Chevrolet Bolt EV (Minor Change) and Bolt EUV

First launched in 2016, the Chevrolet Bolt EV is a full-fledged zero-emission electric car that envisions General Motors' commitment to reducing carbon emissions for many generations to come. Fast forward to the year 2021 and the Bolt EV received a minor change as well as the addition of the first-ever Bolt EUV, its crossover cousin.

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV

The Bolt EV, Chevrolet's first and only fully-electric city car that feels almost irrelevant in today's America, received its big minor change for the 2022 model year, and judging by the looks of it, the new Bolt EV is now sharper looking than the pre-facelifted one, although the thinned headlamps gave us some Jeep Cherokee vibes. The first-ever Bolt EUV, meanwhile, looks almost the same as the facelifted Bolt EV but it's slightly bigger and it has a roof rack for a few reasons. Despite their size differences, they're still relatively small and easier to live with.

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV interior

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV interior

The interior has been heavily revised in the latest version as well. On the dashboard, the touch screen spawned buttons on the left for the volume and radio stations while the climate control's whole again. On the downside, the gear lever from the pre-facelift is gone and replaced by switches. Who cares about it? It's an electric car, after all.

Although it is as comfy and spacious as the previous version, the Bolt EUV is slightly roomier in the back while the boot space is almost as good as its little brother. Either way, they're both great for all walks of life. All business, all pleasure. This is what they're made for.

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV

Although new, the Bolt EV's electric powertrain with the 66kWh battery pack still produces 200hp of power and 360Nm of torque, capable of going from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and an EPA-estimated range of 259 miles in one full charge. The Bolt EUV still packs the same electric powertrain as its little brother but because it's slightly heavier than the Bolt EV, it's 0.5 seconds slower and 12 miles less in distance. At this rate, it will take over four and a half times to charge these little tykes while going on a road trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. 

Speaking of charging them, they're both come with an 11.5kW Level 2 Charging Capability and standard DC fast charging capability. At home, it will take about eight hours to fully charge the batteries like what civilized human beings need. At the nearest public charging station, meanwhile, it will take about two episodes of your favorite anime show to fully charge it. Better late than never.

Both models still feature the One-Pedal Driving feature that helps the driver transfer energy to the battery in many ways but they've added a new Sport Mode feature to make things more interesting. Cheesy but it's worth trying out even while driving through the tight spots of nearby apartment buildings in downtown Hollywood.

In terms of safety, both the Bolt EV and the Bolt EUV are equipped with Chevy Safety Assist, a wide array of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Rear Camera Mirror, Surround Vision, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, and Forward Collision Alert, among many other features that promise peace of mind for the occupants. Exclusive to the Bolt EUV is the shocking addition called Super Cruise, an available hands-free driver assistance technology that uses cameras and sensors for lane detection purposes and it's compatible in over 200,000 miles in the US and Canada. It's similar to Tesla's Autopilot feature in several ways but it's not foolproof so common sense is needed before giving this autonomous trick for a go.

Both the Bolt EV and the first-ever Bolt EUV are your go-to city cars fit for the new normal. Although irrelevant to today's America because Americans today prefer bigger cars, of course, it's still worth fun driving one of them, even if you're on a business trip. It's a great thing Chevrolet kept the only American city car alive in the midst of the new normal and the latest version is proof that it's still in business.

Photo: General Motors

Opel Ampera-e

As Europe is pushing towards an electrified future, more and more carmakers are prepping themselves by launching electric vehicles throughout the decade as their decisive ban on petrol and diesel powered vehicles within the next few decades is Europe's idea of a straight path towards a cleaner future. One such example is this car is known as the Ampera-e from Opel, an electric hatchback pinpoints Europe's electric future or is that what I think it is...

