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General Motors BEV2 platform

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GM BEV2 platform
Chevrolet Bolt, an example of a vehicle based on the BEV2 platform
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors
Also called
  • BEVII
  • Battery Electric Vehicle II
Production2016–2023[1]
Body and chassis
LayoutFront-motor, front-wheel drive
RelatedGM Gamma
Powertrain
Transmission(s)Single speed
Chronology
PredecessorGeneral Motors EV1
SuccessorGM BEV3

The GM BEV2 platform is an automotive platform made by General Motors designed specifically for small electric vehicles. Multiple divisions of the LG Corporation have been instrumental in construction in addition to GM's contributions to the platform.

Chronology

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1996–2003: EV1

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Main article: General Motors EV1

Despite having a "2" in its name, which usually indicates a second generation of a platform in GM nomenclature,[2][3][4] BEV2 had no direct predecessor. The concept of "BEV1" actually refers to the General Motors EV1.[5] However, the EV1 and vehicles on BEV2 differ greatly, in part due to the two-decade gap between them.[6]

2010–2015: Gamma derivatives

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In 2011, GM announced that they had finished development of an EV supplier base in China.[7] This coincided with the introduction of the Springo, an EV based on the Gamma platform's Chevrolet Sail.[8] Two years later in 2013, a similar EV variant was released of the Sail's American-market equivalent, the Spark.[9] This Spark EV was sold until 2016, the same year as the introduction of the Bolt,[10] and, though GM openly stated that the Bolt's platform was not derived from Gamma, the Bolt's model codes began with G2, suggesting influence of these vehicles upon it.[11]

2016: Chevrolet Bolt

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Main article: Chevrolet Bolt

In 2016, Chevrolet unveiled a production version of the Bolt, the first vehicle on BEV2,[12] and the first dedicated EV from GM in 20 years.[5] LG Chem and other LG divisions reportedly develop and install most of the components that make it an electric vehicle, per an agreement for the model.[13] This vehicle is the first to be underpinned by BEV2[14] and also the strongest-selling, with over 16,000 sold at the end of 2018.[15]

2017–2023

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On October 2, 2017, GM announced a plan to introduce two new main EV models in the next eighteen months,[16] followed by an additional eighteen electric models by 2023.[17] The next month GM extended their commitment,[18] aiming for a production volume of one million electric vehicles by 2026.[19] On November 15, 2017, further clarification was made by GM CEO Mary Barra as to what the next five years of electric models would be:[20]

None of these promised actions, however, have been enacted in full.[22] In China, the SAIC-GM joint venture has announced[23] and launched the Buick Velite 6 (2019),[24][25] also available with a PHEV drivetrain,[26] and the closely related Chevrolet Menlo (2020).[27] Since the end of the eighteen-month period, the Velite 6 and Menlo are the only main brand EVs that GM has produced, and both are limited to the Chinese market.[28] Much of the incentive to market EVs in China can be explained by the zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) mandate that country's government has put in place, requiring manufacturers to have 8% percent of their volume be ZEVs in 2012, and 12% in 2020.[29] The Velite 6/Menlo have a different wheelbase and motor than the Bolt EV[30][31] and do not use the BEV2 platform.

In March 2019, GM announced its intentions to build another BEV2 platform-based vehicle very similar to the Bolt at Orion Assembly;[32][33] the new BEV2 vehicle was developed alongside the GMC Hummer EV.[34] The vehicle was launched first in 2020 as the Buick Velite 7 for the Chinese market.[35][36] This crossover had been mentioned in the 2017 GM announcement, but it was later removed.[37] A variant with revised styling for the United States was marketed as the Bolt EUV (electric utility vehicle),[38][39] which is built on BEV2[40][41][42] and was launched in spring 2021.[43]

Production of the Bolt and Bolt EUV were stopped in August 2021 due to a battery recall;[44] production did not resume until April 2022.[45]

