After we saw the first official photos of the new Bolt during CES 2016 Las Vegas, Chevrolet is introducing the car also in Detroit, as it would be natural for an automotive producer. This time, together with the photos, Chevrolet also detailed the performances of the new electric car.
2016 Bolt is supposed to have a 200 miles or 320 km range, in ideal weather. Bolt EV’s drive system uses a single high capacity electric motor to propel the car. But it’s motor design, gear configuration and shift-by-wire system is something new in the segment.
The motor is capable of producing up to 266 lb.-ft. (360 Nm) of torque and 200 hp of motoring power. Combined with a 7.05:1 final drive ratio, it helps propel the Bolt EV from 0-60 mph in less than seven seconds.
Power delivery is controlled by Chevrolet’s first Electronic Precision Shift system. This shift and park-by-wire system sends electronic signals to the Bolt EV’s drive unit to manage delivery of power and torque, based on drive mode selection and accelerator inputs. A by-wire shifter requires less packaging space than a traditional mechanical shifter, resulting in more interior space.
Battery system preliminary specifications include 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with 288 lithium ion cells. The five sections include 10 modules and the battery has a 960 lbs. (435 kg) total weight. The Bolt EV battery will be covered by an 8-year/ 100,000 mile (whichever comes first).
The battery system is mated to a standard equipment 7.2 kW onboard charger for regular overnight charging from a 240-V wall box. A typical commute of 50 miles can be recharged in less than two hours. Bolt EV also features an optional DC Fast Charging system using the industry standard SAE Combo connector. Using DC Fast Charging, the Bolt EV battery can be charged up to 90 miles of range in 30 minutes.
