GM Reverses All-In EV Strategy to Bring Back Plug-In Hybrids::The EV craze is butting up against limited demand, and it’s forcing General Motors to bring back hybrids in an almost total about-face.
It’s notable that their smallest EV (Bolt) is their best selling EV, yet GM keeps focusing on building and pushing bigger electric models.
I’m about 3 weeks into my Bolt EUV ownership. Literally never considered any of their other EVs based on price alone. Really happy with my Bolt EUV so far, and really glad I snagged one before they stopped making them. For all their talk of limited demand, there was a lot of competition in my area to get one.
THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM???
Officially they’re on hiatus. They originally said they were retiring the line, but then changed their tune and stated that the Bolt line will return after they can implement their new EV battery tech in them. I believe the statements have been imprecise about when that will be, but potentially sometime in 2025 (meaning the 2026 model). That’s assuming no delays or changes to the plan.
If you want a new Bolt without waiting for the revived line, I’d think about acting soon. They’re moving really quickly in my area. I’m really happy with the EUV so far, but I’m still only at like 250 miles. I didn’t go for the Premier since I don’t care about adaptive cruise control or their “Super Cruise” self driving thing.
It’s nice that the option exists, but why does it need to look like that? Between that and the BMW i3, why do EVs need to look like a bean?
Americans buy crossovers, so they make ot look like a crossover. Small is efficient, so Americans get the beans
Because it had worse margins than other cars they could be selling. Heard an interview with their CEO about this exact thing. Other vehicles make them more money so they are focusing there.
The problem is not the EVs. The problem is their shit infotainment systems that they force on people. But if they want to kill off their ICE vehicles and swap them with plug-in hybrids, that is fine. That will at least help people realize that they are never filling up their car with gas.
My guess is that they will be doing this at the expense of their EV line though and they will also shove their infotainment system into the PHEVs.
All I want is a volume knob and to get rid of the XL tablets on the console. Some of us can see the road fine but not as great up close. It’s honestly more of a safety risk to have some of the current setups.
But my car is 12 years old and still in good shape…fingers crossed.
With the Tesla Model 3, most things you need are on the steering wheel anyways. Volume, cruise, skip, follow distance, answer calls, etc. but there is a big infotainment system for everything else. I don’t mind it because I love the customization of where my buttons are rather than the crappy default of however the manufacturer sets up the buttons.
Problem is Tesla is removing the turn signal and shifter stalks. The turn signal will be a button on the wheel, and shifter will be on the touch screen.
Yea, that’s not how the older Model 3 works. I wish they weren’t doing that. The blinker and shifter stalk are so easy.
I got a Chevy Bolt 1LT (cheapest I could find with federal/state tax credits) and it’s the lowest maintenance car I’ve ever owned. No oil changes - literally just rotate your tires every 7500 miles. Less than $4 per charge to 90% (about 200-260 miles depending on how much I use the climate control). Parallel parking is super easy. Infotainment kind of sucks, but Android Auto makes it way better.
I don’t understand why they want to kill these cars other than they aren’t making enough money.
America needs to mandate charge stations at all currently operating gas stations before they will go all in on EVs. They have range anxiety in rural areas for a good reason.
My 2016 Volt was my favorite car I ever had. Man, I loved that thing. But couldn’t buy it out after lease for anything close to residual and had to give it back.
I wouldn’t be upset if Chevy revives the Volt.
After a lot of research I went with a gen 1 Volt and couldn’t agree more, just enough battery to keep me from getting gas! The car was clearly designed with a lot of thought, and really sound engineering decisions all around, making ownership pain free.
I love my 2014 Gen 1 Volt and would love to see the technology continue to improve. If they made a Gen 3 Volt with at least 100 miles all electric range and a heat pump system that didn’t halve the battery when it’s cold outside I would absolutely consider it over a pure EV for my next car.
It’s not the EVs, it’s the price
Not the first time GM backpedaled on EVs, unfortunately.
Yeah, the infrastructure isn’t there yet for EV. We need chargers everywhere, but they’re still a thing that needs to be searched for and possibly have to go out of your way for. And EV aren’t really great to have someplace like apartments where property owners aren’t going to install them.
So PHEV is better until the system catches up.
We should be doing plug in hybrids, they are cheaper and will reduce gas usage dramatically for 80% of drivers in cities.
And keep us sucking on fossil fuels for another couple decades? Direct to EVs may be a slower transition but we will transition much quicker.
Hybrids are good for the places EVs don’t work yet, as are hydrogen, and biofuel: we have all too many edge cases. However EVs are a solid win for most people where they have chargers, and it’s going quickly
