Will A Chevy Volt Or Nissan Leaf Be Worth MORE, The SAME Or LESS Than A Prius In 3 Years? Place YOUR Bets!

Of all the vehicles that had a rough 2011, the two biggest letdowns would singlehandedly fall on the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. They just weren't the runaway sales hits that the automakers and media said they could and would be.

Now folks are starting to gravitate to Toyota's all-new Prius C. With MORE sales in three days than the Volt and Leaf sold in the month of February, it looks like things are really starting to get interesting for those that follow the sales figures on a monthly basis.

When it comes to electric vehicles, there's always two major concerns: 1) How far will it go on a charge in the real world -- that means in the cold, with air conditioning, etc. -- and 2) How much will this EV be worth down the road?

That's the thing. No one really knows.

Early reports forecasted that EVs would be essentially worthless because of pending battery replacement; however, if gas prices continue to rise could EV prices swing the other way due to an increase in demand and a lacking supply?

That said, we want you to place your bets now. Will the Chevrolet Volt/Nissan Leaf be worth MORE, the SAME or LESS than a Toyota Prius in three year's time?

abqhudson - 3/27/2012 10:24:12 AM

+2 Boost

Just whatt we need and typical AS. A bunch of folks who don't have a clue predicting the future! What fun.

vdiv - 3/27/2012 4:27:53 PM

+2 Boost

Wouldn't a better question be which one would have a better residual value in relation their cost as new [%]? Also which Prius? The legacy one, the plug-in hybrid, C, or V? What about the first-generation Prius?

I am not going to speculate and frankly I don't care much.

vdiv - 3/27/2012 4:43:55 PM

+1 Boost

Automobile magazine has some estimates -- have fun:

http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2011/nissan/leaf/ownership_costs.html

http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2011/chevrolet/volt/ownership_costs.html

http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2011/toyota/prius/ownership_costs.html

http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2012/toyota/prius_plug_in/ownership_costs.html

http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2012/toyota/prius_v/ownership_costs.html

http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2011/lexus/ct_200h/ownership_costs.html

bfghemicuda - 3/27/2012 10:46:39 PM

+1 Boost

About nine dollars a ton.

wcbrown - 3/28/2012 10:41:50 AM

+1 Boost

Definitely the VOLT...

Agent001 - 3/28/2012 4:19:21 PM

+2 Boost

NO doubt in my mind the Prius will be worth more in 3 years. The tech will change so much like it happens with iPhones and the Volt and Leaf will be as exciting in 3 years as the original iPhone is to cell customers today.

001

vdiv - 3/29/2012 11:35:11 AM

+1 Boost

I'm sorry, why would the technology in the current Prius be immune to changes, but not in the EVs?

Arguably any hybrid with a NiMH battery is obsolete as new hybrids are coming with lighter and higher-capacity Li-ion batteries, better engines (i.e. direct injection), better electronics, and, GASP! a plug to charge.

As far as EV range is concerned, the 16-year old EV1 with lead-acid batteries had the same 100 mile range as the current Leaf. That's actually not a good thing, but it demonstrates that in 3 years things are not likely to be much different.

jaes0510 - 3/28/2012 10:49:41 PM

-1 Boost

wcbrown, you indeed may well be one the most if not THE most ignorant of all those commenting in this forum. Are you the least bit familiar with how swiftly all of the products of GM, Ford and Chrysler lose their value compared to Japanese vehicles? You need to get a reality check or you will be the most disappointed individual who ever owned a Government Motors, Ford or Chrysler product. Wake up, man!