Report: Researchers find interest in Chevrolet Volt is dropping, but why?

August 16, 2011May 7, 2012 Chris Chin 2011, 2012, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Volt, Compact Cars, electric-cars, electric-vehicles, GM, plug-in hybrids, Volt

Chevrolet’s Volt made a huge impact on the automobile industry by being a forerunner in the push for electric powertrains. So its prominence has no question. However, since its launch in December of 2010, customer interest in the Volt has been found to drop significantly as of recent.

CNW Marketing Research found that not only is interest tapering off from “early adopters,” but other buyers as well.

For instance, the firm found that in March, more than 21% of “early adopters” said that they expressed strong consideration for the Volt. In July, that percentage dropped to 14.6%.

CNW even found interest from “EV enthusiasts” has even dropped. Their interest percentage was capped at 25% for the month in March but by July, the percentage dropped to 17%.

“In fact, the most alarming bit is that all categories of new-car intenders are reporting less likelihood of even considering the vehicle,” said CNW in its reports.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

They even reported saying that the primary reason the Volt has been losing interest is its commanding initial purchase price, which hovers around the $40,000 mark—something that I have mentioned in some of my first impressions of the Volt.

Realizing that the Volt has been around for several months, we here at egmCarTech are still trying to decide if the Volt is worth its price. We say this because conceptually, the idea of the Volt is to help people save money at the pumps while also inadvertently being kind to the environment…sort of. But for someone who’s trying to do the latter, a $40,000 price tag is hard to swallow when you can get a Prius for almost half of the price.

What do you egmCarTech’ers think? Would you dolly up the $40,000 for a Volt if you were in the market for a car of its kind? Let us know in the comment section. We encourage you followers to discuss the issue at hand below.

Also, expect our full take on the Chevrolet Volt in the coming weeks. So stay tuned!

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379 miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.