Big changes are afoot at General Motors. The General is still aiming to transition its light-duty vehicle portfolio to all-electric powertrains by 2035, and although that goal is still more than a decade away, it’s certainly no easy task, especially for an automaker as enormous as GM. Indeed, The General has already encountered headwinds, leading to a walk-back on its original projection of building 400,000 EVs in North America by mid 2024. With all that in mind – what about hybrids?
Chevy Volt, a now-discontinued GM hybrid vehicle
Some analysts and onlookers consider it a viable option, suggesting that General Motors introduce new hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models as a sort of stop-gap measure to bridge the way to the automaker’s all-electric future. The question then becomes this – are hybrids really a viable option for General Motors?
“In two words, not really,” says GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft.
As it stands, the problem with launching a series of new hybrid models can really be distilled down to two main issues – cost and timing.
“General Motors has not invested in hybrid or PHEV powertrains for mainstream vehicles, meaning that the company would need to dedicate substantial resources – primarily financial and human – to develop and ultimately bring hybrid and PHEV models to market in North America,” Luft explains. “By the time this development cycle runs its course, EVs will likely be substantially more popular than they are today.”
Of course, one alternative to developing hybrid and PHEV tech in-house is to license it from another automaker. But that still leaves, if not exacerbates, the issue of cost.
“GM could license hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains from, say, its Chinese joint venture partner SAIC, which has developed several plug-in hybrid systems for vehicles sold in China. However, doing so would cut into profits, making this approach less attractive for the Ren Cen,” Luft adds.
Looking over the latest GM EV sales numbers, the (now-discontinued) Chevy Bolt EV remains the leader by a huge margin. However, Chevy does have a next-gen Bolt EV in the works, while the healthy sales increase for the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EV during 2023 indicates GM is headed in the right direction when it comes to electric models.
Sales Numbers - GM EVs - 2023 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 23 / YTD 22 | YTD 23 | YTD 22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOLT EV | +110.03% | 23,164 | 11,029 |
| BOLT EUV | +43.52% | 38,881 | 27,091 |
| BLAZER EV | * | 482 | 0 |
| SILVERADO EV | * | 461 | 0 |
| HUMMER EV PICKUP | +104.68% | 1,748 | 854 |
| HUMMER EV SUV | * | 1,496 | 0 |
| LYRIQ | +7,403.28% | 9,154 | 122 |
| TOTAL | +92.82% | 75,386 | 39,096 |
Although Tesla remains the only automaker selling EVs in any substantial volumes in the U.S., EV sales are reaching record levels stateside, indicating there’s more room for other automakers to grab a slice of the market.
Sales Numbers - Tesla - 2023 - USA
| MODEL | YTD 23 / YTD 22 | YTD 23 | YTD 22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MODEL Y | +66.77% | 385,900 | 231,400 |
| MODEL 3 | +17.41% | 232,700 | 198,200 |
| MODEL X | +2.49% | 24,700 | 24,100 |
| MODEL S | -28.42% | 26,700 | 37,300 |
| TOTAL | +36.46% | 670,000 | 491,000 |
“With models like the Lyriq, Blazer EV, and upcoming Equinox EV, GM has the product to catch up to Tesla, but The General has run into issues producing its EVs in sufficient quantities,” Luft says. “These production bottlenecks, which are driven by difficulties in sourcing raw materials for battery cells, will get worked out, and once they are, we can expect General Motors’ EV sales to grow exponentially.”
In other words, hybrids and PHEV don’t make a whole lot of sense at this point. Rather, The General should instead focus on resolving supply chain and production issues.
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Comments
GM has the PHEV system from CT6. Counting on BEVs to get massively more popular is a huge gamble. If wrong, GM may not be able to sell trucks or cars.
Big fear is Tesla opens up Supercharger in 2025, and like unlimited data plans… it congests up.
Then BEV confidence drops, and Ramcharger sales soar. Not to mention Charger being paired with a Flex-like wagon SUV (Magnum) and drop-top (Barracuda). All with PHEV and BEV, and fee-free Level 2 full autonomous.
That system is over a decade old at this point, making it almost obsolete.
From what I know, it’s also a SAIC-GM design, so the licensing doesn’t make it all that attractive from a financial standpoint. It’s the reason that GM wasn’t all that enthusiastic to see the CT6 PHEV when it was available.
