EV Brief 4/7/21 EV Brief 4/7/21

Electric Chevy Silverado pickup gets green light, will be manufactured in Detroit

In a move set to anger coal-rolling pickup drivers yet guarantee the future viability of Chevrolet, the company has announced that a fully electric version of it’s popular Silverado pickup truck will be manufactured at it’s Factory Zero electric vehicle only manufacturing site in Detroit and Hamtramck.

The fact that General Motors (GM) is going electric not only signifies GM’s commitment to electrification, but represents a significant future shift in the market. The Chevrolet Silverado is the second most popular new and used vehicle in the United States, selling close to 600,000 new units in 2020.

The Chevrolet Silverado electric will be a full-size pickup based on the company’s Ultium EV architecture, and according to GM will travel more than 400 miles (642 kilometres) on a full charge. General motors has committed billions not only to the new Factory Zero site, but also to electrifying its entire model line up, and its Ultium Cells joint venture with LG Chem LLC.

A release date for the Silverado electric is not yet known, but GM president Mark Reuss said at an event on Tuesday this week that the company will also make fleet-focused versions of the truck for commercial customers.

The current 2021 Chevrolet Silverado. Image: General Motors

Announcing the first-ever electric #Silverado full-size truck, with a GM-estimated range of more than 400 miles on a full charge, will be built at Factory ZERO, Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center.https://t.co/7i5bqRNUt7 pic.twitter.com/1ONRFOfuAR
— Chevrolet (@chevrolet) April 6, 2021

EV Brief 2/16/21 EV Brief 2/16/21

Chevrolet facelifts Bolt EV for 2022 with $31,995 starting price, adds SUV-like Bolt EUV

Chevrolet unveils 2022 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV with new looks, more features

Unchanged 65kWh Li-ion battery pack with active thermal management
Single-motor 150kW (200 hp) drive unit with 360 Nm (266 lb-ft) torque
416km (259 miles) range for Bolt EV, 402km (250 mi) range for Bolt EUV
Bolt EV priced from US$31,995/CAN$38,198, Bolt EUV priced from US$33,995/CAN$40,198
Customer deliveries commence summer 2021 in North America

The Chevrolet Bolt EV has received a considerable visual overhaul, and is now joined by the Bolt EUV compact SUV. While not a lot has changed mechanically, perhaps the biggest headline is the price: US$31,995 for the Bolt EV—some $5,000 less than the outgoing model—and $33,995 for the Bolt EUV. And that’s before state EV grants in the US. GM is no longer eligible for federal EV credits however that may change under a Biden administration. A circa-$30k EV was unthinkable just a few years ago.

The high-riding Chevrolet Bolt EUV. Images: Chevrolet

While nothing has changed mechanically, Chevrolet spins this as featuring a “proven propulsion system”. It’s true though, there’s nothing really wrong under the metal with the Bolt. With 150kW and 360Nm, it performs admirably, and its 350+ kilometre real world range is plenty for many Americans and Canadians. Chevrolet quotes an AC charge rate of 7.2kW out of the box, but the Bolt family can charge up to 11kW with the purchase of additional equipment. Chevrolet doesn’t specify the DC charging speed, instead quoting “100 miles (160km) in 30 minutes”. It’s expected to charge at around the same rate as the outgoing model; a max output of 50-52kW.

Chevrolet will also cover basic home charger installation costs for customers until June, which may assist in attracting first-time EV buyers to the brand.

The 2022 Bolt EV is a stylish blend of cute and futuristic.

The Bolt has received an ironing of its surfaces; taught creases and slim headlights refresh a familiar shape. The Bolt EUV is 15cm longer, which provides considerable additional rear legroom. Based on the same platform as the smaller hatchback, it features totally unique sheetmetal, and should appeal to North American buyers’ preferences for an elevated driving position.

The Bolt EUV features greater luggage capacity, and SUV looks.

On the inside, a new 10.2-inch touchscreen dominates the centre console, and an 8-inch configurable digital instrument cluster. All interior switchgear, controls and seats are new for the 2022 model year.

Dual LCD screens feature prominently in the new Bolt EV and Bolt EUV

The Bolt EV and Bolt EUV also feature Chevrolet’s Super Cruise, dubbed by the company as “the industry’s first true hands-free driver assistance technology for enabled roads”. While Consumer Reports ranked GM’s Super Cruise technology ahead of Tesla’s Autopilot in 2020, this was primarily due to the infrared camera-based driver attention system, that monitors driver behaviour and attention. Consumer Reports stated that Super Cruise was less likely to suddenly disengage without warning the driver, unlike Autopilot which can abruptly shut off.

Of course, Tesla’s advanced Autopilot software uses the company’s neural network, and can work on virtually any road, marked or unmarked, whereas GM’s Super Cruise system is currently limited to roads in Canada and the United States. The Super Cruise system also relies on LiDAR technology, whereas Tesla’s system is camera, radar and ultrasonic sensor based.

While General Motors has committed to an all-electric future, the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV are perhaps the last electric vehicles to not ride on a dedicated EV platform architecture. Despite the engineering and packaging constraints of adapting internal combustion engine platforms for electric vehicle models, we think the Bolt range still provides a compelling option for North American EV buyers, with decent range, features, quality and safety at very attractive price.