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John Goreham Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com 10-24-2017 During a recent motor press event hosted by the Monticello Motor Club in New York State, GM had the 2017 Bolt on hand for test drives. There were cars like Cadillac ATS-Vs, Dodge SRT Wide Body Hellcat Challengers, and other hi-po vehicles on hand as well, so cars like the Bolt were going mostly untested by the press during the two-day event. We took it out, and it was the biggest surprise of the trip for GM-Trucks.com. As you probably know, the Bolt is the first long-range electric vehicle in America that can reasonably be considered “mainstream.” Though it is a compact car with an MSPR of $43,015, Bolts don’t cost owners anywhere near that amount. In Massachusetts, where this writer resides, new Bolt Premiers are selling for $26,280 after state and federal incentives and dealer discounts. Leases for the fully-loaded Bolt are just $231 per month and the state rebate matches the initial payment. The Bolt is also available from stock all around the Northeast, unlike the Tesla Model S which is only available in California and won’t be in stock for as long as two years from now. The Drive The Bolt drives much better than one might expect from a compact vehicle with a high driving position. It feels fun in everyday driving. During our test drive, there was an unusual intersection where we could go from a stop to the legal 55 MPH speed limit. The Bolt would chirp the tires and run to that speed at a fast pace we did not expect. The Bolt moves out in a hurry and feels quick. It also has plenty of torque and power to pass in any situation. Floor the Bolt at 60 MPH and it instantly leaps ahead. In turns it is enjoyable and body-lean is much less than expected. We suspect the battery position gives the Bolt a much lower center of gravity than it appears to have. Over bumps, the Bolt is composed and comfortable. Bolt Content Everything one wants is here. Leather heated seats, a massive 10.2” infotainment screen, as is the norm for most EVs, and Android Auto and Apple Car Play compatibility. Our Bolt tester had the optional DC fast charger capability, wireless device charging, an upgraded Bose audio system, and rear USB ports. Bolt Safety The Bolt is an IIHS Top Safety Pick, and is rated higher than the Tesla Model S for safety byhttp://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/chevrolet/bolt-4-door-hatchback IIHS. Bolt Warranties & Similar The Bolt has an unusual warranty being an EV. It starts out with a 3-year, 36K bumper to bumper warranty and 5-year, 60K drivetrain warranty. On top of that, GM adds an 8-year, 100K warranty on the EV drivetrain system. GM also throws in the first two scheduled maintenance visits. Roadside assistance and courtesy transportation are also part of the package. Bolt EV Conclusion GM’s Bolt is a vehicle that leaps ahead of EVs like the more expensive BMW i3. The Bolt’s 238-mile EV range make it the longest-range mainstream battery-ony EV one can go and out and purchase today. More importantly, the Bolt has a feeling of quality and solidity that would surprise any owner of any previous compact GM car. The Bolt is the top-selling affordable battery-electric car in America currently and is the number three-selling affordable EV of any type after the Volt and Toyota Prius Prime. It is outselling the BMW i3 by about four to one and its sales are about 40% higher than the Nissan Leaf’s. This is no accident. Chevy has put together a very desirable EV package and made it accessible to almost all buyers interested in a new electric vehicle with decent range.
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John Goreham Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com 11-3-2017 October was the month that the Chevy Bolt shot past the competition to be the number-one selling electric vehicle in America. With sales of 2,781 units, the Bolt led the pack with the Volt in number three overall with sales of 1,362 units. The Bolt outsold the entirety of Tesla's three models, which totaled just 2,115 units. This is the third straight month of Bolt sales above 2,000 units, and its ninth month of steady sales increases as the launch of the 238-mile affordable EV reaches its full potential. The Toyota Prius Prime was in second place for the month and the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Electric Minivan was in fourth.