2018 Opel Ampera-e

2018 Opel Ampera-e

It maybe Europe's electric future but the way you observe it, the Ampera-e is basically a European version of the Chevrolet Bolt EV, meaning what's underneath behind the Opel badge is an American car with an electric powertrain that says "Hey Tesla, I'm your biggest fan?" and what's more about the Euro-American compact car is that while this car is sold in a majority of European markets, Great Britain is not on their list and you probably know why they didn't sell it as a Vauxhall. It's BREXIT to blame this case and it's odd despite the fact that it travelled from Piccadilly to Paris in one charge for a marketing ploy, Opel's reluctant to sell it in Britain as of right now due to worsening post-BREXIT conditions and I understand that. With Opel now owned by Peugeot, I'm sure they'll come up with the strategy in the hopes that Opels and Vauxhalls are sold as one in today's Europe, but right now, time to face reality.

2018 Opel Ampera-e interior

If you're familiar with how the Chevrolet Bolt EV looks on the outside and the inside, the same thing goes to the Ampera-e from Opel, just. The Bolt EV carries the concept car looks from the very beginning while the interior is more tech-savvy indeed for the millennials of the road. This is the same thing goes to the Ampera-e, and apart from the well-sculpted exterior and its high-tech interior, the space and legroom is just right enough to accommodate just about everyone.

2018 Opel Ampera-e

What about performance? Because this is sourced from the "fast food nation" as we know it, the Ampera-e's specifications are almost the same as the Bolt EV's. The electric motor that powers it generates a modest 150kW (204PS) of power output and 360Nm of torque. It does about 0-100kph in 7.3 seconds and top speed of 150kph, about 30kph slower than every known Japanese car on the road. Because being an electric car, you can get away from a set of lights quicker than the next car because there's no wheelspin start to worry about and who says electric cars are dull? Electric cars are smart, electric cars are cool, electric cars are great as long as you're not taking it for granted. Like the Bolt EV, the Ampera-e comes with Regen on Demand, which allows the driver to slow it down without using the actual brake pedal with just a shift of a paddle, and a One-Pedal Driving feature that helps the driver transfer energy to the battery in many ways. With such energy-efficient features, it's no wonder the Ampera-e has an full electric range of around 380km under WLTP regulations or 520km based on NEDC calculations.

Energy-wise, the Ampera-e also comes with a wide variety of safety tech such as  Lane Departure Warning, Rear Camera Mirror, Surround Vision, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, and Forward Collision Alert, among many other features that makes the electric compact ready for the road ahead.

The Opel Ampera-e is priced at 39,330 Euros, which sounds too much for a compact car of that size, but because of such limited availability in Europe, better have one while you still can because when they're out, they're really out.

With the Ampera-e, Opel joins the electric revolution as Europe prepares for a fossil fuel-free continent for years to come and despite its American connection, the Ampera-e is all about being prepared for the not-too-distant future with its future-ready economy, performance, and tech, that will accommodate today's drivers.

Photo: Opel

Chevrolet Bolt EV

Not to be confused with the Volt with the V (as in Victory) on it which is essentially a plug-in hybrid, the new Chevrolet Bolt EV, B as in Boy, by the way, is a full-fledged zero-emission electric car that envisions General Motors' commitment to reducing carbon emissions for many generations to come. So, what's it all about it, you may ask?

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV interior

First, let's take a look at the Bolt EV's futuristic design and while it looks appealing for a future-ready hatchback, the Bolt EV really fits the city roads of today due to its well-sculpted exterior and its high-tech interior that brings owners' perspectives into action and apart from its high-tech stuff loaded inside, it's generous spacing at the back means that it can accommodate just about your shopping mall hauls in a jiffy. Sure, you can toy the interior all you want but best not to waste its power on some nincompoops because while this is an electric car, it runs solely on electricity, and electricity has become the future for the automotive business. Nothing says business is booming.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

