Remember when countless motoring publications were hailing the Chevrolet Bolt EV as a Tesla Model 3 killer? They couldn’t have been more wrong, and General Motors couldn’t have made a bigger mess of their first mass-market electric car. Not only did they get the size wrong (it’s a subcompact), but the battery recall has surely affected the Bolt’s appeal.
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To make a long story easier to digest, GM found that a torn anode tab and a folded separator led to the battery fires you’ve heard about in the news. All told, more than 140,000 cars have been called back. The safety recall could end up costing $2 billion depending on the number of module replacements needed, and battery supplier LG Energy will cover the vast majority of the cost. GM started replacing modules in 2017 to 2019 models last month.

As the biggest of the Big Three in Detroit prepares to run diagnostic software on 2020 to 2022 models, including the Bolt EUV faux crossover, the automaker has announced a three-week production downtime at the Orion plant in Michigan. According to Automotive News, the bigwigs decided on this halt to prioritize battery module replacements for existing customers.

The assembly site will be offline from November 15th to December 3rd, and production is expected to resume on December 6th if everything goes according to plan. Automotive News understands from General Motors spokesperson Dan Flores that Orion is running on limited production this week to help optimize battery output to support dealers and owners.

General Motors will continue to delay production of new Chevrolet Bolt EVs at the company’s Orion assembly plant in Michigan “through the week of Jan. 24, 2022,” the company said in a statement emailed to TechCrunch on Thursday. The automaker said it would instead “continue to focus on battery module replacements” for tens of thousands of Chevy Bolts that were recalled earlier this year due to potential fire risks within the batteries.

The plant has been shut down since August 23, and GM has repeatedly pushed back production dates for new Bolt vehicles.

In October, GM started shipping dealers replacement battery modules for the recalled Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles. A GM spokesperson said the company was not publicly disclosing any specifics on the number of modules that had been shipped or replaced.
“We continue to ramp up repairs and are focused on completing the repairs as quickly as possible,” the company spokesperson said in an email. “In fact, we notified employees at our Orion assembly plant (the assembly plant for the BOLT EV) that we are keeping the plant down through January to continue to prioritize recall repairs.”

As the saga of the Chevrolet Bolt battery recall winds down, there are folks out there who might end up parking next to a Bolt, and parking garage owners where Bolts want to park, who need to be reassured their possessions won't catch fire. To help ease such fears and get the Bolt reintegrated into automotive society, Chevrolet has come up with a window sticker for Bolt and Bolt EUV owners who had their batteries changed and the latest software installed. The sticker says "Chevrolet Certified Battery Update," and features a phone number plus a scannable QR code to provide more information on what's been done to the vehicle in question.

A company spokesperson told The Detroit News, "We decided to make this cling available as the result of direct feedback from our owners. ... These clings will be available to owners who have completed the software update or battery module replacements from the dealer."

After the expanded August 2021 recall action that lassoed every Bolt and Bolt EUV ever made, from the 2017 to 2022 model years, GM advised Bolt owners to park outside or on the open top deck of a parking garage, at least 50 feet away from other vehicles. GM confirmed 18 Bolts catching fire around the world. Some of those owners who hadn't followed both parking guidelines had parts of their homes burned, or their cars set nearby cars on fire. In response, some parking garages forbade any Chevrolet Bolt from entering.

LG Chem has been making new, improved replacement batteries since mid-September at two Michigan facilities. The first shipments to dealers happened in mid-October, but Chevy hasn't commented on the progress of replacements nor on restarting Bolt production. The new 65-kWh replacement units come with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty, and they work on a revised chemistry that appears to have improved the hatchback's range. Chevrolet will begin sending the certified window stickers later this month.

Shortly after announcing it will recall all Bolt electric vehicles ever produced back in August last year, Chevrolet paused the production of its zero-emissions model over concerns of a fire risk. At the time, we didn’t know this would become the longest safety-related production pause in the history of the company but finally, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. General Motors announced yesterday the Bolt will go back on the assembly lines on April 4.

