I still maintain the Voltec powertrain is what we need today, not full electric. Put that shit in everything. Or, don’t, apparently. They’ve killed off both vehicles using it (or versions of it: the Volt and the also-excellent Malibu Hybrid).

Hello. My EV range is almost as long as the i3 and my gas range is almost as long as a normal ICE car. Is it me you’re looking for?

I’ve always loved the Volt. The drive train was basically from the future, and the build quality of the car was absolutely top-notch, but, you’re exactly right, it doesn’t appeal to today’s market in the US.

Like this...

Volt alltrac wagon and hatchback would do wonders for sales as it would broaden the line while costing little extra. 

The Volt remains the only GM vehicle I've seriously considered buying. I would throw money at a Colorado with a Voltec powertrain, and I think a lot of other people and businesses would as well.

Yep. An SUV with a Voltec powertrain but closer to 100 miles of electric range would address the vast majority of people’s daily needs on electricity alone and also simultaneously zap fears about range anxiety. 

“But a second argument in favor of doing such a thing is the inherent versatility of a range-extender.”
^This. I’m a little worried the auto industry pendulum is swinging too hard towards all-electric. The Volt powertrain isn’t obsolete, it was just in the wrong kind of chassis for today’s tastes. Put the Volt…

Yes, it’s a shitty mid-aughts GM product. Yes, the interior materials are crap. Yes, you will have to explain to anyone who asks why the hell you bought a Saturn and why this is different from a regular Ion.

Of course that’s part of the robot car plan and for society in general. To turn off so to speak people who don’t do as they are demanded or simply people who are troublesome. Making everything a service and especially requiring central connectivity allows for that.  Go along to get along will be much more meaningful.

This, 100%.  If this isn't the end fucking goal here, I'll eat my damn hat.

You’re correct of course in a strictly rational sense.

Wait, I thought Neil deGrasse Tyson was cancelled? Has he been brought back? I can’t keep up with this anymore. 

Neutral: Which AV Company Will Be The First To Make Good Money On The Tech Alone?

1st and Neutral: Silicon Valley’s problem is and always has been its obsession with consumer tech first, industrial tech second. This is no exception. Yes, on a consumer level, making driverless vehicles work is hard. But lots of industrial vehicles, like garbage trucks, mail vans, public transit vehicles, and the…

Fingers crossed.

I love Vans, but isn’t driving one difficult enough socially without plastering “Trans Van” on the front of it?  It would create so many questions I’m not prepared to answer. 

global warming and the coasts going underwater

What about a van?

Nothing really new hear but I am constantly amused at the hype about self-driving, autonomous cars soon, very very soon to populate our highways and protect ourselves from ourselves.  FWIW, my 1932 Chevrolet seems to get around just fine while depending on this piece of meat that is me to keep it safe.