A new plan by General Motors is looking to move forward with plug-in hybrids as part of its clean energy fleet, and this was after the company went all in last 2020 to offering only battery electric vehicles (BEVs). For many years, GM gave attention to PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) that used a specific type of drivetrain, particularly with the renowned Chevrolet Volt.
Before it stepped towards the new decade, GM already discontinued its PHEV project with the Chevy Volt and its renowned powertrain.
GM to Build More Hybrids After Challenges in Selling BEVs
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
In the latest Q4 2023 financial report by General Motors, CEO Mary Barra announced the plans of the company to move towards plug-in hybrid electric vehicle development for select vehicles. This would be made available by the company to specific models in North America only.
According to Ars Technica, this was because analysts and dealership groups have made their complaints regarding the BEVs and their difficulty to sell in the market. This is despite the massive 50 percent growth of the EV adoption rate in 2023 alone.
Moreover, there is a call from President Joe Biden regarding the Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules (CAFE) which requires companies to sell as much as four times BEVs to offset their emission rates. The Wall Street Journal reported that some dealers are now urging GM to add more PHEVs to their lineup to help its sales.
Among the many hybrid cars from GM, one stood out, and this is the Chevrolet Volt which was discontinued in 2019 to make way for the BEVs, particularly with the Ultium platform. However, it is yet unknown which models GM is resurrecting to offer the NA region, with the renowned Voltec plug-in hybrid powertrain from General Motors last seeing development around five years ago.
General Motors and Clean Energy Adoption
Among the earliest takes of General Motors on clean energy are its plug-in hybrid EVs, and among those is the famed Chevrolet Volt which offered a unique powertrain that made the use of its batteries more efficient. It is widely known that most hybrids, especially mild-hybrids, use ICE engines more than clean energy, with its motor charging the batteries for use in traffic or idling.
Still, the company brought a massive focus on fully electric vehicles in 2020, centering on its Ultium battery development which will be its new breed of power source for EVs. Alongside the battery, there are also the Ultium Drive Electric motors which it fitted among various cars including the Hummer EV, Cadillac's Lyriq and other platforms, Buick, and more.
As it dropped the hybrid development in favor of the BEVs, GM expected this to be the main focus of clean energy in the present, but that proved not to be the track the market is taking. With fully-electric vehicles proving to be difficult to sell based on many factors, and among those, their cost-effectiveness, GM is resurrecting its hybrid development now, with the cars to be delivered yet to be revealed.
