Random Update On The 2016 Chevrolet Volt -- February 19, 2016; The Chevrolet Now Gets 53 Miles On A Single 4.5 Hour Charge

I can't remember if I posted the EV sales for last month, January, 2016. Here they are:

Compare Chevrolet Volt sales in January, 2016, compared to one year ago, and also with December sales (in graphic below).

But even more interesting, look at the total number of EVs sold in the US in 2015 compared with total number of EVs sold in the US in 2014 (in the very, very small print):

If the print is too small to see, regarding total US EV sales in the past two years:

• in 2014, total US EV sales were 122,438 units
• in 2015, total US EV sales were 116,099 units

Year-over-year, January, 2016, vs January, 2015:

• monthly sales increased marginally year-over-year, from 6,057 to 6,291

For the Chevrolet Volt:

• month-over-month, sales of Chevrolet Volts fell from 2,114 to 996 units
• year-over-over, sales of Chevrolet Volts nearly doubled from 542 units to 996 units

For the Tesla Model S:

• month-over-month, sales of the Tesla Model S fell from 3,600 to 850 units (delivered)
• year-over-over, sales of the Tesla Model S fell from 1,100 to 850 units (delivered)

I track the Chevrolet Volt here.

I was reminded of all this after Don sent me an ad disguised as a story talking about the "new" Chevrolet Volt:

However, the Volt is just several thousand dollars more than one of its major competitors - Ford C-Max Energi - and close to $3,200 more than the Toyota Prius plug-in. It's good to know with all three vehicles that you save $7,500 through a federal income tax incentive and there could be additional state and local incentives as well.

Forget about how the Volt looks. Let's face it, people buy a hybrid for the gas savings. The Volt delivers quite a bit in that department, upping its electricity-only total by 25 percent to a 53-mile range. It takes approximately 41/2 hours to recharge a fully depleted battery (from a 240-volt power). The new gasoline engine gets 42-43 mpg and a full tank should lead to roughly 420 miles.

This would be a great time to post a poll on this. I'm curious. I would love to have an EV. If I had all the money in the world, as they say in this neck of the woods, and a charging station in the garage, I would love to have an EV. It is my understanding these are incredible cars in terms of responsiveness and pleasure to drive.

And that's why I think the focus on gasoline mileage to sell a hybrid is misplaced. If the only reason folks buy a Chevrolet Volt is to save money on gasoline, these folks have not been paying attention.

So, the poll: would you buy an EV/hybrid because you think it's going to save you money on gasoline or because you like the "feel" of an EV compared to a conventional gasoline engine? Obviously most people make their decision based on a combination of factors. But in the "ad" above, the writer says "Let's face it, people buy a hybrid for the gas savings." I'm not so sure that's how Chevrolet should 
 focus the campaign.

In fact, having said that, I'm about ready to nominate the writer of this ad for the 2016 Geico Rock Award for not having noted how inexpensive gasoline is right now and will likely be for quite some time.

But don't let me influence your vote.