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The Chevy Volt could operate as a series or parallel hybrid. So it didn't really save any design or build complexity.

• WorldMaker 4y ago
  It wasn't a true parallel hybrid in the Prius design sense, and it was only used in a peculiar series of events: it had a belt from the gas generator to help with power situations above normal highway speeds and/or torque in low battery situations or the provided Mountain mode (when concerned about steep inclines). The goal of that mode of parallel operation was to use as much weak torque power directly from the gas generator as possible (which had very weak torque) so that the system overall could save as much battery as absolutely possible so that in moments where you need high torque there was some spare battery for it. (On a steep incline on a mountain is absolutely when you don't want to run out of torque.) In most operation patterns the Volt was always serial in regular driving and just about never "parallel". (Depending on how you drive of course. Drivers that consistently and regularly drive 80mph or more would have a different experience.) Compared to a Prius there was considerable design/build complexity savings in the Volt serial design (that sometimes has a low torque parallel connection). Compared to a fully battery electric vehicle however, yeah the Volt was still super complex.