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2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV

The Chevrolet Bolt is General Motors' first modern electric car. While the company’s famed decades-old EV-1 experiment ended in what most would consider to be disaster, General Motors is now embracing electrification as part of the future of mobility. Overview The Chevrolet Bolt is equipped with a 60-kWh lithium ion battery pack and powered by a 150-kW motor. In normal car terms, it produces 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. At just under 3,700 lbs, it’s somewhat heavy for compact car (or subcompact crossover, as GM has taken to calling it), but not egregiously so for an EV. On paper, the Bolt EV has a range of 238 miles. Chevrolet's certification process for the Bolt EV's range was done with the car in normal “Drive.” This is important because the Bolt EV’s range is heavily dependent on the way in which it is driven, and simply putting the car in “Drive” and going is not necessarily the most efficient way to do it. The most efficient way to operate the Bolt EV is with only one pedal. Rather than utilizing "Drive," you put the selector in "L." This is the Bolt's most compelling feature. In this mode, regenerative braking kicks in far more aggressively as the accelerator is released. Regeneration in an EV actually converts the car into an inertial generator, putting charge back into the battery. In any driving situation where there is a lot of acceleration and deceleration (stop-and-go, back roads, etc.), this system does its best work. Charging times Unfortunately, with capacity comes charging time. A 240V Chevrolet accessory home charging station can fully charge the Bolt EV in 9 hours; SAE Combo fast chargers can restore 90 miles of range every 30 minutes. On standard 120V, it will take somewhere in the neighborhood of 24 hours to charge from empty. Standard and optional features The Chevrolet Bolt EV comes in two trims: LT and Premier. LT models offer standard 17” wheels, heated outboard mirrors, a passenger sensing system, a 60/40 split folding rear bench, a 6-speaker audio system with Chevrolet’s MyLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, dual front USB charging ports, wheel-mounted controls, auto-up/-down front windows, programmable EV charging controls, Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system, LED tail lights and basic OnStar. The Premier adds outdoor mirror turn signal indicators, machine-finished wheels, roof-mounted side rails, a rear camera mirror with auto-dimming, heated front and rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a false cargo floor with additional hatch-area storage. A Comfort and Convenience package for LT models adds heated front seats, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Infotainment package is available only on the Premier and includes a seven-speaker Bose premium audio system, additional USB charging ports and wireless peripheral charging. The Driver Confidence package for is available for both the LT model with the Comfort and Convenience package and Premier models. It includes Lane Change Alert, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Rear Parking Assist. Driver Confidence II is available only on Premier models with the Infotainment and Driver Confidence I packages. It adds low speed automatic braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, pedestrian braking and dynamic headlamps. Occupant safety Standard safety equipment includes 10 air bags, LATCH child seat anchors and LED DRLs. The Driver Confidence package for is available for both the LT model with the Comfort and Convenience package and Premier models. It includes Lane Change Alert, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Rear Parking Assist. Driver Confidence II is available only on Premier models with the Infotainment and Driver Confidence I packages. It adds low speed automatic braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, pedestrian braking and dynamic headlamps. Key competitors Save for so-called compliance cars sold only in California, the Chevrolet Bolt EV has few true competitors. The Nissan Leaf is the closest to the real thing, but its limited range puts it in a different class entirely. The Tesla Model 3 plays in a different league, too, because it's more expensive than the Bolt.

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