It was co-developed, but GM deployed it with intentions for it to go in the original XT6, when it was based on Omega. It would be insane for them to not at least co-own rights to the tech.
Other thing is, PHEV systems haven’t changed much. The new STLA and BMW architectures do move to a EV-first notion, ironically like Voltec.
In a perfect world, GM would dust off Voltec and modernize. Which I think the article is saying is a gamble they won’t do, out of a (perhaps misguided) belief that BEV will just take over.
But again, the CT6 PHEV system is GM’s, and they could rapidly deploy it. That was part of VSS, and they’re just ignoring it because they scrapped much of VSS, except for the parts to keep selling ICE cars in parts of the world where BEV wasn’t attractive.
It would behoove GM to go back and get that system validated for VSS cars. GM could be hurting really bad 2028-2035 if BEV has more “unexpected teething” in the marketplace, otherwise.
Agreed! VSS is an example of GM over investment into R&D and then not utilizing innovation. GM is still using modified Opel platforms derived from Delta and Epsilon. They are good quality, light weight, not worth discontinuing due to retooling costs. Even Chinese GEM is a very good architecture.
GM wil not need new ICE platforms until 2035-40 at which point either EV or hybrid will take over.
“In a perfect world, GM would dust off Voltec and modernize”…Exactly right.
I think this take on the viability of hybrids for GM by this website’s executive editor is kind of a $hitty one. Companies can pivot quickly if they want to. The voltec powertrain worked, and cancelling it was one of the most idiotic and short-sighted decisions GM ever made. There are some use cases for pure EVs that just don’t make sense, and until there is major technological breakthrough in battery tech, that reality won’t change. The super low temps over the last few weeks (-40) have shown the weakness of EVs–half of the range, chargers that won’t work, the impracticality of charging in such low temps. Meanwhile our gas- and diesel-power vehicles have been chugging along. Voltec really combines the best of both worlds–extremely high efficiency in urban and short-commute situations, while providing the reliability, dependable range, and other capabilities of ICE vehicles when the conditions are extreme. It is not too late for GM to change course, and take a more measured and practical approach.
Everyone seems to write in isolation here.
Doesn’t matter how old a tech is. What matters is, is it any good? Gen 2 volts were in several ways better than the already very good Gen 1’s.
If we call ct6 PHEVs Gen 3, it’s a real mess. Space in-Efficient, overly costly and low efficiency at several levels. Ct6 PHEV I tested drove like a boat, much worse than any Gen 1.
If they just used Gen 2’s as is, and also offered slightly proportionally scaled up brethren, GM would check all the boxes.
Not much extra engineering work required as heavy lifting has already been done. Software has basically been written.
They need a seasoned car guy to intelligently package it all.
That is a mild hybrid system not full out hybrid. Big difference.
GM, and other automakers, made a mistake not fully explaining PVEVs as Super Hybrids as opposed to mostly electric with a gas engine for range anxiety.
GM had the Voltec technology which could be easily upgraded. This, however, is a gamble given hybrids may not be popular in a few years when these cars reach dealers.
Personally, I think–due to a shortage of battery resources and the environmental toll of extraction– that hybrid/PHEV propulsion is the best solution. Should hybrid become the primary solution in the US then GM is screwed
GM is going to ramp Equinox EV and is fast-tracking a Bolt EV. I am not too worried about CAFE.
The larger concern is if people finally realize that Voltec was the way to go all along, and then GM is the one Detroit auto maker with no Voltec-like cars (or trucks).
That only works if they sell them.
Ask Ford how that is going. Or even Tesla.
Our Gen2 VOLT has been terrific and fun! About 80% on electric and the 20% on gas has been for trip use.
This is a “range-extended electric vehicle” as compared to a “range-extended hybrid-electric vehicle” which is what our RAV4 Prime is. An EV with a range-extender has lower emission as well as lower lifetime gasoline usage advantages.
The Gen2 Voltec system should be brought back into the GM line-up with the following updates:
EV range should be raised to 60 miles. Higher capacity on-board charger for Level 2 at-home charging.
Level 3 fast charge capable for public EVSE.
Range-extended EV vehicles would make a sensible addition to the corporate line-up to help make a smoother transition to full electric drive systems.
