Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinjlm
I’ve never heard from anybody who knows the situation that Bolt was being dropped because the batteries aren’t as good as Ultium. It is true that they aren’t, because the current Ultium batteries are better than the LG. And the 2nd Gen Ultium are better than 1st Gen, but they aren’t dropping vehicle programs because of it. The two primary reasons for dropping Bolt are - It’s time to start renovating the plant to make Silverado EV and Sierra EV. Similar reason as timing to drop Camaro. LGR has to be converted to produce Corvette EV variants.
- When Equinox EV comes to market, the price ladder overlaps with Bolt. Fully contented Bolt costs more than lightly contented Equinox EV. So Bolt goes away for a while and focus will be on Equinox EV. Bolt may come back, with or without a different name on the Ultium architecture. Which actually points out a 3rd reason (related to the cost overlap)
- Bolt is built on the old Gamma ICE architecture. GM has apparently decided to put that architecture out to pasture and build whatever the eventual Bolt replacement will be off of the Ultium platform.
As for the cylindrical batteries being better…I don’t think that’s a point anybody was ever trying to make. Just like OHC engines have different characteristics than OHV engines, pouch batteries, prismatic batteries, and cylindrical batteries all have different characteristics in terms of how they package as well as how rapidly and/or efficiently they discharge energy.
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The Bolt is being dropped because of the Ultium battery. The Silverado uses one and the Bolt doesn't.
Interesting concept..."the price ladder overlap"....The lowest priced vehicle will always be at the bottom rung and the first to be eliminated. Great for company profits...not so much for the consumer as witnessed by the end of the Bolt in favor of the higher priced and more profitable Silverado.
Low cost affordable EVs will be a low priority to produce , contrary to what we have been led to believe.