It’s a bit of a strange comparison, perhaps, but as the original lunar rover from 1971 approaches the 45-year anniversary of its first-ever mission in 1971, Chevrolet has decided to contrast it with the all-new, 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV.
In fact, the two vehicles do share one or two things in common, including that both are electric, and both were designed with input from General Motors engineers. On the other hand, the “Lunar Roving Vehicle” (or “LRV”) as its officially known cost $38 million, had a range of just 57 miles, and produced 0.25 horsepower from each of its four electric motors.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV, by comparison, starts at $37,495 before incentives, has an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles, and produces 200 horsepower from a single electric drive motor.
“When our team began engineering for the Lunar Rover, there were so many unknowns, including varied terrain, extreme temperatures and the effect of reduced gravity,” remembers now-retired Project Chief Engineer Ferenc Pavlics. “We pushed the boundaries of automotive technology and worked hand in hand with the astronauts on the vehicle’s design.”
Here on Earth, there are obviously far fewer unknowns; terrain is of no concern for a pavement-bound EV, we understand well the effects of any temperature extremes such a vehicle is likely to encounter, and gravity hasn’t really changed much since the planet was first formed. Even still, General Motors engineers have continued to “push the boundaries of automotive technology” with the Chevrolet Bolt EV, developing an affordable, practical, long-range electric vehicle unlike any before it.
Just don’t try and drive one on the moon.
Comments
General Motors announced that they’re laying off the workers who build the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt because of excess inventory and the reason is the low price of gas which sells for as low as $1.97 in South Carolina.
Actually the slow down at that plant is due to the poor selling Sonic.
If the fluids in the Chevy Bolt EV were sealed against the vacuum on the Moon, and the tires replaced with a different material that needs no air, the Bolt EV can be driven on a flat lunar surface. But I doubt any astronaut with the bulky suit can sit inside.
GM can produce a power train version that can have a different open body, and offer that to NASA for the next manned lunar trip.
Ray, we’d love to see you back at GM-Volt.com…
I was wondering why you never comment there anymore. Did you tire of the Prius trolls?
Did you put in a purchase order for a Bolt EV?
We miss you – guy! 🙂
They are changing the line to go to one Bolt , one Sonic, it was one Bolt then two Sonic. So inventory is to high for Sonic, so it will go to 50% Bolt and 50% Sonic this coming week. They had to shut down the lines for change over.
I have felt from the start they should have an ad campaign making this point. GM played a wonderful role in the moon program. For those of you who have not seeing it google a Discovery program called Moon Machines and look for the episode on the Lunar Rover. Very neat stuff!
That 492 pound weight for the lunar rover is only 77 pounds on the moon. And there are actually 3 lunar rovers on the moon. 4 were built. Instead of taking a Bolt to the moon how about a Colorado ZH2. With lithium ion batteries replacing the fuel cell.