By Dorie Morales
I was excited to test drive the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV. I have a hectic schedule with balancing the magazine, events, family and kid sporting events, so it was a pleasure to have the Bolt dropped off at my house. The knowledgeable and friendly sales associate, Nate, who works for Courtesy Chevrolet, arrived and was familiar with all the features of the car. He enjoyed the One Pedal Driving feature and was excited to show it off.
One Pedal Driving is designed to get you where you are going energy efficiently. There is a low mode at any speed, which allows you to speed up or slow down by using the accelerator pedal. When you want to accelerate, you press on the gas like you usually would. When you want to slow down, you lift your foot off the accelerator. It is rare that you have to use the brake pedal. Instead of losing energy when you slow down, One Pedal Driving allows you to capture energy to recharge the battery.
The exterior of the car is very sculpted and sporty. I enjoyed driving the Bolt EV because it is a comfortable ride. The car is zippy; it accelerates from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and 1-30 mph in 3 seconds. It has a 238-mile range on a full charge. I have to admit; I was concerned about the driving range because I drive many miles for work. The fastest way to use up the electric charge is driving on the freeway at over 60 mph. Most of my driving is on the freeway, yet the charge was great after using the 120-volt charger overnight.
The interior of the dashboard is highlighted with a smart-looking blue LED trim. There is an energy usage screen which breaks down the amount of energy used for driving, climate control and battery usage. There is range analysis which provides the best and worst case driving scenarios based on operating conditions. It monitors how you use efficiency based on driving information.
There are many safety technology features. My favorites are the forward-collision alert and the lane keep assist, where the camera monitors the road lines and will turn the steering wheel if the vehicle begins changing lanes without a signal. The side blind zone alert has radar sensors on both sides of the car and warns you when vehicles are in your side blind zones by indicating their presence with LED-lit symbols in the mirror. The car is spacious and comfortable for my family of four and an extra passenger. The rear camera mirror highlights a wide-angle view of the area behind the Bolt EV with an easy flip of the switch on the rearview mirror. The mirror surface doubles as a video screen and provides the driver with a high-resolution view so you can see the approaching traffic.
The rear storage was great for placing all of the materials and boxes of magazines I needed for expos and trade shows. I want to thank Courtesy Chevrolet for letting me test drive the Bolt and I concur that the Bolt is a top-notch car based on my experience. It is the 2017 Green Car of the year by the Green Car Journal, 2017 Motor Trend Car of the Year, and one of the Car and Driver “2017 10 BEST” award winners.
“We are a third generation Arizona automotive dealership that knows the importance of supporting green issues and supporting the local community,” said Scott Gruwell. “We stock and sell more green autos than any other dealership in Arizona. We are doing our part.”
As the publisher/EIC of Green Living magazine, Dorie Morales turns living green into an art form, fully embracing the idea of living, working and playing green. Her vision of a sustainable future drives the magazine, educating, empowering and inspiring readers to make their own eco-conscious choices for the betterment of the planet.
