Chevy Volt discontinued: Chevrolet's last Volt rolls off the assembly line

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Alternate AP headline: Ground-breaking electric Chevrolet Volt runs out of juice

Chevy Volt discontinued: Chevrolet's last Volt rolls off the assembly line

FEBRUARY 22, 2019 / 6:11 PM / AP

As their company was swirling around the financial drain in the early 2000s, General Motors executives came up with an idea to counter its gas-guzzling image and point the way to transportation of the future: an electric car with a gas-engine backup that could travel anywhere.

At Detroit's auto show in 2007, they unveiled the Chevrolet Volt concept car, not knowing yet whether they had the technology to pull off a major breakthrough in battery-powered vehicles.

It took nearly four more years, but the first Volt — a longer-range version of a plug-in hybrid — rolled off the assembly line late in 2010. GM had hopes that customers would be ready for a car that could go 38 miles on electricity before a small internal combustion generator kicked in.

They weren't. On Tuesday, the last Volt was built with little ceremony at a Detroit factory that's now slated to close. Sales averaged less than 20,000 per year, not enough to sustain the costly undertaking.

-snip-

Yet the Volt did serve a purpose. It led to advances in lithium-ion batteries similar to those that power smart phones and computers. But such advances ultimately led to the Volt's demise as GM and other manufacturers developed fully electric vehicles that can go 200 more miles per charge.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chevy-volt-discontinued-chevrolets-last-volt-rolls-off-the-assembly-line/

[kysrsoze]

1. Too bad. It's a good car. I know two people who own one.

One was able to do a 40 mile round trip to work and back without starting the generator. They bought very little gas, but the range was there when they needed it. The car performed flawlessly and had good torque. The interior of the first gen left a little to be desired, but the second gen was basically like a regular car. Shame to see it didn’t catch on.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. They are a beautiful car.

[groverg]

3. My Aunt love her Volt.

And it is just too bad to hear not many people appreciate this concept yet. I went to their place last weekend to help my uncle install the new brake kit, helo truck rims and skid plate on his Ram. I also checked aunt's volt and it is still running good since 2012 without major issues.