GM Says It Will Fail To Meet Goal Of Selling 500,000 EV Vehicles - Blames Low Gas Costs, But Is There Another Reason?

General Motors Co. Thursday said it is making progress in selling electrified vehicles, but it now doesn’t expect to meet its goal of having 500,000 GM vehicles on the road in the U.S. by 2017 that are powered in some way by electricity.

The Detroit automaker says 180,834 GM vehicles were on the road in 2014 in the U.S. with some form of electrification, up from 153,034 in 2013.

“For our commitment to electrification, our forecasted outlook currently projects us, along with the broader automotive industry, falling short of expectations for 2017,” the company said in its 2014 Sustainability Report. “GM is committed to electrification and our award-winning eAssist, extended-range electric vehicle and battery electric vehicle offerings, but consumer demand for these vehicles has not kept up with our initial projections.”

GM blamed the slower sales pace on lower gasoline prices and a “surge” in competitive product offerings.

Read Article

TheSteve - 5/7/2015 10:53:37 AM

+3 Boost

Why are North Americans not buying pure EVs and hybrids in general?

1) Usually a much higher purchase price compared to gas-powered equivalents

2) Range anxiety for pure EVs (not so for hybrids)

3) Worries about actual battery and replacement costs (don't worry... trust us.... it'll be fine)

4) Sometimes quirky styling found in pure EVs

5) Having to change driving and usage habits when getting a pure EV

6) Many hybrids have failed to deliver the stellar "EPA Number" mileage claim in actual use. Buyers have come to believe you can't trust the claims that you'll save money by getting a hybrid.

7) Some buyers are noticing that if you get the diesel equivalent instead of the hybrid (e.g., Audi Q5 has both), the diesel's purchase price is lower, while its fuel economy is better! In some cases, diesel makes more sense than hybrid.

8) Temporarily low gas prices means it's even harder to justify the higher purchase price and down-the-road batter replacement cost of a pure EV or hybrid.

SOME of these items are swept off the table when gas prices return to their previous highs or go still higher, while others remain.

MDarringer - 5/7/2015 8:32:37 PM

+1 Boost

Agree @TheSteve

A Spark EV would be a perfect "around town" car for me if I wanted an "around town" car, but why pray tell would anyone pay for nearly two Sparks and only get one that when the battery dies, it dies?

randy3023 - 5/7/2015 11:26:41 AM

-1 Boost

GMs hybrids are overpriced, if not for the pure fact they are not even EVs.

Blame GM executives, for not investing in battery research sooner.