Will GM Replace the Chevy Volt with a Plug-in Crossover? - Hybrid Cars
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Will GM Replace the Chevy Vol with a Plug-in Crossover? - Hybrid Cars
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The two year gap seems odd. That would imply they don't have a replacement in the works yet. Maybe because the whole story revolves around "maybe". Maybe they will drop the Volt, maybe they won't. If they drop the Volt maybe they will replace it with a CUV, maybe they won't.
I think GM does itself a disservice by leaving us all hanging. It can't help for prospective buyer's to wonder about the future of the car they are considering buying. But how is that any different than the other cars on the list? It's not, but critics of GM and EV's will focus on the Volt for more negative press. Back to being a political punching bag.
I think GM does itself a disservice by leaving us all hanging. It can't help for prospective buyer's to wonder about the future of the car they are considering buying. But how is that any different than the other cars on the list? It's not, but critics of GM and EV's will focus on the Volt for more negative press. Back to being a political punching bag.
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I keep hearing thin rumors that there are at least three energy storage/battery technologies that are being tested for real world suitability with a 1-2 year timeline. I wonder if it could be related to that.
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Well, GM could pull a "Volt gen2 2017" trick - they released the 2016 model in Summer of 2015, then released the 2017 model in Feb 2016. This 2017 model has been around for well over a year and just as we expect 2018 models to arrive in Aug/Sept, maybe they will come, maybe not.
So a 2022 CrossVolt could arrive in Feb 2021 just as the last of the 2020 Volt models run out.
They should just do away with Detroit numbering. It has infected the software industry (MS Office 2014, Intel Parallel Studio 2017 Cluster Edition). It still feels like a glacial pace.
So a 2022 CrossVolt could arrive in Feb 2021 just as the last of the 2020 Volt models run out.
They should just do away with Detroit numbering. It has infected the software industry (MS Office 2014, Intel Parallel Studio 2017 Cluster Edition). It still feels like a glacial pace.
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I'm betting on a "Crossvolt" (trademark applications have meaning usually - see "Bolt") that somewhat resembles......
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I hope this is the vehicle that arrives in 2022 (or earlier). I'm not buying a Bolt, but I might buy one of these. Of course, with the Bolt they changed the rear window treatment between the prototype and the real car. I think it looks goofier with that extra black plastic piece on that rear pillar. Why are they doing that? Even Lexuses (Lexii?) are adding that to their CUVs/SUVs.
So this is a show car. Certainly they will get rid of some of the crazy swoops and swirls on the production CUV and put proper door handles on it. As long as they get it close and don't make it i3 or mural ugly, I'm in.
I like the KIA/Hyundai platform concept they are using on the Niro/Ioniq. With a single platform they'll have a hybrid, PHEV, and EV. GM should consider that sort of strategy for a cross over to achieve platform economies of scale during this phase when volumes of PHEV and EVs are modest. Also, to my eye, the Niro looks better than the Bolt.
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I just don't like KIAs and Hyundais. They, like Samsung and LG in appliances, are not the epitome of quality, but instead offer lots of flashy features for a decent price. An ex-coworker of mine tried to compare his new Hyundai Sonata feature by feature to his dad's Mercedes. 5 years later, his Sonata is falling apart and trashed, but the Mercedes interior looks and works as new. I guess he could have purchased 2 Sonatas for the price of the Mercedes, but still, you get what you pay for.
All I can say to Chevy is "I bought the Volt because of the technology". If the Volt technology disappears from you line, I will also shop at non-Chevy dealers because you have nothing unique to offer me. I am excluding all electric cars because I do long distance trips every 3-4 weeks. I will ride my Volt till the wheels fall off--which may be a long time based on what I have experienced so far.
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In the case of the Volt, you get MORE than you pay for.
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Especially with my new volt where I paid less than half MSRP. At MSRP I was resigned to never own one as IMHO, the volt wasn't worth $44KIn the case of the Volt, you get MORE than you pay for.
Bottom line, the Volt will go out of existence after this model run- 2016-2020. Five years for each Gen. Gen1 was proof of concept. Gen 2 was to get the development money amortized. Question now is the Voltec drive-train usable beyond 2020? Probably not. The next Voltec (?) drive-train will be an evolution but not share anything with the current system. By 2020 there will be no need for hybrid cars- they will be electric only. Hybrids will only be needed for commercial vehicles. Next big thing will be solid state batteries. I really doubt the Volt will really make it to 2020. 2018 will probably be the last viable year for the car. Beyond that will be holdovers from 2018. I also think the Prius will expire by 2020. So the Volt will not be alone.