GM says “can’t” when what they are really saying is “won’t’ .
Yeah – the CT6 PHEV was a convoluted mess. I test drove one and it drove like a BOAT compared to my then current ‘old fashioned’ ELR. The range on electricity was also poor – things like the triple gear box, and the 3 hp electric oil pump to keep all the clutches actuating and releasing apparently made the thing sluggish in performance when deciding to change modes. Also the battery apparently took up trunk space which wasn’t super huge to begin with.
Whereas there doesn’t seem to have been much of a performance hit at all with the double planetary gearbox of the generation 2 volt, a car I just recently reluctantly traded in.
I currently drive 3 GM full battery electrics, but If I had my choice one or two of them would be VOLTEC PHEVs.
GM discontinued its most flawless design.. I mean, the TRAX is nice, but the “Singer Sewing Machine” sound of the fuel injectors doesn’t inspire supreme confidence in its ultimate reliability. I got better gas mileage with the GEN 2 volt than those cars do anyway.
Nah this is wrong. Look at the F150 hybrid system. It’s actually pretty simple and easy to implement. An electric motor sandwiched between an existing engine and existing transmission. GM has the Ultium batteries all ready to go. Packing is easy, especially in RWD applications like trucks and SUVs where a hybrid would have the biggest impact on fuel economy. Dev cost and time would be pretty limited.
GM tried this again and again and it never took on. GM’s customer base doesn’t want hybrids. They want simple gas engines that are reliable, powerful, and cheep to fix. Most car buyers when they do theath find that hybrids are a net loss, instead of save financially. In fact, the only customer base that continuously buys hybrids are Toyota sheep, who will drive right past a deal on a Chevy or Ford to pay extra for a used Toyota cause they think it’s better to have a car with a Japanese brand on it. All other brands loose money on hybrids, including Honda who has clawed back many of their hybrid offerings.
The other falsehood in this article is “EV’s will get more popular” oh just you wait, EV’s are in their hayday right now, and are about to get a heck a lot less popular. There’s are reason GM has dropped almost a billion investment into a new generation V8.
They drive past Chevy & Ford because their build quality & reliability is inferior to Toyota.
There’s a reason Toyota’s have 30-50% better resale value & the lowest total cost of ownership of any automaker.
But hey ignorance is bliss.
Chevy has had the lowest cost of ownership in the last 3 decades for your information. That however is per car class. Toyota has better stats as a brand for cost and fuel efficiency cause they sell more small cars. The Silverado is cheaper, and more reliable than the tundra, ditto sequoia vs suburban, Colorado v taco, highlander v traverse, CT5 V Lexus, even the Malibu v camry the lifetime cost favor the Malibu, just Chevy sells asany Malibu’s as Toyota does trucks, and the inverse for the.silverado and camry. FYI, I can’t afford a Toyota, but sure can a Chevy. I don’t feel like spending 15% more for the same class of vehicle.
Also, Toyotas reliability is almost exclusively because they refuse to sell to businesses who have drivers that abuse their vehicles. Also, farmers/contractors tend towards Chevy’s for their big vehicles. The fact that Chevy trucks/vans/SUV’s are worked hard is ultimately the reason Toyotas appear to last longer, but when put through the same stress, Toyotas don’t hold up as well. If your talking about vehicles that can reliably get the job done, dont get a Toyota.
Steven, you should stick to what you know, because you clearly do not know anything about Fleet. Fleet vehicles are among the best treated and maintained vehicles there are. They follow rigorous preventative maintenance schedules and the drivers are rated for their on time maintenance performance. Any driver abusing a vehicle will soon be looking for a new job.
What fleet? Fleet of vans for a plumber? Trucks for a utility company or a quarry? Enterprise isn’t the only company that owns a fleet of vehicles, also, poo to that maintenance when idiots are the drivers. In highschool one of the flatbed trucks at the steel mill I worked at had it’s transmission replaced at 5000miles because some inter was driving it and using the gear shifter like a manual and fried the clutches on a transmission that would otherwise last 300K. Fleet cars get absolutely trashed,
My previous employer operates a fleet of about 100,000 rental trucks. At one point they did use some Toyota trucks and they were extremely reliable. However, the domestic companies offered incredible fleet discounts that Toyota would not match. As far as the drivers you can imagine the abuse some of these trucks endured. The company does have one of the best maintenance regimes I have ever encountered and when turned over for sale, they command premium prices.
