Chevrolet News:All-Electric Chevrolet Equinox @$30,000 Starting Price

[David]

Per a recent story on thestreet.com titled "Who Can Afford a Tesla, Ford or Chevy Electric Vehicle?" they state that the median salary of $51,480 before taxes for 2021 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This would tend to imply that of the 2 million EVs that Ford and Chevrolet both say they will build and sell by 2026 is going to be hard as the current math for a 2022 Chevy Bolt with a starting price of $32,495 based on a 72 month loan with a $2,500 down payment would require an income of $72,000 a year and has you paying a monthly $452 payment.

A Ford Mach E with a base price of $44,995 requires an income of $101,000 a year with a monthly payment of $606 on a 72 month loan with a down payment of $4,500

Tesla is even more expensive when you look at the recent starting price of $47,690 which would require a yearly income of $111,000 with a 72 month loan, $4,500 down payment and a monthly payment of $652.

With the recent spikes in gas prices, more people have been interested in electric vehicles, yet the current prices are out of reach of most people even on used EVs. Then take into account the spike in raw meterials such as nickel and that ends up boosting EV prices again.

No entry level EV is priced under $30,000 that is equal to an ICE in range. The Chevrolet Bolt comes close, Nissan is selling Leaf's below $30,000 but with a battery range of just over 100 miles that many feel is not doable when compared to a equally priced ICE auto.

Tesla CEO Musk promised a sub $30,000 EV and has FAILED to deliver. He now says auto driving is the future, not individual driving.

Ford has promised an EV for all income levels, but at this time has not shown anything yet.

GM has stated that the Chevrolet Equinox Electric will be a game-changer. This EV will be based on their flexible Ultium Platform that supports Ultium battery packs of 50 kWh to 200 kWh with a motor combination that runs from 235 HP to 1,000 hp depending on EV.

GM has stated that this Electric Equinox will be available in FWD or AWD and will be available on the market starting Fall 2023 with a range per charge of 300 miles.

We have only seen this computer-generated interior that GM released at the start of the 2022 year.

The above video showing the exterior of the actual Chevrolet Equinox EV is exciting and proof that GM is moving forward to deliver on the promise of EVs for all.

With war in Europe, parts shortages globally, Price increases across the board on everything, this brings up the very real question of "Can GM CEO Mary Barra deliver still on the race to electrification for all?"

Many various OEMs and startups have announced EVs from entry level to luxury level. Can anyone deliver on that promise?

Many here at Cheers and Gears have also debated the lack of Style and inspiration for autos in the 21st century over autos of past yore.

What do YOU think of Chevrolet Equinox EV from a style standpoint?

Chevrolet - YouTube

Who Can Afford a Tesla, Ford or Chevy Electric Vehicle? - TheStreet

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[balthazar]

I don't know where those 'scenario' numbers were sourced from, but if you're pulling down $111K/yr, you should be putting more than $4500 down on a new car.

[David]

29 minutes ago, balthazar said:

I don't know where those 'scenario' numbers were sourced from, but if you're pulling down $111K/yr, you should be putting more than $4500 down on a new car.

Those numbers were from the Who Can afford story that I have the link at the bottom of the story. They talk about the basic take home pay after taxes and the fact that depending on where one lives, cost of living such as rent, etc. so they went with the default minimum required per the calculators used to figure cost on a 72-month loan.

Yes, I know some put more down, others less, they went for consistent sake I imagine with the default minimum required to buy said auto.

[balthazar]

[quote]...not many people earning median pay could afford any EV...[/quote]

Not good news for a segment hoping to grow significantly beyond 3% (U.S.) to a major percentage, never mind "100%".

I do think their calculations for salary "to afford" are too high, tho. It also seems to assume zero savings & draws all car funding from salary only. Again- if you're pulling down $111K, you had better have some liquidity / savings. Rule of thumb is 6 months of expenditures... 

