A quick correction for you, the battery heater does function when CCS charging in cold conditions. The complaint is that charge rate is reduced when the battery pack is cold, and the heater is only 2 KW. The problem is that the battery heater shuts off around 64F pack temperature, and at that point maximum charge amps is still limited to less than 110 amps. This may seem like a lot, but the Bolt max charging amps with a warm battery is 150 amps. I think the logic was that when they set up the programming for the system, most publicly available CCS chargers maxed out at 100 amps, with a few 125 amp stations. Now with lots of 125 amp stations and 150+ amp stations becoming available they need to reprogram the battery heater to vary it's shut off point based on power available, so it stays on to a much higher pack temperature when connected to a higher power CCS station to maximize charging rate.
Thank you for sharing, Just my opinion, on THEY...... the thinking is, that the product is made as CHEAP as one will allow, then we, the driver will pay and relay info, making all this possible! I can be really Negative about the issue for good reason, though what good will that do?
Makes sense -- most households only have a 100 amp service for 240 volts. So one might want a 200 amp service to run the pure DC charger. A 0°C internal resistance is probably triple. Internal resistance will limit safe charge/discharge rate or charge rate in general. Pure DC charge rates will be higher than half wave DC due to internal resistance vs duty cycle of current applied. One could lessen some of the internal resistance driving issues with a design that incorporated super-capacitors for acceleration demands, but that would be a lump of about 130 super-capacitor cells $$ :) The future would seem to indicate a fuel cell car might be more practical anywhere warm weather and cheap hydro-electricity are absent. It is a moving target for the tax-man however that tends to stifle running cost advantages.
I was going to comment about what you could do if the car won't quick charge. My Bolt will run the battery heater while powered up, ready to drive. So, if the Bolt won't quick charge because the battery is too cold, one could let the car sit while powered up and it will heat the battery. Although, if you are quick charging, you have likely already been driving for a while and the battery should be plenty warm. I'll have to find a way to take measurements, but mine only seems to heat the battery to a tad above freezing. Heating all the way to 64 F would take way too much energy if the car isn't plugged in.
Thank you very much for taking the time to produce these videos. They are an amazing resource and fascinating to watch. This channel is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to learn more about emerging electric vehicle technologies.
I grew up in a Chevy family where my dad ran super stock at Detroit Dragway. I own a Chev. Bolt and just felt if it works it works, and I'll leave it to the dealer. I will still do that. I could help my dad build a big block Chevy engine, right up from the block - but fairly mystified going EV. Now I don't feel quite as mystified. Thank you Professor.
Thank you Professor John Kelly! I come from a long line of mechanics in my family, my father taught me to remove, disassemble, and reassemble automatic transmissions when I was 10 years old. I have always been fascinated by the mechanics of motor vehicles. You are a brilliant person I really appreciate all of the videos I have watched. Now that I have a Bolt EV, I am a bit more up to date on the workings and engineering because of your wonderful instruction. Best to you !
Thank you for explaining these systems so clearly and thoroughly, that most technically inclined folks can understand it. Very much appreciated, Professor!
I did not have an interest in hybrids, UNTIL I started watching your videos about them. I find the technology fascinating, and your presentation style makes it easy to learn. You are a wonderful teacher. Thank you for sharing.
You need to enroll in wherever he is teaching. There is a need for mechanics ready for an onslaught of routine service and the occasional trouble-shooting. Get in now, and work up to shop and dealership manager and retire with a nice cushion and a beach house.
The Bolt is not a "hybrid". It is a plug-in EV and one "years ahead" of every piece of shit Tesla in engineering, technology, durability, reliability and overall "value".
@@deeremeyer1749 one would hope it’s “years ahead” of Tesla, considering how long ago GM had been researching and developing EVs. GM had been making EVs since at least 1996
Good afternoon Professor John, I just want to say how lucky your students are to have a teacher like you, I would stay in class for 24 hours to study all the information you can give, you were dizzy from my years of study in technical college in Republic of Moldova. I would like to be a student again and I would like to have a teacher like you. Thank you Kind regards Arty
THANK YOU for making these!! I have been looking for many months for a long-form tear-down of a modern EV and could not find any. I thought they didn't exist until I stumbled on yours. This Bolt EV series is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. On top of that, you are EXCELLENT at explaining these things in a methodical, straightforward way. Thank you again, I really appreciate this resource.
Again, thanks to Weber State and Prof Kelly for this outstanding series. I am trying to watch all of them as a wealth of clearly presented, factual information is available!
These videos are STILL being helpful Professor! I am having intermittent AC charging issue on my 2021 car ("Unable to charge" error), so was able to bone up on the related components watching this video. Helpful for being able to talk halfway intelligently to the dealer. The ECU is not storing a fault code so I want to persuade them to check wiring harness and connectors. Now I know where the connectors are!
@@WeberAuto By the way, are you aware of where the ECM unit is on the car? The car finally threw a code at the dealer, and it pointed to the ECM. Personally I think it is a loose connector or a harness that is triggering the ECM code because the charging fault is extremely random. Charges fine for months. Then won't charge, or flashes back and forth between charge and unable to charge error. I am just wondering if the ECM is anywhere near the Onboard charger module, because I want to coax them into reseating all those connectors while in there. th-cam.com/video/iq_PCPyJGco/w-d-xo.html
Prof. Kelly & team - a great video series. Your presentation from puzzle pieces to a complete system overview running through stages, is just fascinating. It brings utmost clarity. Thank you for taking out time to make this series.
