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GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

wsj.com

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Re: GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

#31

Post by cjensen »

Someone1234 wrote: post #2

To fully electric. As the article says, both companies produced these as regulatory compliance vehicles. Now they're shifted that effort over to electric because the incentives are better for them. The only companies trying to make hybrids for real are Toyota and Honda. Everyone else is just pumping out low effort compliance vehicles. It is hardly surprising that these vehicles haven't been hugely successful. I'd lov…

Used Nissan Leafs are unusually cheap. Generally around $12-14K from Carmax. Yes the battery is already a bit worn out, but the price cut is very worth it.

Re: GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

#33

Post by toast0 »

neogodless wrote: post #24
Someone1234 wrote: post #2

To fully electric. As the article says, both companies produced these as regulatory compliance vehicles. Now they're shifted that effort over to electric because the incentives are better for them. The only companies trying to make hybrids for real are Toyota and Honda. Everyone else is just pumping out low effort compliance vehicles. It is hardly surprising that these vehicles haven't been hugely successful. I'd lov…

While I mostly agree with your statements, I think you could argue that Ford is up there with Honda, if not ahead of them in supporting (if not pushing) hybrids. The Fusion hybrid outsells the Accord hybrid (at least in the U.S.) by a wide margin, and not far behind the Prius. https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10301

Where does the fusion fit in Ford's plan to build Mustangs and trucks only? [1]

[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/ford-stop-making-all-...

Re: GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

#34

Post by rootusrootus »

searine wrote: post #11
jameskilton wrote: post #6

As a 2017 Volt owner, this makes me sad. If they so choose, there could be a huge market for plug-in hybrids, where you get all the benefit of EV for local transit but you still have the fuel backup for long range trips. The infrastructure for a fully EV fleet just isn't there yet to assuage range anxiety, though they are working hard on it. Plug-in Hybrids are the perfect stepping stone to help a society learn how t…

I wouldn't be surprised if the Volt comes back in a few years as a full EV sedan.

I would rather they upsized it slightly. The Volt is essentially a Cruze body with a different drivetrain, and it is pretty small. I looked at buying one but banging my head on the roof on my way to sit down made me rethink the plan. It doesn't even need to be that much bigger, maybe just taller. A Prius, by comparison, is pretty spacious.

Re: GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

#35

Post by amyjess »

floatrock wrote: post #20
searine wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Volt comes back in a few years as a full EV sedan.

Hopefully not as the "Volt". It's a shame the car didn't work out, but the Bolt/Volt naming thing was a source of endless confusion.

The most annoying thing about that naming scheme is that Chevy also makes the Spark, which is 100% gasoline-powered. What was their rationale in greenlighting that name?

Re: GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

#36

Post by alvern »

cjensen wrote: post #31
Someone1234 wrote: post #2

To fully electric. As the article says, both companies produced these as regulatory compliance vehicles. Now they're shifted that effort over to electric because the incentives are better for them. The only companies trying to make hybrids for real are Toyota and Honda. Everyone else is just pumping out low effort compliance vehicles. It is hardly surprising that these vehicles haven't been hugely successful. I'd lov…

Used Nissan Leafs are unusually cheap. Generally around $12-14K from Carmax. Yes the battery is already a bit worn out, but the price cut is very worth it.

The first generations are regularly going for $5k-$8k.

Re: GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

#38

Post by hayksaakian »

llampx wrote: post #29
throw0101a wrote: post #26

My parents' house does not have a garage or a driveway, how exactly will the only-full-EV future work for them? Where are they supposed to charge?

Do they have an oil well and refinery in their backyard?

Let's be more charitable and assume the OP means they park vehicles curb-side

Re: GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

#39

Post by bilbo0s »

Nasrudith wrote: post #27
btilly wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. Expensive is code for, "We lost money selling them, and only bothered because we got tax write-offs." In short, expensive means expensive. They cost a lot to make.

Isn't that also a bit tautological given how fixed costs are divided over units produced? If they produced and sold more they would be cheaper. Of course that assumes they would sell well if they put more effort into doing so.

>Of course that assumes they would sell well if they put more effort into doing so...

And there's the rub. People say they want these things, but when it comes time to open the pocketbook, their calculations change. Worst thing is that the people who can afford this stuff will instead drop more money on an ICE SUV.

:(

Re: GM, Volkswagen Say Goodbye to Hybrid Vehicles

#40

Post by jjtheblunt »

madengr wrote: post #7

I read recently that Honda has stopped all Clarity sales except for CA, especially since the Volt is no longer available. That is a shame because it is a really nice car and fills in the gap between pure EV and a hybrid. 40 miles on full electric, but a gas engine run at peak efficiency for long trips.

but it's a ridiculously constrained trunk rather than hatchback form factor...which removes Honda from consideration for many, i imagine. Tesla and Chevy (and BMW and Mercedes) get the hatchback audience rather than Honda, in this case.
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