At CES 2016 last week, the company unveiled the production version of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle and today at the Detroit Auto Show it has revealed the car’s battery and electric motor specifications, details that many were looking forward to.
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GM promises a base price of just under $30,000 U.S., although that includes Federal tax credits, so figure an MSRP of about $38K. Until Tesla hit the scene, some of the more popular EVs could only muster a few dozen miles on a single charge, and these vehicles were expensive, too-there never wound up being any tangible benefit for the mass consumer, keeping the electric market confined to a very niche market.
The company introduced its Chevrolet Bolt on Wednesday at the annual International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Enhancements to the apps would take advantage of data like time of day, typography, weather and personal driving habits to help owners get the most range out of their cars. This week, GM invested US$500 million in the ride-sharing service Lyft as part of its strategy to adapt to different trends in automotive transportation.
Instead of wasting energy as friction heat on the pads and rotors, the motor takes that kinetic energy and gives a tad more battery charge and this range when the vehicle slows down.
Owners who want the convenience of recharging at home can purchase an option through which Robert Bosch will install a 240-volt charging station.
“We were given a blank canvas – a rare opportunity with a unique platform to recast design of an electric vehicle for customers across the spectrum”, said Stuart Norris, Bolt design director.
On the inside, designers wanted to emphasize the space generated by the car’s high windows and relatively wide track.
“This really opened up the interior and created a fantastic view from every seating position”. The rear-window glass extends all the way to the license plate and integrates LED taillamps on the liftgate.
It is plenty powerful at 200 hp and 266 pound-feet of torque, giving it a zippy 0-60 time under 7 seconds.
Like Volvo’s Pilot Assist, Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot is also a semi-autonomous system. But the brake pedal is needed for a quick hard stop. The driver and front-passenger seats also incorporate side air bag modules.
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Slightly daft name aside (what will the next auto in the series be called – colt, wolt, solt?), the combination of the range the vehicle offers, the price it’s going to be offered at and its format – a small crossover, with space for five and (in European terms at least) – decent cabin and boot space means the Bolt ought to find a lot of friends and buyers because it’s in a class of one.