Sorry! It was NEVER that the customer didn’t want Hybrids. It was simply the fact that the marketing dept. SUCKED and was terrible at messaging the value. The Volt was an incredible product. Everyone who has one swears by it. Once the “light bulb” went off with the competitors, they all followed suit and look at them now. GM totally missed the mark but it isn’t too late.
I would just add that a lot of the problem with gm’s hybrids of the past were the packaging, too. They were ugly and wimpy. The Corvette E-Ray hybrid shows what COULD have been in other vehicles.
I had a Volt and an ELR. They were both incredible vehicles and very trouble free. The CT6 PHEV had a lot of drive-train problems and many were bought back. Regardless, I would readily buy an updated version of the Volt, but that apparently won”t happen. The dealers and apparently most of GM did not understand those vehicles and didn’t seem interested in advertising them.
They need a good base to start with namely the Gen 2 Voltec .
As you say gen 3 ct6 PHEV was so horrible many were bought back
It is not a “fad” to have great electrical efficiency most of the time, and then have great gasoline efficiency on weekend road trips, with spirited cost-effective performance in all modes.
No fast chargers, Qmerit, or other infrastructure changes unless the purchaser wants it.
It’s a green fad. Not really justified if an honest look was had for all the costs of mining precious metals and manufacturing. Too late for GM.
Also bad decision to limit production of tahoes and suburbans. Out west you can’t find one unless you look at the police who seem to have all they want.
Not too many pickups out here either. The gmc guy is starving. Probably a GM strategy to drive more dealers out of business.
Absolutely right. Problem is, lots of people will be unemployed at GM when the cobalt hits the fan.
Who’s ever steering the ship at GM has them hopelessly lost at sea.
Mary Barra = the Kathleen Kennedy of the auto industry. That Disney moment is coming for gm.
Take the bailout from China this time.
Isn’t Mary also a board member at Disney??
Indeed she is.
The question just comes down to how california handles the EV deadline. If they blink by pushing the date back, then gm is going to be okay. If they instead choose to redefine EV to include PHEV, GM could lose out to the manufacturers who have a bunch of PHEV trucks and SUVs to pick from.
GM’s Executive Suite – Where good/great ideas go to die. Reopen the VOLT production line please.
All electric is just a bad idea for many reasons and the electric push bs just needs to stop. Leave it as an option for those who want it! I could say more but what’s the use. There is plenty of information to justify my comment.
I’m a retiree from Texas as well as a lifetime gearhead. I’ve been fairly active in my community for years and the VAST majority of my friends and contacts have no interest in full electric automobiles!! When I heard the announcement that GM planned to be full electric by 2035 I sadly said goodbye to a 50 plus year devotion to GM. To be very honest, as a Chevy guy, Chevrolet builds nothing that I would buy other than the C8 Corvette which I can’t afford. Their styling just does not appeal to me. I’m far from a misogynist but I believe that Mary Barra is leading GM to it’s grave!
I have been saying this for three years now regarding Mary Barra. The public is being sold a bill of goods with this climate craze. I believe only God will determine when this planet goes up in smoke,
Are you really that uninformed or just stupid.
I agree Jerry. Have folks noticed that Mr. Toyoda of Toyota has quite a different take on the future of EV’s than Ms. Barra.
GM has an excellent PHEV in the Gen 1&2 Chevy Volt. The thing I like about them is that they are essentially always powered by an electric motor instead of a mishmash combination of ICE, mechanical transmissions and small electric motors. Think of them as a 40 mile range EV with an onboard gas powered 50 kw quick charger. In my opinion, this type of propulsion is useful for two different use cases; as a daily commuter, and for pickup trucks. In the first case the owner just charges at home at night using cheap super off peak power. The owner would never have to use public chargers since they can switch over to the gas powered range extender for the rare long trip. In regards to the pickup truck use case, an electric truck would be really inexpensive to operate if the owner could charge at home or at the shop overnight. Unfortunately trucks are often subject to occasional high power use situations such as towing or carrying heavy loads. The typical approach to support this high demand case is add more batteries. But this is a self defeating proposition since the batteries are heavy, and very expensive. So adding batteries reduce payload, or alternatively reduce range, and add cost. A PHEV truck is a much better solution because a small battery plus a range extender would be cheaper, lighter and more capable than a full battery only truck and superior to ICE trucks with lower operating costs. Seems to me, GM could easily grow the Voltec propulsion system for trucks.
