2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Battery, Performance Details Revealed: 2016 Detroit Auto Show
DETROIT – Car shoppers who are considering the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV got some critical numbers about the small electric wagon on Monday at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, including battery size and horsepower.
The Bolt EV debuted last week at the 2016 CES, but GM reserved technical information about the new electric car for the hometown auto show.
The five-passenger 2017 Bolt EV is equipped with a 60-kilowatt lithium-ion battery with 288 cells. Top speed is pegged at 91 mph and the Bolt EV sprints from zero to 60 mph in “under seven seconds,” according to GM.
The battery system, which weighs 960 pounds, is linked to a single high-capacity electric motor that produces 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque.
The system is mated to a standard 7.2 kW onboard charger for regular overnight charging from a 240-volt wall box.
“A typical commute of 50 miles can be charged in less than two hours,” GM said.
But buyers can also get an optional DC Fast Charging system that recharges the Bolt EV’s battery for up to 90 miles of range in 30 minutes.
Chevrolet offered no updated information about the Bolt EV’s range, saying again that it will be around 200 miles, based on GM estimates. The EPA has not posted official information about the Bolt EV’s fuel economy or range.
GM says the range is “more akin to a compact sports sedan than a small utilitarian crossover.” The Bolt is considered to be a small wagon by the EPA.
The Chevrolet vehicle configurator said the Bolt EV is priced at $37,500, including an unspecified destination charge. The Bolt will be priced around $30,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit.
“Being the leader in range and affordability means nothing if the car isn’t going to excite you each time you get behind the wheel,” said Josh Tavel, Chevrolet Bolt EV chief engineer, in a statement. “That’s why the team was tasked with delivering a propulsion system that would also make the Bolt EV an electric vehicle that owners would love to drive.”
The Bolt EV goes into production in late 2016 and arrives at Chevrolet dealerships shortly afterward.
Key Bolt EV rivals include the BMW i3, Ford Focus Electric, Kia Soul EV, Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen eGolf.
Edmunds says: Car shoppers get the numbers they need to know if they have the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV on their shopping lists.
