The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is set to be a major turning point for electric vehicles. In terms of capability and its price point, there’s nothing like it being put into production right this moment. Yes, there’s the Tesla Model 3, but that’s still not arriving for some time.
If the 2017 Bolt EV had a predecessor, one could point to the Chevrolet Spark EV. In fact, Push EVs took the time to compare both vehicles and their propulsion methods.
The biggest difference? The battery packs themselves. As the report calls it, the 2017 Bolt EV utilizes a “skateboard” design, which houses the battery unit under the floorboard of the vehicle. The Spark EV is a little different as it sits under the seats as an impromptu solution to be a compliance car in California.
“Both batteries have liquid active thermal control that is very important to keep the battery at ideal temperature, since high temperatures damage the cells. We know that the Spark EV’s small 19.44 kWh battery can handle high charge and discharge rates, since it can provide 120 kW — 105 kW are intended to the motor — and can take up to 50 kW in CCS DC fast chargers. While Bolt’s 59.4 kWh battery can provide at least 150 kW to the electric motor and something more to the electronics,” the report writes.
As we inch closer to the 2017 Bolt EV’s production we’ll surely receive final specifications on what the vehicle is capable of regarding its range, charging and more.
Comments
I am surprised that GM hasn’t released more specifications on this car considering how close its production date is. Tesla keeps upping the range for the Model 3 which won’t be sold for more than a year but GM is quiet. Are they struggling to get to the promised 200 miles? Do they have some plan for a big PR announcement? It would be nice if they were more forthcoming.
WIth all respect to recent GM with their decent engineering efforts overall (Volt and Bolt, in particular), I’m afraid, Bolt would still be a niche vehicle having sales of one tenth or so of new Malibu or whatever popular gasoline GM or non-GM car you take. So, there may be not much fanfare at all. In contrast, Tesla Motors has EVs only, so it has no other choice than early advertising / hype – whatever one wants to call it.
It’s just the Bolt has a certain chance to make EVs more popular to try to reach a certain “social threshold” – when “average Joe” would become more familiar with EVs and won’t perceive EVs just as an unusual curiosity. But I wouldn’t hope for too much – I think, there won’t be any revolutions overnight, but EVs will simply expand their market share and everyday life presence gradually during the next several years.
150 kW is just about 200hp, but remember that this 200hp is nearly flat, not at “6000 rpm”. For comparison, a generic 400 hp gasoline engine only gets to 200 hp at around 3250 rpm. Coupled with no gear change time, actual driving experience should be amazing.