Chevy Bolt EV Auto-Cross Experience.
When you hear the words Electric Vehicle (EV) most people have one of two ideas; Tesla or golf cart. At least that has been my experience since the first modern EV hit the market.
When I was asked to attend the Chevy Bolt EV Auto-cross I knew I wouldn’t be behind the wheel of a Tesla but this should be fun all the same. To fuel (pardon the pun) my “Need-For-Speed” I headed out from North San Diego to Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia.
GPS said it would take me roughly 90 minutes in morning traffic; it took me just over an hour. Pulling up on Olive, my ’07 Harley-Davidson Deluxe, I rolled in low and loud like Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder (minus Nicole Kidman).
Looking over the road course, neatly marked out in orange cones, it became evident that I wouldn’t be driving a golf cart either. Mike Burns, Vehicle Performance Engineer from Chevrolet, was out on the track putting the Bolt through its paces… and he wasn’t being nice about it either.
Getting a chance to talk with Mike later, I learned that the design team at Chevrolet had several goals they wanted to achieve. Nimble handling was on the top of the list. By the way he was diving into the corners and pulling through the turns apex, I’d say they hit their mark.
The big clock at the end of the track flashed 58.90sec as Mike ripped through the course sensors. All I could think “If this is a time-lap competition, bring it!” Parked off the tented reception area were three more Bolt EV’s and a rather sporty looking VW Golf GTI. The folks at Chevy wanted us to compare driving performance of the Bolt EV with a gas powered comparable vehicle.
At first, I must admit, I thought the scales were tipped unevenly toward the GTI. German engineering, decades of testing, all with a 2.0L turbo charged 220hp 4cyl under the bonnet; The Bolt EV better have something special to bring to the table.
Well, if you think that this little guy can’t get out of its own way? Think again! With a standard 200hp, the Bolt reaches speeds just over 90mph; more than enough for any US highway. Compared to the Toyota Prius at 121hp and Nissan Leaf at 147hp, Bolts 200hp packs a punch.
Kevin Kelley, Senior Communications Manager from Chevrolet, gave us the highpoints behind the design of the Bolt EV. Out of the box the Chevy Bolt delivers an impressive 238-mile range on a single charge. Additionally, the Bolt exceeded industry standards with an average 128-mile city & 110-mile highway.
This MPGe rating is based on miles per gallon gasoline equivalent measure of the distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. The difference between city and highway mileage can be attributed to lower average speed and the advance designed regenerative braking system.
Simply put, regenerative braking utilizes the forward motion of the wheels to capture the energy produced when braking to add charge at the battery. This motion is essentially wasted in normal friction braking systems found on internal combustion engine vehicles.
Next, my favorite part, listening to an actual engineer on the design team. Mike Burns gave us some more of the particulars inside and out of the Bolt EV. Style over function does not apply here. Chevrolet design teams have meticulously ensured that every cubic centimeter of the Bolt serves as efficiently as intended.
There is ample room for up to five passengers giving ease of access with the four-door design. Safety is, as always, top of the list with GM, offering lane change alert, and side blind zone alert systems, forward and side impact airbags, and increased forward crumple zone, earning the Chevy Bolt the Insurance Institutes for Highway Safety (IIHS) top-rating. Quoting the IIHS report
“The Bolt earns good ratings in all five of the Institute’s crashworthiness tests — small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints. It also has an optional front crash prevention system that earns a superior rating. The car avoided collisions in IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, and the system has a forward collision warning component that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.”
Last tid-bit of info, Chevy brought out different tires for us to try out also. The Bolt EV comes with either ‘Summer Drive’ or ‘All-Season A/T’s’. The difference in handling is just one of the noticeable points.
Okay, enough talking, we were ready to get behind the wheel and see what this economical commuter car could do!
Pairing off for a few cold-laps to get a feel for the course gave me a chance to check out the interior of this ride. Large 10in screen made the Bolt Infotainment system easy to handle. Climate control, Premium sound system, Sirius/XM satellite radio, back-up camera display, and a few more bells and whistles made it obvious this wasn’t a bare bones vehicle.
After the cold-laps were done, everybody was ready to do their best NASCAR-esque lap times. Lining up single file at the starting gate, last minute adjustments were made. Sport mode, CHECK! Traction control, CHECK! ‘Life is a highway’ blasting on the radio, CHECK! AND GO!
Right off the line, I was surprised by the pull from the quiet brushless motor. Putting down 266 lb-ft of torque (compared to the Golf GTI 256 lb-ft) made it pop off the line like it was on a mission. I didn’t hit 60mph on the front straight away on my first try… but it was nice when I did!
Letting off the accelerator approaching the first sweeping right turn may have cost me a second or two. I quickly learned that the coil-over struts keep the tires glued to the road. Back on the throttle, it was a quick hop to the chicane section accelerating through each of the 3; Left – Right – Left.
Two quick hairpins let me feel the road through the wheel. Pedal to the floor again through 2 sweeping lefts to a long sweeping right putting me in line with the finish. The floor under the accelerator is sturdy, I found out as I tried to put my foot through the floor. 57:95sec! Not bad for my first pass. I later found out that the Bolt I was driving had the All-Season A/T tires on it. Wonder how much of a difference the Summer Drive tires would make. 54.50sec. Over the next hour I drove that course a dozen times, each time trying a different set-up… and different songs.
To be fair, I had to try out the Golf GTI. I mean if they went through the trouble of bringing it in the least I could do was put it through its paces also. Having driven turbo charged vehicles in the past, I anticipated the delay from a dead stop at idle waiting for the boost to build. I won’t lie, once the boost was on, the GTI did let me feel the difference between gasoline and electric.
However, unless the boost was maintained through a turn (not an easy trick even for a seasoned driver) that lag was back. Side by side, the Bolt EV would dominate the GTI on the course. As the clock proved, there was a definite delay and performance lag between the two.
At the end of the day my times had dropped a few more seconds to an average 53.75sec in the Bolt EV and best lap of 56sec flat in the GTI.
In summation, Chevy has made the Bolt EV affordable and cost efficient, yet sporty and fun to drive. The tides are a changing, my friends. With every dollar being spent needs to count for two, wise decisions need to be made.
If you’re thinking that an EV is in your future, take the time and do your research. Test drive and compare and be ready to do some extensive reading on charging times and battery life and the difference between warranties. Putting all comparable EV’s priced under $40,000, one name stands alone; Bolt by Chevrolet.