My Chevy Volt: Truth Matters: A Compendium of Volt and EV related articles

I come across articles weekly that speak to the truth of electric vehicles, and soundly debunk the arguments posed by the anti EV crowd. I am creating this living blog entry in order to keep track of all this research in hopes it will aid others as they hopefully engage in thoughtful debates with opponents of electrification. Granted, that isn't always possible. But I hope this blog will supply you with facts, not rhetoric.

If you want to contribute a link to this article, please comment below and I'll add it in the appropriate section. Please report broken links.

Subsidy Issues Examined:

Mackinac Electric Vehicle Study
The following links examine the exaggerated and factually incorrect report that states each tax payer is paying 250k for each Volt sold.
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11354404/1/setting-it-straight-chevy-volt-vs-the-government.html
http://www.plugincars.com/250k-chevy-volt-111105.html

Indirect Subsidies to support our nation, and its reliance to oil

Government Accountability Office examines various government and non government expenses for Military Protection of Middle Eastern Crude; Concludes about 30 billion a year has been spent.
http://ntl.bts.gov/data/military.pdf

Academic Analysis of U.S. Military Expenditures to Protect the use of Persian-Gulf Oil for Motor Vehicles
http://pubs.its.ucdavis.edu/publication_detail.php?id=1165

Volt Sales Not from Fleet or Government

Fleet sales at bottom
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120830/AUTO0103/208300352

Less than 2% of total sales YTD are to the government (includes military)
http://wot.motortrend.com/we-hear-army-and-navy-buying-chevrolet-volts-for-domestic-use-262383.html

Domestic Drilling

Drilling won't lower gas prices. It will reduce the foreign trade deficit, but that is about it
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/why-more-drilling-wont-lower-gas-prices/2012/03/01/gIQALNBtkR_blog.html
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/03/22/450136/20-experts-who-say-drilling-wont-lower-gas-prices/
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/03/01/435330/more-drilling-wont-lower-gas-prices/

The Environmental Effects of Electric Cars

In a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, they concluded that electric vehicles are far cleaner than the average car in even the most polluted power grids, but are far better than even 50 MPG cars in the cleanest states.
http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/electric-car-global-warming-emissions-exec-summary.pdf
http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/electric-car-global-warming-emissions-report.pdf

Foolish Predictions

Read this CATO article published back in 2001 about a car that is now the number 3 top selling car in the United States
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/dont-subsidize-car

The Volt Fire Controversy

Both Garage Fires that were occupied with Volts ruled out as likely cause by both fire marshals (as well as NHTSA, GM, insurance companies, and other investigators)
http://gm-volt.com/2011/05/18/exclusive-chevrolet-volt-unofficially-cleared-in-connecticut-garage-fire/
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/11/chevy-volt-not-the-cause-of-garage-fire-says-fire-marshall.html

NHTSA Conclusion that the Volt is safe
http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2012/NHTSA+Statement+on+Conclusion+of+Chevy+Volt+Investigation

Popular Mechanics: Don't worry about the battery
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/electric/dont-worry-about-the-volts-reported-battery-woes-11423298?click=pm_latest

Chevy Volt Cost

Snopes debunks one of the most outrageous email chains going, stating that electric vehicles cost 7x the cost of gas to operate
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/chevyvolt.asp

Is the Volt Too Affordable?
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/06/21/is-the-chevy-volt-too-affordable.aspx

User provided Total Cost of Ownership Links

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ageg_Pnricg9dGZTVW9ZTzFNWHJlMmhrNDh2TVZ6cXc#gid=0

http://voltowner.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-mileage-and-statistics-to-date.html

Misc Websites

The average Chevy Volt owner gets 120+ MPG combined
http://www.voltstats.net

Lots of EV myths discussed here
http://mediamatters.org/research/201202080012

Fox News segment how the Volt will help win the war on terror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnMxtET-gWg

Chevy Volt: One of the most awarded cars on the road
http://gm-volt.com/2011/11/21/volt-accolades-and-awards-from-inception-through-2011/

This is a list of 'Upscale Midsize Vehicles' in which the Volt best some the nicest cars in the world
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/Upscale-Midsize-Cars/

Foreign Trade Deficit as it relates to oil
http://useconomy.about.com/od/tradepolicy/p/Trade_Deficit.htm

The biggest Volt Owner forum
http://www.gm-volt.com

My Chevy Volt

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Truth Matters: A Compendium of Volt and EV related articles