Thank you for the explanation of the under hood components! As a Bolt EV owner, I am really enjoying this series. I’m definitely looking forward to the motor tear down.
This is one of the best tutorial series I have ever found on UT. Much learned on every single one posted. New technology is hard to keep up with, but this nails it totally with this series. Keep up the great work.... Highly recommend to backyard mechanics (or wanna be's).
It's hardly "new technology" unless you're a Teslatard that believes Elon the Icon "invented" plug-in electric vehicles. Pretty much all of that "new technology" dates back decades to the GM EV-1.
I've watched a shit ton of your videos. Can I get college credit? I am so much better informed now. I bought one of these things after watching your stuff. Great little car. So cheap to drive. And the tax break was awesome. $7,500 federal if you take delivery before April 1st. Then it drops to $3750. Which is nothing to sneeze at. And in NJ, no sales tax. Another $2500...
Dear Professor...You are causing me a concern....I binged watched your video’s last night till 1:30 am so I had to quit till returning today...good job very thorough...and your safety regime is commendable....
Excellent video!!! I just bought a 2023 Bolt EV 2LT and this video, I'm sure, still applies to my new Bolt. I've owned a 2014 Nissan Leaf for the last year and wanted something with much more range and the Bolt meets all my needs. I use a Level 2 charger in my garage and don't expect to take extended trips in the Bolt (at least for now) so won't have to deal with Level 3 fast chargers. Thanks again for your effort making this video.
Thanks Professor Kelly for another great engineering video. I was wondering if/when you would get back to the Bolt EV. Thank you to you and your students that take the time to share this technical detail with the average audience. As an engineer myself, greatly appreciated. I have no doubt that if the DC fast charging conversion can be done, you'll figure it out. As you have a lot of resources, and drive to solve these interesting problems. Tempting us with what appears to be a Model 3 in the background is amazing. From what I understand Tesla is kind of holding all service information close to their hearts. I'm always interested to see your next video.
Thank you for the video Professor. It helps me understand how the thermal management system works on my 2017 Ford Focus Electric. FoMoCo also uses 3 coolant loops. Each with it's own pump and a valve so the loops can function together or independently. The MECS (Motor Electronic Cooling System) loop cools the traction motor, TCM and DC/DC converter. The PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) loop heats the cabin. It has a 179F upper limit. The last loop is the BCCM (Battery Charger Control Module) and HVBP cooling and heating system. It has a chiller and battery heater (3 @ 300W). The BCCM is under the car in the tunnel where an exhaust system might be on the ICE models. The HVB is in two sections (upper and lower) the upper section is in the cargo area behind the rear seat. The lower section is under the car below the rear seat. Similar components to the Bolt....but different as well. Thanks again for your videos. Greg
I'm learning so much about my new car watching these videos. I bought a 2020 Bolt with slightly more range but since it wasn't a full model change, I'm sure most of this info is similar if not the exact same minus the battery chemistry upgrade from 57kwh to ~66kwh. Thank you for all the time you put into detailing this fantastic car.
That was a great overview, as a Canadian Bolt owner, I now have a better appreciation of the ‘$750’ upgrade for DC fast charging that was required to be sold in our country. There’s much more to the movement of the high voltage current than I had an appreciation for. I can’t wait until you do the Tesla now!
I guess I didn't realize the extent of the $750 option for DC fast charging. I'm glad I opted to get it for my 2018 as I had heard that you could not get it to down the road and now I understand why. Thanks for the video!
Thanks John. Well done. I am very technically and mechanically inclined and generically familiar with these system types, but seeing and understanding them relative to EV's and studying the automotive engineering and your descriptions have made them much less a mystery and very approachable. The transition for mechanical people from petro-powered vehicles to EV's will be a significant learning curve, but know what all the 'mystery' parts do makes it easy to get a grasp on; especially since this is where automotive and other transport is headed. I would have liked to see how you removed the CV joints, at least verbally. Great editing, camera work and script. Kids in 2030 looking under the hood of a 1999 Ford pickup: "Whoa, what is that?"
amazing videos, learning so much. I am a test driver for an autonomous driving company and we use chevy bolts. everytime i looked under the hood, I had nooooo clue what all that, that, that stuff was. now i do.
I love your videos! You are a true expert and I highly respect and regard your teaching programs. I have learned a lot from your videos. Thank you so much for your hard work and effort putting these together for us.
Excellent video, Prof! You can tell you have a passion for this stuff. Not only all the new EV terminology already flows out of you easily but you're diving right in and modifying system to add features. It's unlikely GM removed the fast-charging option at the firmware level. I'd wager your DC connection will work. Looking forward to see that report.
Thank you for these videos! Very informative. I have a Bolt and it’s interesting to see what makes it tick. After watching this I now appreciate that my car already has the fast charging. I had no idea it was that much different.
I can't tell if this is a well designed, simple, modular system or if you're just really good at explaining things! It seems to me that the weak point on this design is the cooling - there's three loops (when one would do, I should think), two heaters, and a heat pump that only cools. I think there's going to be a lot of streamlining in future iterations. It looks like an engineering decision was made to design this independently so as to ensure the schedule is met. Of course, time will tell how well-designed the internals of the electrical components are. Thank you for the videos!