As an electric car, the Bolt EV promises an EPA-estimated 238 miles per charge, meaning that with so much mileage, you can go up to three or four days or more without needing to plug it in, Which means, you can drive this car while going to work and then charge it on Sundays, that's incredible but there's more to it than that because the Bolt EV comes with other features that manage its energy very well such as the Regen on Demand, which allows the driver to slow it down without using the actual brake pedal with just a shift of a paddle, and a One-Pedal Driving feature that helps the driver transfer energy to the battery in many ways. Oh, and did you know that despite being an electric car, the Bolt EV has 200HP of power output and 266lb-ft of torque, meaning that it can get from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds, as fast as what hot hatches do. And like all electric cars, it can get a quick getaway without the wheelspin dilemma. Sneaky, huh? And there are many ways to charge the Bolt EV either at home or at the nearest charging station, as long as you are right on schedule.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Because the Bolt EV is built for the future, it's got numerous safety tech in store for the impressive little electric car such as Lane Departure Warning, Rear Camera Mirror, Surround Vision, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, and Forward Collision Alert, among many other features that promise peace of mind for the occupants.

The Bolt EV starts at 37,495 US Dollars but with federal tax credit applied in some states, it can be offered for less than 29,995 US Dollars. However, it's not easy to get the Bolt EV for your own because as of right now, Oregon and California are the only states selling the Bolt EV and by next year, more will be added soon but I'm not sure if those Bolt EVs can worth profitable now that the upcoming American leader is a big fan of coal, gas, and oil, which is the cornerstones of civilization now and forever. Whatever the political condition is, General Motors is on a risky gamble with these electric compacts.

Available colors: Silver Ice Metallic, Arctic Blue Metallic, Kinetic Blue Metallic, Orange Burst Metallic, Cajun Red Tintcoat, Nightfall Gray Metallic, and Mosaic Black Metallic.

Photo: General Motors

Hyundai IONIQ electric

Last January, Hyundai introduced the IONIQ hybrid hatchback which is known to be South Korea's equivalent to the Toyota Prius and this car promises to be more fun to drive than the commoner's Prius but some had concerns that its double clutch gearbox may repeat the same problem as today's Honda Fit Hybrid, which as a matter of fact, it did.

2017 Hyundai IONIQ electric

2017 Hyundai IONIQ electric interior

For those who are planning to own a new IONIQ but afraid that the double clutch setup on the hybrid variant may upset your driving pleasure, fear not because Hyundai is now offering an electric version of the IONIQ eco hatchback aside and this will be the second addition to the IONIQ as the third variant, the Plug-In Hybrid version, is slated to arrive later this year.

Just like the hybrid version, the electric IONIQ is benefitted to its aerodynamics that delivers a class-leading Cd value of 0.24. To make sure they don't confuse it to the hybrid IONIQ, the electric can be distinguished by the copper colored accents. Why copper? Good question because copper is an element that as the property to conduct electricity. That's some science for you. Also, it even comes with a different interior layout featuring the shift-by-wire system that allows the driver to switch different drive modes at the palm rest.

But unlike the hybrid, the IONIQ electric features a 28kWh li-ion polymer battery and an 88kW drive motor that delivers up to 180km of mileage in one full charge but it varies depending on the certification results in-house test standards per city. It even comes with an inverter that utilizes the advanced indoor heating and uses high-efficiency heating and cooling system to reduce the power consumption, allowing for better driving distance possible.

With the sat-nav set, it is possible to locate the nearest charging stations if the car is running low on power by setting it to ECO route guidance. It calculates real-time traffic, speed, power consumption and so on. Aside from that, they can even change the power settings with the use of the smartphone.

The IONIQ electric also comes with an array of safety features such as autonomous braking assist, Advanced Smart Cruise Control, and Lane Keeping Assist System, just to balance things out.

The electric model is priced at 40 to 43 million won after tax benefit but the availability for the IONIQ electric varies by area. Some are in a "first come, first serve" basis while other areas can determine purchasers via lottery system. You can't just barge in and have one of these. You are going to wait in line like the rest of the Koreans trying to book one, which is kinda lame and boring for a different type of ownership.

