I dont know that seems like a waste of money. It will take a lot of miles to make up the 20000 premium for not using gas. In addition the Redline is still faster and 150 miles isnt very far for weekend trips.
If I'm going to add $25K to the price of a kappa it's going to have a big V8 in it to increase performance. $25K to Decrease performance does not appeal to me. Give it some specs like the Tesla roadster and we are talking. I applaud them for making and electric version of our car though.
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Mean GXP Delivered 1/30/2007 $MSRP +$2K
Pioneer Avic D3 - Nav System
JL Audio ZR speakers, Alpine PDX 4.150 amplifier
Solo Performance Street Race exhaust
JPM custom center console, handles and shifter
Painted dash and windshield surround
Custom Valentine1 flush radar display
Debadged rear lettering
K&N Air Filter
OZ Ultraleggera Wheels
DDM Works Big Brakes, Backbone (Intake soon)
I have been following the Chevy Volt very closely and as a result, I see a lot of these electric car start ups and more often than not they amount to zilch. In this cas I'm very sceptical as well. I went to their site and there is not one picture of this supposed prototype or any of it's components anywhere. Nothing there except factory Saturn photos and a link on how you can give them some money. You really built an electric Sky and it does what you say? Then show us. Show it to the world. Maybe they have done it and I'll be proven wrong, but it's pretty lame to make a press annoucement and build a website without one actual picture of your project! Oh yeah, and why only Skys? It should be the exact conversion for a Solstice.
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Thanks again Bob, for building my car! Envious/Ebony VIN #0051
Man tough crowd! I think what these guys are doing is great why bash it? They've been all over the internet and other auto blogs with pretty positive feedback. I saw a news segment where they showed the prototype and the warehouse where they're building them. Here’s the link:
And I'm blown away by these specs 0-60 in under 6 seconds, top speed of 90mph and 150 mile range! I only drive like 40 miles a day tops. I mapped it out to be about 3 cents a mile when you account for the cost of electricity for recharging. And even though you save money in gas its more of an environmental statement than an economic statement driving this car. I wouldn’t be surprised to see alot of celebs sporting this car once it comes out.
I dont know that seems like a waste of money. It will take a lot of miles to make up the 20000 premium for not using gas. In addition the Redline is still faster and 150 miles isnt very far for weekend trips.
My quick guesstimate is about 80-90K miles [edit:110K] (assuming gas prices don't go up by more than a dollar or so in the next 4-7 years [wishful thinking, I know] depending on how long it takes you to put 80K miles on a car)
$20000 [edit: $25000] / $5 per gallon (conservative average over 80K mi. which should take a few years, since it is almost $4.50 for premium here right now)
= 4000 [edit: 5000 gal.] * avg. 22 mpg (my usual avg. GXP mpg)
= 88,000 [edit: 110K] miles to break even, not figuring for electricity charges, but then I didn't figure for all the routine maintenance a gasoline powered car requires either (oil changes, air filters, spark plugs, ad infinitum).
*Why use the GXP for comparison? 1. close in performance (google search shows anywhere from 5.4-5.8 sec. most say 5.5) 2. GXP has better gas mileage than the base (I avg. about 3mpg better than the 06 I used to have)
If you can make it 80K [edit: 100K] miles / 7 [edit: 10] yrs before replacing the batteries, it seems to me that it would be a fair deal. Plus, you'd already be ready for when the really high gas prices hit in a few years... with a bunch of other countries already paying near/at/above $10/gallon, how long do you think until we start catching up?
So, is it worth it or a waste of money? Right now, maybe it's not a no-brainer, but if cost comes down or price per barrel goes up much it might be soon...
