Many of our younger readers don't quite realize how far the automotive industry has come with respect to the design of electric vehicles. Since the 70's, we've seen all sorts of EV's - some looking like small wedged cube with lawnmower wheels to something trying to resemble a bug-eyed tadpole. An EV's attractiveness and practicality from the consumer's standpoint always took a backseat to wind tunnel results and vehicle size/weight. Volt engineers and designers went through considerable effort to deliver an electric vehicle which still maintaining the look of a gasoline vehicle. Friction resistant tires, clever aerodynamic body lines and innovative technology all work together to allow the owner a zero compromising experience.
Is the Volt pricey when looking at the product from a budgetary standpoint? It is - after 8 years of ownership, you would have more money in your pocket if you bought a cruze ltz vs. the volt. But this is where we as a society really needs to think about the long term impact which such a decision will have on our future. I simply bring up flat screen TV's as an example of what happens to an industry when society accepts new technologies. 10 years ago, many 42 inch flatscreen televisions were selling for well over 5K. Today you can buy them with better quality for well under 20% of the price 5 years ago. Had we not purchased those expensive flatscreens (compared to the Cathode Ray Tubes which were far cheaper at the time) we would all most likely still be watching (CRT) televisions. The popularity brought the cost of the new technology down while at the same time, allowed the manufacturers of flatscreens to advance in the areas of liquid crystal display, plasma, digital light processing and the latest kid on the block - organic light emitting diode. The quicker we accept the technology, the cheaper and better it gets. Pick an industry and this rule will always be proven.
Our decision to buy or reject the Volt, will have the same impact on the advancement of alternative energy. Should the Volt succeed, it will not only advance innovation in the auto industry, it will also trigger other industries to follow suit. The faster the volts success, the faster society benefits from technological advancement. Companies which develop motorcycles, yard maintenace tools for landscapers or machinery for constructrion companies will be forced (through competitive and market forces) to develop non internal combustion engine (ICE) products. Those companies which decide to ignore the market shift, will eventually meet the same fate as The Smith-Corona Typewriter Company when it ignored the acceptance of the personal computer with the consumer and the business world.
The real question is - are we perceptive enough as a society to understand how much influence we have on our future standard of living by buying the volt? Do we understand that we have the power to rapidly change our energy needs including our dependence on foreign oil? Do we understand how the positive change we can have on the environment 10 years from now? Perhaps we are still a few years out before people see the impact vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt will have but change must start somewhere and it's great to see General Motors at the forefront of innovation once again.
