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Promoting, and selling, the Volt

4K views 18 replies 9 participants last post by  canehdian 
#1 ·
I'm on my third Volt and have had to explain many times what a Volt is and how it works.

Why hasn't the Volt simply been promoted it as a plug in hybrid in the advertising? It is still a mystery car to many people. Most people won't bother to check out a mystery car. There are too many other cars to look at when shopping.

How could GM have made, and continue to make, such a big mistake when it comes to selling this car?
 
#2 ·
How could GM have made, and continue to make, such a big mistake when it comes to selling this car?
There are many theories. They may simply not want to sell any more than they do, whether based on lower profits, cannibalization of the traditional line, etc. That, or sheer marketing incompetence.
 
#6 ·
I think it is mostly limited by price. Advertising might help a little, but you only have so many buyers for a compact $35k 4 seater with limited features. It is a really neat car, but not going to appeal to everyone. Bolt EV is the same way.

I think GM purposefully made those two cars in packages that would limit sales to modest numbers. My hunch is the upcoming CUV will sell in larger numbers than anything prior, and that the trend will continue until they work up to volume sales. Tesla plans to jump straight in and sink or swim.
 
#9 ·
People still think "Toyota/Prius" when they hear "hybrid". I think GM did not want the Volt to be lumped in with a plain gas Prius, to the extent it even coined a new term, Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV). However, that moniker never really took off except with us hard core fans/techies. Plus, most plug-in hybrids (Plug in Prius Gen 1, Ford Energis, Pacifica Hybrid, etc...) have reduced performance in EV-only mode compared to gas mode, or will force the engine to turn on even with plenty of battery charge left. To call the Volt simply a hybrid, or even a "plug-in hybrid" would be a disservice, even though technically the PHEV term is correct.

Ok, now try explaining what I just typed to Joe Schmoe and not have his eyes glaze over after a few seconds.
 
#12 · (Edited)
The last line is exactly true.

I think Honda Clarity PHEV and Chrysler Pacifica have better marketing in regards to plug in nature. They advertise it as a car, but do add the importance of plugging in to improve mileage. Two weeks with the Clarity and I don't feel like it runs the engine any more than the Volt, in fact it runs it less at low temps and the heater is better.

Remember, there really is no point in having an included engine if it doesn't get used occasionally. If it starts when I floor the car it is okay, the rest of the time the Clarity PHEV accelerates about like the Volt Gen 1 in EV only mode. The only time the Clarity PHEV will start the engine is if I really push it, I do have to be a little careful accelerating from a stop or at high speeds as those times are when battery current requirements are very high if you accelerate briskly, which would trigger the engine to start.

Gen 2 Volt will certainly be faster in EV mode, but unfortunately, they could have made it even faster if they offered a combined power mode with engine and motors like they did in the latest ELR Sport. Instead, they chose to leave it all EV to make it feel more like a BEV. I would like the Sport mode to be like in the Clarity and offer combined propulsion power.
 
#10 ·
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory, tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” —Sun Tsu, Ancient Chinese Military strategist

I'll quote advertising guru Al Reis

"Law of Duality (Law #8) In the long run, every market becomes a two-horse race."
Apple vs. Google, Coke vs. Pepsi

Strategy: be part of the two horse EV race, GM vs. Tesla
Tactics: "Word of mouth advertising can't be beat"

I've never seen a Tesla ad on TV.
 
#15 · (Edited)
I meant the handle should be 90deg (port should remain at the current angle), that seems like poor placement as water would be able to pool in it.

Something like this,
 
#17 ·
If it was actually directly under the mirror, perhaps that would reduce potential problems with the mirror helping to stop some damage from happening by taking a hit first. But it's a foot or so in front, making it essentially fully exposed for anything to catch it coming from the front. Perhaps it's protected from the rear, though.
Still sticking way out for no good reason.
Especially the cord, making it easy to catch on people/things and get pulled.
With a 90deg it's pointing directly down and you'd have to be tripping on the rest of the cord to pull on it.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Still sticking way out for no good reason.
It could be a lot better. I recall the one they had on the Volt car porn version was more angled, but it didn't look like a J1772 plug.



Oops, I didn't see the other end of that one until just now!

I wonder though if it's done that way just to be sure it fits all cars. A right angle might not work on my Volt even, depending on where the bend is.

With a 90deg it's pointing directly down and you'd have to be tripping on the rest of the cord to pull on it.
THAT never happens! ;)
 
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