I just bought a used Volt to replace my Tesla that was totaled with 160,000 miles. I miss the power and AWD the tesla offered but I don’t miss the charging stops on trips. It wasn’t bad when new and stops were 20 minutes but as the battery aged it became 30-45 minute stops. The Volt only get 40miles on a charge with it’s age but that’s 99% of my daily commute the engine turns on about 2 miles from my house on colder days. If the car had a rated 60-80 miles it would cover 15,000 of my 20,000 miles driver a year. Really looking at the new Ram Charger with a rated 140 miles range, fast charging and the range extender engine. Def not as efficient as an electric car but it’s a truck.
No, not as long as Mary is there. She’ll never admit she was wrong. That would affect her bonus.
Alex, I appreciate what you are saying BUT folks do not desire EVS…..ESPECIALLY if you are going to be towing. Let us grow into this EV thing over 20 years or so by providing PHEVs. Honestly, I believe folks will like the PHEV exacerbating the switch to EVs. As it should be, I might add.
I own a 2017 Volt and a 2023 Bolt. Love them both. Looking around at my neighbors and friends, I see many who are ready to buy a hybrid, few ready to buy an EV. Comparing battery mileage available, the Volt remains the best PHEV available on the market. Summers, I get high 50s and occasionally 60 miles on the guesstometer. Winters high 30s and low 40s. The new Prius can’t do that (it’s my understanding). a third-generation Volt–I’m told by my Chevy dealer–would be an immediate hit. Still can’t figure our why Chevy failed to build on the Volt platform.
“The General is still aiming to transition its light-duty vehicle portfolio to all-electric powertrains by 2035 (…) although that goal is still more than a decade away”
While the infrastructure to charge them is at minimum 20-30 years away.
And that’s assuming actual planing and leadership by the utilities. In this region, the utilities are operating in maintenance mode like they always have, with ZERO initiative beyond mothballing their fossil plants and REDUCING capacity! The thousands of megawatts in needed generation isn’t going to come online magically, and the few cute solar parks you do see aren’t a drop in the ocean for what’ll be needed.
Ever notice how GM discontinues plug-in cars when they just start getting popular? At least with the GEN 1 to GEN 2 volts – GM always had something for Chevy to sell. Not so with the ELR. YEARS between idiot Johann de Nysschen’s abandoning the ELR and then a very long drawn out release of the CT6 PHEV. In Western NY where I am, the first one available for test drive was a USED ct6 PHEV. No new ones for sale even after 2 years with nothing for sale by Cadillac. At least now they have the LYRIQ for sale.
Bolt EVs and EUVs were starting to sell like HOT CAKES so what does Barra do? Discontinue them in December, of course. I picked up one of the last 2023’s a few weeks ago for $3,450 including sales tax and fees, what with the 2 Point-of-sale rebates, and plenty for the trade in since my dealer said they can get $4,500 extra on a used PHEV. I thought it was $4,000 but the owner of a huge dealership probably knows the ins and outs of transactions better than I do. Additional savings of sales tax I guess.
Of course Barra probably thought ” We have overpriced BLAZER EVs for sale”. That was until people started driving them home and the old joke applied “80 % of Blazer EVs are still on the road. The other 20 % made it home”.
So with the Stop Sale on Blazer EVs and precious few BOLTS remaining for sale (at least in my part of the state), they will only have the Caddy LYRIQ, a few Hummers and Silverado/Avalanche EVs for sale, and that is it. Brilliant Job, Mary.
Bob Lutz had a great idea with the Volt but it would have sold so much better if it had been an SUV instead of a small sedan. I personally would like a PHEV pickup. I like the Ram Ramcharger but it will probably cost too much.
Yeah, I always liked almost everything BOB LUTZ said. The GEN 1 VOLT was a flawless success from the get go, as he micromanaged the design to MAKE SURE it would be GREAT. I think that car was the safest car ever made – the rear end was built like a tank it was so strong. But, He got strongly asked to leave since he wasn’t Politically Correct – I also fully realize the Money Making scam of Climate Change that just greatly enriches the big wigs..
