Electric vehicles (EVs) are on the rise, and every day it seems easier to spot one on your daily commute. For years, the Chevrolet Bolt has served as the American manufacturer’s flagship EV – with the company offering both subcompact and utility vehicle (EUV) versions for customers looking to make the switch to electric.
This year, Chevrolet is introducing three new models to its EV lineup – the Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado. Alongside the Bolt EV and EUV, the new additions make Chevy’s family of EVs one of the most comprehensive on the market, fitting a wide range of families, budgets, and travel needs.
“We’ve already taken lots of orders for the new lineup,” said Traci Brubaker, salesperson and EV specialist at Team Chevrolet of Valparaiso. “People are really starting to come around and warm up to the idea of electric vehicles. Once people actually get a chance to test drive one and they talk with us a little bit, it’s like their whole concept of what an electric car actually is changes.”
Team Chevy of Valpo’s team has a Bolt EUV on hand for test drives to help break through some of the skepticism of EVs and what they’re capable of – as they continue to become more dynamic. The new lineup is powered by General Motors’ new Ultium Platform, which offers flexible range and three different drive systems: front-wheel, all-wheel, and rear-wheel.
“One of the neatest things about it is that it uses small and thin panels, so they don’t need to replace the whole battery if something goes wrong,” Brubaker said. “They can wirelessly fix it, lowering costs and making life easier. Chevy is really working to make EVs more flexible, and their goal is to have a full line up of EV's by 2025.”
The Silvarado, for example, is set to offer trims to fit different needs and budgets. The baseline offers a 400-mile range, up to 754 horsepower, goes 0 to 60 in under 4.5 seconds, and brings up to 785 lb.-ft. of torque.
“The Silverado scores incredibly high against its competition in comparisons by neutral critics,” Brubaker said. “It’s really exciting to see how much the industry believes in the quality of Chevrolet.”
One special bonus that Chevy offers is that it pays up to $1,000 of installation costs for Level 2 charging stations in buyer’s homes. With the Ultium platform, Chevy drivers will be able to move power between their EV and home, powering their home’s lights for up to 21 days in standard conditions according to Chevy. In some markets, customers might even be able to store and sell extra power back to participating utility companies.
Making the switch to Chevy’s lineup of EVs also leads to long-term savings, Brubaker noted. The home charging stations typically add around $30 to electric bills at the most, her customers reported, while the gas savings are often huge.
“I just had a gentleman that was driving a lot,” she said. “He was spending around $800 a month in gas, so the switch wound up saving him a lot.”
Local communities are also making strides to accommodate the surge of EVs. Public charging stations are popping up across the Region in cities such as Valparaiso and Chesterton, topping off batteries in as few as 10 to 20 minutes.
If you’re looking to learn more about Chevy’s new lineup of EVs, including the Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado or the classic Bolt, drop by Team Chevy of Valparaiso on Route 30. Or, visit chevrolet.com/myway to schedule a one-to-one live virtual tour with a Chevy EV specialist.
To learn more about Team Chevrolet of Valparaiso, visit chevyon30.com.