Available colors: Polar White, Platinum Silver, Aurora Silver, Phantom Black, Marina Blue, Phoeix Orange, and Blazing Yellow,

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

BMW i3

2014 BMW i3

This is quite a bizarre treat for BMW though. Having managed to create some sort of a zero-emission vehicle for the posh people, not to mention that BMW is a luxury car brand like the others, the new BMW i3 is one heck of a posh compact for those who think that the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt are so...(clears throat)...not their type.

It's the first of BMW's new BMW i sub-brand, which in their philosophy, represents visionary electric vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability. The i3 is more than just a city car peddling its zero-emission smug for the masses, it's just another one of those eco cars that goes "smug alert" owners would go for. I said smug, get it? Smug! Desolation of the smug! Oops! I said it again!

Anyway, while eco cars like the Prius, the Insight, the Leaf, and the Volt, among many others continuing their desolation of the smug alert, would the BMW i3 be part of it or is it? First, let's start with the basics but best to hurry up or else I'm totally tripping balls over this one.

2014 BMW i3

At its normal form, the i3 is generated by an electric motor placed in the rear axle which generates 170PS of power and 250Nm of torque. Yes, I see what they did there, that's more than the Nissan Leaf got by about 61PS but 4Nm less. 0-100kph takes 7.2 seconds and top speed limited to 150kph.

What really amazes me is unlike any other electric compacts which runs on front wheels, the i3 runs on rear-wheels, meaning that in theory, you can really make a mess in your neighborhood without knowing it's you. It's like you're doing the whole "it's not me cubicle shoe trick" where people think you're taking a tinkle instead of pooping at the toilet which you just did. Because it's smaller than any other normal EVs but a bit bigger than the ridiculously boring Mitsubishi i-MiEV, I can only imagine a few idiots willing to risk their lives driving one of these at their nearest shopping center. Get it? Amazing!

The normal version looks great when you're looking for some high-voltage hijinks. No, not the whole Brainiac stuff about electricity but you know what I mean. However, if you're looking for some extended trips, BMW offers the i3 an optional range extender engine, meaning you're turning this from Leaf to Volt because the Volt is a PHEV unlike the Leaf which relies on electricity only. Anyway, the REx option uses the 647cc engine direct from one of BMW's mopeds, the C650 GT. Wait a minute, do you really need an i3 with the option of using a petrol engine from a moped?

For the i3 with the REx option, the petrol engine only kicks in when it's low-batt, serving this as a generator to produce electricity to extend the range by about 320km. It may not be qualified as a suitable car that takes you to a trip from your house in Muntinlupa to a park in Baguio but the optional moped engine is quite handy when you need it until it's time for a recharge.

The BMW i3 has the maximum total range when treated right is up to 200km while the one with the REx option, can last up to 340km. As for the batteries, a DC fast charging will take less than 30 minutes, about the same length as two 15-minute episodes of your favorite cartoon, while charging in AC takes about 3 to 6 hours, and it takes 6 to 8 hours when you charge it at your house via an ICCB outlet. Depending on your schedule, it might be best to plan your charging accordingly because if you left with an i3 with less than what you expect, this is like an embarrassing exit from your house to your school with your toast in your mouth.

2014 BMW i3 interior

I'm starting to think that the BMW i3 is becoming the city car that defies the conventions of what a zero-emission electric cars of today have. I think it's becoming more fun to drive not only because it's rear-wheel drive but maybe because of its zero emission that most idiots would do to drive one of these at the malls without causing too much smoke belchings and its compact sizing which makes it very unique. I do really wish to have one of these but because of its 34,950 Euro pricing, I'm afraid that this is too much to pay for this very enjoyable green car which sends Dr. Bunhead into questioning what in a world would he do for this.

2014 BMW i3

Available colors: Ionic Silver mit Akzent BMW i Blau, Arravanigrau mit Akzent BMW i, Blau, Solarorange mit Akzent Frozen Grey metallic, Laurusgrau mit Akzent BMW i Blau, Andesitsilber mit Akzent BMW i Blau, and Capparisweiß mit Akzent BMW i Blau.

Photo: BMW AG