Electric vehicles have seen a strong surge in demand here in the UAE, and Chevrolet is one of the foremost players in the segment. The company just launched the all-electric 2019 Bolt hatchback in the country.
Dubbed 'The future has arrived', the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt has been manufactured in partnership with LG. The electric hatchback was launched from General Motors' training centre in Dubai's International Media Production Zone (IMPZ). Members of the Chevrolet technical training team walked the invitees of the launch event through the car's technology and the battery's workings.
The Chevrolet Bolt is the fourth electric vehicle offered by Chevrolet, following the Volt EV in 2011, the Spark EV in 2013, and the Volt Gen-II the company introduced in 2016. The American carmaker will also manufacture and introduce two new EVs in the next 18 months, with the rumour mill hinting towards them being SUVs.
The Bolt EV is not too different on the outside than its conventional petrol-powered siblings. It does not have an extraordinary design like most EVs have, nor does it look conspicuous on UAE roads. Hidden beneath the plain bodywork is a host of futuristic tech that includes aero shutters in the front grille which open for improved cooling and close for improved aerodynamics. Batteries are located under the floor to lower the centre of gravity.
The 2019 Chevrolet gets a liquid cooling mechanism to keep the batteries running at optimum temperature, increasing their operational life in the process. Chevrolet is one of the few manufacturers to adopt liquid cooling, since it cools the system faster when the ambient temperatures go up to 45 degrees Celsius. Stacked against air-cooled battery packs, the benefits are clear.
The 60-kWh battery pack that the Chevrolet Bolt 2019 is equipped with delivers the equivalent of 204hp and 360Nm. What is even more exciting is that the EV offers a maximum driving range of 500km on a single charge. This equates to paying about AED 14 to 24 for a full "tank". The accompanying DC fast charger can juice up the Bolt in 2.5 hours while an AC charger needs up to ten hours.
The 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV features regenerative engine braking which enables the car to come to a complete halt without you even touching the brake pedal. This significantly lengthens brake pad life, also allowing the car to charge its batteries while coasting or braking. The Chevrolet Bolt is one of the rare cars in the market that offers two brake pedals: one in the footwell and another behind the steering wheel for extra regeneration.
The 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV is now on sale in the UAE with prices starting at AED 162,000.
