Featured California 2023 Q2 registrations

I read that gm was having second thoughts about canceling the current bolt.
It is selling really well, and munroe said they shouldn’t change the body, just continually improve the guts.
At least while the federal credit is in place, reasonably priced qualified ev’s will become more and more popular

 

And now 7 manufacturers band together promising billions and a large new network of high speed charging stations to rival Tesla's in size to be installed by 2030 "we promise". CCS and Tesla NACS plugs.

Wouldn't have anything to do with current 103 day unsold inventory of EVs would it?

 

Maybe, but I think it’s more likely they’re just hunting for tax dollars, like always.

the excess inventory is all high priced models, loaded with options, that don’t qualify for fed credit.
You won’t find any 30k bolts or 40k m3’s.

 

In addition to roughly ¼ of California new vehicles being plugged in - California is a huge market!
.

 

i would love to see that graph broken down by manufacturer

 

I believe a Gen2 Bolt replacement (in name only) was always in the cards. What has changed is that GM is pulling a Nissan and just hacking a newer battery in circa model year ~2025 anyway for the existing Bolt design.

Given the $30000 equinox exists I would think it would be hard to wedge a Bolt in there MSRP wise anyway.

Also considering the Ultium batteries are all meh and hand assembled (bungled launch) it’s possible GM needs the Bolt to justify automation.

 

I think GM had concerns about leaving Ford unchallenged in EV pick ups for too long. Ending the gen2 Bolt early was deemed the best way of getting EV truck production going. If the Bolt wasn't planned to return, there was plans for a Trax or something EV.

GM did do battery upgrades for the Volt and Spark EV over their lives. So have others besides Nissan. A manufacturer doing so shouldn't any more exceptional than one changing engines or transmissions between redesigns.

 

What is different is that the Bolt is a 7 year old platform and based on the commentary will be 9 year old platform with a different battery soon without significant changes.

The Volt changed platform and body after 4 years.

7+ is definitely a Nissan like move.

 

Car companies do not update platforms as as quickly as they do car models. The gen 4 and 5 Prius both use TNGA-C. The gen1 Cruze and Volt were built on the Delta II platform. GM migrated the gen2s to a newer platform that debuted in 2012. The Delta II was used for other models, and is still used for the Cavalier and Monza.

With the Cruze being the first model on the Delta II, switching it and the Volt to another platform for the next generation seems to be the exception. Platform lifespans seem to be 10 years or longer to a car model's 5.

Going by the name, the Bolt is using the same platform as the EV1, which simply isn't so. It is the Gamma II used by a whole bunch of subcompact cars that has been modified to carry a large battery. ICE models on Gamma II have been in production from 2010 to 2022. Changing the platform is beyond the scope of a refresh, so I didn't expect it to change in less than 5 years with the Bolt. If a gen3 Bolt were to happen, I'd see that moving to a BEV dedicated platform.

There is an issue with GM calling Ultium a platform. They are the best type of correct in doing so, technically, but the term platform in the auto industry traditionally refers to the underbody and suspension system. Those parts of their new BEVs are built on the BEV3 and BT1 platforms. Ultium is the battery, battery management, and motor systems. I thing of it as a technology suite, which is how Mazda referred to their family of SkyActiv engines and transmissions.

 

Other factors in Ca include high gaso costs...but I am out of date on Ca HOV rules and stickers for EV's.
In Virginia (where we originally invented free HOV for hybrids) we have mostly removed the plug-in HOV benefit with HOT-3 lanes without exclusion for plug-ins.

 

It seems to me the current bolt, or even the next one won’t compete well with Tesla for road trippers.
I would think equinox with Tesla charging might be better suited.
If my needs were for travel instead of our hycam, I would have gone with model 3 without a second thought.

 

2011-2015 Volt Delta 2
2016-2019 Volt D2xx (not Delta 2)

 

Yes, the D2XX was the newer platform I mentioned.
GM is in the process of consolidating platforms. Th D2XX replaces the Delta II and a crossover platform. GM likely moved the Cruze to it with the redesign, instead of keeping it on the Delta II like other models, in order to get the better suspension and lighter weight. But whatever the reason, that meant the Volt moved too.

The Bolt is based on the Sonic/Trax. Those used the Gamma II platform for multiple generations. The replacement platform the new Trax uses came out after the Bolt. Moving the Bolt to another modified ICE platform will just cost more in overall. GM's BEV platform came out with the Lyriq.

The Bolt EV generation going on for 7 years isn't that big a deal. The gen 3 and 4 Prius both went 6. The current 4runner came out in 2009. It is probably part of the reason GM can set the price where it is at.

A small car on an EV platform would be great. GM's EV plans likely means a few years before we see such. Until then, better to have an aging model instead no model. The fact GM uncanceled the Bolt from the demand improves the odds of a new replacement getting here.

 

Considering Tesla cross compatibility the Bolt might be usuable for intralata and one state over drives.

Right now Wittenberg WI to Anoka MN in the -15F weather I typically drive the trip In would result in bloody knuckles and terror due to the mediocre Wisconsin side charging infrastructure.

To make the trip I would need to stop early with an excessively full battery and hope I can override to charge full spend a lot of time and money, because the next charger is questionable/mediocre/unreliable then hope to make it into the twin cities and drive 35 minutes out of my way if I need to charge a second time.

Add Tesla and the above is mostly a non-issue

 

But isn't Tesla opening up now if not soon, to GM plugins? There are lots of high speed Charge adapters already on the market.

 

For future non-Tesla products.

That is why I mentioned that the trip becomes much less frustrating with Tesla chargers available