UNITED STATES: General Motors’ (GM) Bolt electric vehicle technology is being replaced by the Ultium electric drive system across all its model lines. But even outdated technology may produce a compelling package, particularly in light of Chevy’s price reduction for 2023, which reduced the base price of our tested Bolt EUV (Electronic Utility Vehicle) Premier by $5,000 to $32,695.
The test vehicle cost increased by $6,000 due to extras like the delivery fee and the panoramic sunroof. The Bolt EUV LT starts at $28,195, which will interest customers on a budget.
Chevrolet Bolt EUV
On its 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, the car’s amazing 247-mile estimated electric driving range is made possible by its efficient engine and refined aerodynamics.
The car’s analytics estimates that it can travel more than 280 miles on a fully charged battery due to the recent moderate weather, with the potential to go up to 330 miles if driven gently.
The Bolt’s improved 11.5 kW on-board charger allows it to charge at a rate of about 37 miles of range per hour on a Level 2 AC charging station at home in only seven hours. The automotive charge port is notable for having weather protection on the cover door.
As a result, the driver won’t have to deal with the hassle of opening a cover to access the L2 AC charge port for routine charging at home or at work. Despite having its own cover, the SAE CCS Combo port for DC quick charging is rarely used; therefore, this is not a concern.
Although it won’t be confused for a sports car, the Bolt EUV has a good driving experience. According to various sources, In contrast to the BMW iX, which tends to drift aimlessly in its lane, the steering feels a little numb but is accurate and keeps the car where it is supposed to be.
With a 200-horsepower electric motor, acceleration is respectable. The “Sport” mode button, which remaps the reaction to the accelerator pedal so that it cranks up the power faster when the driver steps on the pedal, seems to make this more apparent.
The shifter for the Bolt is made up of a row of switches, each of which modifies the condition of the vehicle’s drive system. Recognizing how people actually drive, this technology shifts from ‘Reverse to Drive’ while the vehicle is still somewhat in motion, removing the need for the driver to use the brake pedal or for the vehicle to come to a complete stop.
This is advantageous; however, the lift-up switch for applying the parking brake is immediately next to the one activating the drive.
Unlike classic PRNDL shifters, which slide between distinct positions the driver can feel without looking, these pushbutton shifters have the drawback of requiring the driver to take their eyes off the road to perform a change.
An excellent technique to unintentionally engage the parking brake is to shift into drive without checking inside the Bolt.
The GM Super Cruise system is well-known for its use of a camera on the steering column to ensure that the driver’s eyes stay on the road and for the company’s reasonable restriction of its use to only properly mapped limited-access highways.
The Bolt EUV is probably the most reasonably priced vehicle on the road that offers SAE (Society of Automobile Engineers) Level 2 hands-free driving assistance.
The Bolt’s pricing would drop to its attractive base price (plus the destination fee) if the option package that adds Super Cruise and the sunroof were skipped, making the vehicle a good bargain.
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