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Founder Of GM-Volt.com Trades In Volt For A Ford

October 11, 2012 by 2 Comments
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When the Chevy Volt was first announced, Dr. Lyle Dennis was among the first and most enthusiastic supporters of this new-fangled plug-in hybrid. He even went so far as to start a website that has become a cornerstone of the Chevy Volt community, GM-Volt.com. But alas, all good things come to an end, and Dr. Dennis is trading in his Volt…for a Ford.

See, Dr. Dennis has a growing family, and the Chevy Volt offers seating for just four people thanks to its T-shaped battery. Thanks to a recent addition to the Dennis family, the founder of GM-Volt.com needed a new car with more room.

The car he plans to buy is none other than the brand spankin’ new Ford C-Max Energi, a plug-in hybrid with a 47 mpg rating across the board and a price tag of $29,995 after tax credits. But that doesn’t mean Dennis is jumping ship; he still thinks the Volt is a great car, claiming to have averaged around 190 mpg in his plug-in hybrid over the course of 14,000 miles.

Dr. Dennis has also helped the Volt movement swell, garnering a huge following on his website and even earning a place on GM’s Volt Consumer Advisory Board. But the Ford C-Max Energi offers more room for the Doc’s growing family, and so it is with a heavy heart that he plans on trading in his Volt for the C-Max Energi.

It’s a big win for Ford, and a wakeup call for GM to get moving on a MPV or crossover version of the Volt for larger families. It is the obvious next step, so what is GM waiting for? The longer they hold out, the more Ford defectors there might be…

Source: HybridCars | GM-Volt.com

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About Christopher DeMorro

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs. You can follow his slow descent into madness and non-nonsensical ramblings on Twitter @harshcougar.

  • VWLG1F

    GM really needs to completely rethink their Voltec drive train. I understand they carry a lot of battery, but 37 mpg combined for a car that is only the interior size of Kia Rio? Their series hybrid system is to inefficient when the gas motor is running. Ford clearly has a better solution, and not just because it is 5 passenger. Hopefully Ford’s design will allow a simple battery swaps once batteries with higher energy density are available. If that does happen, the C-Max can be upgraded to greater electric range by changing out the battery, and maybe a quick software update.

  • ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    @VWLG1F
    Rumor is that for the next generation they’ll replace the 1.4L with a larger engine, which could make sense given that it’ll usually be running on highway trips.

    But, it’s really not that a big deal. It’s pretty obvious that GM compromised some efficiency to produce a vehicle with desirable performance that will mainly be driven on the batteries. For example, the drivetrain emphasizes running using motors to keep the EV feel. Think low-end Beemer rather than Prius-alike.

    If battery prices have dropped in price enough before the next generation then they can produce a cut-price Cruze/Equinox PHEV to compete with the PiP and C-Max and then with the lower range they’d need to focus more on CS efficiency.