Edited March 23, 2022 by balthazar

[David]

2 hours ago, balthazar said:

[quote]...not many people earning median pay could afford any EV...[/quote]

Not good news for a segment hoping to grow significantly beyond 3% (U.S.) to a major percentage, never mind "100%".

I do think their calculations for salary "to afford" are too high, tho. It also seems to assume zero savings & draws all car funding from salary only. Again- if you're pulling down $111K, you had better have some liquidity / savings. Rule of thumb is 6 months of expenditures... 

I agree with you, sadly, I think many live beyond their means and it would seem many live for instant gratification.

Sad when you see charts like this that show most Americans are not saving 6 months of income.

Average U.S. Savings Account Balance: A Demographic Breakdown - ValuePenguin

[smk4565]

Not only can most people not afford an EV, most can't afford a new car when the average new car is $47k and interest rates are about to be going up, making those 6 year car loans more expensive also.  If auto makers want to go EV, then you can't have a $50k small crossover that basically does nothing better than a $30k Rav4 other than it runs on electricity.

I would agree that if GM delivers on this it pretty much is a game changer because $30k is basically the cost of a gas Equinox, it would undercut the iD4 by over $10k.  Even if the Blazer is a 50 kWh battery to start and has 175 mile range, who cares, for most people that is enough and you can sell a 75 kWh battery with a 250 mile range as an option.  Some of these EV's are selling customers more battery than they need, which just makes the vehicle heavier and more expensive.

This thing isn't coming until Fall 2023 for the RS model, which means the cheap version won't be until 2024, a lot can happen in 2 years.  We saw Tesla promise a $35k Model 3 (2 years out after they sold high end trims) then it never happened.  So we'll see if Chevy can deliver here.  And really Chevy should start with the low end version first (like how every ICE car puts out the base model first, I don't see them putting out the Zr1 Corvette first then 2 years later the base model shows up) so they don't get reputation of the Equinox being too expensive.  If they start with a $60k RS model, people are going to think GM is nuts charging $60k for an Equinox and write this car off before it even gets going.

[regfootball]

again, will this be smaller inside than the current equinox? better not be.  It should made larger inside than the current equinox.  i'm going to guess gm will make it smaller inside.

[smk4565]

2 hours ago, regfootball said:

again, will this be smaller inside than the current equinox? better not be.  It should made larger inside than the current equinox.  i'm going to guess gm will make it smaller inside.

I would assume if it is an Equinox then it would be similar exterior size, which would be in line with an iD4.  If same size as the current Equinox then it would be similar size or maybe a little better inside, at least you'd get a flatter floor and can open up the center console since there is no transmission or drive axle.  

[balthazar]

"open up the center console" for what?

[David]

52 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

I would assume if it is an Equinox then it would be similar exterior size, which would be in line with an iD4.  If same size as the current Equinox then it would be similar size or maybe a little better inside, at least you'd get a flatter floor and can open up the center console since there is no transmission or drive axle.  

SMK, Can you clarify what you mean about "can open up the center console since there is no transmission or drive axle."

I think you forgot to finish your thought? 🤔

[smk4565]

Just now, David said:

SMK, Can you clarify what you mean about "can open up the center console since there is no transmission or drive axle."

I think you forgot to finish your thought? 🤔

They can remove the center console or have a hollowed out one with storage under it, like every other EV.  

[David]

7 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

They can remove the center console or have a hollowed out one with storage under it, like every other EV.  

OK, so your saying removal of the existing style of center console (ICE related) in exchange for larger seats or a variety of alternative center consoles with expanded storage use, bench seat, etc.

Got it, thank you.

[Robert Hall]

12 hours ago, regfootball said:

again, will this be smaller inside than the current equinox? better not be.  It should made larger inside than the current equinox.  i'm going to guess gm will make it smaller inside.

Can't imagine it would be larger inside if the outside dimensions are comparable.  They have to take some space for the EV bits and batteries.   Unless it has lower ground clearance or a taller body relative to a real Equinox, that space has to come out of the interior...

