Chevy Certified Service dealer

Time for a new school year. And new brake pads. Get some peace of mind at your Chevy Certified Service dealer. https://goo.gl/pBTJPL

Posted by Ron Westphal Chevy on Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Time for a new school year. And new brake pads. Get some peace of mind at Ron Westphal Chevrolet – your Chevy Certified Service dealer. https://goo.gl/pBTJPL

Chevy Certified Service dealer
Call us today at 630-598-1029 to schedule your next service appointment.

Or, you can call our service department at 630-598-1029.  They are open Monday through Friday from 7-7 with pickup until 9 pm.  And, on Saturdays they are open from 8-4 with pickup until 6 pm.

We are proud to be your Chevy Certified Service dealer.  Ron Westphal Chevy is located on the corner of Route 30 and 34 in Aurora, IL.

 

New 2017 Chevy Spark for $11,376

New 2017 Chevrolet Spark for only $11,376.

Watch this video to see just how far your dollar goes with Chevrolet.  (Spoiler Alert…it goes really far)

Own a brand, spankin’ new Chevrolet Spark for around $11,000.  Yes, you receive a full bumper to bumper warranty too at no extra cost!  And, it features and easy-to-drive automatic transmission and ice cold air conditioning.

Why buy used when you can get abrand new 2017 Chevrolet Spark for this low price.

To find out more please call our customer care team at 630-598-1029 or visit our website anytime. Thanks!

2018 Chevrolet Colorado

2018 Chevrolet ColoradoRead our most comprehensive review of the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado’s standard features, trim levels, and available options.

Call it the Swiss Army Truck. The 2018 Colorado can do everything from off-road exploring and hefty towing to running school carpools. Chevrolet’s mid-size pickup is highly configurable and aptly skilled, with a trim for every occasion as well as the rugged-and-ready ZR2. It can tow a class-leading 7700 pounds with General Motors’ exclusive diesel inline-four—as can its corporate cousin, the GMC Canyon. The Colorado has two cab and cargo-bed styles that pair with several powertrain choices. A base 200-hp inline-four has a standard six-speed manual, a 308-hp V-6 is exceedingly quick, and a fuel-efficient diesel makes 369 lb-ft of torque. Its handsome looks and excellent infotainment system are undermined by a cheap-looking interior and limited active safety technology. Still, the Colorado is a multipurpose pickup truck that is clever and capable.

Would you like to test drive a brand new 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?  Call our Customer Care Team now at 630-598-1029.

If you like this article than you may enjoy this article about 2018 Equinox Diesel too!

Source: 2018 Chevrolet Colorado | In-Depth Model Review | Car and Driver

future for richard petty motorsports

future for richard petty motorsportsA A lot of the future for Richard Petty Motorsports remains unclear, but one thing is for certain – the team will be moving.

A lot of the future for Richard Petty Motorsports remains unclear, but one thing is for certain – the team will be moving.

Team officials confirmed to Motorsports.com it will not renew its lease at their current 78,000 square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C., that used to be home to Robert Yates Racing. Where RPM ends up probably will depend on it figuring out if it will retain sponsorship from Smithfield Foods, who will drive the famed No. 43 and what manufacturer the team picks.

RPM’s contract with Ford expires at the end of the season. The team reportedly is contemplating a move to Chevrolet – as well as relocating near Richard Childress Racing in Welcome, N.C. The two teams then could create a technical alliance.

“The building is up for lease at the end of the year. RPM chose not to sign the lease for next year,” RPM said. “Plans are still undecided for next year for the team, but they do know the building is too big for their needs.”

Ron Westphal Chevrolet’s future is very clear – We want to be your dealer from start to finish!  Visit our website or call our customer care team to set up your V.I.P. appointment.

The shift is a response to the shrinking sponsorship dollars in the sport and a lack of success. Petty only has one victory since 2014, and that was Aric Almirola’s rain-shortened victory at the 2014 Coke Zero 400 at the Daytona International Speedway.

Smithfield’s deal with RPM also is up at the end of the season. While the Virginia-based company said it would reduce its reported current investment of as much as $12 million a year, several teams are making sales pitches.

Not only is Almirola not certain about his future, but former truck and Xfinity series driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. is in limbo as a possible replacement.

