GM’s CEO Mary Barra doubles down on prediction she’ll beat Elon Musk in electric vehicle sales by 2025. Right now he outsells her by 14x
Julia Nikhinson—AP Images
Christine Mui
Wed, July 20, 2022
Elon Musk’s Tesla currently sells more electric cars than any other company in the U.S. and holds over 60% of the U.S. market share.
With a lead like that, it seems unlikely that Tesla will be usurped anytime soon.
But General Motors CEO Mary Barra doubled down on a bold challenge to Musk earlier this week: By 2025, her company will be selling the most electric vehicles in the U.S.
Barra first made the prediction to CNBC in October 2021, replying “absolutely” when asked if she thinks GM can catch up to Tesla by the middle of this decade.
Tesla does not report U.S. numbers separate from its global sales, but Cox Automotive estimates it sold 352,471 cars to American drivers last year. That’s around 14 times more than GM’s Chevrolet brand. After a recall due to battery fire risks and paused production, Chevrolet finished the year with fewer than 25,000 electric vehicles sold, trailing third behind Tesla and Ford in U.S. sales, according to CNBC.
The prediction is part of GM’s larger goal to sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2035. It has pledged to invest $35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles so that it can roll out 30 new battery-powered models globally leading up to 2025.
A GM spokesperson told Fortune that its four planned U.S.-based battery plants will expand capacity in North America to "build 1 million EVs by the end of 2025, as well as an additional 1 million units of capacity in China."
"We already have the best-selling EV in China. Our EV deliveries in North America in 2022 are growing again now that the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV are back in production," the spokesperson said.
They added that next year, the company is launching three high-volume Chevrolet EVs—the Silverado, Blazer, and Equinox—and have many other EV projects that will launch before 2025.
Beating Tesla on pricing
To beat Tesla in two and a half years, GM’s strategy is to deliver high-range electric cars at affordable prices.
“To really get to 30, 40, 50% EVs being sold, you have to appeal to people that are in that $30,000 to $35,000 price range,” Barra told the Associated Press.
Last month, the Detroit-based manufacturer cut prices on its 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV by $6,000. The Bolt EV now starts at $26,595, making it one of the least expensive electric vehicles in the U.S. The Bolt EUV sells for $28,195. And this September, GM is expected to reveal the Equinox EV, a $30,000 compact SUV set to join Chevrolet’s offerings in the fall of 2023.
The cheapest Tesla for sale right now is a rear-wheel drive Model 3, which sells for $46,990, following a 34% price hike in March. Over the last two years, the company has repeatedly hiked prices across its models. Supply-chain issues and inflation have made those increases necessary, Musk said.
Last Friday, Musk tweeted, “If inflation calms down, we can lower prices for cars,” responding to an inquiry on Tesla’s plans after pandemic supply-chain issues have been resolved.
But even before inflation troubles, Tesla’s prices were higher than GM's. When Tesla first announced its Model 3, it actively promoted, and Musk himself personally promised, a $35,000 starting price. For a brief period, Tesla did sell the Model 3 off-menu for $35,000 before getting rid of that version altogether for the 2021 model year.
Tesla did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
Challenges ahead for GM
Even with a competitive cost advantage, GM faces a wave of challenges to fulfill its goal of dominating the U.S. electric vehicle market. It’s struggling through the same inflationary pressures, high raw material costs, and semiconductor chip shortage that prompted Tesla’s price increases. To alleviate one of those issues, Barra said, GM will move toward buying and controlling three standard families of semiconductor chips in the coming years.
“We’re also working with a select group of strategic companies to source these for the volumes. We’ll have much better control and a stable supply,” Barra said in the interview.
With the Federal Reserve preparing to raise interest rates, and several economists warning of a looming recession, Barra acknowledged that the current business environment is “pretty volatile right now.”
“We’re looking at many different scenarios as any prudent business leader would to make sure we’re ready for whatever, however the situation evolves,” she added. “I’m an engineer, so I’m a problem solver.”
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Julia Nikhinson—AP Images
Christine Mui
Wed, July 20, 2022
Elon Musk’s Tesla currently sells more electric cars than any other company in the U.S. and holds over 60% of the U.S. market share.