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John Goreham Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com 11-3-2017 The electric vehicle tax credit may end sooner than scheduled according to reports by news outlets who have discussed the issue with lawmakers. The full text of the new tax bill has not yet been published. Media has seized upon statements by Republican lawmakers who say the tax credit, which can be as much as $7,500 per new EV, will be eliminated now, rather than follow its previously planned phase-out. The tax credit is widely cited as a motivator for those interested in purchasing an electric vehicle. It helps bring vehicles like the compact Chevy Bolt, closer to the price point of other vehicles its size and capacities that are powered by less expensive drivetrains. Automotive News quoted Xavier Mosquet, senior partner at consultant Boston Consulting Group, who authored a study on the growth of battery-powered vehicles, as saying, “There’s no Tesla 3, no Bolt, no Leaf in a market without incentives.” Originally, the tax credit was to begin phasing out in the calendar year in which an automaker reached the 200,000 electric vehicle sales level. Chevrolet is not far from reaching this goal. By our math, Chevy gets to 200,000 by Q3 of 2018. The credits would then phase out gradually and end for Chevy by 2019. Both the Bolt battery-electric vehicle and the Volt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle qualify for the full $7,500 credit, as does the Chrysler Pacifica minivan. We will bring more news on this topic if the bill is finalized and moves forward. The Chevy Bolt was the number-one-selling electric vehicle in America last month with sales approaching 3,000 units. It's sales tally was higher than the combined sum of every Tesla model sold in the month. The Volt was the number-three-selling EV in America in October.
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Zane Merva Executive Editor, GM-Trucks.com 1/9/17 The Chevrolet Bolt has taken home the coveted title of 2017 North American Car of the Year. Early this morning in Detroit at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, the NACTOY Group announced the award's winner. The Bolt marks the fourth time in 4 years that Chevrolet has won either the Car or Truck of the year award. Other media organizations have also bestowed their awards on the Bolt this year. Motor Trend named it Car of the Year and made a place on Car & Driver's 10-Best list. It also was named Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal and the Best New Car to Buy by Green Car Reports. The Bolt is entirely electric and has a range of approximately 236-miles on a single charge. Currently on sale, it retails for $37,495 before federal and state rebates. “The Bolt EV fulfills Chevrolet’s promise to offer an affordable, long-range electric,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president, GM Global Product Development. “It is a game-changer that is not only a great electric vehicle; it’s a great vehicle — period.”
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John Goreham Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com 12-12-2016 Chevy delivered the first three Bolts today. This means that Chevy beats Tesla by at least a calendar year, likely much more than that. Tesla has only just started to expand its Freemont facility for the upcoming Model 3. Chevy did a little spotlight on the "first-three" new owners and they all have one thing in common. Each was already driving a green car. Two were already driving EVs. Why should that matter? Primarily because it helps to dispell the myth that those few owners that have chosen to buy EVs are trading in gas guzzlers. Though that is certainly the case in some instances, a poll conducted at the BMW i3 club when it was introduced showed that most i3 EV buyers were already in the greenest vehicles available. The good news for GM fans and Bolt buyers alike is that if GM succeeds in selling the Bolt in high volume, which was the whole point of the project, the company won't need to buy Zero Emission Vehicle Credits (ZEV Credits) from other automakers. In order to sell cars and trucks in the state of California and 10 other U.S. states automakers have to meet mandates on the number of ZEVs it sells. Buying ZEV credits from another automaker effectively transfers not just profit from one automaker to another, but also helps fund the winners' R&D for future products. According to Chevy, the first three new owners traded in a Prius, a Spark EV, and a BMW i3. Related: Chevy Bolt Production Starts
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John Goreham Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com 11-07-2016 General Motors' Chevy division is now building Bolts at the Orion plant. The Bolt will be the first affordable battery electric vehicle with a range of over 200 miles. The EPA has rated the range of the Bolt at 238 miles. GM will beat Tesla to this market by at least a year, possibly two. Reuters' Joseph White reports that at the Orion plant about one in four of the vehicles coming down the line are Bolts. The Sonic sedan and hatch are also made on the line. General motors has built flexibility into the production of the bolt so that it can adapt to customer demand. Unlike Tesla, GM also has a captive customer base ready for Bolts. Its Lyft ride-sharing network will be offered Bolts. By leveraging its relationships with the ride sharing network Chevy could possibly find many more home for its EV than were it to just sell it alongside its fleet in Chevy showrooms. Chevy also has more experience than another current automaker but Ford in fleet sales and sales to municipalities, something Tesla has almost zero experience with.