Fantastic insight & gives an inclusive look on the DC and AC wire harness connections with all the necessary equipment in sync.. very knowledgable indeed.. thank you, professor!
Thanks Professor John .I have never seen one in person in Eastern Canada but things will change in the future and maybe more adaptive for Our Climate . Thanks Reg .
Thank you Prof. Kelly. It is very interesting. Back at the Univ. of the Western Cape there was one lecture who drove a Prius. (2010) And of course the then Primer ("Governer") of the Western Cape also had a Toyota Prius. Since then I have seen none electric cars on our roads. From 2006 South Africa have power cuts and then a electric car will not do...
Great video! Thanks for taking the time to make your very informative videos! You are a great teacher. I am looking forward to both the Bolt EV series of videos and the rest of the history of Automatic Transmission Fluid videos. I have learned a lot.
I hope to see a model 3 in the future and learn how it is assembled and basic mechanics on how it works. It would be great if you did a Autoline like segment using your knowledge and expertise of cars to comment on the mechanics, build quality and overall reliability of the car. Love your channel. Only, wish I could attend.
Thanks John for your excellent explanation of the Bolt powertrain and electronics. The packaging seems quite modular and maybe this will give GM some flexibility for future models and economies of scale. The final drive ratio is sooo low. Wow. Thanks again for your efforts to educate and demonstrate. Your videos are so nice to have access.
That's the overall drive ratio, done in two stages, not just the final drive stage. It is typical for EVs, because the Bolt's motor speed is typical for modern EV motors.
Thank you for making this video. I've worked on cars all my life and recently bought a Bolt. Absolutely love the car, but I can't stand not knowing what all of those parts are under the hood!
I have found your videos just looking for electric car structure and architecture and I want to congratulate with you and your super interesting videos.
Nice part by part breakdown. Would also like to hear discussion on cost factors of each part, current replacement prices, and estimated service life of each. I know much is unknown but that is why this type of info is still very much needed about EVs. Labor costs look low if just bolt and plug in. Expert knowledge cost looks high.
The inverter, charger, and DC-DC converter are close to $1500 each. I doubt you will ever see one fail unless the cooling system gets damaged. I do not know the motor cost, but I also doubt it will ever fail. The only part I can imagine failing is the A/C compressor after about 8-10 years of service. Of course, the battery will only last about 10-12 years as well. I see the long term cost of ownership being very low compared to a non-EV.
Great video! You have done a great job labeling each car part much like your other videos. It must help a lot for the classroom instruction. It enables another method that some people need to learn the material. I really can't absorb everything in real-time that you speak about and have to rewind the video. I am a visual learner and the labels prevent me from having to do that as much. In my line of work, I sometimes apply strain gauges and accelerometers to metals that are dirty, oily or painted to start with and in areas that get exposed to hot and cold extremes -50 to 400 F. Before I can get any permanent adhesion it requires a lot of prep time cleaning, sanding, sometimes heating (to get the metal to sweat out any oils) so that it doesn't cause my strain gauge to lift up. I have wondered for many of your videos, how do you prep the metal that has been submerged in oil for the identification label to stick? How much prep work goes into that? Are you working on that by yourself or do you delegate it out to some of your students for extra hands on learning?
Thank you very much for your great Videos. I live in Hamburg Germany and I look all your Videos. There are very interesting and good to learn the technic.
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. I’m always interested in learning more about EVs especially since I recently purchased a Nissan Leaf. Seems very complicated at first, but it also seems that these plugs and modules can only go in one place.
I do appreciate people like you sharing knowledge with others.me my self I dont expect dealing with an electric vehicle in the close future but to know better than not to know.God bless your hard.
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing! Just impressive how a 201HP drive unit can be so small and utterly simple... No wonder why the future will be electric and why the Bolt is the most reliable GM for sale! Thank you!
Hi professor.. Could you do a video explaining ac voltage..3 pase how it works and how to test.. You are the smartest guy on youtube for sure...thanks for great videos..
Prof. Kelly, When are you going to do another installment on the ATF fluid series? I've been looking forward to learning more about that. BTW: Congrats on your YT award! Well deserved. Thanks.....
i think this is the first time Ive watched your channel. with your great descriptions and explanations i think i understand the Bolt a lot more, and subscribed to your channel. they sure have complicated the electrical systems. and i understand why with all the facets involved in all the car components to make it operate correctly. Ive worked on a few hybrids and they were pretty easy to diagnose issues. But i think these all electrics are going to take a little more time and safety to work on. thanks for sharing!
Thank you. Other than the on-board charger and the distribution box, most hybrids have the same components. (Inverter, DC-DC converter, motor(s), HV battery). Have a great day!
Thanks for diving into the technical bits on the Bolt. I've been able to find out a decent bit just by observing the car's behavior, but an actual teardown reveals so much more. I'm looking forward to watching the video regarding the coolant loops. I always wondered what the component was on top of the charger. Now I know that it's the DC-DC converter. I'm glad that's a separate piece. On my i-MiEV, the DC-DC and charger are combined, and with a recent spate of charger failures, the converter is also being knocked out, rendering them undriveable. I'm a bit confused on why there is a dedicated on-board charger wire to the battery. Why wouldn't it simply feed the battery through the main harness?
