Chevrolet Bolt EV: The EV you should pay more attention to
In a post-petrol apocalypse, choose your car wisely…
Chevrolet has had a quiet plunge into the EV market, and the Bolt has a nice update for 2020. Most notably with more range. Tesla has picked up gobs of market share over the years, but Chevrolet's little city car EV offers good value in a useful package. Normally a tester of performance models, I thought it would be fun to shake down an EV for once.
The useful figures
Powered by an electric drive system, the Bolt packs 200hp (150kW) and 266 lb-ft (360 Nm) of torque. EPA estimates 118 MPGe and 29 kWh per 100 miles. For 2020, Chevrolet bumps the Bolt's range by 21 miles, up to 259 on a full charge. Not long trek worthy, but that's respectable for a car to get around town while running errands and commuting to work. Overall length of the Bolt is 166 inches, about the same as a Honda Fit, and total height is 66 inches, which is six inches taller. All those batteries pack on the pounds, with a curb weight of 3,563 pounds.
The base (LT trim level) Bolt starts at US$36,620, and the Slate Gray Metallic Premier model I tested has a base MSRP of US$41,020, and topped out with a few options at US$43,735. Tax incentives vary depending on where you live, but you could save a few grand, and given the state of the automotive industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, dealer and manufacturer incentives will likely make a dent in the price you pay too.
Getting around town
The Chevrolet Bolt EV has a delightfully spacious cabin, due to the battery pack tucked under you and the drive unit being compact, in addition to a body shell designed to maximize interior volume. The trade off is an exterior style that resembles an egg. There's a massive greenhouse with a spacious windscreen and tall windows, so seeing all around is remarkably easy.
The seating position is much higher than I prefer, so the center of gravity could be lower while making me feel better positioned. Four adults can fit comfortably, and there's a small storage space in the back that could hold a handful or grocery bags or two carry-on size roller bags. Should you need to haul more stuff, the back seats fold 60/40, giving you up to 56 cubic feet of whatever you load up on at Home Depot.
How does it drive?
Driving dynamics are surprisingly good in the Chevy Bolt. You're going to feel moderate body roll if you're flogging the Bolt around corners with a heavy pace, but the steering feedback is smooth and nicely weighted. Efficiency-focused Michelin Energy Saver A/S tires don't get too angry if you pretend you're a racing driver, while not really offering a ton of grip, and are quiet enough on the highway. Stabbing the Bolt's go pedal doesn't punch you back in the seat like a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier, but it's still fun to have all the torque on tap at any RPM. There's a "sport" mode button on the dash that provides more power at your disposal, and firms up the suspension, but honestly there's no big noticeable difference, and engaging this mode only consumes more power and decreases your battery range.
Because of regenerative braking, you'll get a grabby sensation when you first adjust to driving the Bolt, but over time you'll adjust the firmness of your initial brake inputs. One-pedal driving is possible in the Bolt too, thanks to a regenerative braking paddle hidden behind the left spoke of the steering wheel. It's a bit funky to operate, as the pressure is either on or off, with no flexibility or pressure variations at all.
You get what you pay for inside
Chevrolet isn't known for quality inside its lower-level cars, and the Bolt gets some cheaper materials and installation quality. The Bolt's dashboard is unique, with a cool pair of textured white panels that flow throughout the cabin, but most of the switches and panels are straight off the parts bin on GM's lowest shelf. If you care about the materials and style inside your EV a little more than a low price, the Tesla Model 3 will get your attention. Chevy stuck a massive void of a storage space under the infotainment on the floor, and initially I had no idea what it was for until I swung by my favorite local Jewish deli to grab some lunch takeaway.
The Premier trim level Bolt gets standard leather and heated seats front and rear, which are a nice touch. Sporting a big 10.2-inch touchscreen, the infotainment system has a ton of apps on-board, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard. Personalization for the screen allows you to swap between white, black, and orange wallpapers while offering ways to move and adjust the prominence of all the settings and readouts you want to manage from the screen.
Bose audio is available as part of an infotainment upgrade that throws in a couple extra USB charging ports and a nearly hidden wireless charging slot by the gearshift for your mobile phone. GM's OnStar services come standard, in addition to a 4G LTE wifi hotspot and SiriusXM satellite radio.