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John Goreham Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com 9-13-2016 Chevy and the Bolt EV put a smack-down on the folks at Tesla today and it isn't the first time. First, it was GM releasing a production version of the Bolt to the press, something Tesla has not yet done with its fourth model, which it calls the Model 3. Next, Chevy came off the top rope with news that its Bolt would be on sale by Fall 2016, possibly years ahead of the Model 3. However, the news today that the EPA has already given its estimate of the Bolt's range at 238 miles was the big finish. Tesla has not provided firm specifications for its Model 3 yet, but has hinted that 215 miles is the target range. Tesla came up with idea that an EV with 200 miles of range would be immune from the range-anxiety that lesser EVs instill in shoppers. Both Chevy and Tesla are planning to sell these new 200-plus-mile models in the "affordable" range. Chevy reiterated today that its base Bolt will come in under $30K when the federal $7,500 taxpayer give-away is added to the mix. Throw in a state taxpayer incentive of $2K and the Bolt is suddenly priced very close to some gasoline-powered cars its size.
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John Goreham Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com 8-1-2016 This morning, Chevrolet announced in a press release that its Chevy Volt has surpassed the 100,000 vehicle's sold mark. The upbeat press release sings the praises of the Volt, but are sales of 100K units since 2010 really reason for celebration? That depends on your viewpoint of green cars. The Volt began sales in 2010. However, production had not been fully worked out until about 14 months later in early 2012. By then, Chevy was capable of producing about 2,000 Volts per month if it chose to do so. Volt sales peaked in August of 2013 at 3,350 units sold. It was the only month that the Volt broke 3,000 units. Sales have plateaued for the Volt. This despite being transitioned to sales not just in the 11 CAR-compliant states that mandate EV sales, but in all states as of March of this year. Adding the other 39 states did not boost sales to previous highs. Chevy has not broken 2,000 units since October of 2015 (July sales numbers were not available at the time of this writing). The Prius presently outsells the Volt by about 5 to 1. EV advocates look at the Volt differently. First, there are the fanatical EVangelists who will decry that since it uses gasoline, the Volt is not even a green car. Others take a more pragmatic approach and will point to Chevy's argument that "Volt drivers have saved nearly 58 million gallons of fuel." That claim is based on a comparison to the average vehicle's 25 MPG fuel efficiency. Compare the Volt to the 50 MPG+ Prius or Ford Fusion Energi Plug-in and the results of the comparison are very different. Chevy (Bob Lutz in particular) deserves congratulations for thinking outside the box. EVs that have some sort of on-board gasoline range extender now outsell battery-electric EVs and the market has a clear preference for plug-in hybrids when affordability is considered. With the new, all-electric, 200-mile 2017 Chevy Bolt scheduled to begin production in two months, it will be very interesting to see how the Volt and Bolt do when sold side-by-side.