Clement’s win shakes

up Xfinity playoffs

Jeremy Clements’ unexpected victory last Sunday at Road America sent shock waves throughout NASCAR. Not only did it shake up the playoff picture for the Xfinity Series, it drew rave reviews from other drivers.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., Daniel Suarez, David Ragan, Michael Waltrip, Regan Smith, Michael McDowell, Matt DiBenedetto and Jeb Burton were just a few of the fellow drivers who posted immediate reactions on social media.

Clements was making his 256th career start in the series. He and Matt Tifft spun off track coming to the white flag while fighting for the lead, but Clements was quicker to recover and win the race.

The No. 51 Chevrolet, originally built in 2008, is owned by the 32-year-old driver and his father, Tony Clements.

Earnhardt posted, “Wild finish. Awesome to see small teams do big things,” on Twitter, while McDowell wrote: “Really awesome for him and his family. Legit underdog team and driver got it done today.”

Clements was quick to remember the 15-year struggle to win his first NASCAR race.

“I drive for a small family team,” Clements said. “Just to get a win in any of these starts is amazing. To even be here is very hard. We’ve got to make a lot of sacrifices.”

Clements joined Ryan Reed, Justin Allgaier and William Bryon as drivers who’ve clinched a spot in the playoffs with a victory, while Elliott Sadler has qualified on points. That leaves seven remaining spots with just three races to go in the regular season.

If a non-winner who’s committed to the Xfinity championship wins at either Darlington, S.C., Richmond, Va., or Joliet, Ill., the spots will be filled by the highest-ranking drivers in the standings.

Right now those would be Brendan Poole, Daniel Hemric, Cole Custer, Tifft and Blake Koch.

Ron Westphal Chevrolet serves the Joliet, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, Elgin, Naperville, Plainfield, Yorkville, Plano, Sandwich, St. Charles, Batavia, Wheaton, Elburn, Aurora and surrounding communities.

Source: NASCAR NOTEBOOK: Future uncertain for Richard Petty Motorsports | SavannahNow

chevrolet camaro zl1 1le

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Won't Be Sold in EuropeThe extra bodywork on the fastest Camaro ever makes it hazardous to European pedestrians.

The 650-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, the boss of the sixth-generation Camaros, will not be available in Europe. You might think it’s because of limited availability, low demand, or emissions, but it’s for a much weirder reason. According to a feature from Motor Trend, the ZL1 1LE is illegal to sell in Europe because the aerodynamic bodywork is too dangerous for pedestrians.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Won't Be Sold in Europe because of body panelsA weapon on the track, Europe is worried this car would quite literally be a weapon on the street. Additional bodywork exclusive to the ZL1 1LE includes a huge front splitter and dive planes which serve a functional purpose in improving downforce and cooling. The fact that it all makes the car look badass is just a bonus.

Unfortunately, those extra wings and blades sticking out of the Camaro’s beautiful face are just too extreme for European roads. Getting hit by a standard Camaro would be bad enough, but to get run over by a ZL1 1LE would ruin your whole day with that extra bodywork attacking you, according to the report.

If these aero mods were purely cosmetic, it would be easy for Chevy to bust them off or just swap out the front end with a regular Camaro to make it legal in Europe. However, since it’s all functional and pretty important for making the ZL1 1LE the car that it is, this beauty just won’t fly across the pond.

The Camaro ZL1 1LE eats up the Nurburgring in just 7:16.04, which is 16 seconds faster than a Shelby Mustang GT350 R. The track is where this car was born—and unfortunately, that’s where it will stay as far as Europe is concerned. Our friends in Europe will have to settle for the “milquetoast” Camaro ZL1 without the 1LE track package.

If you like this article than you may enjoy this one too

Ron Westphal Chevrolet is located in Aurora, IL.  We serve clients in Chicago, Downers Grove, Plainfield, Joliet, Bolingbrook, Wheaton, Elburn, Yorkville, Plano, Sandwich, St. Charles, Batavia and more.

Source: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Won’t Be Sold in Europe Because the Aerodynamics Are Too Dangerous – The Drive

Chevy Bolt Federal Credits

Chevy Bolt Federal Credits

Chevy Bolt Federal Credits MI – General Motors thinks the U.S. electric-vehicle market is on the cusp of going mainstream, but the Detroit automaker and other key players may soon reach sales volumes ending an important consumer tax rebate established years ago to kick start the segment.

Looking for your own EV?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-598-1029 for additional details or visit our website.

“We are near the tipping point for mainstream adoption,” says Darrin Gesse, product manager for the Chevrolet Bolt battery-electric vehicle.