I just bought a 17 with DCFC last week. This is some really fantastic engineering, and great videos! I can see this system doubled for a pretty much any other GM SUV - ie Canyon, Terrain sized stuff, awd setup. I think GM has something up their sleeve for the big-sized trucks. This "Small-Block" then the "Big-Block" for the wider, heavier stuff...
Great breakdown! Thank you. One thing to point out though, the motor is a Brushless Perminant Magnet Motor. IE DC not AC. Brushless DC motors still use 3 wires to rotate the magnetic field. 3ph AC motors are inductive and do not require Magnets. There would be no advantage to use AC and would require a significant amount of extra hardware IE a VFD.
No, it's not a DC motor. It is a 3-phase AC synchronous motor with a permanent magnet rotor. The common 3-phase motors which do not have magnets in the rotor are asynchronous induction motors; they have the same type of 3-phase AC stator winding as this, but a different rotor. The "single power inverter module" (or SPIM) is the variable frequency drive (VFD), although the term "VFD" is normally used only when the power supply is AC (which gets rectified to DC within the VFD), not when the power supply is DC. Whether called an inverter or a VFD, the output is AC at the frequency needed by the motor at the speed it is running. Every modern EV uses an AC motor and a variable frequency inverter. The Bolt is a typical example.
Wow!!! What a Fantastic! Informative! channel. Thank you so much for your effort to make these videos. Such a valuable resource in the DIY electric vehicle hobbyist.
Yes, I was wrong. But other feedback from Bolt owners indicates that the battery charges faster in cold weather on the Level 2 charger. I am still investigating to find out why. Thanks for your feedback
Thank you professor-have a dream to become your student in one happy day😀. Waiting next videos-if possible make VW ID4-ID6 explanation. Thank you again-take care!
The Chevy Bolt certainly has it's short comings, but I still think it's the best designed electrical drive train you've shown off on this channel. Everything fits together so well, and it has what it needs and no more. Compare with e.g. the Ford, which has a lot more connections directly to the battery seemingly to no purpose.
Thanks for opening up the SPIM and HPDM. Fascinating to see the inner workings of these modules. I was hoping to see inside the OBCM, but you didn't open that one up. Is there a specific reason it got skipped? Could we look forward to that in a future video?
A quick correction for you, the battery heater does function when CCS charging in cold conditions. The complaint is that charge rate is reduced when the battery pack is cold, and the heater is only 2 KW. The problem is that the battery heater shuts off around 64F pack temperature, and at that point maximum charge amps is still limited to less than 110 amps. This may seem like a lot, but the Bolt max charging amps with a warm battery is 150 amps. I think the logic was that when they set up the programming for the system, most publicly available CCS chargers maxed out at 100 amps, with a few 125 amp stations. Now with lots of 125 amp stations and 150+ amp stations becoming available they need to reprogram the battery heater to vary it's shut off point based on power available, so it stays on to a much higher pack temperature when connected to a higher power CCS station to maximize charging rate.
Great information! Thank you very much
Keith McDonnell - I have no idea if your comment is true, but I’m gonna upvote you anyways.
Thank you for sharing,
Just my opinion, on THEY...... the thinking is, that the product is made as CHEAP as one will allow, then we, the driver will pay and relay info, making all this possible!
I can be really Negative about the issue for good reason, though what good will that do?
Makes sense -- most households only have a 100 amp service for 240 volts. So one might want a 200 amp service to run the pure DC charger. A 0°C internal resistance is probably triple. Internal resistance will limit safe charge/discharge rate or charge rate in general. Pure DC charge rates will be higher than half wave DC due to internal resistance vs duty cycle of current applied. One could lessen some of the internal resistance driving issues with a design that incorporated super-capacitors for acceleration demands, but that would be a lump of about 130 super-capacitor cells $$ :)
The future would seem to indicate a fuel cell car might be more practical anywhere warm weather and cheap hydro-electricity are absent. It is a moving target for the tax-man however that tends to stifle running cost advantages.
I was going to comment about what you could do if the car won't quick charge. My Bolt will run the battery heater while powered up, ready to drive. So, if the Bolt won't quick charge because the battery is too cold, one could let the car sit while powered up and it will heat the battery. Although, if you are quick charging, you have likely already been driving for a while and the battery should be plenty warm.
I'll have to find a way to take measurements, but mine only seems to heat the battery to a tad above freezing. Heating all the way to 64 F would take way too much energy if the car isn't plugged in.
heres a man that really does deserve the title "professor"
4 years after originally watching this and watching again because I just bought a 2023 Bolt EUV! Thanks again Prof. Kelly!
Thank you very much for taking the time to produce these videos. They are an amazing resource and fascinating to watch. This channel is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to learn more about emerging electric vehicle technologies.
Thank you!
Nonsense.. for that reason no one gos for the US productions
People runs to one sight..only best n economical.. no more complications
@@ahmadkamali8547 This reply speaks for itself
I found you sir!
you are great
The smile at 0:29 when you say "we have disassembled *everything* " says it all! Thanks for sharing your hard work and passion for this project!
Thank you, it is fun!
I grew up in a Chevy family where my dad ran super stock at Detroit Dragway. I own a Chev. Bolt and just felt if it works it works, and I'll leave it to the dealer. I will still do that. I could help my dad build a big block Chevy engine, right up from the block - but fairly mystified going EV. Now I don't feel quite as mystified. Thank you Professor.