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Chevrolet also confirmed that the Bolt will be developed with two goals in mind. A 200-mile all-electric range and a $30,000 price tag. While the production vehicle will share the concept's name, don't expect them to look exactly the same. The production version will most likely undergo some styling and functional changes before it goes on sale. The Bolt will be produced Michigan at the Orion Assembly facility. The company simultaneously announced a $200-million investment to get ready for Bolt production. Orion will receive $160-million for tooling and equipment while Pontiac Metal Center Facilities will receive $40-million for new dies. The Bolt will be produced at the same facility that currently produces the Buick Verano and Chevrolet Spark Chevrolet has not yet announced a model year or on sale target for the Bolt. General Motors Says Leveraging the industry-leading battery technology found in the Chevrolet Volt and Spark EV, the Bolt EV concept was developed as a game-changing, long-range pure electric for all 50 states, designed to offer more than a GM-estimated 200 miles of range at a target price of around $30,000. -
By Zane Merva Executive Editor, GM-Trucks.com 2/12/2015 Exactly one month after introducing the all-electric Bolt to the world, Chevrolet is now promising to build it. Today the company confirmed that it will produce the Bolt EV as its next generation all-electric vehicle. Chevrolet also confirmed that the Bolt will be developed with two goals in mind. A 200-mile all-electric range and a $30,000 price tag. While the production vehicle will share the concept's name, don't expect them to look exactly the same. The production version will most likely undergo some styling and functional changes before it goes on sale. The Bolt will be produced Michigan at the Orion Assembly facility. The company simultaneously announced a $200-million investment to get ready for Bolt production. Orion will receive $160-million for tooling and equipment while Pontiac Metal Center Facilities will receive $40-million for new dies. The Bolt will be produced at the same facility that currently produces the Buick Verano and Chevrolet Spark Chevrolet has not yet announced a model year or on sale target for the Bolt. General Motors Says Leveraging the industry-leading battery technology found in the Chevrolet Volt and Spark EV, the Bolt EV concept was developed as a game-changing, long-range pure electric for all 50 states, designed to offer more than a GM-estimated 200 miles of range at a target price of around $30,000.
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The Bolt EV Concept champions the following: 200-mile electric range Proposed $30,000 price tag Designed to be 50-state legal Selectable operating modes designed around driving styles such as commuting and cruising Supports DC fast charging Sleek exterior style with virtually no front or rear overhang Lightweight materials, including aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber, and woven mesh keep curb weight down LED headlamps and tail lamps Uses a new "Bolt EV App" A smartphone can be used as a key Allows ride-sharing management, including reservations, vehicle location, digital key, and even payment processing Incorporates automatic park and retrieval technology, which can summon the Bolt to the owner's location from a parking spot. "The Bolt EV concept is a game-changing electric vehicle designed for attainability, not exclusivity," said General Motors CEO Mary Barra. "Chevrolet believes electrification is a pillar of future transportation and needs to be affordable for a wider segment of customers." -
By Zane Merva Executive Editor, GM-Trucks.com 1/12/2015 No, you're not reading it wrong. Bolt, just like Volt. Both share plug-in electric motors but the Bolt goes farther. Much farther. 200 miles. Better yet, the claim is it could only cost $30,000. It's only a concept today but is Chevrolet teasing a future Tesla Model III competitor? Introduced at this year's 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, the Chevy Bolt EV Concept draws from the brand's experience producing the Volt and the Spark EV. The Bolt EV Concept champions the following: 200-mile electric range Proposed $30,000 price tag Designed to be 50-state legal Selectable operating modes designed around driving styles such as commuting and cruising Supports DC fast charging Sleek exterior style with virtually no front or rear overhang Lightweight materials, including aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber, and woven mesh keep curb weight down LED headlamps and tail lamps Uses a new "Bolt EV App" A smartphone can be used as a key Allows ride-sharing management, including reservations, vehicle location, digital key, and even payment processing Incorporates automatic park and retrieval technology, which can summon the Bolt to the owner's location from a parking spot. "The Bolt EV concept is a game-changing electric vehicle designed for attainability, not exclusivity," said General Motors CEO Mary Barra. "Chevrolet believes electrification is a pillar of future transportation and needs to be affordable for a wider segment of customers."
