It has entered the market slightly and already the new all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV car has won a multitude of automakers of the year from organizations and automotive publications. The one-of-a-kind vehicle stands out for its lithium-ion battery, which gives drivers a 350km diversity in a competitively priced car.
Chevrolet batteries go through checks and evaluations at a verification facility that opened in 2008 and their construction takes over $55 million. Located at GM’s technical center in Detroit’s suburb of Warren, Global Battery Systems has 150 employees.
In addition to a means of study and progression committed to the next generation of batteries, the facility includes a very impressive laboratory equipped with 18 verification chambers designed to check batteries at temperatures ranging from -68 to 85 degrees Celsius and for long periods if necessary. The lab also has a very useful mechanism for batteries to discharge and recharge almost instantly. for batteries.
These engineers also have a thermal stirrer at their disposal, which they use to test batteries such as strong jolts and vibrations that vary in intensity. The giant device recreates other road conditions, from the sleek asphalt of California highways to the heartbreaking cobblestone streets of European cities such as Brussels.
Tesla vs. Tesla GM During our visit, on one of the boards we crossed, a segment of Tesla’s battery that uses a completely different generation than the one that evolved through General Motors. The Tesla edition includes, between two steel plates, a multitude of small cylindrical batteries that look at nothing but giant AA batteries. These thousands of batteries combine to create a total capable of prolonging battery life and quickly recharging.
GM and its LG spouse have chosen to rely on a generation that is much more sophisticated. Its batteries are formed by elongated elements through which the cooling and heating liquids circulate, and that connect to each other to supply the obligatory energy. This force is generated by connecting the batteries to each other through an electronic system.
Unlike the Volt’s battery, which has a rate of about 65%, the Bolt’s battery is almost requalified to its full capacity without the threat of diminishing its durability and durability.
Technology for many cars The Global Battery Systems lab has paved the way for the progression of many battery systems designed for a variety of uses. In addition to those created for the Volt and Bolt EV, there is also the exclusive battery created for the new all-electric Spark EV.
In Europe, the Opel Ampera EV has a battery similar to that of the Bolt EV, although it is known under some other flag. Then, the Malibu Hybrid, the Buick LaCrosse Hybrid (sold in China), the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid trucks and, of course, the next Cadillac CTS 6 rechargeable model.
Resurrected Plant, Conventional Assembly Chevrolet’s first all-electric car is assembled at the Lake Orion plant in Michigan’s Pontiac/Sterling Heights domain. There are probably a number of points that led to this facility being chosen, but the maximum of these is that the Orion plant is the meeting place, among others, of the Sonic, a compact car of the same length as the new Bolt.
The plant opened in 1984 in a rite attended by President Ronald Reagan. Over the years, several models have been produced, such as the Chevrolet Malibu, The Oldsmobile 88, the Cadillac DeVille, the Buick Rivera and many others. The 2009 currency crisis led to its closure.
It will be two years and a major reorganization of the corporate before General Motors resumes operations there in 2011. The reopening allowed as a component through a special agreement between the automotive and its unionized painters, who agreed on marginal discounts on wages and benefits. Initially, production focused on the Sonic, the only compact car manufactured in North America. Then, in early 2015, the paintings to modify the plant began to allow the Bolt EV to be inserted into the meeting line.
Sonic – Bolt EV: the same meeting line If you think about it, an electric car is none other than a traditional thermal motor vehicle, apart from the real engine and its power source. This means that brands can save on production prices through a shared meeting line for multi-model production. Machine equipment may encounter the difference between a Sonic sensor and a Bolt EV to ensure that the correct component is placed in the correct vehicle.
This means that when a Bolt EV arrives at the station where the battery is installed, the device carrying the power supply parts moves to the exact required location and remains tied to the desktop for the era of time it takes to store them under the vehicle. Because the device supports the heavy battery, the operation takes only a few seconds, as the staff only wants to tighten the bolts.
This solved the challenge of installing the electric motor. And really, it’s the same procedure that’s used for the installation of internal combustion engines: the electric powertrain is placed precisely in the correct automated position to help the machines.
It should be noted that the European edition of the Bolt EV, the Opel Ampera EV, is also assembled at the Lake Orion plant. Currently, the plant is only operating at 25% of its capacity, however, the production rate may be higher if increases are required for the Bolt EV. One last detail to note about the factory: the production manager of the Bolt EV is a Quebecer, Yves Dontigny.