Thank you Professor John Kelly! I come from a long line of mechanics in my family, my father taught me to remove, disassemble, and reassemble automatic transmissions when I was 10 years old. I have always been fascinated by the mechanics of motor vehicles. You are a brilliant person I really appreciate all of the videos I have watched. Now that I have a Bolt EV, I am a bit more up to date on the workings and engineering because of your wonderful instruction. Best to you !
Thank you for explaining these systems so clearly and thoroughly, that most technically inclined folks can understand it.
Very much appreciated, Professor!
I did not have an interest in hybrids, UNTIL I started watching your videos about them. I find the technology fascinating, and your presentation style makes it easy to learn. You are a wonderful teacher. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much!
You need to enroll in wherever he is teaching. There is a need for mechanics ready for an onslaught of routine service and the occasional trouble-shooting. Get in now, and work up to shop and dealership manager and retire with a nice cushion and a beach house.
The Bolt is not a "hybrid". It is a plug-in EV and one "years ahead" of every piece of shit Tesla in engineering, technology, durability, reliability and overall "value".
@@deeremeyer1749 one would hope it’s “years ahead” of Tesla, considering how long ago GM had been researching and developing EVs. GM had been making EVs since at least 1996
Good afternoon Professor John,
I just want to say how lucky your students are to have a teacher like you, I would stay in class for 24 hours to study all the information you can give, you were dizzy from my years of study in technical college in Republic of Moldova.
I would like to be a student again and I would like to have a teacher like you. Thank you
Kind regards Arty
THANK YOU for making these!! I have been looking for many months for a long-form tear-down of a modern EV and could not find any. I thought they didn't exist until I stumbled on yours. This Bolt EV series is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. On top of that, you are EXCELLENT at explaining these things in a methodical, straightforward way. Thank you again, I really appreciate this resource.
As a Chevy Bolt EV owner this video is very interesting, thanks for producing it!
Thank you!
Seems I read somewhere they are going to STOP building the Bolt, is this correct?
@@REVNUMANEWBERN Not at all, they are going to stop production of the Volt. The Bolt EV production is actually increasing.
Numa Newbern no. The Volt is to be discontinued
I am always excited to listen and watch these videos, thank you professor!
Thank you!
Again, thanks to Weber State and Prof Kelly for this outstanding series. I am trying to watch all of them as a wealth of clearly presented, factual information is available!
Thank you very much
These videos are STILL being helpful Professor! I am having intermittent AC charging issue on my 2021 car ("Unable to charge" error), so was able to bone up on the related components watching this video. Helpful for being able to talk halfway intelligently to the dealer. The ECU is not storing a fault code so I want to persuade them to check wiring harness and connectors. Now I know where the connectors are!
I am glad it was helpful, best wishes
@@WeberAuto By the way, are you aware of where the ECM unit is on the car? The car finally threw a code at the dealer, and it pointed to the ECM. Personally I think it is a loose connector or a harness that is triggering the ECM code because the charging fault is extremely random. Charges fine for months. Then won't charge, or flashes back and forth between charge and unable to charge error. I am just wondering if the ECM is anywhere near the Onboard charger module, because I want to coax them into reseating all those connectors while in there.
th-cam.com/video/iq_PCPyJGco/w-d-xo.html
@@stevebakker6884 The ECM is the small box right next to the 12V battery
@@WeberAuto Thanx!
Prof. Kelly & team - a great video series. Your presentation from puzzle pieces to a complete system overview running through stages, is just fascinating. It brings utmost clarity. Thank you for taking out time to make this series.
Thank you for the explanation of the under hood components! As a Bolt EV owner, I am really enjoying this series. I’m definitely looking forward to the motor tear down.
Thank you!
My wife just bought a Bolt. Fantastic to watch this and get an idea of what all that stuff does. Thanks!
Excellent car! congratulations. My son just bought a 2019 and loves it.
This is one of the best tutorial series I have ever found on UT. Much learned on every single one posted. New technology is hard to keep up with, but this nails it totally with this series. Keep up the great work.... Highly recommend to backyard mechanics (or wanna be's).
Thank you very much!
It's hardly "new technology" unless you're a Teslatard that believes Elon the Icon "invented" plug-in electric vehicles. Pretty much all of that "new technology" dates back decades to the GM EV-1.
I've watched a shit ton of your videos. Can I get college credit? I am so much better informed now. I bought one of these things after watching your stuff. Great little car. So cheap to drive. And the tax break was awesome. $7,500 federal if you take delivery before April 1st. Then it drops to $3750. Which is nothing to sneeze at. And in NJ, no sales tax. Another $2500...
Thank you! Sorry, not credit ;)
Dear Professor...You are causing me a concern....I binged watched your video’s last night till 1:30 am so I had to quit till returning today...good job very thorough...and your safety regime is commendable....
Thank you very much
Excellent video!!! I just bought a 2023 Bolt EV 2LT and this video, I'm sure, still applies to my new Bolt. I've owned a 2014 Nissan Leaf for the last year and wanted something with much more range and the Bolt meets all my needs. I use a Level 2 charger in my garage and don't expect to take extended trips in the Bolt (at least for now) so won't have to deal with Level 3 fast chargers. Thanks again for your effort making this video.
