No more Chevy Volt Q1 2019 - GM pulls the plug

In the process of transitioning from PHEVs to BEVs, GM has a huge problem, a viable charging network. GM must, in very quick order, build out a charging network of at least the magnitude of Tesla’s. This is not easy from the standpoint of timelines, logistics or cost. Alternatively, they would need to develop a battery with a sufficient range that will eliminate range anxiety for the average buyer. Without a dense charging network, even a 300 mile battery will be a problem for many prospective buyers that like road trips.

Even though my Tesla has a range of only about 260 miles, the SuperCharger network eliminates (or at least greatly mitigates) range anxiety. I could go from NY to Florida with no concerns about getting there, not because of my battery’s range, but because of the relatively dense SC network.

Our Thanksgiving day trip was a 100 mile route from eastern LI to NJ. I could have made the round trip without charging, but I always like to show my wife how relatively easy it is to find a SC, ‘fill up’, and go. We stopped at a SC about 12 minutes from our destination in NJ, and took a break at a McDonalds that was a 1 minute walk from the SC.

This is what GM needs to do if they expect a big sales transition to electrics. If they don’t, and gas prices remain low, they’ll likely meet the same fate as the Volt no matter what kind of vehicle they build.

 

Car companies are not making much if any money selling EVs yet. No company outside of Tesla has shown that selling EVs is a priority. They are selling the ones that they are now because CARB, and the fact that eventually, EVs will take over, and they can't wait until that time because they will be so far behind. I don't think there is any way that any of the automakers can justify building their own charging networks. Once the federal subsidy is gone for GM next year, the already small market for the Bolt will drop by what, 80% at least?

Tesla is it's own creature. They produced amazing cars that people are willing to pay a high premium for. Because of the high premium (and the fact that they didn't have to be profitable for many years), they could afford that charging network. In the future, the overall charging network will have to sustain itself. The other car companies can't compete with Tesla. The market for $45k - $200k cars is pretty small.

 

I think Toyota is also an exception to that. From my understanding the Prius Prime outsells every other EV currently out there, and its momentum is growing, in spite of their limited all electric range compared to the Volt and Clarity PEV.

I think Toyota's strategy is what has made it successful. While the all electric range of the Prius Prime is about 20 to 25 miles, that has allowed them to keep the price lower than other EV, because the battery is smaller, and thus the cost.

They also diversify more than any other manufacturer. Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, and Fuel Cell. The only missing element in that diversification is they do not push the ALL Electric versions. The fuel cell propulsion I believe is 10 years down the road. It has the same problem as the all electric vehicles, the infrastructure isn't there, and until that happens, I believe that will limit sales of all electric and fuel cells to the general public

 

Check InsideEVs' Monthly Plug-In Sales Scorecard, the Tesla Model S EV often outsells the Prius Prime and in the last two months, the Clarity PHEV has almost matched the Prius Prime's sales figures.

You say that Toyota diversifies more than any other manufacturer with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell cars. Honda has all those PLUS the Clarity Electric (and soon, the Urban EV). So Toyota's diversity is matched and exceeded. Of course, Toyota is the giant while Honda's the little guy in this conversation, so at any instant, Toyota can decide to pour their near-limitless resources into anything they choose, such as an all-electric car.

 

I don't disagree with your assessment insightman, but I think Toyota has pushed it much more aggressively than Honda, in spite of the fact that Honda was the first to actually market the first viable hybrid vehicle, the insight, (not the current model). As far as I am aware, Toyota has also ported its hybrid technology in more models than others.

I am actually quite said to see GM to "pull the plug" on the Volt and Voltechnology. The talk is they are taking the all electric route, and conventional ICE. As others have mentioned for the all electric push the infrastructure is the biggest weakness. I suspect they would try to create an alliance with other automobile manufacturers to build that infrastructure, which Tesla has a good head start on everyone else.

I am quite happy to see that the Clarity PEV is outselling the Prius Prime which means word is getting out.

Thanks

 

I will say, I had no idea about the Clarity until I found it on Honda's website. I was looking at the Accord Hybrid. Honda definitely needs to get word out on the Clarity, its an amazing car, but it feels like people have to find it instead of being sold on it.

The complete lack of dealership training on it is also very big issue. My local place had no idea, and it was "dead" at 2 bars when I went to test drive. Luckily I'd done a ton of research on it and knew way more than the sales man.. "These are paddle shifters to manually shift"...

At the place I did buy from the guy there drive an all electric one so he knew about it but no one else really did.

So yeah, Toyota has the mind share with Prius which has been around a long time and Chevy Volt as well. Hopefully more people find out about the Clarity but very sad to see Volt go away.

 

We shouldn’t assume that the average car buyer is capable of understanding what a PHEV is. Nor should we forget that the current administration in DC is very committed to fossil fuels, and unlikely to support legislation that limits either their production or their consumption.

In the long run PHEVs are a tactical workaround, not a strategy. Some early ICE cars had fittings on the front to hook up a team of horses if the need arose. Once we have a dense infrastructure of fast chargers, cars like ours will seem similarly quaint.

 

Sales numbers for volt this month.
Volt: 3930
clarity: 1857

This the best month for volt thought the year. A lot of folks I know went through Costco family deal. To be really honest clarity is better equipped for lower trim and is probably couple of grand more. Really baffling!
At the same time, volt will no doubt post another excellent number next month with tax credit soon to end.

 

For my money though the battery charge times have to fall under 15 minutes. I'd like to have a BEV and get rid of the engine all together but at the moment the PHEV makes most sense to me.

I do think the public is reluctant to switch to EV and if you toss the PHEV into the mix they get confused. The PHEV segment is small compared to the rush of BEV cars coming down the line.

I daily listen to and enjoy the podcast "EV News Daily" but the podcast just ignores PHEV in favor of BEV.

 

That's a huge jump for the Volt which had been running below 2,000 per month. It must have something to do with GM announcing the end of the Volt. I wonder if people are jumping on low price deals, or Volt owners are trading up to get an upgrade.