[balthazar]

^ exactly the point I’ve made.

Batteries merely fit in between the structural rails below- they don’t allow for a shortening in height of said structural rails. Usable interior space should be the same.

[oldshurst442]

If a manufacturer is losing interior space with its skateboard EV platform, they are doin' it wrong...

 

 

 

Lucid Air

 

[oldshurst442]

If you guys noticed, the battery pack is BELOW  the middle of the tire's height.  The brake disks are ABOVE the battery pack.  The seats sit at the brake disks level.  And there is virtually nothing that enters the interior cabin.

 

 

 Now compare that to a RWD unibody

Only FWD unibody or BOF  comes close to a skateboard EV

 

 

 

 

 

[balthazar]

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

If you guys noticed, the battery pack is BELOW  the middle of the tire's height.  The brake disks are ABOVE the battery pack.

If you also noticed, both the chassis & the tires are sitting on vertical 'pins', so I would certainly not use that opening pic as any sort of evidence of 'where things sit'.  We need a production-spec car sitting on the ground, or legitimate OEM specs.

Edited March 25, 2022 by balthazar

[oldshurst442]

2 minutes ago, balthazar said:

If you also noticed, both the chassis & the tires are sitting on vertical 'pins', so I would certainly not use that opening pic as any sort of evidence of 'where things sit'.  We need a production-spec car sitting on the ground, or legitimate OEM specs.

  You just wanna see what you wanna see...  Which is to falsely assume that a skateboard platform is not flat and the body sits directly on top...    In fact, the skateboard frame is a tray that houses the battery and the body shell goes on top to which the seats are directly on top of the battery pack.   For Lucid, the battery pack ends where the front seats end making it possible for the rear passengers feat to actually be housed in the battery tray itself...

 

The motors of both Lucid and Tesla is where the tires are front and back and nothing enters the passenger cabin. Like a FWD or rear engined car.  Plus...there is no transmission, so...

The battery cooling systems are in the battery tray within the battery pack...

 

 

The body shell literally just goes on top...

Tesla Model S

(Computer generated shell)

 

Lucid 

There is a small intrusion in the cabin up front for the Lucid, but nothing to scream and whine about lack of interior space...

In fact, the Lucid Air has more interior space than the Tesla Model S despite the Air's battery tray being less flat.

 

All pictures posted give a crystal clear idea of what is what. No need to be Doubting Thomas about this...

If a manufacturer makes the interior a tight space, its because they are doing it wrong.  Maybe designing the rake of the windshield too steep making the A, B and C pillars too low in trying to make a sedan more sports car like and designing interior dashboards and center consoles chunkier than need be... 

But that has NOTHING to do with the skateboard platform and where the battery resides...   

Like I said, maybe design an EV sedan less like a Porsche 911 if one wants interior space to be maximized...

 

 

But Porsche and Audi gets its wrong with their battery tray...

 

[balthazar]

12 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

You just wanna see what you wanna see...  Which is to falsely assume that a skateboard platform is not flat and the body sits directly on top... 

1. I didn't address the 'flatness', we were talking about the HEIGHT of the components relative to each other.  Photos of show car displays doesn't tell us where things are relative to each other.
2. You state it's "false" that a skateboard platform is not flat, then you posted pics of a BE skateboard-built car with a 'transmission hump' sticking up 4-5 inches into the pass compartment.

Remember, this sub-discussion was all about whether a BE Equinox would have more, less or the same interior room.

Edited March 25, 2022 by balthazar

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, balthazar said:

1. I didn't address the 'flatness', we were talking about the HEIGHT of the components relative to each other.  Photos of show car displays doesn't tell us where things are relative to each other.
2. You state it's "false" that a skateboard platform is not flat, then you posted pics of a BE skateboard-built car with a 'transmission hump' sticking up 4-5 inches into the pass compartment.

Remember, this sub-discussion was all about whether a BE Equinox would have more, less or the same interior room.