Gesse characterizes the popularity of EVs as moving from first adopters to first-followers, where more first-time buyers are converting over from gasoline. He says 33% of Bolt owners did not previously own an alternative-propulsion vehicle and one-third of them traded in a gasoline-powered car.

The Bolt has been a boost to Chevy’s technical reputation among Americans, he adds, with 70% of buyers new to the brand.

Chevy Bolt owners average plug in every three daysAt the same time, federal credits for plug-in electric vehicles, which vary in amount based on battery capacity, are capped at 200,000 sales. The second calendar quarter after an automaker crosses that threshold the tax rebate available to a buyer of one of their PHEVs is halved, according to the IRS. The fourth quarter after that it is cut to 25% of the original value and it is phased out altogether at the beginning of the sixth quarter.

According to WardsAuto data, GM has delivered 150,051 PHEVs in the U.S. since Jan 1, 2010, when counting began for the credits. Tesla follows with an estimated 132,970 sales, although their total should rise sharply when thousands of reservations for the Model 3 are filled, putting the EV-maker past 200,000 deliveries ahead of GM.

Executives at Nissan, which has sold 113,282 Leaf BEVs, told WardsAuto in 2015 they were hoping to negotiate with federal officials to keep the credits going. Absent that, Nissan says more work must be done to slash battery costs.

Consultant McKinsey estimates the 60-kWh battery pack in the Bolt is a $13,600 component.

Gesse says it is unclear how GM intends to manage an end to its credits, but admits the automaker likely will have the luxury of watching Tesla’s reaction. He declines to speculate whether GM would have to slash pricing on a car such as the Bolt.

The federal government also could make changes to the program before either company exceeds 200,000 sales, and state governments offer programs, too. Colorado, for example, offers a hefty $6,000 tax credit.

Whatever occurs, Gesse says GM will not walk away from plug-ins.

“If anything, we’re gearing up more and more,” he says.

Ron Westphal Chevrolet is a recently renovated, family-owned dealership located in Aurora, IL near Naperville, Plainfield, Joliet, Bolingbrook, Chicago, Wheaton, Elburn, St. Charles, Yorkville, Sandwich, Plano, Downers Grove and more.

Source:  jamend@wardsauto.com

$3000 cash back on new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox models

Ron Westphal Chevrolet is offering $3000 cash back on new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox models but this incentive is scheduled to end soon on September 11th, 2017.

$3000 cash back on new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox models
$3000 cash back on new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox models

Receive up to an extra $1500 Loyalty rebate on select new models during September.  This incentive in addition to many other rebates/incentives!

2017 Year End Closeout is going strong and models are selling out quickly. Call our Customer Care Team today at 630-598-1029 for all the latest details or visit our website anytime.

Visit us soon for the best selection.  We currently have over 400 vehicles in stock to choose from!

You may also enjoy this article about 2018 Equinox Styling.

NHRA Chevrolet Performance US Nationals

Chevrolet Top Fuel Racing

NHRA Chevrolet Performance US Nationals Saturday qualifying report

CLAY MILLICAN SETS TRACK RECORD; GREG ANDERSON, EDDIE KRAWIEC, MATT HAGAN TOP SATURDAY POLES

SEPTEMBER 2, 2017

Chevrolet Top Fuel Racing

Clay Millican set a new track record, Greg Anderson and Eddie Krawiec took over the poles, and Matt Hagan remained the No. 1 qualifier through Saturday’s action at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.

Looking for your own speed demon?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-598-1029 or visit our website.

Steve Torrence piloted his Capco Contractors dragster to the Top Fuel NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout victory Saturday at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the world’s biggest drag race, at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.In other racing, Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 18th of 24 events on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Torrence ran a 3.673-second pass at 329.50 mph to defeat Tony Schumacher’s 3.680 pass at 330.31 in his U.S. Army dragster during the specialty event final round to win the $100,000 prize. It was Torrence’s third Traxxas Shootout finals appearance and first win.

Top Fuel Racing

“This is just the icing on the cake; to go to Indy and be able to race in the Traxxas Shootout,” Torrence said. “Thanks to Mike Jenkins and all those guys at Traxxas that put this on. This is an unbelievable deal. When you come out here and you race for 100,000 grand and it’s a race-within-a-race, the competition level is at its highest. It’s the baddest eight guys in drag racing and when you go up there you have to bring your A-game every lap and we were able to come out with a win.”

