Chevrolet launches Menlo EV in China
21 February 2020
Chevrolet has launched the Menlo, the brand’s first fully electric vehicle in China. (Earlier post.) Initially being offered in Beijing, the Chevrolet Menlo is available in four variants priced from RMB 159,900 (US$22,800) to RMB 179,900 (US$25,600) after national subsidies for new energy vehicles.
The Chevrolet Menlo incorporates GM’s class-leading battery technology and a new-generation highly efficient pure electric drive system that generates 110 kW of maximum power and 350 N·m of maximum torque, with electricity consumption of 13.1 kWh/100 km.
The vehicle has a constant-speed range of up to 410 km (255 miles) under New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) conditions on a single charge. Its battery can be fully charged to 80% of capacity within 40 minutes using a direct current (DC) fast charger.
The Chevrolet Menlo has three driving modes and three energy recovery modes. The economical, normal and sporty driving modes support base acceleration, standard acceleration and enhanced acceleration depending on users’ preferences. The energy recovery modes of light free recovery, medium efficient recovery and strong energy recovery likewise support personal preferences for a balance between driving performance and energy consumption.
In addition, the Chevrolet Menlo received certification for meeting Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) D—the highest integrity requirement for vehicles.
Advanced Connectivity and Safety. The Chevrolet Menlo features the new-generation MyLink+ infotainment system with OnStar. It not only supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, Apple CarPlay and Baidu CarLife, but also offers functions such as virtual car key, remote control and intelligent voice recognition.
Menlo’s advanced technologies include Bosch’s 9.3 Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Forward Collision Alert (FCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), Automatic Parking Assist (APA), Following Distance Indicator (FDI) and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Customers are entitled to 100G of free OnStar 4G LTE data service every year and a quality assurance warranty of eight years or 160,000 km for the battery, motor and electric control systems. The warranty remains effective if the vehicle’s ownership changes, ensuring high residual value.
As the corona virus emerged in China and gained headway, the common Chinese became aware of - and stated the following to their leaders. " We know that you are lying to us, you know that we know that you are lying to us. Why do you keep on lying?"
The same applies to the specified mileage range of any vehicle according to any standard. The standards change at an ever increasing rate but the lies remain. Why not try it with the truth instead. Or is it the conviction that a good impression (lie) is more convincing than the truth?
Posted by: yoatmon | 21 February 2020 at 04:06 AM
We live in a era where lies work, as long as the do they will be used.
Posted by: SJC_1 | 23 February 2020 at 10:01 AM
Yoatman,
I have a Chevrolet Bolt which I bought in March 2019. So far, I have driven just over 18,000 miles and have averaged 4.1 miles/kWhr. Before the cold weather (I live in Salt Lake City), I was averaging 4.3 miles/kWhr. Anyway, the car has a 60 kWhr battery and an EPA rating of 238 miles which is about 4 miles/kWhr or about 15.6 kWhr/100 km. Believe me, I am not hypermiling as we have either a 70 or 80 mph limits on our highways and I am often driving at 75 or 80 (or more) mph and I am not light on the accelerator and I still am getting better than the advertised EPA mileage.
I do not know about the Menlo, but I suspect the Bolt is larger and I have a 150 kW (200 hp) motor. Anyway, their numbers look reasonable. The real problems were with some of the earlier European standards and, of course, the Japanese standards. I wish there was one standard and I would nominate the EPA ratings.
Posted by: sd | 23 February 2020 at 07:50 PM
EPA is a governmental agency and their recommendations are based on real driving experiences. All other standards are either based on the wild running imaginations of MFRCs or indirectly influenced from them.
Posted by: yoatmon | 24 February 2020 at 06:20 AM