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Chevrolet Bolt

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Not to be confused with Chevrolet Volt.
Chevrolet Bolt EV
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors
Also calledOpel Ampera-e (Europe)
Productionscheduled to start in Oct 2016
Model years2017-
AssemblyFinal assembly Orion Assembly Detroit, Michigan; Battery and drivetrain (motor and drive unit) at LG, Incheon, South Korea
DesignerStuart Norris
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact
Body style5-door Hatchback
LayoutTransverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Electric motor150 kW (200 hp) permanent magnet motor/generator, torque 266 lb.ft./360 Nm
Hybrid drivetrainElectronic Precision Shift, final drive ratio 7.05:1
Battery60.0 kWh lithium-ion, 288 cells, 96s3p
Electric range238 mi (383 km) (EPA)[1]
310 mi (500 km) (NEDC)[2]
Plug-in charging120 V, 240 V AC, SAE Combo DC Fast Charge
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,601 mm (102.4 in)
Length4,166 mm (164.0 in)
Width1,765 mm (69.5 in)
Height1,595 mm (62.8 in)
Curb weight1,624 kg (3,580 lb)

The Chevrolet Bolt or Chevrolet Bolt EV is an all-electric subcompact car developed by Chevrolet in partnership with LG Korea[3] and scheduled for production in late 2016 for model year 2017.[4]

The Bolt was previewed in production form at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, with further details released subsequently during the 2016 North American International Auto Show.[5] The European version, marketed as the Opel Ampera-e, will go into production in 2017.[6]

The Bolt delivers an EPA-rated all-electric range of 238 mi (383 km), and an EPA fuel economy rating of 119 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (mpg-e) (2.0 L/100 km) for combined city/highway driving.[1] According to Opel, the Ampera-e is expected to achieve a range of about 500 km (310 mi) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), and 380 km (240 mi) under the more strict Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP).[2]

Final assembly is scheduled for GM's Orion Assembly plant in Detroit, which received a US$160 million upgrade for Bolt production.[7] Manufacture of the battery, motor, and drive unit started in August 2016 at LG, Incheon, South Korea.[8] U.S. retail sales are scheduled to begin at the end of 2016.[9] The Canadian release is scheduled for early 2017.[10] Pricing in the U.S. starts at US$37,495 before any applicable government incentives.[11] As of October 2016, the Bolt is the only all-electric car with a MSRP of under US$50,000 capable of an EPA range over 200 mi (320 km).[1]

History

The Bolt was unveiled in concept form at the 2015 North American International Auto Show.[12]

Alan Batey, head of General Motors North America, announced in February 2015 that the Bolt EV was headed for production, and would be available in all 50 states.[13] The Bolt will be sold also in select global markets.[7]

Chevrolet Bolt EV concept at the 2015 North American International Auto Show

As of June 2015, General Motors has been testing more than 50 Bolt prototypes hand-built at the General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford, Michigan. The cars are tested at the proving grounds and overseas locations for ride and handling dynamics, cabin comfort, quietness, charging capability, and energy efficiency.[14]

In January 2016, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the production version of the Chevrolet Bolt was unveiled. At the show, during GM CEO Mary Barra's keynote, Chevrolet confirmed an estimated range of 200 mi (320 km) or more, around US$30,000 price after government incentives, and stated it would be available in late 2016.[15]

Mary Barra, General Motors CEO, announced in February 2016 that the European version, marketed as the Opel Ampera-e, will go into production in 2017.[6]

On March 22, 2016, GM released photos and a short teaser video showing that the Bolt had entered pre-production at the company's Orion Assembly plant outside Detroit, testing manufacturing processes and tooling for the vehicle.[16] Regular production is estimated to begin in October 2016 at 25,000-30,000 the first year,[17][18] increasing to 30,000 to 50,000 per year according to demand.[19] Initial regular production had begun by early November 2016.[20]

Analysts expect Bolt production to be 22,000 per year, and Ampera-E at a few thousand.[21]

Design

The Bolt was designed by GM's Korea studio (formerly Daewoo Korea), as B-segment size[22] on its own platform, and does not share elements with the GM Gamma platform cars Chevrolet Sonic/Spark/Opel Corsa.[23][24] The EPA classifies the Bolt as "small station wagon", with less than 130 cu ft of interior volume.[1][25] GM refers to the Bolt as a crossover.[26] The passenger volume is 94 cu ft, and cargo space is 17 cu ft.[27]

The car is designed for flexible production by having the battery in the same position as the fuel tank in petrol cars, and will be made on the same assembly line as two petrol cars.[28]

