Chevrolet Bolt EV offers one-pedal driving with regenerative braking
Staff
General Automotive Bolt EV GMDrivers will be able to tailor the vehicle to their preferred driving style and maximize their range.
General Motors is changing up the traditional driving mode with a “one pedal” option. The automaker announced that its 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will offer drivers the ability to experience one-pedal driving.
A reconfigurable screen in the instrument cluster of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV offers the choice of several layouts to display vehicle information.
This regenerative braking capability allows for lost energy from deceleration to be sent back to the Bolt EV battery pack for extended vehicle range. Along with additional software controls, regenerative braking allows the driver to stop the vehicle without using the brake pedal in certain driving conditions.
“Bolt EV customers who want an engaging driving experience will love the thrill of one-pedal driving,” said Bolt EV Chief Engineer Josh Tavel. “They will be able to tailor the vehicle to their preferred driving style and maximize their range.”
Drivers have the ability to select one of four driving modes in the Bolt EV to allow for a customized experience:
- Operating in Drive and easing off the accelerator.
- Operating in Drive and using the Regen on Demand paddle on the back of the steering wheel.
- Operating in Low and easing off the accelerator.
- Operating in Low and using the Regen on Demand paddle in tandem.
Using a vehicle simulation model, engineers compared regenerative performance on a testing cycle that simulated heavy stop-and-go traffic in Drive and another using one-pedal driving while in Low and also the Regen on Demand paddle. The engineers found that the one-pedal driving can add up to 5 per cent of range to the Bolt EV.
Using Regen braking will maximize every charge of the vehicle’s 60 kWh battery pack. The Bolt EV is GM-estimated to provide up to 320 kilometres of EV range.