Put it this way, AL Gore doesn’t make his multi-millions from Occidental Petroleum stock anymore.. Its made from recycled (via the UN) carbon credits. So Little People are financing his exorbitant lifestyle.
To the contrary, I have never heard any SPEC of Brilliance come from Ms. Mary’s mouth. Her money-losing decisions are the end result.
Hybrid>ICE>EV
We ordered a Cadillac ELR in 2016. We love it and it has been very reliable! My wife loves it and will keep it and replace the battery when needed. The Chevrolet Volt and the Cadillac ELR are much more efficient than the Yoda Prius in that the ELR and Volt are only propelled by their electric motor unlike Prius that is ICE propelled. The sheep have followed the wrong shepherd!
I hesitate to mention this but several comments here have the operation of the GEN 1 VOLTEC products incorrect – possibly because Chevy lied during the first 18 months of the Chevy Volt’s release….
Even the dealer techs were given bad information… I had this conversation 11 years ago with my chevy dealership’s Head Technician.
“I spent a week training at the GM CENTER to learn about the VOLTEC powertrain. The engine is just a GENSET and never powers the wheels”.
I said, “Okay, well, in that case what does Clutch #3 do?”
He spent a while with a grimaced look on his face, and then said, “You know, they NEVER DID tell us what that Clutch is for (!!!!)”.
The purpose for it, of course, is to lock up the engine to the wheels during steady state highway driving above 40 mph. If you do anything like step on the gas, the lock is dropped… The Lock is simply to improve efficiency during ‘Charge Maintaining’ (1400 cc engine running) mode. It makes no sense to have the engine work to generate horsepower, than having the inefficiency of a generator to make electricity, then inverter inefficiency to make variable frequency AC to the drive motor, it having its own losses VERSUS just clamping the engine to the front transaxle when possible.
Yeah I never had any drive train trouble with my GEN 1 ELR. The 2016 had a software change to make the system more powerful during engine operation – here the engine and batteries (to the 2 drive motors) helped accelerate the car if necessary on the 2016 models. I thought my 2014 always had plenty of power to begin with.
Of course no one here will believe me when I say that the GEN 2 system used on the 2016-2019 VOLTS is rigidly geared to the front transaxle EVEN IN TOTALLY ELECTRIC MODE… This system has one less clutch than the GEN 1 system of the 2011-2015 volt and 2014-16 ELR. Differential gearing explains how the wheels can turn in electric mode and the engine stand still. Its not perfectly flawless since you can feel the engine starting in the GEN 2 volts whereas you don’t in the GEN 1 volts and ELR due to the additional clutch.
If you look at GM docs on youTube you will see a ‘third clutch’ but it is just a simple non-actuated coaster brake like on old bicycles… It prevents the car from spinning the engine backwards when in totally electric mode, necessary since as I say the engine is permanently geared to the transaxle.
Another Gen 2 advance is that the entire GEN 2 drive train fits inside the space taken up by the large GEN 1 main drive motor. GEN 2’s had less horsepower by Electric Nameplate, but since both motors could be fully utilized at the same time due to an extra planetary gearbox, it had better acceleration as well as a slightly bigger engine (1500 cc), with exhaust gas recirculation so that it would run on 87 versus 91 octane gas.. With my GEN 1 vehicles I used to cheat and buy 89 midgrade since there were no bad effects… The car hated 87 though, haha. The GEN 2 had many multiple modes of operation in ‘charge maintaining mode’, which would bore everyone here.
The bigger engine supposedly was selected to make the car quieter as the engine could spin more slowly most of the time.
The GEN 3 system as I mentioned on the ct6 PHEV was an engineer’s wet dream… In my opinion a horrible design. Rube Goldberg would have been proud of this ridiculously complicated, inefficient, and ineffective design.
Billy, take a nap.
Bill–you are correct with your homework. My company offered employees a monthly stipend for electric vehicles. The gen 1 Volt qualified because it really was “usually” an electric vehicle the way it was mechanized. The gen 2 did not because of the direct motor connection. Many employees had a tough time understanding that because of the technical explanations. As a GM employee, even I had trouble getting the “truth” about the secret clutch.
