General Motors’ shift from an internal combustion engine-producing company to one that makes electric motors is sputtering. EV sales are up, but growing slower than expected. The company’s next-generation Ultium platform, in particular, isn’t meeting expectations. GM’s new electric trucks and SUVs seem perennially delayed — or full of buggy software.
I think I have an easy solution to a lot of these problems: bring back the Chevy Volt.
Remember the Volt, GM’s scrappy Toyota Prius fighter from the mid-2010s? The company was lauded when it first came out in 2010 as a prescient bet on vehicles with electric powertrains. And it was undeniably a very good hybrid. The first-generation model got 36 miles of electric range before the gas kicked in, while later versions would get a whopping 53 miles of electric range.
Yeah they’re great! I drove one from Seattle, WA to Wenatchee, WA and back with zero issues. It was a comfortable and fun ride. When you’re running on electricity they’re really quick off the line too. They feel sporty and fun, with nice interior features commonly found on luxury cars.
Literally the only thing I didn’t like about mine was that the A/C temp selector is a touch sensitive button instead of a knob. It takes way too long to adjust. Everything else was perfect. I loved and miss the little “beep beep beep” polite horn button on the turn signal. That was great for driving around here where everyone drives like they’ve stoned (they probably are stoned). You can get people’s attention without seeming rude.