This is a fantastic video! I came in knowing nothing of how EVs are built and came out feeling much more confident.
Thank you
Thanks Professor Kelly for another great engineering video. I was wondering if/when you would get back to the Bolt EV. Thank you to you and your students that take the time to share this technical detail with the average audience. As an engineer myself, greatly appreciated.
I have no doubt that if the DC fast charging conversion can be done, you'll figure it out. As you have a lot of resources, and drive to solve these interesting problems.
Tempting us with what appears to be a Model 3 in the background is amazing. From what I understand Tesla is kind of holding all service information close to their hearts. I'm always interested to see your next video.
Thank you very much! That is a new model S
Thank you for the video Professor. It helps me understand how the thermal management system works on my 2017 Ford Focus Electric. FoMoCo also uses 3 coolant loops. Each with it's own pump and a valve so the loops can function together or independently. The MECS (Motor Electronic Cooling System) loop cools the traction motor, TCM and DC/DC converter. The PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) loop heats the cabin. It has a 179F upper limit. The last loop is the BCCM (Battery Charger Control Module) and HVBP cooling and heating system. It has a chiller and battery heater (3 @ 300W). The BCCM is under the car in the tunnel where an exhaust system might be on the ICE models. The HVB is in two sections (upper and lower) the upper section is in the cargo area behind the rear seat. The lower section is under the car below the rear seat. Similar components to the Bolt....but different as well.
Thanks again for your videos.
Greg
Thank you and Thanks for your feedback
I'm learning so much about my new car watching these videos. I bought a 2020 Bolt with slightly more range but since it wasn't a full model change, I'm sure most of this info is similar if not the exact same minus the battery chemistry upgrade from 57kwh to ~66kwh. Thank you for all the time you put into detailing this fantastic car.
Thank you... I'm a mechanic and knowing how.it goes together gives me a vote of confidence
That was a great overview, as a Canadian Bolt owner, I now have a better appreciation of the ‘$750’ upgrade for DC fast charging that was required to be sold in our country. There’s much more to the movement of the high voltage current than I had an appreciation for. I can’t wait until you do the Tesla now!
Thank you!
I guess I didn't realize the extent of the $750 option for DC fast charging. I'm glad I opted to get it for my 2018 as I had heard that you could not get it to down the road and now I understand why. Thanks for the video!
Thank you!
Thank you professor for this great demo, I never thought there is that much technology in an electric vehicle
Thank you!
Your Content is GOLD. Loving the new EV/Hybrid cars you're having on the show.
Thank you!
Thanks John. Well done. I am very technically and mechanically inclined and generically familiar with these system types, but seeing and understanding them relative to EV's and studying the automotive engineering and your descriptions have made them much less a mystery and very approachable. The transition for mechanical people from petro-powered vehicles to EV's will be a significant learning curve, but know what all the 'mystery' parts do makes it easy to get a grasp on; especially since this is where automotive and other transport is headed. I would have liked to see how you removed the CV joints, at least verbally. Great editing, camera work and script. Kids in 2030 looking under the hood of a 1999 Ford pickup: "Whoa, what is that?"
amazing videos, learning so much. I am a test driver for an autonomous driving company and we use chevy bolts. everytime i looked under the hood, I had nooooo clue what all that, that, that stuff was. now i do.
Thank you! I am glad this was helpful
I absolutely love what you are doing! Please continue!
Thank you!
I love your videos! You are a true expert and I highly respect and regard your teaching programs. I have learned a lot from your videos. Thank you so much for your hard work and effort putting these together for us.
Excellent video, Prof! You can tell you have a passion for this stuff. Not only all the new EV terminology already flows out of you easily but you're diving right in and modifying system to add features. It's unlikely GM removed the fast-charging option at the firmware level. I'd wager your DC connection will work. Looking forward to see that report.
Thank you very much!
Excellent rundown.... cant get enough.... looking forward to the remainder of the components... Thank you..
Thank you!
As a new Bolt Owner and Geek EE:I love these videos: Mr. Kelly ROCKS!
Thank you for these videos! Very informative. I have a Bolt and it’s interesting to see what makes it tick. After watching this I now appreciate that my car already has the fast charging. I had no idea it was that much different.
Thanks for watching!
I can't tell if this is a well designed, simple, modular system or if you're just really good at explaining things! It seems to me that the weak point on this design is the cooling - there's three loops (when one would do, I should think), two heaters, and a heat pump that only cools. I think there's going to be a lot of streamlining in future iterations. It looks like an engineering decision was made to design this independently so as to ensure the schedule is met.
Of course, time will tell how well-designed the internals of the electrical components are.
Thank you for the videos!
The content on this video is very important for me to understand electric car.Thanks professor.
Thank you!
Another excellent explanation! It's a technique of the future even HV batteries, in general, are still not perfect. Thank you for video!
Thank you very much!
I think you are doing awesome job. You are teaching all the next gen cars and trucks. William morfield
Fantastic insight & gives an inclusive look on the DC and AC wire harness connections with all the necessary equipment in sync.. very knowledgable indeed.. thank you, professor!
Thank you very much for your demonstration . The best teacher.
Thank you!
Thanks Professor John .I have never seen one in person in Eastern Canada but things will change in the future and maybe more adaptive for Our Climate .
Thanks Reg .
Thank you!
Looking forward to the disassembly of all those components, great video as usually!
