The Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are the first two forays into a mass market electric car launch. If wait times for the cars are any indication, the cars are a success.

The idea of an electric car is one that has been with us for a long time. After all, most of us who grew up watching the Jetsons or something more recent thought we would have flying cars by now! While that hasn’t happened, the massive success of hybrids has primed the auto industry for great technological leaps forward.

The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt are the first to mass launched electric cars. As with hybrids, the question for many was whether the American consumer would take to the cars? While they run oil free, there are definite downsides given the relatively small mileage range they have. Well, it appears such concerns have been overblown so far. 

Both vehicles were released late in 2010. Sales were expected to be brisk based on pre-orders. Boy, have they been. Things have taken off to such an extent that there is now a two to four month waiting period for the Chevy Volt. When was the last time you could say that about an American made car? It is has been a very long time.  The Nissan Leaf is showing this is no fluke. Wait times for the Japanese car are even longer with a current range of four to six months being estimated. 

There is a potential downside to all this demand. Electric cars consist of a new technological experience for drivers. Getting a good first impression is critical. The question is whether these long delays will convert consumers to a negative viewpoint before they even get the cars. Given this, don’t be surprised to see Chevy and Nissan really make a massive effort to shorten the wait times. 

Are electric cars here to stay? It would seem so, particularly with oil headed towards $100 a barrel as I write this.