The Chevrolet Bolt EV, launched in 2017, was an affordable, long-range electric vehicle that became GM's bestselling EV despite a major battery recall. GM announced the Bolt's cancellation in 2022 to retool its factory for electric trucks, but reversed the decision after significant customer backlash.
The revived Bolt will feature a new lithium iron phosphate battery, components from the Equinox EV like its drive motor, and an updated infotainment system. It is confirmed to have a 262-mile range, 150 kW DC fast-charging capability with a NACS socket, and will be offered in LT and sportier RT trims.
The main topics covered are the history, cancellation, and revival of the Chevrolet Bolt EV, along with the specifications and features of the new model.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.—When the Chevrolet Bolt debuted in 2017, the electric hatchback stood out: Here was an electric vehicle with more than 200 miles of range for less than half the price of a Tesla Model S. The Bolt had its ups and downs, though. A $1.8 billion recall saw the automaker replace the battery packs in more than 142,000 cars, which wasn’t great. COVID delayed the Bolt’s midlife refresh a little. It got a price cut—the first of several—plus new seats, infotainment, and even the Super Cruise driver assist, plus a slightly more capacious version called the Bolt EUV.
Along the way, the Bolt became GM’s bestselling EV by quite some margin, even as the OEM introduced its new range of more advanced EVs using the platform formerly known as Ultium. But as is often the way with General Motors, a desire to do something else with the Bolt’s assembly plant saw the car’s cancellation, as GM wanted to retool the Orion Township factory as part of its ill-judged bet that American consumers would embrace full-size electric pickups like the Silverado EV. And thus, in 2022, GM CEO Mary Barra announced the Bolt’s impending demise.
This was not well-received. Even though Chevy promised an almost-as-cheap Equinox EV, Bolt fans besieged the company and engineered a volte face. At CES in 2023, Barra revealed the Bolt would be brought back, with an all-new lithium iron phosphate battery in place of the previous lithium-ion pack. When GM originally designed the Bolt, it was the company’s sole EV, but now there’s an entire (not-) Ultium model range. The automaker also has a giant parts bin to pick from, so the Equinox EV donates its drive motor, plus there’s a new Android Automotive OS infotainment system.
But you could have read all that ages ago. Chevy announced some specs and pricing last October, including the news that there would be a sportier RT trim in addition to the LT version. Then, in January, we learned its 262-mile (422 km) range and the fact that it can DC fast-charge at up to 150 kW, using a NACS socket instead of CCS1. Now, we’ve had a chance to spend some time behind the wheel of the 2027 Bolt, and here’s what we found.
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