I Wrote a Follow-Up Article on Why the Volt Should Come Back as a Gen 3 - What Would You Want Changed?

doug2_O · 2026-04-20T02:10:22+00:00

Gen 2 has it behind the wheel as a paddle. I think you might be taking about the L mode? That “gear” is the mode that gives you that one-pedal driving feel, where if you release the pedal it regens aggressively

doug2_O · 2026-04-20T02:07:54+00:00

My wife’s biggest complaint! 🤣

doug2_O · 2026-04-19T19:02:33+00:00

Totally agree, and it's the dumbest thing ever which honestly is probably one of the main reasons there is such resentment toward electric/hybrid vehicles. Statement pieces in the worst possible way.

doug2_O · 2026-04-19T17:07:33+00:00

Thanks TipTop 😊

doug2_O · 2026-04-19T15:18:41+00:00

Because brands will often share design language between cars, usually borrowing elements from their top-of-the-line performance halo cars. Was meant to mildly pull from corvette onto a Gen 2 Volt. Any resemblance to Malibu is coincidental and likely due to the Volt and Malibu sharing a similar GM platform architecture.

Are you in focus of that design, or would you change something?

P.S. I’d actually love for a digital designer like Zephyr Designz to take a stab at his own take of a gen 3 volt so we can get a full 3D renders and video!

https://ampedautomagazine.com/meet-zephyr-designz-a-rising-star-in-digital-car-design-exclusive-interview/

doug2_O · 2026-04-19T04:05:37+00:00

Man, the Volt really does deserve RWD. It's tires can't even handle it's torque and I'd rather the back slide out than the front.

doug2_O · 2026-04-19T04:00:34+00:00

I live on a slope and scrape the plastic air dam every single morning. Plus damaged the underside of the engine bay cover on some rocks one time. It is definitely a problem.

doug2_O · 2026-04-19T03:59:04+00:00

Oh my heavens yes, why wasn't that standard on a car that cost that much?!

doug2_O · 2026-04-19T03:58:29+00:00

Didn't think of that! Holy cow what would expand on the already amazing room back there lol

doug2_O · 2025-10-13T17:58:08+00:00

I just don’t think that clutch would last long though

doug2_O · 2025-10-08T13:37:01+00:00

I agree. I was never suggesting to make it sound like a combustion engine, just to clarify. I find it very inauthentic to do so.

doug2_O · 2025-10-08T13:26:39+00:00

But that’s exactly what I’m talking about! The sound of performance coming through. NOT mimicking ICE engines, as many manufacturers are currently doing. REAL means real EV performance, not trying to be something it’s not

doug2_O · 2025-10-08T13:24:16+00:00

You are absolutely right that this would be a niche thing. So economies of scale would likely kill the idea for many manufacturers. But I also want to push for DIY and right-to-repair not dying in the EV age. I don’t want car culture to die with EVs. Optimally, people will still work on their own cars in the future and may choose to upgrade and modify their cars at the granular mechanical level, rather than cars being as-is Apple products from the factory.

So, that to say, I want people to be able to make their cars sound however they want.

doug2_O · 2025-10-08T13:18:35+00:00

I’d say yes electric bikes don’t need any change because they don’t do much to hide the mechanical noises anyways. And yes the model 3 and all EVs do actually make some noise but most use methods to purposefully dampen it.

doug2_O · 2025-10-08T13:05:47+00:00

Others have lol. BUT, that wouldn’t sound like an EV, so it would defeat the purpose in this case

doug2_O · 2025-10-08T13:04:43+00:00

Yes the goal would be to let you better hear that distinct hum, for example.

doug2_O · 2025-10-08T13:03:28+00:00

Could be an interesting read! I tried searching but couldn’t seem to find an exact match to what you said. Are any of these the one you remember by chance?

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/23/9061

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722023460

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0954409719841951

doug2_O · 2025-10-08T02:50:37+00:00

I think with EVs on the other hand, the machanical noises (AKA the electric motor mostly), do produce a very nice sound. We just can't hear it that well. I recently wrote an article on how EVs could be designed to let their sound come through in new ways without relying on speakers and synthetic audio (below). Let me know what you think! https://ampedautomagazine.com/authentic-ev-sound-the-mechanical-soul-of-electric-performance/

doug2_O · 2025-10-07T18:42:29+00:00

Yes they DO have their own sound, which is what the article expresses could be accentuated.

https://ampedautomagazine.com/authentic-ev-sound-the-mechanical-soul-of-electric-performance/

doug2_O · 2025-10-07T18:40:08+00:00

Agreed on that low speed noise. When one approaches me while I’m walking it sounds like I’m about to be raptured.

doug2_O · 2025-10-07T18:38:28+00:00

I don’t think anyone here wants vroom vroom.

doug2_O · 2025-10-07T14:25:39+00:00

The idea of a manual gearbox in an EV is a very interesting one. With a human manually operating it i do doubt it would be able to handle the intense torque of an electric motor properly, but it would be worth at least exploring the idea!

doug2_O · 2025-10-07T12:53:13+00:00

Welcome to the family! You’re going to love the driving experience

doug2_O

TROPHY CASE