Chevrolet
first explored an electric car
concept with the compact hatchback Spark EV, but the tiny EV didn’t have broad appeal. The EV was only released in California, Oregon, and Maine, and its 19-kWh battery pack could only muster about 82 miles of range on a single charge. Thus, the Spark EV was discontinued to make room for a bigger, better model that would rival existing EVs like the Nissan Leaf while also garnering mass-market appeal for Chevrolet in the electric vehicle segment.
In 2016, the subcompact hatchback Chevy Bolt was launched to great success, but it wasn’t until 2020 that the car traded out its previous 60-kWh battery pack for a 66-kWh battery pack, expanding its range from 238 to 259 miles.
According to Kelley Blue Book
, this upgrade officially pushed the EV to best-in-class status, and Chevrolet has only continued to improve on the Bolt. Jerry
has all the info you need on the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s evolution since 2020. Reclaiming its best-in-class status
The 2020 Chevy Bolt marked a new era for Chevrolet, which was the first mainstream vehicle to get over 230 miles per charge when it was launched in 2016.
As the years went on, however, the Bolt began to fall behind competitors like the Tesla Model 3 and the Hyundai Kona EV.
Chevrolet upped the ante again, pulling the Bolt ahead of the competition once more by increasing its range to 259 miles, solidifying its status as a best-in-class standard range EV.
However, it also eclipsed its rivals in price, with a starting MSRP of around $37,500 before rebates.
The Bolt maintained its price and range status for the 2021 year, but things were heating up. The Hyundai Kona EV fell short by just one mile and came at a lower price point.
Active safety features like automotive emergency braking and forward-collision alert that came standard in EVs were also going to cost you extra with the Bolt.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV’s recovery from recalls
Reports of battery flooding and overheating plagued the 2021 Bolt. This became a huge safety risk, and General Motors was forced to do a massive recall.
To break out of a rut once again, the Bolt went through a full redesign for 2022.
The chassis and powertrain were unchanged, but the quality of the styling and interior were significantly upgraded. The new Bolt is also six inches longer, offering you a few extra inches of rear legroom.
2022 was also the launch year for the EUV, a more spacious version of the Bolt EV.
GM slashed the starting price of the Bolt EV to $31,500 before incentives, a $6,000 discount for a much-improved car. The pricing for the 2023 Bolt was even lower at $26,595, making it the current cheapest EV in America before tax credits.
Unfortunately, at the time they went on sale, there were no more available $7,500 federal incentives
for the 2022 or 2023 Bolt EV and EUV.
Buying a Chevrolet Bolt EV
All things considered, if you’re shopping around for a more eco-friendly car, don’t let the Bolt’s lack of a tax incentive stop you from checking it out.
Chevrolet confirmed that the price cut was implemented to assure that Bolt pricing remained competitive in the EV marketplace. While it may still be more expensive than competitors like the Nissan Leaf, it also boasts a 100-mile range difference, which could be worth paying for.
You can also save big on your car insurance plan with Jerry
. A licensed broker, Jerry can source quotes from top insurance companies in less than 60 seconds. The average user saves $887 per year on car insurance. MORE: 2022 Chevy Bolt EV and EUV Reporting For Parking Enforcement Duty
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