Detroit Auto Show News: Chevy Showing Concept Bolt EV with 200 Mile Range: Comments

[Drew Dowdell]

On Monday, Chevrolet will be unveiling the next generation Chevrolet Volt. That car's powertrain will have the familiar Volt setup of an on-board regenerator. In addition to that, Chevrolet will be unveiling a concept car called the Bolt that can travel up to 200 miles on a single charge and has an initial price point of $30,000.

Though the Bolt is a concept, it is set to go into production for the 2017 model year, so we could see it on the road in as little as 18 months.

Chevrolet already builds a pure electric version of the Chevrolet Spark. It starts at around $20,000, has a range of 82 miles, and more pound-ft of torque than some full-size pickups, but it is currently only sold in California and Oregon for the sake of complying with those states' zero-emissions laws.

The Bolt will be different though; General Motors is planning on offering the Bolt nationwide and globally with a particular eye on China with its smog problems. For domestic consumption at least, the Bolt will be built in the US at one of GM's existing plants.

The $30,000 price point is no accident either. General Motors is targeting two prime targets, the Nissan Leaf which starts at $29,010 and has a 100 mile range, and the coming Tesla Model 3 which is said to be aiming for a $35,000 price point with a 200 mile range. If GM can meet both its price point and range target, the Bolt could become the Goldilocks electric vehicle offering both anxiety-free range and attainable price point.

The speculation out there says that the Bolt will be a crossover hatchback, but beyond that, technical details are scarce.

The Bolt will be revealed at a press conference that starts at 7:35am on Monday, January 12th. We will be on hand to bring you updates and pictures from the show floor.

*Chevrolet Spark EV charge port shown in picture above courtesy of General Motors.

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Source: Green Car Reports and The Verge

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[G. David Felt]

EXCITEMENT, This is what I have been thinking GM needs to do. Hopefully they will also move this over to a CUV style. The cars and hatchback will of course be popular but not everyone likes to give up their higher riding line of vision that you get from a CUV or SUV. Still either way you look at it, this is a step in the right direction.

[Cory Wolfe]

Things are starting to get interesting. GM (and Ford) sound like they're going to steal the show this year.

[hyperv6]

Well I have expected this but just did not know how soon.

The Volt could easily be made into a full EV car if they wanted too and the new platform looks to have been the right time to do this.

 

It will be interesting to see what all they present. The fact is anyone can build a $100K large EV sedan but Tesla showed that people would buy it. Now the hard part is selling a cheaper model that more people can buy and sell it in numbers where it will make money.

Also how long to charge this. If it is less than 10-8 hours they will have a good chance at a very land mark car if prices as speculated.

 

Having a Volt and Bolt will be an advantage to GM. EV cars just do not fit all and the Volt plays that middle ground that may attract those who resist the full EV for practical reasons.

Now I just hope we do not end up with screw balls like some of the Tesla followers. They often take a good thing and scare people off with their Zealot actions.

[G. David Felt]

In research I have been doing on EV auto's and Charging times, most people are only aware of the 110 or Type 1 charging (8-14hrs) and 220 or Type 2 charging (2-6hrs). 

 

The Future lies in the New DC Quick chargers for Electric Auto's. They can be used on current EV's where you get 80% of the battery pack recharged in 30 min.

 

EATON DC Quick Chargers

 

Technical Specifications

 

Description

Incoming voltage and connections - 208 Vac three-phase, three-wire (Line 1, Line 2, Line 3 and earth ground)

Input amperage - 156A (any power configuration)

Input frequency - 50/60 Hz

Integral overcurrent and GFI protection - 200A with 300 mA earth leakage for 40–50 kW configurations or 100A with 500 mA earth leakage for 20–30 kW configurations

Upstream protection - Per NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, Article 625.14

Output amperage - maximum continuous - Up to 125A DC

Output voltage - Up to 400V DC

Interlocked power output -  Yes

Ground fault - 13 mA (UL 2231-1 / UL 2231-2 personnel protection)

De-energization on breakaway - Yes

Surge withstand - Up to 6 kV at 3000A

Conduit entry - Front, rear, side, bottom

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KDgIKOE56o

 

Blink Dual Quick DC Chargers are also starting to get installed around.

 

 

Seems the next generation of EV's auto's will get the quick charging capability.

[Drew Dowdell]

But that isn't something you'd install at home.

[G. David Felt]

But that isn't something you'd install at home.

Actually they do have Home versions. Even Nissan is now selling a home DC Quick Charger 480V, 44kW max for the Nissan Leaf, stating 80% charged in 30 min.

 

Technical Spec

 

480V, 3 Phase 50/60Hz

44kW power output

1yr warranty.

 

 

Most of the DC Quick Charger solutions can be installed at home, mostly I think it will be the price that keeps people from doing it.

 

Nissan DC Quick Charge unit is $15,500.

 

The DC Quick charge units as they move to 100kW capable will then start making it truly possible to take an EV on a road trip and cover 500-600 miles in a day.

[ocnblu]

This is going to be cool, I can feel it.  I could drive it to work all week on a single charge, plug it in on Friday night, run around on the weekend silently, then top it off for the work week on Sunday night!

[William Maley]

All I want to know with the Bolt: Will there be a dance much like the Volt?

[Z-06]

This is going to be cool, I can feel it.  I could drive it to work all week on a single charge, plug it in on Friday night, run around on the weekend silently, then top it off for the work week on Sunday night!

 

Did the sun rise in the west?

[ocnblu]

 

This is going to be cool, I can feel it.  I could drive it to work all week on a single charge, plug it in on Friday night, run around on the weekend silently, then top it off for the work week on Sunday night!

 

Did the sun rise in the west?