Personally, I'm not ready to jump on this (and would definitely demand a Solstice instead of a Sky), but it is intriguing. I'm thinking maybe in a few years if things go well for them and there aren't any major bugs, maybe an increase in performance (150 miles @ 90mph means more range at actual highway speeds, and just fine for me on a daily basis) and I just might be looking for a used '06 to send them for conversion... It would be great for a daily driver even if the RL/GXP does outperform it a little, and then I could upgrade to a ZOK package and turn my current GXP into a trailer queen/track star
And no, I don't have any connection with the company, but I have already decided that the next vehicle I buy will not be powered by gasoline, so I am interested in the subject, plus I love the Solstice and it would be much cheaper than the $100K for the Tesla... though that kind of performance would be really nice...
and you do make a statement by driving an electric car :
and a much better statement by still driving at least the speed limit around town (Prius owners around here seem to always drive 5mph UNDER the posted limit )
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'06 Mysterious: traded in 3/18/2008 for a GXP
'07 Mysterious GXP #621AS: Leather w/ Red Stitching, A/C, CD w/ MP3, Sport Pedals, Stubby, MODA MD2 19" Rims w/ Kumho Ecsta SPTs, Stubby, De-silvered, Black Eyes, Tinted Fogs, Side-markers, Tails, and Back-ups, Black Gauge, A/C, and Shifter Bezels, Debadged Rear, Chiclets Removed, K&N Air Filter, Solo Performance Catback Race Exhaust, racing on stock wheels with Falken Azenis 615s 255/40-18s
Last edited by myke_cox : 05-28-2008 at 03:22 PM.
Reason: actual cost of upgrade is $25,000
I have been following the Chevy Volt very closely and as a result, I see a lot of these electric car start ups and more often than not they amount to zilch. In this cas I'm very sceptical as well. I went to their site and there is not one picture of this supposed prototype or any of it's components anywhere. Nothing there except factory Saturn photos and a link on how you can give them some money. You really built an electric Sky and it does what you say? Then show us. Show it to the world. Maybe they have done it and I'll be proven wrong, but it's pretty lame to make a press annoucement and build a website without one actual picture of your project! Oh yeah, and why only Skys? It should be the exact conversion for a Solstice.
Sheesh! Give 'em a chance... it does say that the prototype is in the final stages, which I take to mean it's not done yet, and also take to mean that they haven't totally finalized details... maybe they're still deciding which batteries, motors, etc. to use. Maybe they're not web-savvy or don't want to share all of their methods on their website, I didn't notice any "in progress" type images on the Tesla site either. I'm sure once it's done they'll want to show it off. And they're probably trying to build buzz to get investors and early customers, without both of which they most likely will fail as a company, which would be sad since it seems pretty cool to me. They're probably also focusing on the Sky because it looks more like it could be a 'futuristic' electric car. The Solstice screams sexy roadster in an old-school way, which I love about it, but when I look at it I don't say "Yeah, I could see it as an electric..." though I would like to see it happen.
Anyways, the proof is in the pudding, time will tell, and all the other applicable adages... you might be right, but give 'em a chance, if nothing else, they're making a great statement by trying it and using a great platform to push the electric movement forward... I've looked at the Volt a little, too, but I'd much rather cruise around town in an electric Solstice (or Sky even, if pressed)...
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'06 Mysterious: traded in 3/18/2008 for a GXP
'07 Mysterious GXP #621AS: Leather w/ Red Stitching, A/C, CD w/ MP3, Sport Pedals, Stubby, MODA MD2 19" Rims w/ Kumho Ecsta SPTs, Stubby, De-silvered, Black Eyes, Tinted Fogs, Side-markers, Tails, and Back-ups, Black Gauge, A/C, and Shifter Bezels, Debadged Rear, Chiclets Removed, K&N Air Filter, Solo Performance Catback Race Exhaust, racing on stock wheels with Falken Azenis 615s 255/40-18s
Personally, I'm not ready to jump on this (and would definitely demand a Solstice instead of a Sky), but it is intriguing. I'm thinking maybe in a few years if things go well for them and there aren't any major bugs, maybe an increase in performance (150 miles @ 90mph means more range at actual highway speeds, and just fine for me on a daily basis) and I just might be looking for a used '06 to send them for conversion... It would be great for a daily driver even if the RL/GXP does outperform it a little, and then I could upgrade to a ZOK package and turn my current GXP into a trailer queen/track star ......it would be much cheaper than the $100K for the Tesla...
