I stopped by a Chevrolet dealer yesterday in Vallejo. They had about 40 Bolts in a row and a similar number of Volts next to them. Each had a $4k 'additional profit' sticker in addition to MSRP.
I think buickanddeere's skepticism is justified. Both are generic modern compact cars with a $10,000 premium for the 'look at me' attribute. That premium is justified for an enhanced-performance Mustang or something but the only thing special about these EV's is their specifications, not their characteristics as transportation. The price premium would never be recovered by fuel savings and the cars themselves are nothing special.
One deficiency that is meaningful to me, may not be for others: I shuttle back and forth between home, where I have unavoidable responsibilities, and ranch, where I would prefer to be all the time. 100 miles each way. There is always luggage, an ice chest and grocery box, and in summer boxes of harvested fruit for friends in town. Sometimes a bicycle or construction materials etc. The hatchback design is useful on both these Chevys but with an absurd design flaw: The rear seat folded leaves a 10 inch gap from the platform to the back of the front seats, for cargo to fall into under heavy braking. This is in contrast to my Ford Focus Wagon and Subaru Outback where the rear seat cushion folds forward providing a backstop for anything sliding forward. (And 10 more inches of flat cargo space right where I load things from the side doors). I foresee years of frustration replacing my present functional little cargo haulers with this modern equivalent.
That particular point (flat rear deck) was emphasized a few minutes after leaving that dealer. In a left turn lane waiting to turn from boulevard to freeway onramp, my light went green and I started off briskly anticipating merging onto the freeway. Some fool facing me who had been waiting at his red light started off suddenly an instant later headon to me against his red light. I nearly broadsided him, braked hard and gambed I wouldn't be rearended by the Mercedes hot on my tail. Nothing touched, but the three of us (and whatever was behind the Mercedes) missed crashing by inches. This emergency stop would have dumped whatever was in the back of those little Chevys into the gap in front of their folded rear seats. Why would I want to pay a premium for transportation less useful than what it replaced?
Looking at car reviews and Consumer Reports, it looks to me that a used 2014 Volt that just came off lease might be the most cost effective hybrid. A Prius V would also suit my application but everything I've read says the Volts are more pleasant to drive, at similar cost buying used. Either would be some $15,000 cheaper than a new fully-optioned Bolt.