With a lead like that, it seems unlikely that Tesla will be usurped anytime soon.
But General Motors CEO Mary Barra doubled down on a bold challenge to Musk earlier this week: By 2025, her company will be selling the most electric vehicles in the U.S.
Barra first made the prediction to CNBC in October 2021, replying “absolutely” when asked if she thinks GM can catch up to Tesla by the middle of this decade.
Tesla does not report U.S. numbers separate from its global sales, but Cox Automotive estimates it sold 352,471 cars to American drivers last year. That’s around 14 times more than GM’s Chevrolet brand. After a recall due to battery fire risks and paused production, Chevrolet finished the year with fewer than 25,000 electric vehicles sold, trailing third behind Tesla and Ford in U.S. sales, according to CNBC.
The prediction is part of GM’s larger goal to sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2035. It has pledged to invest $35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles so that it can roll out 30 new battery-powered models globally leading up to 2025.
A GM spokesperson told Fortune that its four planned U.S.-based battery plants will expand capacity in North America to "build 1 million EVs by the end of 2025, as well as an additional 1 million units of capacity in China."
"We already have the best-selling EV in China. Our EV deliveries in North America in 2022 are growing again now that the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV are back in production," the spokesperson said.
They added that next year, the company is launching three high-volume Chevrolet EVs—the Silverado, Blazer, and Equinox—and have many other EV projects that will launch before 2025.
Beating Tesla on pricing
To beat Tesla in two and a half years, GM’s strategy is to deliver high-range electric cars at affordable prices.
“To really get to 30, 40, 50% EVs being sold, you have to appeal to people that are in that $30,000 to $35,000 price range,” Barra told the Associated Press.
Last month, the Detroit-based manufacturer cut prices on its 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV by $6,000. The Bolt EV now starts at $26,595, making it one of the least expensive electric vehicles in the U.S. The Bolt EUV sells for $28,195. And this September, GM is expected to reveal the Equinox EV, a $30,000 compact SUV set to join Chevrolet’s offerings in the fall of 2023.
The cheapest Tesla for sale right now is a rear-wheel drive Model 3, which sells for $46,990, following a 34% price hike in March. Over the last two years, the company has repeatedly hiked prices across its models. Supply-chain issues and inflation have made those increases necessary, Musk said.
Last Friday, Musk tweeted, “If inflation calms down, we can lower prices for cars,” responding to an inquiry on Tesla’s plans after pandemic supply-chain issues have been resolved.
But even before inflation troubles, Tesla’s prices were higher than GM's. When Tesla first announced its Model 3, it actively promoted, and Musk himself personally promised, a $35,000 starting price. For a brief period, Tesla did sell the Model 3 off-menu for $35,000 before getting rid of that version altogether for the 2021 model year.
Tesla did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
Challenges ahead for GM
Even with a competitive cost advantage, GM faces a wave of challenges to fulfill its goal of dominating the U.S. electric vehicle market. It’s struggling through the same inflationary pressures, high raw material costs, and semiconductor chip shortage that prompted Tesla’s price increases. To alleviate one of those issues, Barra said, GM will move toward buying and controlling three standard families of semiconductor chips in the coming years.
“We’re also working with a select group of strategic companies to source these for the volumes. We’ll have much better control and a stable supply,” Barra said in the interview.
With the Federal Reserve preparing to raise interest rates, and several economists warning of a looming recession, Barra acknowledged that the current business environment is “pretty volatile right now.”
“We’re looking at many different scenarios as any prudent business leader would to make sure we’re ready for whatever, however the situation evolves,” she added. “I’m an engineer, so I’m a problem solver.”
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Bloomberg News | July 22, 2022
GM Ultium battery. Credit: General Motors
With the debut of the electric Chevrolet Blazer this week, we’re starting to get a clearer sense of the Ultium battery system General Motors has been developing along with LG the past several years and how it stacks up against the powertrains in vehicles on the market.
This has been a tortoise-and-hare race where GM got off to an underwhelming start relative to Tesla, which stormed out ahead of the pack a decade ago with longer-range EVs. While GM has been talking a lot about its plans to sell 30 EVs globally by 2025, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen have had more traction lately establishing themselves as challengers to Tesla.