Yeah that’s bureaucracy for you. The Gen 2 volts got more range and were slightly more efficient in both electric and gas modes…
You would think that a later version which handled electricity more efficiently would get the bigger stipend. Oh well…..
It would make logical sense to transition all gasoline vehicles to hybrid but that will likely never happen.
Problem is EV fans want all electric and gasoline fans hate anything electric even if it’s better in everyway. The amount of hate on the Corvette forums for the eRay is insane.
The general American public is too uneducated to understand the nuances of all the different types of hybrids. In their mind there are two types of vehicles, gas and electric. And the general public falls into one camp or the other leaving both sides hating hybrids.
In the end I think the full adoption of EVs will take decades if ever. It would make sense to further develop hybrids in the mean time.
“The amount of hate on the Corvette forums for the eRay is insane.”
Really? That’s very disappointing to hear. Personally, I like what they’ve done with the car in terms of it’s slightly more refined styling details and it’s focus on all-around performance.
I think part of the problem of the E-Ray is the name. A lot of folks I’ve talked to about it “assume” it’s an EV bc of the name. But man, I wish we could get awd V8 hybrids in many other vehicles, especially a Camaro and a truck to rival the RAM TRX. That would be great IMHO.
GM has missed the point in time. Hybrids are the way forward. Just look at Chicago dead electric vehicles not taking a charge.All makes and models. Ice + Hybrids. The cost of batteries is just going to go up along with the cost of electricity.
Hi Tom, yeah, in spite of all the dopey moves under Ms. Barra’s tenure, (killing the ELR Cadillac only after 8 months of production in 2014 and 3 months in 2016 – in effect less than one year of manufacture), Johann’s ridiculously expensive move of Caddy HQ to NYC and back to Michigan, wasting $Billions on the CRUISE autonomous driving system, that was finally cancelled when it dragged someone down the street under the tires – that was dopey in the first place – when you are in a strange town you want to ask the taxi driver how to get places, where do you eat or go see a movie etc – in other words info you can’t get if no one is there, but the BIG THING that showcases her idiocy (admittedly hard to select just one since the LYRIQ and BLAZER ev releases were jaw droppingly stupid also), was the cancellation of the CHEVY VOLT in early 2019.
This power train was also used in the Malibu Hybrid for a few years – and since the Malibu sold so much more, it helped amortize the cost of design, albeit with a dinky battery for a HYBRID. It obviously would have been easy to convert this car to a plug-in hybrid since it was the SAME HARDWARE.
They had optimized everything for maximum efficiency in both electric and gas modes – it to this day is STILL the best middle class priced plug-in hybrid available.
This technology could have been used basically unchanged in either a cross-over product or a plug in hybrid Impala – Here GM did another idiotic thing and discontinued ANOTHER fine car which owners just loved.
Since all the software and hardware gambles were proven by 2019, they could have merely scaled it up to slightly bigger vehicles.
This VOLT-esque concept of building cars requires NO NEW INFRASTRUCTURE of any kind.. Runs on plain regular low cost gas if you can’t plug it in. If you can, most of the time, depending on the area of the country it can be 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of even cheap gasoline by plugging into the 110 outlet in your garage or carport. People who arrange to have 220 there can charge faster, or charge at public stations, but it is not at all mandatory since the gasoline function also works so well.
So why are they Paying Barra so much money if the long term profitability of the company is seriously at risk?
I believe GM missed the boat on not developing and incorporating hybrids / PHEVs into their lineup. I just bought a Lincoln Corsair PHEV because of the better gas mileage and tech available on that model. I would have preferred using my GM employee discount to buy a GM vehicle, but unfortunately they have no competing products. I don’t believe it’s too late for GM to get on the hybrid / PHEV train though. Either way they are going to lose market share (due to being late to the party), but at least they would be able to compete in 3-5 years from now, or whenever they can get these products to market. They really need to offer all platforms (ICE, PHEV, EV) like Ford and Toyota are doing. You are never going to get everyone to agree on what platform is best. Give the consumer their choice by offering all options!
Mary Barra made the decision to pump $8 billions into Cruise over the last 4 years. Boy!, I sure wish this money had went toward increasing the MPG ratings. Toyota tried to give them a hint. I am a GM retiree and pro GM, but I have to tell the truth.
