There were once a few ardent supporters who rejected the environmental friendliness of hybrids and went for the concept of “clean diesel.” We say once, because there sure aren’t too many anymore these days.
But as WIRED points out, Volkswagen’s diesel cheating scandal is good news for hybrids—like, oh we don’t know, the Chevy Volt.
For its emissions testing cheat, which allowed cars to act innocent during emissions tests—and otherwise spewing 40x the legal limit of nitrogen oxide, which can be linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses—Volkswagen is set to face a maximum fine of $18 billion to the EPA. A massive recall is imminent, covering nearly 500,000 cars in America. Its top brass have already been evicted. Its dealers are bracing for the worst. And more importantly, its legions of faithful drivers are on the edge of revolt—and an army of lawyers is pounding on the door, and lawsuits pending.
Meanwhile, Chevrolet introduced a new Volt just this year. It’s been fully redesigned, extracts 20% more electrical energy from less cells, packs far more range—53 all-electric miles, as opposed to the outgoing model’s 38 miles—and even looks more sleeker and aerodynamic. And with attack ads positioned against the reign of the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius, it’s clear that Chevy is going all in with the new Volt.
“We’re going to be taking more risks,” said Chevrolet global chief marketing officer Tim Mahoney, in an interview with Ad Age. “The ads allow Chevrolet to talk in one way and they allow Chevrolet’s personality to come through.”
The new Chevrolet Volt will be hitting dealer lots in the spring of 2016. If Chevrolet is smart, it has the ability to sink this whole notion of “clean diesel” with one well-targeted ad campaign. But then again, so do Nissan and Toyota.
Looks like the hybrid is here to stay.
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