Millican set the Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis Top Fuel elapsed-time record during the third of five qualifying sessions when he put up a 3.663 run at 329.10 in his Parts Plus / Great Clips dragster.

“I’m glad to be up here tonight. I know we have two more runs tomorrow,” Millican said. “I’m just so proud of (crew chief) David Grubnic and (assistant crew chief) Mac Savage and all the guys that work on that car. They’re the ones who should be up here talking, not me. They deserve all the credit, not me. I didn’t even look at the Christmas tree. My job on a run like that is to do everything a driver is supposed to do to give the race team everything they want from a driver.”

Leah Pritchett is in the No. 2 spot with her 3.667 run at 329.50 in her Papa John’s dragster from Friday and Torrence is in third.

Hagan leads the Funny Car field heading into day three of qualifying with his track record run of 3.799 at 338.77 in the Mopar Express Lanes Dodge Charger R/T during Friday’s opening qualifying run.

Steve Torrence

NHRA TOP FUEL

Steve Torrence $100,000 richer with NHRA Traxxas Shootout victory

Brimming with confidence Saturday after shedding his runner-up image in the Traxxas Shootout for Top Fuel, Steve Torrence is taking aim at the Don Schumacher Racing trio of Antron …

“I think everyone was surprised we didn’t improve,” Hagan said. “Last night was really killer, tonight was pretty killer. You lay the runs over each other and they’re identical. It’s just wild. You’re up there splitting hairs to make these cars run. It’s a real fine line. A little here and a little there makes such a difference. We got us a hot rod though, man. It’s running good, knock on wood, with three good runs in a row. It builds confidence.”

National record holder Robert Hight and his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro is currently second with teammates Courtney Force following in third and John Force in fourth.

In Pro Stock Anderson ran a 6.561 pass at 210.11 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro in the third qualifying round to take over the No. 1 spot from rookie Tanner Gray.

“I’m a little bit surprised,” Anderson said. “The weather conditions are great out there but not nearly what they were yesterday. Quite honestly, the class as a whole kind of missed yesterday. We knew even though the weather conditions were off today if we made a better quality run we could get close and have a chance. It took a very high-quality run. We made a beautiful run and I didn’t leave much on the table.”

Gray is in the second position with his 6.566 pass at 209.88 in his Gray Motorsports / Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro from Friday evening and Drew Skillman, who has three wins this season, is in third with a 6.570 at 209.33 in his Ray Skillman Chevrolet Camaro.

Krawiec raced to the top of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category with a 6.822 pass at 196.62 on his Screamin’ Eagle / Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson during his third qualifying run to bump teammate Andrew Hines to the second spot.

“Our bikes are performing well,” said Krawiec, who won the event in 2014. “We’ve made a lot of different chassis changes as the season has gone forward. It’s been a little bit of a challenge, a little bit of a struggle, but we’ve finally felt that we’ve turned the corner. That’s a tribute to our crew. It takes a lot of effort out here. It’s not one person, I just happen to be the individual on the motorcycle.”

Hines’ 6.825 pass at 194.74 from Friday night keeps him above Matt Smith who ran a 6.840 at 196.02 in the third session and is in the current No. 3 spot.

The third and final day of qualifying at the 63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals begins Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Catch the action live at noon and 5 p.m. on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).

Thanks for reading about Chevrolet Top Fuel Racing.

Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/nhra/nhra-chevrolet-performance-us-nationals-saturday-qualifying-report#ixzz4rcJ5OSjbSource: NHRA Chevrolet Performance US Nationals Saturday qualifying report | Autoweek

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel first drive: Ready for the long, if not heavy haul | Fox News

2018 Chevrolet Equinox DieselGeneral Motors will soon offer 12 models powered by diesel engines in the United States, but don’t call them the dirty dozen.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel:  General Motors will soon offer 12 models powered by diesel engines in the United States, but don’t call them the dirty dozen. Despite the recent Volkswagen emissions scandal, and a quickening industry-wide shift toward electrification, GM sees a promising future for the technology.

Looking for a Diesel Equinox?  Call our Customer Care Team today at 630-598-1029 or visit us online.

The lineup covers a wide range of vehicles that already includes the Chevrolet Cruze, GM’s heavy duty trucks and even the high performance off-road Chevy Colorado ZR2 pickup. But the newest entries have the potential to be the biggest-sellers.

Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain compact utility vehicles powered by diesel engines are on the way to showrooms now. They will be the only diesels and boast the highest highway fuel economy in the segment when they go on sale in a couple of weeks. The pair use the same 137 hp 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine as the Cruze, and get EPA ratings of 39 mpg highway (38 mpg AWD) and 32 mpg combined. Only the Nissan Rogue Hybrid has a better combined rating at 34 mpg, but it trails the GM models on the highway at 35 mpg. The Equinox can also go 577 miles between freeway fill-ups (592 miles for AWD models thanks to a larger tank.)

GM’s sales pitch is based largely on that highway efficiency, and the robust 240 lb-ft of torque that comes with it. By contrast, the standard 170 hp 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine has 203 lb-ft of torque, but only gets 32 mpg highway, while an optional 252 hp 2.0-liter engine cranks out 260 lb-ft of torque and a 29 mpg highway rating.

Dan Nicholson, GM Vice President Global Propulsion Systems, is confident there is a large and largely untapped market for diesel-powered light duty vehicles in the United States. He points to the success of the Colorado and GMC Canyon diesels, which make up about 10 percent of the sales for those two midsize pickups, along with studies that found 16 percent of compact crossover buyers would consider a diesel, which will represent nearly half a million of them by 2020.

When asked if VW’s woes have soured consumers on diesels, Nicholson said indications are that owners felt let down by the brand but don’t blame the technology. They’re still interested when it’s done properly, and he stresses that the latest offerings from GM have had their emissions certified under the most rigorous federal scrutiny yet required.

During a very short drive of the Equinox diesel on secondary roads, the engine felt as potent as advertised. The Equinox exhibited strong acceleration, and even a little torque steer in the front-wheel-drive model I was in when I floored the accelerator. GM claims the engine is roughly half as loud as the diesel in the Jaguar F-Pace, and it is nearly silent while cruising. Tucking the timing chain into the transmission bell housing at the back of the engine for added insulation was one clever way GM’s engineers reduced some of the noise. However, it still makes a muffled, yet recognizable diesel clatter at idle and under load.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel(Super-short Equinox review: regardless of engine, I think it’s one of the best vehicles in its class, which includes the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. It’s very refined, has an excellent ride and plenty of room for passengers and cargo, plus lots of tech. The only thing missing is adaptive cruise control, although you can get it with automatic emergency brakes. The old Equinox was a strong-seller. This one definitely deserves to be.)

I didn’t get to go far enough to get a read on fuel economy, but assistant chief engineer Mike Siegrist said he gets better than the EPA rating at sustained high speeds in the real world. That’s often the case with diesel engines and likely to be true here.

One advantage the diesel Equinox doesn’t have over the gas models is towing. Its official rating is the same as the 1.5-liter’s at 1,500 pounds and well below the 2.0-liter’s 3,500-pound max. Considering diesels are typically touted for their heavy hauling capability, this might seem counterintuitive, but the Equinox body doesn’t deliver enough cooling airflow for the hotter-running diesel engine in the toughest tests. Nevertheless, Siegrist said that towing isn’t a top concern for shoppers in this segment.

As for what they’ll pay, the lowest priced diesel available is a mid-level Equinox LT, which starts at $31,435. The closest comparably-equipped Equinox with the 1.5-liter is $1,795 less, and the 2.0-liter $600 more (although both of those have a power liftgate that’s valued at $400 and only available on the diesel through a much different configuration.)

The diesel will save the average driver $100 and $550 annually compared to each engine, respectively (minus an extra $15-$20 every 5,000-6,000 miles to refill the required diesel exhaust fluid that keeps it clean.) That’s assuming 15,000 miles driven each year. If you do more of those on the highway, or the spread between gas and diesel prices where you live is smaller, the savings will be greater.

Ultimately, GM is offering a unique choice for a specific type of customer, not a silver bullet for all. If you’re a long-hauler, but don’t haul a whole lot, it could be the right one for you.

Thanks for reading this article about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel.  You may also enjoy this article:  2018 Equinox Video Review

Source: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel first drive: Ready for the long, if not heavy haul | Fox News

Chevrolet Bolt recall: Battery Might Die Suddenly, GM Warns Some Owners

Chevrolet Bolt recallA few hundred owners of the Chevrolet Bolt have been asked by the automaker to have their battery checked. The company warns that the Chevrolet Bolt battery might unexpectedly run out.