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Here's the full GM Press Release GM Surpasses 400 EV Charge Stations at U.S. Facilities Automaker has nearly 160 stations located at various manufacturing facilities 2014-05-20 INDIANAPOLIS – Based on growing employee demand, General Motors today announced that it has installed 401 electric vehicle charging stations at its U.S. production and business facilities. More than 20 percent of the stations use electricity generated from solar canopies to help charge employee vehicles. The majority of the stations are located at GM’s large engineering and corporate facilities in Michigan, where employee EV ownership is growing steadily. All charge stations are available free of charge to GM employees and visitors. “GM’s commitment to installing a workplace charging infrastructure is among the most expansive of any corporation in the U.S.,” said Britta Gross, director of GM advanced vehicle commercialization policy. “Workplace charging is one of the most important things a company can do to raise plug-in electric vehicle awareness and energize employees. “Once employees see how easy it is to plug in at home and work, and they realize the fuel savings, plug-in electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt begin to sell themselves.” In addition to the workplace charging, GM has another 400 charge spots dedicated exclusively to vehicle development and testing. Chevrolet and Cadillac dealers have installed approximately 5,900 charge stations at their locations for owner use – 17 of these dealerships use solar charging canopies. ”Workplace charging is now part of GM’s corporate sustainability plan and our employees want to be part of this positive change,” Gross said. “The key for any company is to take the first step and make it simple for employees to engage - in our case we started with outlets and free charging.” GM’s charging count follows the U.S. Department of Energy’s announcement that 75 businesses have committed to participate in its Workplace Charging Challenge to install charging stations for their employees. The Workplace Charging Challenge, of which GM is a founding member, seeks to persuade America’s employers to commit to provide electric vehicle charging access to employees through partnership, advocacy and promotion. “GM is an example of a partner who not only has more than 400 workplace charging stations deployed, but also is actively out recruiting other employer partners for the Challenge,” said Reuben Sarkar, deputy assistant secretary for transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, told attendees at the annual Electric Drive Transportation Association conference here. -
General Motors has announced a milestone in the company's efforts to build out a nation-wide electric vehicle charging station system. The company has now installed 401-charging stations across the United States, with 20% of them powered by solar electricity. A majority of the stations, 269, are in Michigan and located in or near GM facilities. Here's the full GM Press Release GM Surpasses 400 EV Charge Stations at U.S. Facilities Automaker has nearly 160 stations located at various manufacturing facilities 2014-05-20 INDIANAPOLIS – Based on growing employee demand, General Motors today announced that it has installed 401 electric vehicle charging stations at its U.S. production and business facilities. More than 20 percent of the stations use electricity generated from solar canopies to help charge employee vehicles. The majority of the stations are located at GM’s large engineering and corporate facilities in Michigan, where employee EV ownership is growing steadily. All charge stations are available free of charge to GM employees and visitors. “GM’s commitment to installing a workplace charging infrastructure is among the most expansive of any corporation in the U.S.,” said Britta Gross, director of GM advanced vehicle commercialization policy. “Workplace charging is one of the most important things a company can do to raise plug-in electric vehicle awareness and energize employees. “Once employees see how easy it is to plug in at home and work, and they realize the fuel savings, plug-in electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt begin to sell themselves.” In addition to the workplace charging, GM has another 400 charge spots dedicated exclusively to vehicle development and testing. Chevrolet and Cadillac dealers have installed approximately 5,900 charge stations at their locations for owner use – 17 of these dealerships use solar charging canopies. ”Workplace charging is now part of GM’s corporate sustainability plan and our employees want to be part of this positive change,” Gross said. “The key for any company is to take the first step and make it simple for employees to engage - in our case we started with outlets and free charging.” GM’s charging count follows the U.S. Department of Energy’s announcement that 75 businesses have committed to participate in its Workplace Charging Challenge to install charging stations for their employees. The Workplace Charging Challenge, of which GM is a founding member, seeks to persuade America’s employers to commit to provide electric vehicle charging access to employees through partnership, advocacy and promotion. “GM is an example of a partner who not only has more than 400 workplace charging stations deployed, but also is actively out recruiting other employer partners for the Challenge,” said Reuben Sarkar, deputy assistant secretary for transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, told attendees at the annual Electric Drive Transportation Association conference here. Attached Images: Click here to view the article
