The Buick VELITE 7 is built on GM’s BEV2 platform, same as the Bolt.
Its range is rated at 500 kilometers (NEDC).
A new lithium-ion battery is key to this range.
The Chinese market is one of the best-served in the world when it comes to EV options. Not only do they have many domestic car companies heavily invested in EVs but there exist a number of brands that cater to the growing demand. GM’s Buick is one of them and they’ve just introduced their first electric SUV, the VELITE 7.
Joining the Buick VELITE 5 extended-range electric vehicle, and VELITE 6 and VELITE 6 Plus electric vehicles, the VELITE 7 includes a sporty exterior, a spacious cabin, and a wide range of connectivity and advanced driver assistance technologies.
Besides the SUV styling, the big news revolves around the Buick VELITE 7’s range. Details are scarce for the moment but GM has shared that it is “powered by a new modular high-performance lithium-ion battery that has higher energy density through improved cell chemistry and an optimized design. Its battery pack has an advanced structural design and a liquid-cooling battery thermal management system that meet GM’s global standards for safety and reliability.”
By all accounts, the 500-kilometer NEDC range is not that impressive. The current 2020 Chevrolet Bolt is rated at 417 km or 259 miles (EPA). The generally accepted conversion between NEDC and EPA ratings would set the VELITE 7’s range at 350 km or about 217 miles (EPA).
Chevrolet Bolt EV | Photo: Chevrolet
The Buick VELITE 7 will launch later this year in China.
