Hey guys,
I had a conversation with Mike Lelli head engineer on the Bolt and Volt when I beat him to an EVGo station by about 10 min just south of Chicago, he was driving a pre-production 2019 Bolt. I learned that in house they call it the Victor Volt to differentiate from the Bolt to avoid confusion. He refused to comment when I asked what the marketing team was thinking when they named the Bolt
Main differences in the 2019 are revised front seats, improved suspension (different springs and shocks) in the front to reduce thump and jounce when going over road imperfections, and having several choices of what % to charge the battery to rather than just having 88% hilltop reserve and 100%
I asked about upcoming improvements and he couldn't really talk about the future other than that GM is committed to an EV future. He did ask me what I thought needed improvement.
He said he knows that battery size and charging speed are the top two things, but what else
I said that improvements to the infotainment system like displaying charging amps, voltage, and KW when fast charging instead of just time to 80% would be great, and having either wireless android auto or a native app based infotainment system with something like Google Maps or Ways rather than having to use a USB cable would be a big improvement. I also said that some form of spare tire at least as an option would be a hit, Millennials may think that a cell phone and AAA will get them out of any jam, but a side wall failure when you are in the middle of no-where without cell phone coverage would benefit from a compact spare. I pointed out how Mazda used to have a deflated (and thus even more compact) spare as standard equipment on the 1st gen Miata. I also said that AWD would be great at least as an option, for utility in a "crossover" as well as improved acceleration for performance enthusiasts.
He asked about adaptive cruise control and I said it would be great for long trips, and for people that commute in heavy traffic, but that super-cruise with lane centering rather than ping-pong back and forth lane keep assist would be even better.
When he asked if a larger battery or faster charging was more important I told him that my opinion had changed in the last 6 months due to the Electrify America build out and the plans for several coast to coast travel corridors. I now would prefer faster charging, over a larger battery, and that of course both would be welcome.
I asked about roof rails that don't cost a fortune, and he asked who really needs them... I said until they make me an electric pickup truck I need them to haul lumber I also asked about a tow rated trailer hitch instead of the one offered now that is only authorized for cargo pods and bike racks. At this point I went into a whole pitch for how useful an EV pickup truck would be, and that with the Electrify America charging network and high speed DCFC an EV pickup could even haul a trailer all over the country.
The one thing I forgot to ask about was the ability to lower all 4 windows with the key fob like I used to do with my 2016 Volt. I don't like to pre-condition at work since I am not plugged in. I also asked about a useable charging station finder since the one built into the mychevrolet app is pathetic. I pointed out that everyone I know uses PlugShare, but that it has no official support from the charging networks.
We talked for about 2 hours, he arrived about 10 min into my first charging session, I finished the majority of my charge (2 45 min sessions) and turned the plug over to him so he could top off for 45 min before I did my final top off.
I asked about any clarification he could give on battery capacity and explained the controversy, he said the only thing he can say is that it is 60 kWh... no specification on if that means total capacity or useable capacity, but it was clear in my opinion from further conversation about Li-Ion battery top and bottom reserve that even though he wouldn't say it out loud that the 60 kWh refers to usable capacity.
I also asked about the rumor that dealerships had to install a DC fast charger in order to sell the Bolt. I already knew that this was not true from personal experience (I purchased my Bolt from a dealership without a DCFC, and I can get a Bolt EV at any dealership in a 238 mile radius from my house and NONE of them have DCFC stations.) He said he didn't know how that rumor got started, and that GM cannot legally force a dealership to install them. He thinks that they will see the Nissan dealerships around them installing DCFC's and hopefully catch a clue, but that there is nothing GM corporate can do about it.
I am probably missing many of the things we talked about in over 2 hours of shooting the breeze, but these are the points I remember.
Later,
Keith
I had a conversation with Mike Lelli head engineer on the Bolt and Volt when I beat him to an EVGo station by about 10 min just south of Chicago, he was driving a pre-production 2019 Bolt. I learned that in house they call it the Victor Volt to differentiate from the Bolt to avoid confusion. He refused to comment when I asked what the marketing team was thinking when they named the Bolt
Main differences in the 2019 are revised front seats, improved suspension (different springs and shocks) in the front to reduce thump and jounce when going over road imperfections, and having several choices of what % to charge the battery to rather than just having 88% hilltop reserve and 100%
I asked about upcoming improvements and he couldn't really talk about the future other than that GM is committed to an EV future. He did ask me what I thought needed improvement.
He said he knows that battery size and charging speed are the top two things, but what else
I said that improvements to the infotainment system like displaying charging amps, voltage, and KW when fast charging instead of just time to 80% would be great, and having either wireless android auto or a native app based infotainment system with something like Google Maps or Ways rather than having to use a USB cable would be a big improvement. I also said that some form of spare tire at least as an option would be a hit, Millennials may think that a cell phone and AAA will get them out of any jam, but a side wall failure when you are in the middle of no-where without cell phone coverage would benefit from a compact spare. I pointed out how Mazda used to have a deflated (and thus even more compact) spare as standard equipment on the 1st gen Miata. I also said that AWD would be great at least as an option, for utility in a "crossover" as well as improved acceleration for performance enthusiasts.
He asked about adaptive cruise control and I said it would be great for long trips, and for people that commute in heavy traffic, but that super-cruise with lane centering rather than ping-pong back and forth lane keep assist would be even better.
When he asked if a larger battery or faster charging was more important I told him that my opinion had changed in the last 6 months due to the Electrify America build out and the plans for several coast to coast travel corridors. I now would prefer faster charging, over a larger battery, and that of course both would be welcome.
I asked about roof rails that don't cost a fortune, and he asked who really needs them... I said until they make me an electric pickup truck I need them to haul lumber
I also asked about a tow rated trailer hitch instead of the one offered now that is only authorized for cargo pods and bike racks. At this point I went into a whole pitch for how useful an EV pickup truck would be, and that with the Electrify America charging network and high speed DCFC an EV pickup could even haul a trailer all over the country.The one thing I forgot to ask about was the ability to lower all 4 windows with the key fob like I used to do with my 2016 Volt. I don't like to pre-condition at work since I am not plugged in. I also asked about a useable charging station finder since the one built into the mychevrolet app is pathetic. I pointed out that everyone I know uses PlugShare, but that it has no official support from the charging networks.
We talked for about 2 hours, he arrived about 10 min into my first charging session, I finished the majority of my charge (2 45 min sessions) and turned the plug over to him so he could top off for 45 min before I did my final top off.
I asked about any clarification he could give on battery capacity and explained the controversy, he said the only thing he can say is that it is 60 kWh... no specification on if that means total capacity or useable capacity, but it was clear in my opinion from further conversation about Li-Ion battery top and bottom reserve that even though he wouldn't say it out loud that the 60 kWh refers to usable capacity.
I also asked about the rumor that dealerships had to install a DC fast charger in order to sell the Bolt. I already knew that this was not true from personal experience (I purchased my Bolt from a dealership without a DCFC, and I can get a Bolt EV at any dealership in a 238 mile radius from my house and NONE of them have DCFC stations.) He said he didn't know how that rumor got started, and that GM cannot legally force a dealership to install them. He thinks that they will see the Nissan dealerships around them installing DCFC's and hopefully catch a clue, but that there is nothing GM corporate can do about it.
I am probably missing many of the things we talked about in over 2 hours of shooting the breeze, but these are the points I remember.
Later,
Keith