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And hopefully someone will have a 400 mile range vehicle that recharges almost instantly. Or better yet, they perfect Mr. fusion.
Where would the batteries come from? To supply the entire car manufacturing industry with traction batteries will take the equivalent of dozens of Gigafactories. So far as I can tell, there is only one - the one Elon is building.
Given a limited supply of batteries, one can build just over three Gen 2 Volts or one Bolt EV. Then there is teaching the always-suspicious auto buying public at large about the advantages of plug-in cars - which will take a long time. (Heck - it is taking a long time just to teach the dealers about the advantages of plug-in cars, so they can teach their customers...) These are just a couple reasons plug-in hybrids will be around for a long time. Decades.
I did not mean there would be no ICE vehicles.
ICE power remains for most autos
Hybrids only for commercial vehicles
electric for everything else- I was saying cars like the Volt and Prius will become all electric
ICE cars will get sufficient gas mileage to eliminate the need for the complicated hybrid drivetrain.
Current hybrid cars will become all electric.
Commercial vehicles will be hybrids because of the elimination of diesel power
ICE power remains for most autos
Hybrids only for commercial vehicles
electric for everything else- I was saying cars like the Volt and Prius will become all electric
ICE cars will get sufficient gas mileage to eliminate the need for the complicated hybrid drivetrain.
Current hybrid cars will become all electric.
Commercial vehicles will be hybrids because of the elimination of diesel power
When, in the past 30-some years, has there NOT been three energy storage technologies "in testing and ready real soon now"? Do we have 90 different storage technologies, each better than the last? Nope. We got about a dozen, three-quarters of which spent at least two decades getting to the point of usable.
I agree with the premise but I think your timeframe is too aggressive - I would think the PHEV market is good to about 2025 probably. The electric charging infrastructure is not there to have charging occur fast enough like gas so the adoption to EV will take time. That is why places like the UK are stating 2040 for the end of ICE vehicle sales. If anything I think the PHEV market will grow over the next 3-5 years as a good stepping stone for mass public to "try" EV. I think GM will stick with the Volt for a Gen 3 - but the Gen 3 Volt will be redesigned as a crossover - which is great! Gen 3 may be the last for the PHEV Volt but I think we're 5-8 years away from the PHEV market going away - it will expand before contracting. And that of course all depends if the Tesla does not screw up the Model 3 launch - if they botch the launch with poor quality /recalls or a cost that is closer to $50K with needed accessories, then the EV awareness/adoption will slow down. 2018-2020 is the rise of the EV options but adoption will take a while since anyone who can't afford two cars will hesitate to buy EV until you can drive to a EV "gas" station and get a charge in 5-10 mins.
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Auto makers often introduce certain models early, but never late! Chevy wouldn't want to be in January 2018 with the current Volt model still a 2017. Ain't gonna happen. So we should see the 2018 Volt in the Fall.
Perhaps GM will introduce in early 2018 a 2019 Volt with a bump in electric range, maybe the current battery will be opened to 16 KWH usable instead of the current 14 KWH. I don't see any change with the current 1.5 engine, maybe a software update to bring the gas engine only mpg 2-3 more mpg's from the current combined of 42 mpg, to 45 mpg would be a nice as well.
In my opinion the 2016,17,18 year Volt has more value and bang for the buck than any other car out there. The Volt's 42 mpg just on regular gas, beats the Civic, Corolla, Elantra, Forte, Focus, etc. The Volt has 2 electric motors and a 1.5 direct injection fuel efficient engine, and the ability to operate on 100% electric energy for 53 miles, as the gas engine will not assist even at or near 100 MPH, I believe no other plug in can do that, or have that amount of pure electric range...
In my opinion the 2016,17,18 year Volt has more value and bang for the buck than any other car out there. The Volt's 42 mpg just on regular gas, beats the Civic, Corolla, Elantra, Forte, Focus, etc. The Volt has 2 electric motors and a 1.5 direct injection fuel efficient engine, and the ability to operate on 100% electric energy for 53 miles, as the gas engine will not assist even at or near 100 MPH, I believe no other plug in can do that, or have that amount of pure electric range...
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