Jolt is a first generation cybertonian. In the pre-war days he worked as a door to door plasma-blade salesman. That experience sadly did not come in handy at all when Megatron started his insurrection. Thus Jolt came to America as a refugee. Earth television taught him two things, humans have a terribly unsophisticated sense of humor, and they are very hospitable to benign aliens. Unfortunately, Cybertron's distance from Earth meant that Jolt was about 30 years behind when it came to cultural attitudes. He had hoped he could more or less continue his way of life but everywhere he looked he was faced with prejudice as people told him that America used roads and he had better learn how to use them or go home. So he reluctantly transformed himself into a car in order to better blend in. Also plasma blades are apparently a class 12 restricted substance so he had to find a new job (he's a Zipcar and occasionally delivers Pizza).
