Chevy Bolt EV Rollout – Monthly LVEVA Meeting at Findlay Chevrolet on August 12th

The Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association held its monthly general meeting at Findlay Chevrolet in the dealership’s conference room from 10 AM to noon on August 12th.

Findlay Chevrolet is located near South Rainbow Blvd. and Hwy 215 intersection at:

6800 S. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89118
Contact Tel: 782-982-4000

Chevrolet Bolt EV

This month’s meeting featured a special presentation about the Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car that will be making its Nevada debut during September 2017.

Chevrolet Bolt EV Interior and Dashboard

Doug Fleming, General Manager of the Findlay Chevrolet dealership, gave all attendees the latest Bolt EV 2017 brochure that included vehicle specifications, as well as optional vehicle colors, interior trim, and 17-inch wheel designs.

A 60 kilowatt-hour battery pack and electric motor drive train enable the Bolt EV to travel 238 miles between charging sessions, while accelerating from zero to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds with 226 lb.-ft. of torque.

A myChevrolet mobile app allows integration of a personal mobile phone with the operation of the vehicle and the onboard MyLink 10.2-inch, touch-screen console display through either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. A built-in WiFi hotspot, voice recognition and voice feedback capabilities offer additional “hands-free” operation features for the driver, converting the Bolt EV into a mobile phone on wheels.

Energy Usage and Range Analysis screens give the driver real time feedback on driving performance.

There are two basic model package configurations, the Bolt EV LT and the Bolt EV Premier. The Premier model has a Driver Confidence package of accessories that include more Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, as well as a Comfort and Convenience package that includes heated seats.

More specifications and features can also be found online at the GM Chevrolet website:

http://www.chevrolet.com/byo-vc/client/en/US/chevrolet/bolt-ev/2017/bolt-ev/features/trims/?styleOne=388584

Chevy Bolt EV charging port with SAE Combo connector for DC Fast Charging.

LVEVA Vice-President Justin Steele ordered a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier and a 2017 Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric hybrid vehicle for his family, to replace his existing 2012 Nissan LEAF and 2012 Chevrolet Bolt.

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is a game changer for the automotive industry and has won several awards that include Motor Trend 2017 Car of the Year and Green Car Journal’s 2017 Green Car of the Year.

GM is also basing its autonomous vehicle research efforts on the Chevrolet Bolt EV platform. The company’s Cruise ride sharing program is under development in San Francisco. Four modified Chevy Bolt EVs were seen charging at the Desert Research Institute on Flamingo Road in Las Vegas during August 2017.

LVEVA Media Coverage and Upcoming Events

Latest happenings at Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association during June and July 2017:

1. Installation for LVEVA Officer Positions: Lloyd Reece will continue as President and Treasurer while Justin Steele replaces Evan Eskelson as Vice-President. Stan Hanel will take over as Secretary for website administration and social media communications.

2. Media coverage:
Las Vegas Review-Journal with video featuring LVEVA President Lloyd Reece demonstrating the operation of his Nissan LEAF:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/nevada-prepares-for-an-electric-car-boom/

Las Vegas Business Press regarding EV infrastructure statewide, written by Stan Hanel:

https://businesspress.vegas/economy/transportation/new-law-promotes-electric-car-infrastructure-in-nevada/

News3-TV, Channel 3 of LVEVA President Lloyd Reece and his Nissan LEAF, as well as his vintage 1982 Lectra Motors electric car:

http://news3lv.com/news/local/electric-car-lovers-still-confident-in-nevada

KLAS-TV, Channel 8 regarding Nevada Electric Highway charging station infrastructure and featuring two members of Las Vegas Tesla Owners and their Model S vehicles:

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/nevada-installs-electric-car-charging-stations-around-the-state/763311065

3. Upcoming Events:

August 12th: LVEVA Monthly Meeting at Findlay Chevrolet Special presentation about Chevrolet Bolt EV with test drives if models available (see post above).

September 9th: National Drive Electric Week event and electric car rally in Las Vegas on Saturday at Springs Preserve from 10 AM to 2 PM:

https://driveelectricweek.org/event.php?eventid=983

Note: This event is scheduled for the second Saturday of September and coincides with the same time slot as the monthly general meeting of the Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association during that month.

EV Summit at RTC Mobile Training Center during March 2017

On March 8th, the Southern Nevada Strong coalition hosted an educational discussion about electric vehicles. The event was organized by Marie Steele, Manager of Electric Vehicles and Renewable Energy at NV Energy, with support from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy and the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission.

Electric Bus Showcased during EV Summit at RTC Mobile Training Center.
NAVYA autonomous electric shuttle bus exhibited by Keolis
NAVYA autonomous electric shuttle bus exhibited by Keolis

The location of the EV presentation was at the Mobile Training Center of the RTC in Las Vegas and featured electric buses from Proterra, NAVYA, GreenPower Bus, and Adomani, as well as electric cars from Nissan, Tesla, and BMW.

Nissan Regional EV Sales Manager Valerie Kornahrens and Roland Lewis, Fleet Sales Manager from United Nissan explain features of Nissan LEAF.
Nissan Regional EV Sales Manager Valerie Kornahrens and Roland Lewis, Fleet Sales Manager from United Nissan explain features of Nissan LEAF.

Ahern Energy provided portable solar-powered trailers that supported a ChargePoint AC Level 2 charging station to replenish the battery packs of the vehicles on display while parked.

Ahern Energy portable solar-powered trailer can recharge electric cars and also feature programmable advertising on a digital billboard display.
Ahern Energy portable solar-powered trailer can recharge electric cars and also feature programmable advertising on a digital billboard display.
Tesla Model X is recharged from ChargePoint CT4000 mounted on an Ahern Energy solar-powered trailer.
Tesla Model X is recharged from ChargePoint CT4000 mounted on an Ahern Energy solar-powered trailer.

International Drive Electric Week 2016

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The Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association participated in the annual National Drive Electric Week from September 10 – 18, 2016 by sponsoring a local gathering of electric car owners at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve on Saturday, September 10th from 10 AM to 2 PM:

https://driveelectricweek.org/event.php?eventid=590

The Las Vegas event was staged in the parking lot beneath a photovoltaic solar canopy that tracks the sun as it provides power to two ChargePoint stations. Four SAE J1772 AC Level 2 charging ports were available to visiting electric cars during the event at no cost.

A gallery of pictures from the EVent can be found below.

Collaborating organizations and co-sponsors included Nissan, NV Energy, Springs Preserve, Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, Clean Energy Project,  Las Vegas Tesla Owners, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, DC Solar, Verdek, ChargePoint, and ClipperCreek.

DC Solar and Las Vegas Motor Speedway provided an additional Chargepoint CT4020 AC Level 2 station with two ports.

The ChargePoint station was mounted on a trailer with two photovoltaic solar panels that could be adjusted to different angles to track the sun. A backup battery pack and gasoline generator were available to provide supplemental power from the trailer.

The third annual “Electric Juice Bar Crawl” featured a caravan of electric vehicles that toured local public recharging station sites in Las Vegas, as well as offered rides to visitors.

ClipperCreek donated a model HCS-40 SAE J1772 AC Level 2 EVSE charging station that was raffled to support LVEVA educational outreach efforts.

Jason and Marci Semerau, owners of a Nissan LEAF, were the winners of the Clipper Creek charging station.

Refreshments and beverages were by the LVEVA, SolarNV, and Verdek, LLC during the event.

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