Stop thinking about roadsters. To the best of our knowledge, General Motors has no plans to enter the burgeoning electric sports car market, and we pray it wouldn’t be a front-drive model if it did.
No, the two-seater Chevrolet Bolt we speak of remains pretty much unchanged when viewed from the outside. Inside, however, there’s plenty of space to stretch out behind the front seats, as those are the only seats you’ll find.
As discovered by Bozi Tatarevic, who claims he isn’t a private investigator, and published by Jalopnik, documents filed by GM to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show there will indeed be a two-seater Bolt. Stripped of its rear bench and associated rear safety equipment, the model joins other fleet-friendly vehicles in the automaker’s lineup. Deliveries begin later this year.
While the automaker confirms the creation of a commercial Bolt variant, there’s no information available about the model’s price, or whether there’s any changes to the powertrain. It’s hard imagining GM would tinker with the model’s battery for such an application, though. Expect roughly 238 miles of range. According to ChevyBolt.org, the Bolt variant comes with poverty-spec 16-inch steel wheels, though buyers can order the Comfort and Convenience Package and Driver Confidence Package should they desire a more civilized experience behind the wheel.
The cargo edition Bolt’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating spans the range between 4,001 and 5,000 pounds, but it likely won’t hold much more tonnage than its five-passenger sibling. A handful of pounds, maybe — replacing the missing seat’s weight.
Besides creating a new market for Bolt sales, the move gives small companies, franchisees, and startups that sometimes transport smaller amounts of goods as part of their operation an easy way to greenwash their business. Imaging the PR boost for a caterer or “nerds on wheels” company with this in its fleet. (Tesla, which doesn’t offer commercial vehicles of its own, surely won’t like the boosted Bolt delivery numbers.)
Since going on sale in December 2016 and expanding its reach across the U.S. last summer, some 26,477 Bolts have rolled off dealer lots in the United States. Now, if only GM would listen to this author’s idea for a dual-motor, El Camino-style Bolt variant.
[Image: General Motors]
Sedan delivery? Eliminate the windows and mechanisms, next hipster RV trend!
“Hey. Out here in nature, in this eco-friendly vehicle… making me frisky.”
I reject the initial premise; it’s time for GM to pull a Reatta again. EDIT: It would put them on the right side of history.
I always thought the cargo HHR was an excellent idea that GM screwed up by having the MSRP be higher than the normal version with a backseat and rear windows. Cargo hatchbacks are the perfect vehicles for many delivery businesses. I wish them luck here.
I never realized the MSRP was higher.
I kinda wanted an HHR SS with the “sedan delivery” look.
From what I understood, you did in fact not want an HHR.
I rented an HHR once, several years ago. I enjoyed it. But I’ll grant that maybe it was a sense of novelty that made it fun.
“…the move gives small companies, franchisees, and startups… an easy way to greenwash their business”
Or – believe it or not – maybe they want to reduce their operating costs. And (this will amaze you) this is why the Tesla Semi has orders. It has little or nothing to do with ‘greenwashing’.
I agree. That comment reeked of political bias.
I can think of many organization that would love the lower operating and maintenance costs of a practical small electric delivery vehicle, the USPS being at the top of that list.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-06/what-the-world-s-oil-giants-said-about-electric-cars-at-ceraweek
At least one Big Oil CEO is already driving an EV.
USPS is a good candidate for a small delivery EV.
Operating costs may be lower, but I don’t think it is far fetched to think that the vehicle will appeal to firms delivering various hipster and artisanal products that would benefit from green delivery.
This’d make an ideal pizza delivery vehicle; would probably represent a decent ROI even after installation of a few charging outlets at each store.
I saw a Domino’s Pizza Oven-on-Wheels delivery vehicle and it looked very festive as it left the Domino’s parking lot, loaded to the gills with hot pizza.
So this could be the next logical application.
Maybe Pizza Hut or Papa John’s will place an order for several hundred of them.
Perfect practical sense. A fleet has a defined route, so no range anxiety. A fleet vehicle sells on money, not status, power or the usual foof that sells to the individual market. A slightly larger up front isn’t an issue as a business looks at the whole price over time, again unlike much of the market. Finally, the sparse nature of the interior, which an individual buyer would care about, is again a non issue for a fleet.
Finally, GM has a smart idea.
Unpossible.
” To the best of our knowledge, General Motors has no plans to enter the burgeoning electric sports car market”
In other documents filed by GM with the government…
From the US Patent and Trademark Office:
Word Mark CORVETTE E-RAY
Serial Number 86850510
Filing Date December 16, 2015
Published for Opposition June 6, 2017
Owner (APPLICANT) General Motors LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DELAWARE 300 Renaissance Center Detroit MICHIGAN 482653000
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
“No, it’s not a PLAN, it’s a PROJECT, my friend.”
I thought Chrysler should have made a delivery version of the hybrid Pacifica, but it looks like GM beat them to it.
Good move, GM.
I mean they don’t completely serve the same clientele if the PacHy Cargo exist. One is considerably larger and only a PHEV while the other is completely ICE free.
Probably for the best. First year had some serious bugs. But, they aren’t discounting them yet, so I guess there is still a lot of demand as a passenger van. Maybe when they meet the current demand, other applications will follow.
Tune it at the ‘Ring, give it Brembos, call it the Z2E.
I still want my Prius R with the 200HP powertrain.
Nissan had a version of the Cube that did this. It was special-order only. I think they sold well over a dozen of them.
Do you have any other info on this? I’ve been searching, and I can’t find anything.
Sorry, no. Like I said, I don’t think they sold many.
Well, here’s a dealer website from 2011. The 2nd-to-last paragraph says:
“Commercial buyers can delete the rear seat and other equipment from the base model ($3,200), creating a Cube cargo van.”
https://www.kellynissanoflynnfield.com/reviews/2011/Nissan/Cube/introduction.htm