The Chevy Bolt...is Shockingly Fun

The Chevrolet Bolt EV has only been on the U.S. market for a couple of years. Designed for the road with the future of motor transportation in mind, this electric vehicle shows much promise for the near future. With the scientists saying the oil will run out eventually, manufacturers are running around to prepare us for the inevitable time when the last petrol engine dies. Chevrolet has the bar set for other manufacturers to make sure things are ready for us. So, what is Chevrolet getting right so far?

Styling is one of the priorities the Bolt EV actually has. In my opinion, it is one of the better looking affordable EV's. It is small and compact looking on the outside with jagged and rounded edges in places where they fit right in. It is almost as if Chevrolet was able to make an egg exciting to look at. So far, electric vehicles that are affordable have been made to only look like they just accommodate everything a car needs. The Bolt EV would make someone look back to their car after parking it. Owners of other cars might park and scramble to the nearest door.

The interior is where everything is at in the Bolt EV. Yes, it looks small on the outside, but the interior is as big as the Mall of America. There is so much space for full-size adults to fill in each seat. The interior styling is as quaint as it is futuristic. I love the panels and how they look with the dashboard and the trim. The seats are comfortable and each one is heated. One of best parts about the interior is the rear-view mirror monitor. The lever on it turns it on or off so I could see what is behind me more clearly. At nighttime, the ambient lighting really gives the Bolt EV some character that a car needs. And that is what I like most about it. Everything about the Bolt EV's interior seems almost perfect. Well, that is until I opened the trunk. It is actually quite small. I was able to fit a chair made for a piano in it. Sure, there is some space for enough room for a shopping trip or a weekend vacation but I would not recommend bringing home souvenirs if someone was going away with the kids. Other than that, the Bolt EV's interior sets the standard.

So, how much does this Bolt EV cost? The price comes to $43,905. But don't worry. The Federal and state government offer incentive refunds on any electric vehicle purchased. So, after all of this, the Bolt EV should come down several thousands of dollars depending on the state and everything else. Check with the local dealership to know the full amount given back. So, what does the Bolt EV come with? For safety, it has a plethora of airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, stability control, traction control, rear camera mirror, surround vision, lane change alert with blind spot monitoring, forward collision alert, following distance indicator, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, pedestrian detection and front pedestrian braking, low speed forward automatic braking, rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert, and pedestrian safety signals. For comfort and convenience, the Bolt EV comes with OnStar, 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hot Spot, infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, heated telescopic and tilting steering wheel, Bose sound system, wireless charging, and heated seats all around.

The Bolt EV performs almost like any other car except for the electricity that runs it. Steering is direct, to the point, and light. Feedback from the tires is present. Suspension keeps everything tidy and balanced on the roads, but is a bit stiff when going over bumps. Acceleration, as described by many is almost instantaneous. There is enough torque that happens almost immediately on the accelerator that the tires and traction control are fighting over one another. As for cruising, the Bolt EV just goes with a sudden rush. Sure, it is not as fast as a Tesla, but who cares? It is fun. Braking is marvelous and quite reactive. All-in-all, it handles a bit like a go-kart. As for range, on a single charge, the Bolt EV can go around 240 miles. It can go either up or down, depending on the circumstances. There is one problem though. That is charging. Whether it takes 45 minutes on a Level 3 charger or half a day on a Level 1 charger, my time is valuable. I understand why people say to charge it overnight when getting ready for the day ahead. But, say I needed to charge it somewhere, I would be inconvenienced time so I can get home.

So, would I buy a Chevrolet Bolt EV? No. Well, yes but not now. I only say no now because it takes so darn long to charge the darn thing. This goes for any EV in today's world. I stood at a Level 3 charger one time, not in the Bolt EV, but in another car to charge, and watched car after car fill up their tanks and leave in a matter of minutes. As for the Bolt EV, I took it to a charging station at 6:00pm with a range of 84 miles left. The Bolt EV said it won't be fully charged until 1:45am after plugging it in. Someone who thinks that they can reserve their battery for whatever percentage their EV is charged to so they can get through a day can do that. I will sit here and wait until charging becomes a bit faster or when more places get Level 3 stations so I can go plug it in, do an activity, and come back with a fully charged vehicle. Don't get me wrong, I like it a lot. It is just that I am waiting for the EV's to improve, and I believe Chevrolet will be the first to make everything better. The Bolt EV has everything a car needs and then some. To me, it has character, and that means more to me in this day and age than anything else.

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