Toyota – hybrids across board. So it’s a no brainer if GM actually wants to compete..
EVs will be ubiquitous eventually, but GM is setting itself up for a hard decade by phoning it in on ICEs and ignoring hybrids.
GM had several good hybrids, but no one knew because they weren’t marketed well. The Chinese versions of several current and upcoming GM vehicles do have hybrid options, so it’s all done other than certification for US, which is probably just a software tweak. I think plug in hybrids are a much better transition to electric, and less of an impact if a future technology in batteries suddenly makes all EV’s obsolete and will kill their resale value.
I get the feeling that the 2.7L may get a hybrid option on the next gen.
COST, COST, COSSSST!!!! People can’t afford regular ICE vehicles now because of 25-50% increases post COVID. We need base vehicles again, rubber floored WT pickups with roll up windows and no NAV. Add an electric motor to an already unaffordable vehicle and you have a REALLY unaffordable vehicle. 80-85% of middle class Americans can’t afford a new vehicle. The problem goes WAY WAY beyond EV or hybrid, it comes down to simple affordability and new vehicles aren’t for the average American consumer………Period.
Shoulda kept the Volt going.
Dumb article, dumb CEOs.
All Chevrolet needs to do, is cut the battery pack in half, and put a small 660cc turbocharged or 900cc NA engine in the bolt, with a single gear cog, that runs at 1k rpm per 15 mph.
At below 30mph, the engine drives a generator, charging the battery, or if the battery is full, the motor/generator runs the car.
At above 30mph, the engine gets connected to the wheels, pushing the vehicle, while the generator/motor acts to adjust the speed based on if acceleration is needed (motor and engine work in tandem), or cruise/slow down (generator will charge battery to slow down or maintain speed above 30mph).
Such engine is mainly to cruise above 30mph, and give longer highway range. The engine, with this gear ratio, should be able to cruise at highway speeds of up to 75mph just fine, using the electric motor for extra overtaking power.
Does anyone remember that Mary, Billy Ford and mouthy Farley went to Trump early on and begged him to keep this EV stupiidy off our backs? EVs are only good when you STEAL money from MY Wallet to subsidize your fact incomplete negatives of full battery cars. How many of you EV geniuses know that a retail cost for a Mach E battery retail ranges from $32-$45. And since the automakers don’t have any faith to warranty the batteries for more than 8 years or 100,000 miles (exc. Cal) what is anyone unless they are a a spoiled brat from Mary’s largesse going to pay the United Automotive Workers (You Ain’t Workin’) there going to pay for a replacement battery. Ask the Taco Bell workers who have to punch a clock when UAW workers don’t have to. Mary and Billy wanted their immediate bonuses and they sold out America. EVs might be o.k. in very limited circumstances like living in dense urban areas or fleets but the Green Gore crowd is only interested in bullying society in this area like they have so many other area since Alzheimer’s Biden took over. Then Joe Manchin sold us out with his tie breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction act of 2022 and after said he “woudn’t have given 75 cents to an electric car rebate” but he wanted his natural gas pipeline completed through his State back when he was dreaming of getting re-elected. Oh, and Pete Buttieg (empty suit) and Mike Regan EPA head goon, said that they “allocated’ $369 billion to EV rebate money and EV stations, etc. but Goldman Sachs came out with a report that pointed out that since there is no cap on how much money they can spend per year as long as they can cram enough regulations like Regan did today with White House submission paper that real cost could be $1.2 TRILLION. Last time I looked 100% of everybody’s mom, dad and kids needed research money for horrible diseases and you can see why I am angry cuz’ we got screwed for a political agenda to ‘vote for me’. Kevin L
Did the editor forget that the Volt and Malibu were a thing? cut 1/3 off the Bolt battery and toss it in another malibu or trax
Shame on General Motors for not producing any hybrid vehicles. Their leadership team should be fired. Toyota, Hyundai and Honda, who all produce quality hybrid vehicles, are going to eat their lunch over the next several years. EVs will not be ready for prime-time until they can be charged as quickly as filling up a gas tank and or until they get 500 miles to the charge. Just another dumb, shortsighted move by a poorly run company.