[Tarrngtn]

On Christmas morning we drove down to my sister’s house on I-25. Clear mostly empty roads, so I decided to see how it ran at 90 miles per hour for ten minutes or so. It was amazing. Virtually no motor noise, very little wind noise, and only a little more tire noise. It was completely smooth. Ran up a major hill like flat ground. It was easy to control, felt no different from 60 or 70. It felt completely safe, but does, of course, use more electrons per mile. I take that same road a couple times a month in my 05 CRV. The CRV strains at 80 in fifth gear, is noisy, and is really not safe at that speed — I keep it down to 70. The Bolt is amazing. ?

 

[GJETSON]

I only did this once, following a Model X. Didn't have any problem keeping up. Thankfully, he wasn't fool enough to floor that thing.

 

[xylhim]

I remember doing this in the Spark EV up the Cajon Pass. I figure that there probably was no police checking speed going up this grade, so I did it quite often. It was fun to blast past everyone who were chugging along in their ICE-mobiles.

 

[Packard V8]

That BEVs are so smooth, so quiet, so easy to run up to the max. The Bolt is the best it gets for <$50K, but just don't ever drive a Tesla S in Ludicrous mode. It's a transformative experience which will ruin one for lesser BEVs and most ICEs.

FWIW, I've driven a few high dollar V12/W12 ICEs which are rocket ships, but one is always conscious of all that machinery revolving, reciprocating, shifting to make the insanely rapid progress. A BEV just goes without the drama.

jack vines

 

[Sean Nelson]

That BEVs are so smooth, so quiet, so easy to run up to the max.

Yeah, I've had a couple of occasions where I've had to pass someone on a twisty 90km/h two-lane road and so when I finally get to a straight stretch I just floor it until I'm able to pull in ahead of the guy. And then I'm shocked to see that the car is going over 140 km/h.

 

[shocker]

but just don't ever drive a Tesla S in Ludicrous mode. It's a transformative experience which will ruin one for lesser BEVs and most ICEs.

The P100D I saw at the local auto show sported a 163,560 MSRP. That's ludicrous.

I've run my Bolt for short stretches pegged at 92, often cruise low 80's. At those speeds it feels bit twitchy in crosswinds . No question it could go much faster if it had a second gear but I'm happy with the ridiculously simple drive unit, 13 moving parts including the bearings.

 

[Dimitrij]

One, perhaps the main reason the Bolt behaves very well at high speeds (for a short and tall car with a stiff suspension) is the 950 lb. chunk of ballast, doubling as the battery.

 

[Bolterado]

No question it could go much faster if it had a second gear but I'm happy with the ridiculously simple drive unit, 13 moving parts including the bearings.

I know that 13 number came from Prof Kelly but since you'd need a differential even if your car was powered by a hamster wheel, I consider the Bolt to have only 2 moving parts in comparison to the typical ICE; the rotor and the stepdown gear shaft. If you want to include the bearings you really have to include each roller element since by comparison a plain journal bearing has 0 moving parts.

 

[surgeonFWW]

I know that 13 number came from Prof Kelly but since you'd need a differential even if your car was powered by a hamster wheel, I consider the Bolt to have only 2 moving parts in comparison to the typical ICE; the rotor and the stepdown gear shaft. If you want to include the bearings you really have to include each roller element since by comparison a plain journal bearing has 0 moving parts.

But, you have to admit, Professor Kelly is awesome!

 

[Bolterado]

But, you have to admit, Professor Kelly is awesome!

Yeah, great work.

 

[Michael Boyce]

I for one would like to see the electronic speed restriction upped to 99. I dont think 6 or 7 mph will hurt anything.

 

[ButchAZ]

I took my 2020 LT up to the max of 93 the other day on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Smooth as butter.

 

[ricardocabesa]

Just once to 81 for me, on the interstate on the way home from the dealer back on January. I had no idea I was going that fast! Smooth and quiet.

 

[iflyforfood]

Warning: much pedantry and condescension ahead

Yeah it's smooth and quiet, but those of you praising its high speed handling prowess need to diversify your driving background a lot. I'm gonna have to disagree with the vast majority here and say I find this thing incredibly twitchy at any speed much above 75 especially if there's anything but a slight breeze. Traffic flow around me is usually 80 and I cruise at the max 89 that it will let me provided the freeways are empty enough. Seems like few of you have ever driven cars meant to be actual high speed cruisers especially german ones. The bolt just has too much of a tall side profile and would benefit from being lower to the ground overall. And even with a calm wind, passing trucks or big SUVs the turbulence from them really upsets the car easily. I'm certain a huge factor are the squishy OEM tires and I'm looking to upgrade them.

Bear in mind this is my first 'murrican car after having had nothing but fast autobahn cruisers for the last decade and a half. I was hoping for better though. The bolt at 80mph feels sloppier than my VW GTI going just shy of 170mph. **** the GTI has an ever so slightly better coefficient of drag than the bolt too and it shows. Wouldn't even flinch passing trucks an crosswinds were a non event. I've driven cars from the big 3 german brands and it's one thing they all handle beautifully.

And before people give me **** yes I know **** well what I was getting into (poor handling is why I tend to stay far away from 'murrican cars). Yes I know its not mean to go autobahn speeds. No dont get butthurt I never said I hate the Bolt, still love it, but sure miss my GTI some times.

/rant