As hybrids and electric vehicles in general are gaining more and more ground and enjoying better acceptance all over the market, they’ve also been facing certain issues from the customers they’re targeting. The biggest showstopper for most people is the potential range of the vehicle, and this is a feature that many are looking into in quite a lot of depth. There’s a lot of worrying among potential owners of electric cars that they’re going to get stranded in the middle of nowhere due to their car running out of charge, and now it looks like GM have been paying attention, because the 2016 Chevy Volt seems to address exactly that issue.
The new model comes with a significant improvement in its range capabilities, and it should be able to cover much greater distances on a single charge – to be precise, the company is claiming a 40% increase in the range of the model. To be even more precise, the new generation of its Voltec system is going to offer 53 miles running entirely on electric charge, quite the good achievement in the context of electric cars in general.
The Volt is already a very popular model in some segments of the electric market, and it’s been reported that its owners make good use of the car’s electric capabilities as well, regularly running on battery. Giving the car better range should definitely have an impact on its popularity in the market and it should help GM secure some better positions with their new model now that people will be more confident in its performance.
Reports have actually been painting a very interesting picture for the new model – there are claims that the car can cover 1,000 miles on a single gas fill-up if the electric charging is handled appropriately and planned in advance. And while that’s a pretty serious claim, one should remember that the technology behind electric vehicles has advanced quite a lot over the last few years and the expectations of buyers are growing as well.
Those who’ve been able to take the new 2016 Volt out for a test drive have been reporting very positive impressions from the car’s overall performance, comfort and handling as well, and it looks like GM have come up with an absolute winner in every regard with this model. The market for electric vehicles tends to be quite volatile and trends come and go all the time, while the focus of buyers is also shifting towards new requirements quite often.
Because of this, companies have to keep their game sharp if they want to keep attracting new buyers, and it’s not just about performance – a good electric car must offer good features on all fronts. People are expecting these models to work well for an everyday car at this point, which means that they have to have all the features of a regular premium car. That includes a stylish design – both on the outside and inside – and good comfort features for longer trips.
All in all, the designers of the new Volt have apparently been aiming towards a more aggressive, defined style that really catches the eye and has the potential to turn heads on the street. The car should definitely make a solid impression on its respective market, and GM could potentially end up very satisfied with its performance once it’s released, as long as they play their cards right in other regards such as marketing. It remains to be seen how well it will perform once it’s settled on the market.
The Volt was never a range restricted vehicle. This far too infrequently emphasized fact has eluded many. The other key design aspect of the Volt which never gets proper attention is that unlike most other hybrids it has a single drivetrain – electric. The Volt’s gas engine acting only as a generator to maintain sufficient electric charge eliminates the drivetrain switching that occurs in most hybrid designs. This simplifies operations and maintainence costs and should bode well for a longer life as a driveable vehicle.
My 2012 Volt which I’ve driven for nearly yours is the only car I’ve ever loved to own (I’m over 60). That the 2016 Volt will improve upon it should only make every potential Camry/Prius/Accord/Civic/Escort/car buyer purchase one instead.