Thank you very much!
You explain this complex system so clearly, it almost looks easy to an amateur like me. :-)
Thank you very much!
Thank you Prof. Kelly. It is very interesting. Back at the Univ. of the Western Cape there was one lecture who drove a Prius. (2010) And of course the then Primer ("Governer") of the Western Cape also had a Toyota Prius. Since then I have seen none electric cars on our roads. From 2006 South Africa have power cuts and then a electric car will not do...
Great video! Thanks for taking the time to make your very informative videos! You are a great teacher. I am looking forward to both the Bolt EV series of videos and the rest of the history of Automatic Transmission Fluid videos. I have learned a lot.
Thank you very much!
I hope to see a model 3 in the future and learn how it is assembled and basic mechanics on how it works. It would be great if you did a Autoline like segment using your knowledge and expertise of cars to comment on the mechanics, build quality and overall reliability of the car. Love your channel. Only, wish I could attend.
Thank you, I hope to see one as well
Thanks John for your excellent explanation of the Bolt powertrain and electronics. The packaging seems quite modular and maybe this will give GM some flexibility for future models and economies of scale.
The final drive ratio is sooo low. Wow.
Thanks again for your efforts to educate and demonstrate. Your videos are so nice to have access.
Thank you! I was thinking the same thing. I suspect these modular components will be seen on other GM EVs in the future.
That's the overall drive ratio, done in two stages, not just the final drive stage. It is typical for EVs, because the Bolt's motor speed is typical for modern EV motors.
Thank you for making this video. I've worked on cars all my life and recently bought a Bolt. Absolutely love the car, but I can't stand not knowing what all of those parts are under the hood!
I have found your videos just looking for electric car structure and architecture and I want to congratulate with you and your super interesting videos.
Thank you
I wish I could give multiple likes. Excellent video! I'm a career computer guy, and now I wish I could take this man's courses.
Nice part by part breakdown. Would also like to hear discussion on cost factors of each part, current replacement prices, and estimated service life of each. I know much is unknown but that is why this type of info is still very much needed about EVs. Labor costs look low if just bolt and plug in. Expert knowledge cost looks high.
The inverter, charger, and DC-DC converter are close to $1500 each. I doubt you will ever see one fail unless the cooling system gets damaged. I do not know the motor cost, but I also doubt it will ever fail. The only part I can imagine failing is the A/C compressor after about 8-10 years of service. Of course, the battery will only last about 10-12 years as well. I see the long term cost of ownership being very low compared to a non-EV.
WeberAuto thanks for reply.
also, i guess electronic components can be changed with new versions as they become obsolete.
Thank you for demystifying so many things!
You are welcome!
Great video! You have done a great
job labeling each car part much like your other videos. It must help a lot for
the classroom instruction. It enables another method that some people need to learn
the material. I really can't absorb everything in real-time that you speak
about and have to rewind the video. I am a visual learner and the labels
prevent me from having to do that as much.
In my line of work, I sometimes
apply strain gauges and accelerometers to metals that are dirty, oily or
painted to start with and in areas that get exposed to hot and cold extremes
-50 to 400 F. Before I can get any permanent adhesion it requires a lot of prep
time cleaning, sanding, sometimes heating (to get the metal to sweat out any
oils) so that it doesn't cause my strain gauge to lift up.
I have wondered for many of your
videos, how do you prep the metal that has been submerged in oil for the identification
label to stick? How much prep work goes into that? Are you working on that by
yourself or do you delegate it out to some of your students for extra hands on
learning?
Thank you! It is a lot of work. I do it myself. Cleaning the surface is the key.
In Ohio with a Bolt EV, always neat to see your videos. Putting 3200-4200 miles per month on it.
Thank you! Wonderful car!
Wow very educational .. awesome job john ... I never knew the complexity of a Ev systems
Thank you!
Just showed portions of this video to a coworker, and he said That guy makes a hell of a auto shop instructor!
Thank you, that is awesome!
Thank you very much for your great Videos. I live in Hamburg Germany and I look all your Videos. There are very interesting and good to learn the technic.
Thank you!
Thanks!
Thank you very much!
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. I’m always interested in learning more about EVs especially since I recently purchased a Nissan Leaf. Seems very complicated at first, but it also seems that these plugs and modules can only go in one place.
Thank you, They are not as complicated as they seem.
I do appreciate people like you sharing knowledge with others.me my self I dont expect dealing with an electric vehicle in the close future but to know better than not to know.God bless your hard.
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing! Just impressive how a 201HP drive unit can be so small and utterly simple... No wonder why the future will be electric and why the Bolt is the most reliable GM for sale! Thank you!
Thank you! It is an incredible system
Love your videos. Content that is to a depth that is refreshing.
Thank you!
I like this modular design. OBC, DC-DC, inverter are separated. If one module fails, you can easily replace it.
Thank you professor for your great value. I am praying for the day that there would be a break through in battery technology.
graphene CAPACITORS??
Hi professor.. Could you do a video explaining ac voltage..3 pase how it works and how to test.. You are the smartest guy on youtube for sure...thanks for great videos..
Yes, I hope to do so soon. Thanks for your feedback!
Prof. Kelly, When are you going to do another installment on the ATF fluid series? I've been looking forward to learning more about that. BTW: Congrats on your YT award! Well deserved. Thanks.....