Everything started in November 2020 when Chevy recalled a number of Bolts and then in July last year, the automaker issued a second recall. In August, it announced more than 140,000 vehicles, the entire production run of the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, will have to be inspected. A new diagnostics software was then developed, which helped GM identify which battery modules could cause problems and replace them.

"We appreciate the patience customers have shown throughout the recall," Dan Flores, a GM spokesman, said in a statement sent to Automotive News. "We remain committed to Bolt EV and EUV and this decision will allow us to simultaneously replace battery modules and resume retail sales soon, which were strong before the recall."

The Bolt family will be back in production starting from April 4 at the Orion Assembly in Michigan. The last time new Bolt EVs were assembled at the plant was in November 2021, when Chevrolet built several Bolts to provide vehicles for customers during recall repairs. Currently, the manufacturer is busy replacing defective battery modules in cooperation with its battery supplier LG Energy Solution.

If you want to order a new Bolt hatchback or Bolt crossover, you will have to wait at least until April 4. Chevrolet dealers are still under a stop-sale order until the production is resumed. Recalled Bolts that haven’t received new modules or haven’t been inspected with the diagnostics software can’t be offered to customers, too. Automotive News estimates the recall could cost GM and LG up to $2 billion depending on the number of replaced battery modules.

GM has promised to resume Chevy Bolt production after the fire recall, but the planned deadlines have passed and the restart date has been pushed back several times. Nevertheless, the Orion Assembly plant has finally restarted Bolt’s production on April 4 and we’re all confused.
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Chevrolet Bolt carried so much hope for GM’s EV ambitions and was touted in its early days as a Tesla killer. Nevertheless, it failed miserably after multiple battery fire reports prompted a string of recalls in the search for a cause and a fix. After both GM and LG Chem have tried to dodge the responsibility and fix the problem with software updates, GM finally pulled the plug on the Bolt. A massive recall was issued in August 2021 to replace the defective batteries on more than 140,000 vehicles.

GM has always said that Chevy Bolt production will resume at a later time but the proposed dates have come and gone without anything happening. Chevrolet is still working to replace the batteries in recalled Bolts today, so the news of the Orion Assembly plant restarting Bolt production was somehow a surprise. Despite several missed deadlines to restart Bolt production, GM was quick to point out that production was resuming “as planned”.

The question is, does it still matter? GM has announced plans to overhaul the Orion plant to build its newest Ultium vehicles. According to GM, production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV will continue during the plant’s conversion, but it’s unclear for how long. This sounds more like a stubborn decision on GM’s part to resume production, without clear benefits. After all, GM’s focus should be on bringing their Ultium EVs to the market in meaningful numbers. Bolt, being built on a different platform, would not help very much.

Who knows, in the face of high fuel prices, Chevrolet Bolt might prove a viable option for a lot of people. But let’s not forget that GM’s electric duo has become a little long in the tooth and there are better alternatives on the market now as opposed to a year ago. Besides that, the Bolt comes with a dark legacy of fires and we’re not sure people will be able to get over it. At one moment, parking lots and garages banned Bolt owners from using their premises because of the fire danger.

In April 2022, a Chevy Bolt EV discount offers $500 off the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV.

The Bow Tie brand also offers interest-free financing for 48 months and a nationwide lease on the all-electric subcompact crossover.

Chevy Bolt EV Incentives

Chevy Bolt EV discount offers in April 2022 are as follows:

• Purchase Offer:
  • 2022 Bolt EV
    • $500 Purchase Cash Allowance
• Finance Offer:
  • 2022 Bolt EV
    • 0 percent APR for up to 48 months
    • Must finance with GM Financial
• Lease Offer:
  • 2022 Bolt EV 2LT
    • $323 per month for 36 months
    • Ultra low-mileage lease with 10,000 miles per year
    • $2,823 due at signing (after all offers)
    • $0 security deposit
    • Available nationwide, but payment based on Miami market area

The above Chevy Bolt EV all-electric subcompact crossover offers are valid through May 2nd, 2022.