For some reason, Chevrolet thought it would be good to have the infotainment screen lean away from you.
Fast Food Storage Unit
Mitigating range anxiety
A range of 259 miles isn't a lot, if you're planning on taking road trips, but you probably didn't buy a Chevrolet Bolt for more than buzzing around town. Regenerative braking helps feed some juice back to the batteries, and the infotainment system has a comprehensive app to show your behaviors, system demands, and climate conditions--both inside and out--that can affect your range.
Tick the US$750 option box to add the DC fast charging capability, so that you can get back on the road more quickly if you're draining the batteries, so long as there are fast charging points available in your area. Being able to add up to 100 miles in just 30 minutes is a great feature. Also pick up the optional 240 volt / 32 amp charger to shorten the charging time at home. The first time I drained the charge, I used the ChargePoint app to quickly sign up and find a DC charger not far from home, while also checking out how many level 2 chargers were available.
DC fast charging points are far from plentiful in Austin, with only a handful of spots far apart, but there are loads of Level 2 points, including a few in the parking garage for my building. Make sure to check out charging prices, as the DC stations can stick it to you on the hourly rate. The DC spot I used had an $18/hour rate while the nearby Level 2 spots were only $2/hour. Yes, the Level 2 chargers will take longer, but if you aren't in a hurry, hook up to one of those to save a few bucks each time you recharge.
Your smaller carbon footprint still has a few disadvantages. If you don't own a home, you're likely to rely on public charging stations to juice up. For 200 miles charged into the Bolt, you can drop between $15 and $20 depending on the charger's capability and time needed. A car as efficient as a Honda Civic can fill its tank for $30 on regular unleaded in a few minutes, get over 30 MPG, and travel 360 miles.
Drive like a jerk? Crank up the air conditioning? It'll let you know the impact.
Chevrolet also has an app to help you find chargers and track progress while you're shopping or sitting on your couch.
Charging networks need to step up. Lots of broken charging points, when you finally find one.
Ready to say goodbye to fossil fuels?
One big obstacle for widespread EV adoption is the lack of charging stations, with far too many suppliers with proprietary mobile apps to use chargers, spread across fragmented charging networks. There's also the chunk of your time wasted while your car slowly recharges with charging prices that barely clear the cost of currently cheap gas.
EVs are becoming more common while offered by more manufacturers, and Chevrolet offers good value in the Bolt. You're trading a bit of fit and finish, but at the price point, Chevrolet is making a good car available to more buyers without the hype, smug associations, and waiting times to get your hands on a Tesla. Electrification may be the future of motoring, but I'll stick to the dinosaur juice for now. When the post-petrol apocalypse comes, at least I know some decent EVs will be available at a reasonable price, and Chevrolet is offering a good one right now.
Petrol station wasteland.
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Comments (16)
I have a good idea, invest in a petrol car instead.
The only problem I have with the Chevy Bolt, is that it's made by Chevrolet, the byword for shoddy mediocrity. They build epically badly made cars. Everything breaks and stops working within sight of the showroom. I really want this little car to be a success. It's got so much right in the specs. 250mile range gets you to the coast for goodness sake. Paddle in the sea, eat a lolly and some fish'n'chips, by which time it's recharged at a fast-charger and home in time for bed. This is exactly what most British and European motorists need. On the few occasions you need to do mega mileages, either rent a big car with a huge range, or fly/drive. You don't drive around in a Transit tipper just because you visit the tip twice a year, so this is the perfect car for the typical family. You can even plug it into the Economy7 overnight to get you to work in the morning.
I actually had the opportunity to drive a Spark EV. This is the predecessor or test mule of the bolt. It was a great package and really fast. For the close money I’d likely get a Tesla although the Bolt has the hatch.. I think if most people tracked what they actually drive daily they would see the range is enough for a few days.. I personally think GM needs it to be an engaging design and driver focused capabilities. It could have been RWD example. The Kona is better looking imo.
Looks like a Kia Niro from the back
Yeah, a little bit.
It’s still nice looking
I have two issues with the Bolt. 1. It's American and 2. It is overpriced.
Tesla is also both of those things. :)
Yes, but Tesla is the exception to the rule.