Chevrolet Bolt recall-

General Motors is warning some owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV that their electric car may suddenly lose power because of faulty battery cells—the first known battery glitch for the automaker’s well-received all-electric car.

If you own a Bolt, feel free to contact our Service Department at  between the hours of 7-7 daily or 8-4 on Saturdays at 630-898-9630 or drop by.  We will be happy to check and see if your Bolt is affected.

Or, you can always visit us online to schedule an appointment.

“Due to a battery low-voltage condition, the car may incorrectly report remaining range at low states of charge and lose propulsion before the customer expects,” Chris Bonelli, coordinator of global advanced technology communications for GM, said Friday morning.

Bonelli added, “Of the more than 10,000 Bolt EVs sold to date, less than 1 percent have experienced this issue so far.” But a few hundred have shown signs that the battery is at risk, and GM is contacting the owners of these vehicles, he said.

What Bolt Owners Should Do

Owners contacted by GM should take their Bolt into their dealer. A mechanic will inspect and repair the battery, or change it out. For replacements, owners will get a new, already tested battery that GM knows is operating correctly, Bonelli said.

“We don’t want all owners to think they’re going to have an issue,” he said. “This happens with a very low state of charge. If someone is affected, we’ll contact them soon and get it addressed as soon as possible.”

GM is not aware of any injury or damage reports because of this issue, he said.

If you haven’t received a notice but still have concerns, Consumer Reports recommends paying more attention to the remaining expected range gauge on their cars.

“Keep your state of battery charge high, even if that means topping it before you normally would,” says Jennifer Stockburger, director at CR’s Auto Test Center.

CR also recently tested the Bolt’s range in a head-to-head comparison with Tesla’s Model S 75D, under normal driving conditions. The Bolt traveled 250 miles before running out of juice on one full charge. The Model S made it 235 miles in the CR test.

Bonelli said the automaker became aware of the problem from data sent through GM’s OnStar telematics system, which sends vehicle performance information from the car to the automaker.

Consumer Reports owns a 2017 Bolt EV (shown above), and we’ve run just over 4,000 miles on it without a battery incident, according to CR chief mechanic John Ibbotson. And CR has not been notified to date by GM, he adds.

The 2017 Bolt EV is a CR-recommended vehicle in the electric car/hybrid category.

One Driver’s Experience

The effect of the sudden power was dramatic for Brad Berman. His Bolt stopped suddenly on a North Berkeley, Calif., road even though readouts indicated that it had dozens of miles of range available.

He said the failure came with little warning. Berman, 54, spoke with Consumer Reports on Friday. He first noted his incident on PluginCars.com.

“There was some kind of warning, a mild beep of some kind, that would indicate that you had a door ajar, but there wasn’t even enough time to figure that out on the dashboard before the steering wheel shuddered,” he said. “It was a dramatic and immediate halting of the car’s movement.”

Berman was on his way home from work as a journalist and video producer, and was less than a mile from his home when the Bolt stopped around 5 p.m. Aug. 8.

“From every indication, the car had juice,” he said. “The only thing is, when I would try to shift—in the middle of a busy road where people whip around very fast—into Drive or Reverse, there was a message saying that it couldn’t be done.

“I tried to reboot the car: power down, power back up, and try again. I did that two to three times, until I realized ‘I’m not moving.’ It’s basically like a panic situation, because you don’t know what’s happening.

“After about 2 minutes, I just put it into Neutral. I let it roll back to where I could basically parallel park. It stopped blocking someone’s driveway, but to move it any more would have placed it into a curve in the road,” Berman said. He gave up and walked home, where he waited 2 hours for a tow truck to pick up his car.

Berman said he remains impressed with the Bolt’s range capability and said he’s a little frustrated by the 13 days it took to get his car back, and what he considered a lack of information from GM about the situation. Still, he said he understands that “it’s premature, because we don’t know what the deal is. The dealer said that they had not experienced this event before.”

It’s rare, but not unheard of, for new electric cars to have issues around battery strength readouts. Nissan issued two service bulletins for its Leaf electric car, for the 2011 and 2012 model years. One bulletin instructed dealers on how to improve the accuracy of the battery capacity level gauge, and the other instructed them on how to help owners whose Leaf wouldn’t start under certain conditions.

Thanks for reading this article.  You may also like: 10 Reasons why I like my Bolt better than my Tesla 

Source: Chevrolet Bolt Battery Might Run Out Suddenly, Automaker Warns Some Owners