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Unhinged: A Toast To The Chevrolet Volt And It’s Untimely Passing


Unhinged: A Toast To The Chevrolet Volt And It’s Untimely Passing

The Chevrolet Volt isn’t, on the surface, a BangShift-worthy car. At the best, it is a hybrid option that we don’t automatically and outright hate. In fact, in a strange way I actually kind of like the Volt, especially the second-generation version. It’s the kind of hybrid vehicle that makes sense in my eyes: a plug-in hybrid that had a small gasoline engine that eliminated the range anxiety risk that many people still feel even to this day, in the era of Teslas, supercharging stations and lithium-ion battery packs. Whether it’s operating purely on electricity, running with the engine acting as a generator or in the small occasions where the engine connects in to provide additional acceleration and power needs, the Volt seemed to be GM at it’s best: reading a market for a need, making a product that actually seemed to fit the need, and constantly improving on it as much as possible. And the sales of the car showed that it did resonate with buyers: the Volt has been one of, if not the, best selling plug-in hybrid vehicles sold in the United States since it’s launch, and the car was sold in Europe (Opel/Vauxhall Ampera), China (Chevrolet Volt and Buick Velite 5) and Australia (Holden Volt) as well as other locations around the world.

Unfortunately, the Volt’s time is ending. And for once, it’s not the classic case of General Motors pulling the plug just when everything is coming together. The issue was that the car just didn’t sell in a way that could justify the investment. It was long suspected that GM was losing money on each and every Volt that went out the door, but the company had hoped that word-of-mouth and the current fuel price issues that were being dealt with back in 2010 would’ve justified the car’s existence. With the drop in fuel prices, went the demand for a hybrid from GM when the Prius brigade and the proponents of the Nissan Leaf would never jump ship. To many, GM sells trucks and large SUVs and a hybrid from them had to suck no matter what. It didn’t make sense.

What does make sense is how the Volt behaves. Mileage is purely dependent on how you drive a vehicle. The Volt is no racecar…it’s 0-60 and quarter-mile times sound like a throwback to 1980s numbers. But how would you really use a hybrid if you had one? The everyday runaround that just goes to town or is the basic commuter? Depending on just how far you actually drive and whether or not you can charge at your destination will determine if you even kick the four-cylinder on at all. Play with the regenerative braking and you can extend that range out further. Did it do magical numbers that nobody could believe? Well…let’s put it like this: the EPA and GM themselves had issues coming to an agreement on how to even rate the car. TheFastLaneCar.com took a 2016 model on a 100-mile loop on a winter day in Colorado and managed to eke out 68 MPG using a full tank of fuel and a full charge on the battery, which is not bad by anybody’s measurements.

It was a solid attempt, GM. A realistic car with a realistic goal that provided a realistic result. Maybe one day people will come to see the genius behind the Volt.


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11 thoughts on “Unhinged: A Toast To The Chevrolet Volt And It’s Untimely Passing

  1. Gary

    My neighbor owns one. Always tells me how he loves it. Then one day, the right front marker light goes out. It has to be taken to the dealer for replacement because you’ve got to take half the nose off the car for access. Well, maybe not half, but it’s a $90.00 charge to replace a $8. bulb.

      1. bill

        how about the taxpayers paying for the billionaire’s football/baseball/basketball stadiums. think about that light bright.

    1. David Sanborn

      I was certain comments like yours would imediately surface. Generally speaking, depending on the private sector to develop & sell game changing technologies is risky unless the government steps in & helps encourage adoption. At some point the tech becomes mainstream and the subsidies can end.

      That said, if you’re going to be upset: US fossil fuel production is subsidized to the tune of $20 billion annually. Now THAT sucks.

      https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/10/6/16428458/us-energy-coal-oil-subsidies

  2. Jeff

    I work with a guy who loves his. But he’s also the guy who rides his bike to work 45 miles each way on nice days. Lmao.

  3. Anthony

    The thing looked like ass. Literally. I cannot for the life of me understand why they cant make these things stylish and a technological marvel. I wouldn’t buy that thing just because it looks like that. The original design concept was cool though.

  4. MrThatGuy

    You know how I know this website either a) sucking the teet of corporate or b) over run by beta male millennial car “guys?” This article.

  5. Nitromike66

    I’m a mechanic for my state government, we have several of these beastly torture devices. First and foremost, they are they most uncomfortable piece of crap I have ever had to crawl into and drive, secondly, they have been recalled multiple times, mainly for “software updates”, have had to take most of them in for warranty check engine lights repairs, that have all been caused by, wait for it….software problems! To save weight for better milage and battery life, they have no spare tire, just a can of “Fix A Flat” that makes a mess of the inside of the tire and TPMS sensors when you repair the puncture. I say good riddance. Now the Bolts on the other hand, they are fun as hell to drive!

  6. Dick Fitzwell

    Why is this bullshit even on bangshift? Take your electric weenie mobile and F off. We want more HATE TANK

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