At a time when new and used vehicles are selling at all-time highs, here comes Chevrolet with a significant price decrease. And we aren't just talking a few bucks either – EV shoppers will see upwards of $6,000 off the sticker price for both versions of the Bolt.

Chevrolet announced the pricing On June 1, effective for the 2023 model year. On the Bolt EV, the entry-level 1LT now starts at $26,595. That price includes destination charges, and it's a full $5,900 less than the previous model year. Stepping up to the 2LT trim also sees a $5,900 year-over-year price drop, starting at $29,795.

Those eyeballing the Bolt EUV crossover will see bigger savings for 2023. The base LT trim starts at $28,195, with the range-topping Premier's MSRP starting at $32,695. As with the Bolt EV, all prices include destination charges ($995). And the savings over 2022 on both trim levels is $6,300.

Why is Chevrolet taking such a big bite out of the Bolt's sticker price? According to a spokesperson, it reflects the automaker's "ongoing desire to make sure Bolt EV/EUV are competitive in the marketplace. As we've said, affordability has always been a priority for these vehicles." Barring similar price cuts from other automakers for 2023, the Bolt EV could become the cheapest new EV on sale in the United States. That mark is presently held by the 2022 Nissan Leaf at $28,425.

The Bolt features a single electric motor generating 200 horsepower, and it has a GM-estimated range of 259 miles on a charge. That's the same range listed by the EPA for 2022 models, and hooked to a fast charger, it can gain 100 miles of range in 30 minutes. For 2023, the Chevrolet Bolt EV gains a new exterior color option of Radiant Red Tintcoat, though it adds to the base price.

The 2023 Bolt EUV also gains the new shade of red, but Chevrolet adds a snazzy Redline Edition to the mix. The appearance package includes black wheels and a plethora of red trim to give the small crossover an exciting look. It uses the same 200-hp single electric motor and fast-charge capability, though the estimated range drops to 247 miles on a full battery charge.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV has a lot of great features, the best of which may be its relatively low purchase price. However, one of its biggest shortcomings is its DC fast charging capabilities.

The vehicle has a maximum DC fast charge rate of only 55 kW, which is lower than every other EV sold in North America today except for the MINI Cooper SE and Mazda MX-30. However, those EVs have much smaller battery packs (32.6 kWh and 35.5 kWh respectively), than the Bolt EV's 66 kWh pack, so the lower charging rate doesn't affect them as much.

We got hold of a 2017 Bolt EV that recently had its battery replaced due to the recall, so we had a fresh pack to record a full 0% to 100% charging session on an Electrify America 150 kW DC fast charge station.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV DC fast charging curveAs always, we recorded the entire charging session in time-lapse, and then plotted out the entire charging curve as well as the time to charge chart where we explain how long it takes to add back miles based on our own Bolt EV 70 mph range test, as well as the EPA range rating.

It took us 19 minutes to get to 25% state of charge; 39 minutes to get to 50% state of charge; 73 minutes to get to 75% state of charge and after 2 hours and 26 minutes the charging station shut off with the vehicle still displaying 99% SOC.

The charging time was slightly slower than what we've witnessed in the past, before the Bolt EV battery problems, prompting us to consider that Chevrolet may have adjusted the DC fast charge rate down a bit on vehicles that have the battery replacement, out of an abundance of caution.

We will be getting a new 2022 Bolt EUV soon for testing, and we'll repeat the full DC fast charge recording on the vehicle to see if the charging characteristics are the same.

Chevrolet Bolt EV DC fast charging timesDuring the recording, it took 73 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%, which is very poor when compared to many other EVs available today. However, the Bolt's attractive price point make it a good value for those that don't need to frequently use public DC fast chargers.

Most EV owners charge daily at home or at work, and rarely need to use public DC fast charging infrastructure, outside of an occasional long trip. For those owners, the slow DC fast charging rate isn't really a major concern. But for those that do need to take frequent long trips covering many hundreds of miles at a time, the Bolt EV may not be the best consideration.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV has not had smooth sailing, being affected by a battery problem that could result in a fire. GM and LG Chem fought for the blame for more than a year, while Bolt EV owners had to stop using their beloved EVs. Nevertheless, this year the problem was finally solved, and GM replaced Bolt’s batteries at LG Chem’s expense, but the Bolt EV remained unattractive.