Thank you! They are coming very soon. Sorry for the delays.
i think this is the first time Ive watched your channel. with your great descriptions and explanations i think i understand the Bolt a lot more, and subscribed to your channel. they sure have complicated the electrical systems. and i understand why with all the facets involved in all the car components to make it operate correctly. Ive worked on a few hybrids and they were pretty easy to diagnose issues. But i think these all electrics are going to take a little more time and safety to work on. thanks for sharing!
Thank you. Other than the on-board charger and the distribution box, most hybrids have the same components. (Inverter, DC-DC converter, motor(s), HV battery). Have a great day!
Unmatched explaination of d vry basic high voltage components of chevy bolt, seems vry simplest & sophisticated,liquid is d way2cool
Mr Kelly I like your video also I'm a master auto tech with associate science degree from Maui. I love watching you. Much ALOHA from Maui Noka Oi
Dang, this was seriously interesting. Nice work!!
Thank you!
Thanks for diving into the technical bits on the Bolt. I've been able to find out a decent bit just by observing the car's behavior, but an actual teardown reveals so much more. I'm looking forward to watching the video regarding the coolant loops.
I always wondered what the component was on top of the charger. Now I know that it's the DC-DC converter. I'm glad that's a separate piece. On my i-MiEV, the DC-DC and charger are combined, and with a recent spate of charger failures, the converter is also being knocked out, rendering them undriveable.
I'm a bit confused on why there is a dedicated on-board charger wire to the battery. Why wouldn't it simply feed the battery through the main harness?
Thank you. Good question. I do not know why they did it that way
U r sir best teacher n Explainer so thanks n best wishes my for u sir
Thank you Professor, God gives you wellness and health and continue your charity work and guide you to the right and paradise
Thank you!
These videos are all fantastic, thanks, really help me understand my car.
I just bought a 17 with DCFC last week. This is some really fantastic engineering, and great videos!
I can see this system doubled for a pretty much any other GM SUV - ie Canyon, Terrain sized stuff, awd setup. I think GM has something up their sleeve for the big-sized trucks. This "Small-Block" then the "Big-Block" for the wider, heavier stuff...
OK, this guy is my hero.
Now I want to take the motor out of my Bolt and ... I have no idea what I'd do.
Thank you very much!
Just BIG Thank you for educating, professor Kelly!
I really like this guy and the way he deliver the information to you... Excellent work.
those connectors look so satisfying
It was a fun project. Thanks for watching
Great vid professor. Hopefully you can tear into that Tesla behind you in the next vid. keep up the great work, all the best
Thank you very much!
Great breakdown! Thank you. One thing to point out though, the motor is a Brushless Perminant Magnet Motor. IE DC not AC. Brushless DC motors still use 3 wires to rotate the magnetic field. 3ph AC motors are inductive and do not require Magnets. There would be no advantage to use AC and would require a significant amount of extra hardware IE a VFD.
No, it's not a DC motor. It is a 3-phase AC synchronous motor with a permanent magnet rotor. The common 3-phase motors which do not have magnets in the rotor are asynchronous induction motors; they have the same type of 3-phase AC stator winding as this, but a different rotor.
The "single power inverter module" (or SPIM) is the variable frequency drive (VFD), although the term "VFD" is normally used only when the power supply is AC (which gets rectified to DC within the VFD), not when the power supply is DC. Whether called an inverter or a VFD, the output is AC at the frequency needed by the motor at the speed it is running.
Every modern EV uses an AC motor and a variable frequency inverter. The Bolt is a typical example.
Wow!!! What a Fantastic! Informative! channel. Thank you so much for your effort to make these videos. Such a valuable resource in the DIY electric vehicle hobbyist.
Thank you very much!
FYI, the Bolt does use the battery heater when fast charging. I've observed my Bolt turn it on when fast charging in the cold via the Torque pro app.
Yes, I was wrong. But other feedback from Bolt owners indicates that the battery charges faster in cold weather on the Level 2 charger. I am still investigating to find out why. Thanks for your feedback
I came here from Technology Connections
. Subbed!
Thank you professor-have a dream to become your student in one happy day😀. Waiting next videos-if possible make VW ID4-ID6 explanation. Thank you again-take care!
Keep up great work and I'm waiting for the results of conversion to fast DC charging.
Thank you!
Another fantastic video. Full of information and tips. Congratulations again.
Thanks for sharing another great video. You are a great teacher ! I want to see you pull apart that Tesla !
Thank you!
The Chevy Bolt certainly has it's short comings, but I still think it's the best designed electrical drive train you've shown off on this channel. Everything fits together so well, and it has what it needs and no more. Compare with e.g. the Ford, which has a lot more connections directly to the battery seemingly to no purpose.
Thank you professor. enjoyable as always!
Thank you very much! More to come
Your videos are fantastic! Thank you so much for the great work!
Thank you!
Incredible amount of parts
Professor you inspire me to continue learning :) Thank you Buddy!
Thank you!
Very interesting, thanks for all your hard work doing these great videos 👍
Thank you!
Thanks for opening up the SPIM and HPDM. Fascinating to see the inner workings of these modules. I was hoping to see inside the OBCM, but you didn't open that one up. Is there a specific reason it got skipped? Could we look forward to that in a future video?
Thanks for your feedback. I will open and disassemble all of them in a future video.