The Bolt's doors, tailgate and hood are made of aluminum to decrease weight.[22] It features "one pedal driving", where the driver can adjust the level of regenerative braking as the accelerator pedal is lifted.[29] GM plans for "Over-the-air software updates" during 2017.[30]

Specifications

The Bolt will feature batteries using a "nickel-rich lithium-ion" chemistry allowing the cells in the Bolt to run at higher temperatures than those in GM's previous electric vehicles, allowing a simpler and cheaper liquid cooling system for the 60 kWh battery pack and reducing vehicle cost. The battery pack is a stressed member and weighs 960 pounds (440 kg).[31] It accounts for 23% of the car's value,[27] and is composed of 288 flat "landscape" format cells (similar in shape to cells used in other GM products, but contrasting the cylindrical 18650 and 21-70 cells used by Tesla). Cells are bundled into groups of three connected in parallel, and 96 groups connected in series compose the pack.[32]

Production version of the Chevy Bolt at the 2016 North American International Auto Show.

In October 2015, General Motors said they will purchase the Bolt's battery cells at a price of $145 per kilowatt hour from LG Chem, representing a minimum of $8,700 in revenue per car.[33] The cost is reportedly about $100 cheaper per kWh than the price LG was giving other customers at the time.[34][35]

Other specifications include a 200 hp (150 kW) and 266 lb⋅ft (361 N⋅m) electric motor, acceleration from 0–30 mph (0–48 km/h) in 2.9 seconds and 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in less than 7 seconds, top speed of 91 mph (146 km/h), and SAE Combo DC fast charging that can add 90 mi (140 km) of range in 30 minutes or fill the battery to 80% capacity in an hour. The motor drive unit includes GM’s new Electronic Precision Shift, which replaces the standard hydraulic shifter with an electronic controller. The number of available gears has not been publicized, with Chevrolet reporting a final drive ratio of 7.05:1.[36][37] The drag coefficient is 0.32.[22] With regards to the drag coefficient, the lead designer of the Bolt said in an interview that the Bolt is "a disaster for aero." [38][39]

While initially expected to share its lithium-ion battery technology with the second generation Chevrolet Volt,[13][40] the production version of the Bolt uses batteries with a different chemistry more suited to the different charge cycles of a long-range electric vehicle compared to the more frequent charging/discharging of hybrids and short-range EVs.[41]

Range and efficiency

Under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) four-cycle test, the Bolt fuel economy is rated at 119 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (mpg-e) (2.0 L/100 km) for combined driving, 128 mpg-e (1.8 L/100 km) in city and 110 mpg-e (2.1 L/100 km) in highway.[1] Charging time is rated at 9.3 hours on a Level 2 fast charger.[9]

Comparison of EPA-rated range for electric cars priced under US$50,000 in the U.S. Only model year 2016 and 2017 cars, and the upcoming Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3 are included.[9][42][43]

The Bolt EV has a combined EPA-rated range of 238 mi (383 km).[1] For city driving, the EPA rated the Bolt range at 255 mi (410 km), and due to its relative high drag coefficient, its range for highway driving is 217 mi (349 km).[44] According to Opel, the Ampera-e is expected to achieve a range of about 500 km (310 mi) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), and 380 km (240 mi) under the more strict Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP).[2]

As of October 2016, the Bolt is the only plug-in electric car with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of less than US$50,000 capable of delivering an EPA-rated range of over 200 mi (320 km). All other electric cars below that price threshold can only go 80 to 100 mi (130 to 160 km) on a single charge.[9] The Bolt also surpasses the range of Tesla’s entry-level Model S 60 sedan, which has an EPA-rated range of 210 mi (340 km), but costs over US$50,000.[45] Among all-electric series production cars sold in the U.S., only the Tesla Model S sedan and Model X crossover can go more than 200 mi (320 km), but those vehicles sell for an average price of around US$110,000.[9]

The Bolt EV also has a longer range than the upcoming Tesla Model 3 (215 mi (346 km) as per Tesla Motors) priced starting at US$35,000.[9] The Renault Zoe with the optional 41 kWh battery has a range of up 400 km (250 mi) under the NEDC cycle, but Renault clarified the upgraded battery delivers a real-world range of 300 km (190 mi) in urban or suburban areas.[46][47] Pricing of the Zoe with the 41 kWh battery in France starts at €23,600 (~ US$26,460) before any government incentives, and without the purchase of the battery. The rental fee for the battery is €69 (~ US$77) per month for 7,500 km (4,700 mi) and €119 (~ US$133) per month for unlimited mileage.[48]

Test drives

The production version of the Opel Ampera-e debuted at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

