Reply #69: I think you are ignoring a couple of externalized costs.

[Statistical]

For many people the reduction in GHG is worth it. Many of the early adopters of solar never made "economic sense". The value of the energy generated was more than the cost of power from grid. The first generation Prius sold when gas was $1.89 a gallon had the same lack of economics. For some the externalized benefits of reduced GHG, reduced oil consumption, reduced need for foreign wars are worth it.

Still lets look at economics alone:
The price to consumer is $33,500 after $7,500 rebate. It is even lower in CA; $28,000 after state rebate.

Now lets make some assumptions:
Length keeping vehicle: 10 years
Miles driven per year: 12,000
Average cost of gasoline over NEXT 10 years: $5.00*
Alternate vehicle: Ford Fusion ($20,000 sticker, 28mpg combined)

* I am going to go with $5.00 per gallon. Personally I think that is low look at gas prices over last decade. Still the largest metric is what do you think gasoline will be on AVERAGE not this year, or next year but over next decade.

Ford Fusion:
120,000 miles / 28 mpg = 4285 gallons * $5/gallon = $21428 in fuel costs.
So for the Ford Fusion the vehicle + total fuel costs are $41,428 Obviously insurance, financing, maintenance, and repairs are additional.

Chevy Volt:
Lets say in the Volt you get 35 miles per day electric * 250 day (work year) = 87,500 miles and the rest = 32,500 on gasoline. Obviously this is guesstimate but we need to start someone. You could track your driving habits for a year to get better estimate.

National electricity cost is about $0.10 per kWh. Volt uses 250 Wh per mile.
87,500 miles * 0.250 kWh = 21,875 kWh * $0.10 per kWh = $2,188.
32,500 miles / 50 mpg = 650 gallons * $5 = $3,250.

So for the Chevy Volt the vehicle + total fuel costs are $38,940 ($33,438 in CA) Obviously insurance, financing, maintenance, and repairs are additional.

So depending on driving conditions it can make economic sense.

Generally speaking the Volt makes more sense:
* closer your commute if to 40 miles round trip (means you are using the low cost electric portion more)
* the more total miles you drive (even gasoline portion gets 50mpg)
* the higher gasoline prices go (for example if average price was $6.00 per gallon the Fusion would be >$5,000 more)
* the less electrical prices increase (generally speaking electrical prices have followed inflation in the past)
* the more incentives that are offered (like CA)
* the more you value externalized benefits (like reduced GHG)