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2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV
THE RUNDOWN
An expert look at the newest and most important vehicles this month.
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The performance SUV grows up on page 82.
2 0 2 0 C H E V R O L E T B O L T E V ~ B Y D A V I D B E A R D
Home on the Range
Highs: Increased range, punchy powertrain, friendly price, mountain climber. Lows: On the boring side of the vehicle spectrum, looks a bit like a shrunken Nissan Murano.
“On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle \[ RZ]af PN[ _b[ NO\ba ¼Saf Z\_R ZVYR` VS f\b UNcR aUR _VTUa Zb`VP cR_f Y\bQ \[ aUR _NQV\ ³ AUR d\_Q` \S 5b[aR_ @ AU\Z]`\[ T\ aU_\bTU \b_ URNQ` N` dR Q_\] $& SRRa ORY\d `RN YRcRY V[a\ /NQdNaR_ 0NYVS\_[VN \[R \S aUR Y\dR`a a\d[` V[ aUR DR`aR_[ 5RZV`]UR_R DR N_R Y\\XV[T S\_ aUR O\aa\Z \S 1RNaU CNYYRf a\ ORTV[ N[ b[\_aU\Q\e _N[TR aR`a \S aUR 0URc_\YRa /\Ya .`VQR S_\Z N [Rd T_VYYR aUR /\Ya Y\\X` ]_Raaf ZbPU aUR `NZR N` ORS\_R AUR OVT PUN[TR` N_R b[QR_ aUR `XV[
dUR_R aUR_Rμ` N[ b]QNaRQ 10 SN`a PUN_TR_ S\_ ^bVPXR_ PUN_TV[T N[Q N _RcV`RQ ONaaR_f ]NPX AUR YV^bVQP\\YRQ YVaUVbZV\[ ONaaR_f `aVYY UN` %% PRYY` Oba aUR PURZV`a_f \S those cells has been altered to store more R[R_Tf AUR PUN[TR` aNXR aUR `a\_NTR S_\Z # XVY\dNaaU\b_` a\ ## ObZ]V[T aUR EPA-estimated range up 21 miles, to 259. A\ aR`a aUNa dR QRPVQRQ a\ `RR VS aUR /\Ya could climb to Whitney Portal, 134 miles NdNf N[Q %#" SRRa b] N[Q aUR[ ZNXR Va ONPX a\ dUR_R dR ORTN[ 6S dR SNVYRQ±\_ Z\_R NPPb_NaRYf VS aUR /\Ya SNVYRQ±dRμQ YVXRYf OR `a_N[QRQ N[Q dVaU\ba PRYY `R_cVPR =YRN`R NQQ_R`` NYY ^bR`aV\[` NO\ba U\d dR T\a V[a\ aUV` ZR`` a\ ]_V[a QV_RPa\_ A\[f >bV_\TN B[YVXR ZR Na aUV` Z\ZR[a UR UN` DV3V .[fU\d ONPX a\ /NQdNaR_
DVaU aRZ]R_Nab_R` \ba`VQR U\cR_V[T [RN_ & aUR /\Ya URNa` b] ^bVPXYf b[QR_ aUR `\YN_ Y\NQ .` `Nb[NYVXR N` aUR little cabin becomes, running the air conditioning isn’t a T\\Q VQRN 6a dVYY Q_NV[ WbVPR ^bVPXR_ aUN[ N `Y\a ZNPUV[R Q_NV[` f\b_ PURPXV[T NPP\b[a 7b`a Q_\] aUR dV[Q\d` f\b
Even though I drive toward the valley of Death, I will fear no range anxiety, for the Bolt is my comfort.
say? Nope. The aerodynamic penalty could take its toll on the range and leave us oh so high and dry.
About 51 miles in, we arrive at the ¼_`a ZNW\_ PYVZO [RN_ aUR a\d[ \S Stovepipe Wells. Over 17 miles, we rise gradually to Towne Pass at 4956 feet. Driving an EV to maximize its charge has us seeing speed limits in a new way. Usually, we consider them a starting point for negotiations, but when hypermiling, the speed limit is a reminder that most everyone else on the road will be going a lot faster. We creep along at RV speeds.
The Bolt’s 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque are great when there’s somewhere to plug in, Oba aUR_RμYY OR [\ ½\\_V[T aUR NPPRYerator to experience the punchiness of the Bolt’s 6.7-second run to 60 mph. No, instead of having fun, we’re concentrating on maintaining momentum and precise control \S aUNa ]RQNY . `U\R P\ZR` \ß a\ better feel the articulation. Also, Vaμ` N YVaaYR P\\YR_ dVaU aUR `U\R \ß
The sweat returns when the display in the instrument cluster shows that the indicated range is falling faster than the odometer is accumulating miles. After 20 miles uphill, 84 miles of range have vanished. The only thing tempering our anxiety is the knowledge that there’s a steep, 9 percent grade on the other side of town. What goes up must come down.
From top: A new grille is the Bolt’s major exterior update. As the battery depletes, Beard sweats. In the desert, you can’t remember your name.
With cruise control set a nickel below the posted speed limit, the Bolt does a remarkable job regenerating energy. In nine miles of downhill coasting, we get back an indicated 30 miles of range. Regeneration is an EV’s (and our anxiety’s) best friend, but regen isn’t even money. In perfect conditions, which these are not, the Bolt is capable of recouping energy at 70 kilowatts, a little less than half the maximum discharge of 160 kilowatts. So the deck may be stacked against us.
The next stretch is a fabulously twisty section of CA-190 through Panamint Springs. This road is an absolute riot in, say, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. While not as much fun in a Bolt, at least the road V` _RYNaVcRYf ½Na NYY aUR dNf a\ 9\[R Pine, 50 miles away.
With no rescue plan, and imagining Quiroga comfortably situNaRQ ONPX Na aUR \¦PR dR _R`\_a a\ deep-breathing exercises before ORTV[[V[T aUR ¼[NY N[Q `aRR]R`a rise. Ahead lies Whitney Portal. At 8374 feet above sea level, it’s the gateway to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48. Driving past massive pines, steep granite walls, and iced-over waterfalls is a
Whitney Portal Lone Pine
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0 At D e at h ’ s D o o r
Take note, EPA: Driving an EV up a mountain and back is a great way to test range.
Stovepipe Wells
Towne Pass
e l e vat i o n