2023: Discontinuation

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GM began publicizing its Ultium battery technology and BEV3 platform in 2019 and 2020.[46][47] Although both a refreshed Bolt EV and new Bolt EUV were announced at the same time, to go on sale in late 2020 and summer 2021, respectively,[48] the Bolt EV and EUV did not move to Ultium/BEV3. The newer platform is intended to support a wide variety of battery electric vehicles,[49] including the Cruise Origin, which was intended to be the first GM vehicle on Ultium/BEV3.[47] On April 25, 2023 GM CEO Mary Barra confirmed that the BEV2-based Bolt and Bolt EUV would be discontinued at the end of 2023 to make room for GM's "new generation of electric vehicles,"[50] and a new Ultium/BEV3 Bolt was announced a few months later.[51]

Design

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BEV2 is derived from the Gamma 2 platform,[52] used for other GM vehicles including the Chevrolet Sonic and Spark,[53] but after significant changes were made during the development of the Bolt EV, GM gave it a unique platform designation.[54][53] The Bolt was designed starting from 2012 by a team of 180 people in the studio of GM Korea (formerly Daewoo Korea),[55][56] as a B-segment size vehicle[57] in partnership with LG Chem. GM were responsible for the electric traction motor, battery control system, integration of the powertrain, and system validation. LG Chem designed and engineered the traction battery; other LG units provided vehicle electronics, including the infotainment module.[58]

BEV2 features a skateboard-like chassis where the traction battery is carried between the wheels and under the seats.[52][59] As initially fitted to the 2017 model year Bolt EV, the traction battery weighs 960 lb (440 kg) and has a storage capacity of 60 kW-hr. It supplies a traction motor driving the front wheels with an output of 150 kW (200 hp) and 361 N⋅m (266 lb⋅ft). The car's on-board charger accepts AC power at a maximum rate of 7.2 kW, and a CCS DC charging port is optional, accepting DC power at a maximum rate of 50 kW.[60] LG Chem shifted production of the traction battery from Korea to Michigan for the 2020 model year Bolt, which advertised a capacity increase to 66 kW-hr.[61][62]

Applications

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Badge engineering

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From its inception until 2020 (shortly after GM's sale of Opel/Vauxhall to Groupe PSA), the Chevrolet Bolt was sold in Europe as the Opel Ampera-e.[63]