GM then threw everything it got into the game to see what sticks, and, lo and behold, the Bolt finally turned into a success story. Of course, this was helped by a hefty discount, not to mention various incentives offered to Bolt customers, including a home charger and charging credit with third-party charging networks. At an MSRP of $25,600, the deal was sweet enough that Hertz wanted to buy many EVs from GM.

Nevertheless, the deal should become even sweeter from January 1, once Chevy Bolt will once again qualify for a tax credit. The Inflation Reduction Act forgoes the sales quota of the previous tax credits awarded to buyers of electric vehicles. Instead, it mandates that the car and the battery be assembled in the U.S. and the critical battery materials be sourced from the U.S. or a country that has signed a free-trade agreement with the U.S. If the car’s battery fits only one of these two criteria, it only qualifies for half the credit.

Initially, GM has announced that Chevy Bolt buyers will qualify for a $3,750 tax credit once the IRA starts to produce effects. Nevertheless, as the Treasury has delayed until March the rules around the battery sourcing requirements, EV owners will get the full credit until then. Thus, those buying a Chevrolet Bolt EV between January 1 and the day the new rules come into effect, “sometime in March”, will get $7,500 in tax credits.

This is not exclusive to the Bolt, but applies to all electric vehicles selling on the U.S. market. Nevertheless, Chevrolet’s EV is in a unique position thanks to its very low price. Add the tax credit to it, and you’re looking at an $18,100 entry price, the lowest among new vehicles sold in the U.S. The price could go down even more when factoring in various state and local incentives, although not for all buyers.

At this price, the Bolt EV is almost as cheap as a Tesla Powerwall, while having three times the capacity. Even if you never drive it and use it as a backup battery for your house, it’s still a great deal. Nevertheless, the Bolt EV is a good car now, and it has many interesting features, especially considering its price. But you’ve got to seize the moment because the window of opportunity closes in March.​​​​​​​

Last year, Chevrolet cut $5,900 from the price of the Chevrolet Bolt EV, making it the most affordable electric vehicle in the U.S. For 2023, the Bow Tie brand decided to bump the Bolt EV price, although the amount is nothing to fret about.
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The Chevrolet Bolt is a very strange case in the U.S. market. Once hailed as a Tesla killer, it almost killed itself after batteries started to catch fire due to a production issue. Even with replacement batteries, many believed (yours truly included) that Bolt’s fate was already sealed. After all, who would’ve bought such an ill-fated vehicle? Nevertheless, we didn’t take into account GM’s willingness to do whatever possible to turn the Bolt into a success story again.

The batteries were replaced on all affected vehicles, and production was resumed against all odds, even as GM is working to bring new Ultium-based EVs into the market. More than that, last year, Chevrolet threw in a big price cut and other perks for Bolt buyers, turning the beleaguered electric car into one of the most attractive EVs on the market. Now, Bolt is in an intriguing position, where a new model might be less expensive than one selling used. Indeed, many used examples on the market have a price of around $28,000, whereas the new Bolt EV starts at $26,595.

Nevertheless, with the start of the IRA tax credit program on January 1, people expected Chevrolet to raise the price. After all, factoring in the $3,750 credit that Bolt would qualify, the Bolt EV would’ve been ridiculously cheap at $22,845. Until the IRS implements the new battery guidelines in March, the Bolt is even more affordable, benefitting from the full $7,500 tax credit. This means it can be bought at $19,095 at least until March.

Sure thing, Chevrolet has announced a price bump, although it was far lower than expected. According to a GM statement, the price will increase by $900 for the Chevy Bolt EV and by $600 in the case of the Bolt EUV. Thus Bolt EV retails for $27,495, including destination charges, whereas the Bolt EUV has a starting price of $28,795. At the time of writing, the Chevrolet website still lists the original prices, not including the price increase. Nevertheless, things are set to change soon, as confirmed by a Chevrolet spokesperson.

