Chevrolet Bolt |
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Wikipedia: Chevrolet Bolt
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History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Chevrolet Bolt page on 27 July 2016, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Chevrolet Bolt, also known as the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback EV, is an all-electric subcompact vehicle developed by Chevrolet on an updated Gamma II platform shared with the next generation subcompact Chevrolet Sonic. It is scheduled for availability in limited markets as a model year 2017 with a US wide release expected in 2018. 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. The European version, marketed as the Opel Ampera-e, will go into production in 2017.
GM anticipates the Bolt will deliver an all-electric range more than 200 mi (320 km), with pricing starting at US$37,500 before any applicable government incentives. As of early 2016, this is more than double the range of other electric cars available in the United States — except for the Tesla Model S, Model X and the BYD e6 (fleet vehicle); and the upcoming Tesla Model 3.
Beginning in late 2016, the Bolt final assembly will occur at GM's Orion Assembly plant in Detroit, which is receiving a US$160 million upgrade for the Bolt's and Sonic's production. The infotainment system and powertrain including; battery, motor, transmission and drive unit, will be manufactured at LG, Incheon, South Korea.
The Bolt was unveiled in concept form at the 2015 North American International Auto Show.
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. The Bolt will be sold also in select global markets.
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.
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.
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.
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 before it goes into regular production, estimated to begin in October 2016 at 25,000-30,000 per year.
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 EV's, allowing a simpler and cheaper cooling system for the 60 kWh battery pack and reducing vehicle cost. The battery pack weighs 960 pounds (440 kg) and is composed of 288 flat "landscape" format cells (similar in shape to cells used in other GM products, but contrasting the cylindrical 18650 cells used by Tesla). Cells are bundled into a groups of three connected in parallel, and 96 groups connected in series compose the pack.
In October 2015, General Motors said they will purchase the Bolt's batteries at a price of $145 per kilowatt hour from LG Chem, reportedly about $100 cheaper per kWh than the price LG was giving other customers at the time.
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.
While initially expected to share its lithium-ion battery technology with the second generation Chevrolet Volt, 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.
| Date | Article | Author/Source |
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| 8 January 2016 | Digital Trends Names Chevrolet Bolt “Best of Show” in 2016 Top Tech of CES Awards | Digital Trends |
| 2 March 2016 | Petition for Exemption From the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard; General Motors Corporation | Federal Register: NHTSA (Raymond R. Posten) |