1. Height relative to one another?  Common...

You know that slooping raked windshields is the real culprit here...

 

2.  Semantics...

And Tesla's battery tray and floor  is flat like Saskatchewan and Manitoba...

Lucid Air is the one with a small hump in front...

Volkswagen is the one that did it wrong.  

About the semantics part...you are free to look at reviews about the Lucid Air's interior room, headroom, legroom front and rear, seats front and back and you will quickly realize that height relative to one another is just Porsche  (Taycan)and Ford (Mach E) designed their sedan and CUV EVs  to simulate 911 and Mustang respectively...  (Audi just used the Taycan as a base) 

But if you take a look at the Model 3 despite it being a smaller EV, there is NO compromise to interior room. And if one looks at the CUV offerings of Model X and Model Y, with a very obvious tall but sleek design albeit dorky, one could easily see that there is NO compromise of room.

Im just questioning why the obvious and blatant false angle you have taken about this?

If Chevy possibly phoques up thee interior space of an EV Equinox, its definitely NOT because of where the 'relative height of  everything' is.  The floor is flat and while you ignored my first point, Ill repeat it again.

Not ONLY is the floor flat, but the battery pack on both the Lucid and the Telsas are BELOW the middle of the tire's height.  The brake disks are ABOVE the battery pack.  The seats sit at the brake disks level. Nothing intrudes the passenger compartment. In the Lucid Air, their is a hump, but because the Lucid Air hasnt sleeked its sedan to death, it hasn't affected any interior room for the negative.  The way it did the battery pack in the rear, the feet of the rear passengers get to rest IN the battery pack tray...

Ive posted enough REAL cutaway pics and diagrams that showcase that.  Tesla, Lucid and even Porsche has made it a point to show us this of what skateboard platforms do. These are FACTORY pics, showcasing the  ENGINEERING of what a flat floor is all about...

Even GM has done this

THAT would be the Hummer.  

Why so thick the battery tray and pack?

Because the Hummer's battery's are double of what everybody else has at 212.7 KW/H and are STACKED one on top of the other.  But its the SAME principle... 

Ill tell you what though..

If GM wanted to make the Hummer sleeker and raked the windshield 68 degrees like it did with the 4rth gen F Body and made the interior chunky like the HUMMER H1, would you blame the lack of interior space on the battery packs and the height relative to one another too?

Very disingenuous  of you if you did...

 

Edited March 25, 2022 by oldshurst442

[regfootball]

lack of girth is the current Equinox' problem, about 2" extra of hip and shoulder room would go a long way towards feeling more spacious.

Gotta say that dash design looks interesting and promising, wish they would redesign the current Blazer dashboard to that.

[smk4565]

Interior room isn’t going to be what makes or breaks the EV Equinox.  What will break it is if it has an awful GM style interior that is all dark gray with cheap plastic everywhere or if they promise one price and come out with a much higher price.  What will make it is if they deliver on their $30k price and have a visually appealing vehicle inside and out.   All these other small crossover SUVs are like $50k, if GM can deliver they can kick all their asses on the sales chart.  It’s simple math, the number of people that can afford a $500 a month car payment is a hell of a lot higher than the number that can afford $900 a month.

[balthazar]

16 hours ago, balthazar said:

Usable interior space should be the same.

 

[oldshurst442]

5 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

Now compare that to a RWD unibody

Only FWD unibody or BOF  comes close to a skateboard EV

 

 

[oldshurst442]

17 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Can't imagine it would be larger inside if the outside dimensions are comparable.  They have to take some space for the EV bits and batteries.   Unless it has lower ground clearance or a taller body relative to a real Equinox, that space has to come out of the interior...

 

16 hours ago, balthazar said:

^ exactly the point I’ve made.

Batteries merely fit in between the structural rails below- they don’t allow for a shortening in height of said structural rails. Usable interior space should be the same.

 

5 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

If a manufacturer is losing interior space with its skateboard EV platform, they are doin' it wrong...