Yes, I'm not ready to do it yet either, but you gotta admit even the fact that the calculation is getting close is news in itself. I bet 5 years down the road the conversion is much cheaper, oil and gas prices are even higher, and the no-brainer will be in effect. Hopefully we'll get smart and build a bunch of nuke plants to keep 'em charged. I wouldn't be surprised if my next new car is all-electric.
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"Cool" 2007 GXP
Bought from the dealer May 7, 2007
Chromed Wheels- Monsoon Speakers-GM Mud Flaps
Visor Decals-Custom Plate Frame
Carolina Custom Leather Center Console Armrest
Red Brake Calipers with GXP decals
Davie's Hide-a-plate
K&N Air Filter
Dashhawk GEN II GMPP Stage II Upgrade
I think that the concept is great, and if the price comes down a bit I will jump at the chance to have an electric car.
The thing about AMP that feels a little slimy is the 300-car countdown, a year before they have even suggested they will deliver a product. A week ago (I haven't looked since) there were only 224 slots left, suggesting that 76 people in the Cincinnati area had placed, or were going to place, a $10,000 deposit on an electric Sky. That does not seem very reasonable to me given the lack of an operating prototype.
They also state that Saturn will be their exclusive platform when they add an SUV and a sedan because they have developed the technology to communicate with Saturn's control systems. Since Saturn uses standard GM components, that statement makes even less sense to me. Maybe I am missing something.
I hope that AMP starts delivering cars next year, by which time I may regret missing an opportunity to have one of them.
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John
Lexington, KY
Sky VIN 00252
5-Sp Manual
Midnight Blue
Guys, according to their website after the conversion, you get 90 MPH top speed. The 0-60 is still the same as a stock GXP at 5.7 seconds. That is hardly worth $25k.
hmmmm.......
3 cents a mile!
Current cost about 20 cents
AT 15K a year on electric cost $450.00
At 15k A year at 20 cents is 3000
8.5 years to pay for itself!
Dunno if Battery last that long but I am impressed
If gas goes to 5.00 for premium then it is like 6 years!
Man tough crowd! I think what these guys are doing is great why bash it? They've been all over the internet and other auto blogs with pretty positive feedback. I saw a news segment where they showed the prototype and the warehouse where they're building them. Here’s the link:
And I'm blown away by these specs 0-60 in under 6 seconds, top speed of 90mph and 150 mile range! I only drive like 40 miles a day tops. I mapped it out to be about 3 cents a mile when you account for the cost of electricity for recharging. And even though you save money in gas its more of an environmental statement than an economic statement driving this car. I wouldn’t be surprised to see alot of celebs sporting this car once it comes out.
Their performance numbers sound unrealistic given the weight of the Solstice/Sky to start with and the additional mass of battery packs, charging systems (regenerative braking) and electric motors. I have a hard time believing that the car will weigh less than 3600lbs with enough batteries to go 150 miles, and that there is room enough under the hood to install them. With all that weight at the nose (far more than an LSx,) I bet the handling is awful too.
Though I hope they can make the trunk more useful since it won't need a fuel tank!
Guys, according to their website after the conversion, you get 90 MPH top speed. The 0-60 is still the same as a stock GXP at 5.7 seconds. That is hardly worth $25k.
Personally, I try not to drive 90mph on a regular basis... can't afford the tickets or the insurance increase that goes along with them. As a daily driver, I'm pretty sure 90mph is more than enough for 99% of people.
__________________
'06 Mysterious: traded in 3/18/2008 for a GXP
'07 Mysterious GXP #621AS: Leather w/ Red Stitching, A/C, CD w/ MP3, Sport Pedals, Stubby, MODA MD2 19" Rims w/ Kumho Ecsta SPTs, Stubby, De-silvered, Black Eyes, Tinted Fogs, Side-markers, Tails, and Back-ups, Black Gauge, A/C, and Shifter Bezels, Debadged Rear, Chiclets Removed, K&N Air Filter, Solo Performance Catback Race Exhaust, racing on stock wheels with Falken Azenis 615s 255/40-18s
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