Chevrolet Bolt EV: The long way home

Having undertaken a 1,750km-plus road trip from the UAE to Oman and back, the Chevrolet Bolt EV has proven it can tackle any real-world driving situation

The 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV has firmly established itself at the top of its segment with a stunning demonstration of its incredible 500km-plus driving range as part of the 2018 Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) recently. The nine-day event, which was flagged off on January 18 from Abu Dhabi covered over 1,750 kilometres, with stopovers in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sohar and Muscat across the border in Oman, before concluding in Dubai.

Molly Peck, Chief Marketing Officer at General Motors Middle East, said: “The EVRT Middle East presented the perfect opportunity to put our Chevrolet Bolt EV credentials to the test in real-word regional conditions. This road trip put our vehicle through its paces proving that it is the best-in-class affordable long-range EV in its segment. We are extremely proud to have been EVRT’s Official Vehicle Partner throughout the 1,750km feat. Dedicated to playing a major role in the Middle East’s future mobility revolution we will continue to support the acceleration of EVs across the region.”

The first leg of the trip included a drive to Madinat Zayed, which the Chevrolet Bolt EV dominated with less than a full battery charge. After a quick stop to get battery charge levels up to full capacity, the Chevrolet Bolt EV was ready to take on the nearly 400km run to Sohar in Oman.

Tackling real-world conditions of city driving as well as long highway cruises, the Chevrolet Bolt EV rendered the phrase ‘range anxiety’ all but meaningless – covering the four-hour-plus journey with enough charge and driving range to spare.

Following a recharge at Sohar, the Chevrolet Bolt EV was once again ready to take on the next challenge – a 200km-plus drive to the Omani capital, Muscat. Expectedly, the trip was covered with substantial driving range still available from the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s most-potent-in-class 60kWh battery pack.

Another recharge and the Chevrolet Bolt EV headed back into the UAE, driving along the stunning coastal roads that connect Muscat to Fujairah via a pit-stop in Sohar. At the end of the over 350km drive, the Chevrolet Bolt EV reaffirmed its practicality as an electric vehicle you can literally drive across countries, just as you would a conventional petrol vehicle, albeit without the emissions.

With the final recharge at Fujairah, it was time for the Chevrolet Bolt EV to embark on the home stretch of the road trip culminating at Dubai Sustainability City via Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah. Perhaps the longest distance anyone would reasonably cover in a daily driving situation.

Having covered in excess of 1,750 kilometres in the epic nine-day road trip, the Chevrolet Bolt EV has proven that it is adept at tackling any every-day driving situation. And with a 500km-plus driving range, the Chevrolet Bolt EV has also proven that range anxiety is a thing of the past.

Photo Caption: from left to right, Gary D. West, Urban Active Operations Manager, GM International, Ben Pullen, Co-Founder Global Electric Vehicle Road Trip, Molly Peck, Chief Marketing Officer, General Motors Middle East.