Though speculated to have only one or two years left in production, the Chevrolet Bolt EV continues into the 2023 model year as a carryover. Both the Bolt EV and the Bolt EUV had a huge recall last year to replace defective batteries, but earlier this year GM announced that it will invest $7 billion in EV and battery production. This aligns with the company’s goal to only sell zero-emissions vehicles by 2035.
The Bolt EV just got a full refresh last year, its first big update since 2017. This compact hatchback’s lineup consists of two trims, the 1LT and 2LT. It seats up to five passengers with 36 inches of legroom in the back. The cargo area has 16.6 cubic feet of storage which expands to 57 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Both trims come standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
As mentioned above, the Bolt EV was recently affected by a battery recall. This has undoubtedly impacted the vehicle’s reputation, though battery packs have since been replaced by LG Energy Solution to remove the possibility of fires. The powertrain system that the Bolt EV runs on is a 65 kWh battery with a range of 259 miles and 120 MPGe, which enables the compact hatchback to get up to 60 mph in an estimated 6.5 seconds. It’s compatible with DC Fast Charging and can gain up to 100 miles of range in only 30 minutes. A 240-volt outlet can fully recharge the battery in around seven hours.
The Bolt is built on a BEV2 platform, which was used by other vehicles such as the Spark, Trax, and Buick Encore. While Chevy is beginning to utilize an Ultium-based platform in newer vehicles, the BEV2 supports a "skateboard" design for flexibility.
Chevrolet equips the Bolt EV with automatic emergency braking, a forward-distance indicator, and lane-keeping assist on the 1LT. Upgraded packages and the higher trim level make such features as blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system available.