References

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  1. ^ "GM to stop making Chevy Bolt EV in late 2023". April 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "GM Epsilon II – SAABSUNITED". Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  3. ^ "gamma ii Archives". GM Inside News. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  4. ^ "gmdelta.com – Chevrolet Cruze, Cobalt, HHR / Pontiac G5 / Saturn Ion, Saturn-Opel Astra Enthusiast Group". www.gmdelta.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
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  6. ^ Bartlett, Jeff (June 1, 1996). "General Motors EV1 – Driving Impression". MotorTrend. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
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  14. ^ "General Motors BEV2 Vehicle Platform". GM Authority. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  15. ^ Volt, Chevrolet Bolt EV Chevrolet. "Chevrolet Bolt U.S. Sales Decreased In 2019 To 16,418". InsideEVs. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
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  18. ^ Lambert, Fred (November 15, 2017). "GM elaborates on electric vehicle plans: 5 crossovers, 2 minivans, 7 SUVs, and more". Electrek. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
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  20. ^ Lassa, Todd (November 16, 2017). "Did GM Just Confirm the Corvette E-Ray, or a Cadillac Sports Car?". Automobile Magazine.
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  22. ^ "Tiny 2020 Baojun E300 Debuts In China As GM's Latest Electric Vehicle". Carscoops. January 17, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
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  26. ^ "Buick Continues Focus on Electrification in China, Launches VELITE 6 7 Electric Vehicle and VELITE 6 PHEV" (Press release). GM Corporate Newsroom. July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  27. ^ "Chevrolet Menlo Electric Vehicle Launched in China" (Press release). GM Corporate Newsroom. February 20, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
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  32. ^ "GM will invest $300M in Orion plant, announces second EV to join Bolt". Hagerty Media. March 22, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  33. ^ "GM to Invest $300 Million to Ramp Up Electric Car Production in Michigan". Jalopnik. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
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  35. ^ Fink, Greg (January 16, 2020). "New Buick EV Crossover Might Just Preview Chevrolet's Upcoming Bolt SUV". Motor Trend. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
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  37. ^ "Oops: Now you see a new GM EV, now you don't". Automotive News. November 27, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  38. ^ Szymkowski, Sean (June 18, 2020). "Buick Velite 7 likely previews the Chevy Bolt EUV". Road/Show. CNet. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  39. ^ Ryan (January 16, 2020). "Spied 2021 Chevy Bolt EUV – Chevrolet's Newest All-Electric Crossover". 2021 SUVs. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  40. ^ "Chevrolet Bolt EUV Undercarriage Reveals Bolt EV Roots". GM Authority. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  41. ^ "General Motors' Electric Vehicle Plans". Charged Future. January 27, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  42. ^ Sutton, Mike (March 1, 2021). "2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Offers More for Less". Car and Driver. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
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  44. ^ O'Kane, Sean (August 30, 2021). "GM temporarily stops making the Chevy Bolt after latest recall". The Verge. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  45. ^ Shakir, Umar (April 7, 2022). "GM's Chevy Bolt EV and EUV are finally back in production following battery fire recall". The Verge. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  46. ^ Szymkowski, Sean (March 22, 2019). "New Chevrolet electric car coming, $300M investment in Michigan plant". Motor Authority. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  47. ^ a b "GM Reveals New Ultium Batteries and a Flexible Global Platform to Rapidly Grow its EV Portfolio" (Press release). General Motors. March 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  48. ^ Cole, Craig (March 4, 2020). "Midsize Chevy SUV, revamped Bolt and two new Buicks all part of GM's EV blitz". CNet. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
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  50. ^ "GM to stop making Chevy Bolt EV in late 2023". April 25, 2023.
  51. ^ Whalen, Jeanne (July 25, 2023). "Chevy Bolt EV is returning to market, months after GM scrapped it". Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  52. ^ a b Szymkowski, Sean (January 25, 2022). "Dim future for Chevy Bolt EV, EUV as evidence mounts GM plans to end production". CNet. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  53. ^ a b Voelcker, John (September 16, 2016). "Chevy Bolt EV not on shared architecture, but platform name secret, GM says". Green Car Reports. Retrieved September 20, 2016. There are no Bolt EV parts tied to the G2 architecture .. The Bolt EV program originated on the Gamma architecture, but then grew into its own architecture – even as it maintained the G2 code.
  54. ^ "2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Photos and Info". Car and Driver. January 6, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016. all-new chassis called BEV II, which isn't related to the Gamma platform on the Sonic hatchback. .. and has a 3.0-inch-longer wheelbase.
  55. ^ Panait, Mircea (September 19, 2016). "2017 Chevrolet Bolt Platform Is So Unique GM Doesn't Even Want to Talk About It". autoevolution. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  56. ^ Courtenay, Vince (April 26, 2017). "Bolt's Lead Designer Describes Clean-Sheet Creation". wardsauto.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017. Stuart Norris .. arrived in Korea in the fall of 2012 to start laying the groundwork for the Bolt's design
  57. ^ "GM's Korea studio 'broke the mold' with Bolt". Automotive News. August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  58. ^ Voelcker, John (February 3, 2016). "Bolt EV Powertrain: How Did GM And LG Collaborate On Design, Production?". Green Car Reports. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  59. ^ "GM BEV2 Vehicle Platform". GM Authority. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  60. ^ Voelcker, John (January 11, 2016). "2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Specs Release: Battery Pack, Motor Power, And More". Green Car Reports. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  61. ^ Gipe, Paul (November 29, 2020). "2020 Chevy Bolt EV Battery Capacity Anecdotal Observation". Wind-works.org. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  62. ^ Hall, Emme (October 1, 2020). "2020 Chevy Bolt review: A good EV that's showing its age". Road/Show. CNet. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  63. ^ "Registreringer av nye elbiler i Norge". elbilstatistikk.no. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
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