The world of battery electric vehicles might seem like black magic. Electricity turns into motion with the help of controllers and inverters. However, as John Kelly from the WeberAuto YouTube channel explains, EV's are sometimes mechanically simple. Well, at least that's the case for the Chevrolet Bolt. Kelly tackles the Bolt EV’s brilliantly simple drivetrain in the latest video for his WeberAuto YouTube channel.

Kelly starts the video with a brass-tacks breakdown of the Bolt’s drivetrain. Obviously dismantled, Kelly shows how the Bolt’s electric motor sends power to the differential, and then to the front wheel. In the mockup, Kelly shows this process outside of the car and breakdown how the gear reduction affects the electric motor.

Now, in this 40-minute video, Kelly dives deep into the rest of the Bolt EV’s drivetrain and how it turns stored electric energy into motion. While the Bolt EV’s drive unit is deceptively simple, Kelly shows that managing the other aspects of the Bolt’s functions are more involved.

It shouldn’t be shocking that a battery-electric vehicle has an involved electrical management system, but it is a surprise how simple the Bolt is mechanically. Kelly’s video takes you into the nitty-gritty of the Bolt and is a fascinating way to spend 40 minutes. Check it above.

Headshot of Wesley Wren
Wesley Wren
Wesley Wren has spent his entire life around cars, whether it’s dressing up as his father’s 1954 Ford for Halloween as a child, repairing cars in college or collecting frustrating pieces of history—and most things in between. Wesley is the current steward of a 1954 Ford Crestline Victoria, a 1975 Harley-Davidson FXE and a 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie. Oh yeah, and a 2005 Kia Sedona.