The number of plug-in hybrids in Australia is on the rise, with an almost 50 per cent increase in sales this year so far compared with the same time in 2024.
The truth is that they offer a pathway into an electric vehicle without making the full leap away from internal combustion.
But it wasn’t always an easy sell and it wasn’t always a choice. In fact, Holden was the first brand to put this sort of tech on the market in Australia as late as 2012.
The Holden Volt was a joint development between Holden and GM to bring the Chevrolet Volt range-extender EV to Australia and sell it here under the Iron Lion brand.
The revolutionary little car had a 1.4-litre petrol four-cylinder engine that would, in very rare instances, drive the front wheels as a last-resort backup, but in almost all cases, it would generate power for the electric battery, which had a 90km range when fully charged from a wall socket.
The little petrol engine/generator managed to boost the range up to 600km, which translated to a 4.2L/100km reading when we reviewed the car in 2012; a pretty respectable number for over a decade ago.
The Volt was sold in pretty little numbers between 2012 and 2015, mainly because it was priced at $59,990, which would have left Holden buyers with a choice between this little hatchback or a manual HSV Maloo for $1000 less.
But there were still 246 early adopters who saw the potential of this technology and outlaid a significant cost to be some of the first to jump on the plug-in hybrid technology.
But it's now been five years since Holden ceased to exist, which sounded like an end to seeing these rare little cars cars on the road. I managed to track some of them down to see how this space-age car is holding up over a decade later.
Kate Fitzgerald – 2012 Holden Volt
“My father purchased the Volt when it was first released in Australia. With a keen interest in electric vehicles, he had been following GM’s progress with it. He later went fully electric with a Tesla Model 3 Performance in 2020, and I took on the Volt as my daily drive.
It’s now 13 years old, and I hope I get many more years out of her.
[In terms of maintenance] there is nothing to mention. I had the coolant flushed from the high-voltage battery as preventative maintenance, and I only get it serviced every few years. It still has the original brake pads as it has a decent amount of regen, and we’ve always driven in L/low gear to maximise it, so the brakes are hardly used.
The battery still gets a rated 50km per charge or a usable 10.5kWh. It’s probably about 70 per cent of what it once was. I charge off solar, so most of the time I’m driving for no cost at all.
On longer trips, it uses the petrol engine – great economy. Its lifetime rating is currently 3.2L/100km as it’s done a fair few big trips."
Chris Paull – 2013 Holden Volt
"In 2013, Holden, supported by GM, was advertising their cutting-edge EV technology, the range-extender Volt. This caught my attention and motivation, but at the local dealership, I discovered I was almost on my own.
My offer to buy was low 'to test the waters', but it was promptly accepted. I financed the purchase, only to be told it was the wrong vehicle.
I ended up owning a white January 2013 instead of a red 2012 Volt. Very pleased and a pleasure to drive every time since day one.
They are easy to own and maintain. Nothing serious comes to mind. The windscreen (smashed by debris from a truck) and a side window (due to malicious damage and attempted theft) are the only things I’ve replaced.
The rear bumper needs some attention, and a plastic plug came loose near the wiper. I carry the supplied compressor and puncture-repair kit and carry extra Tyre-Weld (which was offered instead of a spare wheel), but have a spare wheel now, which I feel is essential for longer distances.
But the disappointment of GM/Holden’s shutdown and the issue of fewer qualified Volt Technicians have caused grief to some owners, so hopefully a support network will emerge in Australia/NZ for those needing it."
Lachlan Grant – 2013 Holden Volt
"I wanted a Volt because I was interested in electric vehicles, but a Tesla was way too expensive for someone just out of university, and the other EVs of the time (the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV) had a range too short for someone living in the country. So the Volt was the perfect solution; I was lucky enough to get one second-hand in 2015.
Can't say I've had any issues, it's been practically flawless. The only replacements have been headlight globes and tyres, which everyone replaces.
Battery life is the same as when I first got it. It must have been significantly over-engineered at the time to protect against battery degradation because I'm still getting the same kilometres out of the battery as when I got it nearly 10 years ago.
Funnily enough, I just passed 200,000km yesterday. I've done 170,000 of those, and the car has been rock solid.
My lifetime fuel economy in the car has been 1.2L/100km. I've charged it on solar since I first got it, so the savings last time I checked were in the region of $20,000 over the 10 years I've had it."
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