“Due to ongoing industry-related pricing pressures, the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV will see modest price increases starting in 2023, but we expect it to remain America’s most affordable EV,” said Cody Williams, Chevrolet spokesman, in a statement to Detroit Free Press. “Chevrolet remains committed in its long-standing role to provide true value. We expect to continue building the record sales momentum we saw in 2022.”

Sadly, the Chevrolet Bolt will disappear to make way for other EVs built on GM’s Ultium platform. Most probably, the Equinox EV, announced last fall, will replace the Bolt as the most affordable EV in the GM lineup. The Chevrolet Equinox EV will start deliveries later this year, and prices are expected to start at about $30,000.

Chevrolet notified 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt owners that they no longer replace the battery packs as part of the battery fire recall. Instead, the carmaker offered to install a software diagnostics tool to monitor the battery. As you'd expect, Chevy Bolt owners are not happy.

Once touted as a "Tesla killer," the Chevrolet Bolt EV didn't live up to its promise. Despite the relatively affordable price (for an electric vehicle), the Bolt EV didn't set any sales record. Instead, it was the go-to solution for those who wanted to drive an EV with a decent range and couldn't afford a Tesla. Its career was tainted when several Bolt EVs started bursting into flames in 2019 due to a battery defect.

After trying to dodge the problem for almost a year, Chevrolet attempted to fix it with a software update in 2020, but it didn't prevent the Bolt EVs from catching fire. It took another year before GM admitted that the batteries were defective and needed to be replaced. It also convinced the battery supplier, LGES, to pay for the battery replacements. Over 140,000 Chevy Bolt EV and EUV vehicles were affected by the recall.

Chevrolet stopped Bolt production and diverted all the battery cells LGES supplied to the recalled Bolt EVs. GM's deal with LGES might have included free battery packs because Chevrolet restarted Bolt production last April, even though it didn't make sense. Not only that, but the Bolt EV turned into a sales champion after its price was decreased way below the projected production costs. This makes me believe GM didn't have to include battery costs in the bill of materials.

Chevy Bolt battery replacements stopped completely

In the background, battery replacements for affected EVs ground to a halt. A report from last May shows that less than half of the 2017-2019 Chevy Bolt EV affected by the battery fire recall had the battery replaced. Only 1% of the affected 2020-2022 MY vehicles got a new battery under the recall. Now, it appears that GM has decided to stop battery replacement completely.

GM notified 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt owners that their batteries would not be replaced anymore. Instead, it will install a software diagnostics tool to monitor the battery pack and tell if it needs replacement. Based on a message shared in the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV Owners Group on Facebook, the software update should warn if it finds any defects in the battery pack. If the battery passes the tests, the software will remove the safety recall on the vehicle and allow the battery to charge to 100% again.

Reportedly, the change of heart was prompted after GM discovered that most replaced battery packs were not defective. According to Electrek, GM updated the recall documentation to the NHTSA in May to reflect the change. In a new 573 report, GM says that a battery replacement will only be offered to vehicles that GM has determined may contain defective battery modules. For all others, "the remedy is the installation of advanced diagnostic software that will monitor battery performance and identify defective battery modules that require replacement."

Another software update to put out battery fires?

GM issued a statement saying the diagnostics tool will monitor the battery for about 6,200 miles (10,000 km) to detect any potential issues. If none is discovered after this mileage, the battery will be allowed to charge to 100%. If an anomaly is detected, the software will alert the owner to schedule a battery replacement. The software tool needs to be installed at the dealership, and owners can already schedule an appointment. This method only applies to 2020-2022 Bolt vehicles, as the 2017-2019 model years will still get a battery replacement.

It remains to be seen how good this tool is at spotting defective battery modules. Things could get nasty if there's another battery fire because it couldn't catch a problem in time. GM is already part of class-action lawsuits because of the defective batteries. The carmaker should've also communicated better on this change to not annoy people who bought a used Bolt recently, hoping they would get a battery replacement. The new policy is likely to affect the resale value of those vehicles.

