars, Volkswagen, deep in their Wolfsburg hearts, doesn’t believe in them. Because they don’t make sense. If they are too expensive, people won’t buy them. Volkswagen has ample experience in this arena, probably more than anybody else. Ages ago, VW built a fuel-sipping 3 liter Lupo (3 liter / 100 km, 78 mpg.) The press lapped it up. The greenies creamed in their pants. Focus groups swore they’ll buy it, no matter the cost. They lied. In the showroom, the 3 Liter Lupo was a dud: Advanced materials had made it light, but also expensive. Customer reaction: “Interesting. Now how about that red GTI over there?”

thstone - 11/15/2010 1:40:04 PM

-5 Boost

Sour grapes. He's just pissed because no one will buy a diesel so he points out all of the negatives about the new electrics.

Truth is that Nissan has tens of thousands of buyers lined up for the Leaf and the Volt will sell just fine for a down economy with cheap gas.

JRobUSC - 11/15/2010 1:48:16 PM

+5 Boost

uh... what? No one will buy a diesel? Where have you been? The Golf TDI the hottest selling version of the car, even here in America, and the rest of the world buys diesels hand over fist. So unless you buy your cars somewhere other than Earth, VW (and Audi, and Mercedes, and BMW, and everyone else) hasn't had any problems with people buying diesels.

uaw_lax - 11/15/2010 3:20:30 PM

-5 Boost

The welfare comes from Japan when the Japanese government pretty much paid for the R&D of the Prius but you always fail to bring that up.

Agent009 - 11/15/2010 4:13:16 PM

+7 Boost

Right now the EV market is supported by incentives. It needs to survive on its own.

MorePower - 11/15/2010 10:17:06 PM

+1 Boost

EV is CLEARLY the way to go for the future. EV manufacturers need to set-up the public's education on the benefits of these vehicles.

Though I could get away with an EV, I like my gas powered car. I just wish gas prices could roll back to where they were before Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush entered the White House in 2000.

t_bone - 11/16/2010 11:32:06 PM

+1 Boost

I am buying the hype.