The EPA-rated range of 238 mi (383 km) was confirmed by automotive reporters driving a preproduction Bolt with a 60-kWh battery. Driven under different driving modes with the air conditioning on, the trip between Monterey and Santa Barbara was completed with an energy consumption of 50.1 kWh, representing an average efficiency of 4.8 miles per kWh. A total of 237.8 mi (382.7 km) were driven, with the Bolt’s display showing 34 mi (55 km) of range remaining.[49] Several other journalists conducted a preproduction Bolt test drive on the same route, and all reported similar results regarding the Bolt EPA-estimated range.[45][50][51][52][53]

As part of its debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, Opel reported driving an Ampera-e without recharging from Piccadilly Circus in London to Porte de Versailles in Paris, the venue of the exhibition. The rebadged Bolt traveled 417 km (259 mi) with 80 km (50 mi) of range remaining.[2][54]

Markets and sales

United States

Shipping to U.S. dealers is slated to start in the fourth quarter of 2016,[55] with retail deliveries scheduled to begin at the end of 2016.[9] The 2017 Bolt EV in LT trim price starts at US$37,495 including destination charge, before any applicable government incentives.[11] For the entry model the DC charger is optional and sold for US$750.[10] The Premier trim starts at US$40,905.[11] Ordering began in California and Oregon in mid-October 2016.[56]

Canada

In Canada the Bolt LT price starts at CA$42,795 (US$32,400) including a DC charger and before any incentives available in some provinces. Deliveries in Canada are slated for early 2017.[10]

Name confusion

Chevrolet has acknowledged that there is confusion about having two vehicles with a similar-sounding name (Bolt and Volt).[57] However, in April 2015 Chevrolet's marketing chief, Tim Mahoney, announced that GM had decided to keep the Bolt name for the production model.[58]

A similar confusion is expected among European customers with the Bolt variant destined for the continent. The Opel Ampera-e is just one letter off from the Opel Ampera, the previous-generation Chevrolet Volt sold in Europe. The similar monikers might confuse some customers who think the new all-electric hatchback is closely related to the old plug-in hybrid hatchback.[59]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c d Accardi, Michael (2016-09-29). "Opel Drove the Ampera-e 260 Miles to Its Paris Debut". HybridCars. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
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  38. ^ Lambert, Fred (2016-08-08). "Chevy Bolt EV is 'a disaster for aero' says lead designer, has a drag coefficient of 0.32". Electrek. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  39. ^ King, Danny. "Chevy Bolt's aero is a 'disaster,' but it will be big inside". Autoblog. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
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  45. ^ a b Davies, Alex (2016-09-13). "We Drive the $30K Chevy Bolt, GM's Tesla-Walloping Electric Car". Wired. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  46. ^ Cobb, Jeff (2016-09-29). "Renault Zoe Enters Market Slightly Ahead of Chevy Bolt As First 'Affordable' (Roughly) 200-Mile EV". HybridCars.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  47. ^ "Renault boosts range of ZOE EV to 400 km with new 41 kWh pack option". Green Car Congress. Renault. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  48. ^ Association Nationale pour le Développement de la Mobilité Électrique - AVERE France (2016-09-29). "Renault dévoile sa nouvelle ZOE au Mondial de l'Automobile : 400 km d'autonomie annoncée !" (in French). AVERE France. Retrieved 2016-10-03. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ Capparella, Joseph (2016-09-13). "How I Drove 238 Miles in the Chevy Bolt EV". Car & Driver. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  50. ^ 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV first drive: 240 miles in an electric car
  51. ^ Can the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV really go 200-plus miles with no recharge? We try it
  52. ^ Chevrolet Bolt First Drive Reports: Up To 290 Miles Of Range Within Reach
  53. ^ Kobza, Nathaniel (2016-09-14). "Chevy Bolt EV first impressions roundup: 238 miles down the California Coast is remarkably nice [videos]". Electrek. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  54. ^ Maumon, Emmanuel (2016-10-03). "Mondial de l'Automobile : l'Opel Ampera-e casse les barrières de l'autonomie" (in French). Association pour l'Avenir du Véhicule Electrique Méditerranéen (AVEM). Retrieved 2016-10-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  55. ^ Melissa, Burden (2016-07-27). "Chevy Bolt EV to ship to dealers in fourth quarter". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  56. ^ Cobb, Jeff (2016-10-12). "017 Chevy Bolt EV Ordering Has Begin In California and Oregon". HybridCars.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  57. ^ Sebastian Blanco (2015-02-20). "Chevy admits there's confusion over Bolt and Volt names". Autoblog. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  58. ^ James R. Healey, (2015-04-16). "'Bolt' name is a keeper, says Chevy marketing boss". USA Today. Retrieved 2015-04-17.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  59. ^ Bruce, Chris (2016-02-12). "Opel Ampera-e brings a Bolt of EV driving to Europe". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
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