The popular and affordable Chevrolet Bolt will live to see another day as General Motors CEO Mary Barra has just confirmed that a next-generation version of the Bolt is in the works.

This is a major announcement for the company and for fans of affordable EVs, with Barra saying the upcoming Bolt EV will be based on GM's Ultium battery and drive technology and will continue to deliver what customers have come to expect from the nameplate: great affordability, range, and technology.
"Our customers love today's Bolt. It has been delivering record sales and some of the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty scores in the industry. It's also an important source of conquest sales for the company and for Chevrolet.

We will keep the momentum going by delivering a new Bolt…and we will execute it more quickly compared to an all-new program with significantly lower engineering expense and capital investment by updating the vehicle with Ultium and Ultifi technologies and by applying our 'winning with simplicity' discipline."

Mary Barra, GM Chair and CEO
Adopting various Ultium and Ultifi technological advancements will help GM bring the popular model back "on an accelerated timeline." Mind you, the automaker did not provide a launch timetable, noting that timing and specific details about the next-gen Bolt will be announced at a later date.

General Motors did not say whether the future Bolt will offer two body styles as the current model does – hatchback (Bolt EV) and crossover (Bolt EUV). It did, however, release a teaser photo that shows a portion of the next-gen Bolt's tailgate featuring the new badge for the nameplate that has stylized lettering including a lightning bolt on the letter "O."

We can also detect the shape of the tailight from the shape of the stamped panel, and it looks like the next Bolt will get lower-set horizontal lamps at the rear.

The forthcoming Chevrolet Bolt will join the brand's growing lineup of all-electric vehicles, including three that are launching this year – Silverado EV, Blazer EV and Equinox EV.

The official confirmation regarding the next-generation Chevy Bolt comes after GM CEO Mary Barra last month hinted at the return of the Bolt entry-level EV in the near future. She made the following comment while speaking on NPR's Marketplace podcast.
"But, you know, Bolt is something that has built up a lot of loyalty and equity. So I can't say more because I don't discuss future product programs. But, you know, it was primarily a move from second generation to third generation. But that's [an] important vehicle in our portfolio."
GM's head honcho said the Ultium platform brings 40 percent lower battery costs compared to the second-generation battery used in the outgoing Bolt EV and EUV, which theoretically means the automaker could offer the next Bolt with a starting MSRP well below $30,000. The Bolt would therefore undercut the Equinox EV that is expected to start around $30K.

The Chevrolet Bolt will go away at the end of this year, but it won't be gone for long. The EV will return in 2025, according to General Motors CEO Marry Barra.

Speaking at an Automotive Press Association event in Detroit, Barra said she had heard from owners who loved their Bolt. "That's been something that has been really great this year, and that informed the decision that we'll have that back again in '25," she said, according to Automotive News.

Chevy confirmed that the next-gen Bolt rides on the Ultium EV platform and will use a lithium-iron-phosphate battery (LFP). "In the process, we are saving billions in capital and engineering expense, delivering a significantly cost-improved battery pack using purchased LFP cells, we're getting to market at least two years faster, and our unit cost will be substantially lower," Barra said in October.
No powertrain or range specs about the new Bolt are available yet. Based on Barra's statement, the LFP battery should help keep the vehicle's costs down, even while switching to the Ultium platform. The current car starts at $27,495 after destination charges, but before any government incentives.The company released a single teaser image of the new Bolt back in July. It offered a glimpse of the re-shaped taillight housing but not much else.

Chevy currently builds the Bolt at the Orion Assembly Plant, though next-gen model could shift assembly to Fairfax, Kansas. The United Auto Workers' tentative agreement with GM mentions a $391-million investment there for a "future electric vehicle." Anonymous sources speaking to Reuters said these upgrades were possibly for producing the next-gen Bolt.

Despite preparing for production to end in December, the Bolt is having great sales this year. As of the third quarter, Chevy has delivered 49,494 of them (GM bundles the figure with the EUV variant) in 2023 – an increase of 124.9 percent over the same period last year.