GM has argued its Ultium-based vehicles may be a year or two behind, but they’ll be worth the wait. The automaker didn’t want to just retrofit the chassis of existing models and stick batteries into the floor. Its vehicles would deliver the longer driving range vital to win over consumers who haven’t yet been persuaded to go electric.
For the most part, GM looks like it will be vindicated, although not necessarily because of radically better range.
Two of GM’s Ultium-powered vehicles — the GMC Hummer pickup and Cadillac Lyriq SUV — just went into production, and a trio of Chevy EVs will go on sale next year. The Lyriq offers about 86 miles more driving distance on its 100 kilowatt-hour battery than the similarly priced Audi e-Tron.
GM estimates the Hummer pickup will go up to 350 miles, but with a massive battery in a 9,200-pound beast carrying all kinds of off-roading hardware, it’s difficult to gauge just how efficient it really is.
The Blazer offers the best indication yet of Ultium’s merits. The RS version will go an estimated 320 miles, compared to 318 miles for Tesla’s long-range Model Y, 314 miles for Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, 310 miles for Kia’s EV6 and 303 miles for Hyundai’s Ioniq 5. While Chevy may be able to brag about segment-leading range, it’s not a head-turning advantage.
That said, the Blazer is almost six inches longer and four inches wider than the Model Y and Mustang Mach-E, meaning it may offer a combination of slightly longer range and roomier interior. We’ll have to see once the model is available for a test drive.
As for upcoming pickups, GM’s electric Chevy Silverado will go about 400 miles on a charge with its 200 kWh battery pack when it goes on sale in less than a year. Ford’s recently launched F-150 Lightning goes 320 miles on a 131 kWh battery. So while GM will have an edge with respect to maximum range, Ford is holding its own in terms of efficiency.
The real advantage of Ultium may well be at the industrial level: GM can develop more vehicles and offer better variety. The Blazer will be available in rear-wheel drive for customers who want sportier handling, front-wheel drive for those who prioritize traction, and all-wheel drive for the snow belt. I don’t recall seeing a vehicle offering an option of front-, rear- or all-wheel drive.
That’s the bottom line: Even if Ultium ultimately doesn’t offer a huge advantage in terms of battery chemistry or power density, it enables GM to manufacture and market a much broader lineup of models.
(By David Welch)
Deep price cut leads electric 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV's recovery from devastating recall
Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press
Wed, July 20, 2022
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
Back from an embarrassing production halt due to faulty batteries, the 2022 and 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Bolt make a strong case for being the best affordable electric vehicle on the market.
Deep price cuts and appealing features including up to 252 miles on a fully charged battery make them attractive alternatives to flashier, more expensive EVs like the Cadillac Lyriq and Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T.
GM reduced the sticker prices of a Bolt small car $5,900 and cut the slightly larger SUV-style Bolt EUV by $6,300. The new prices will be reflected on the sticker on 2023 models, but the same discount comes off the price of the remaining 2022s.
And, unlike EVs that brag about monthslong waiting lists like keeping the customer waiting is a good thing, you can probably walk out of a dealership with either today. Cox Automotive estimates Chevy has a four-month supply of Bolt EUVs and nearly two months of the smaller Bolts on hand.
That makes either Bolt a good entrée to EVs for people who don’t want to pay a premium for the latest battery technology.
The Bolt was a sensation when it debuted as a 2017 model, sweeping major awards including North American Car of the Year and Free Press Car of the Year. The Bolt EUV, which is a bit bigger and styled to look like a small SUV — it doesn’t offer all-wheel drive, though — debuted in 2021. It was the first Chevy to offer General Motors’ revolutionary Super Cruise hands-free highway driving assistant. It’s still the least expensive vehicle with the system by a wide margin.
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
More: Cadillac’s enhanced Super Cruise is just that. Super.
More: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq EV is the answer to some questions, leaves others open
More: Chevrolet Bolt EV to disappear from lineup as new technology rolls out
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
All Bolts come with a 65 kwh lithium-ion battery. A 200-hp electric motor drives the front wheels. Starting with the 2022 model year, all Bolts can accept DC fast charging in addition to the original model’s 240-volt capability.
The Bolt has an EPA estimated range of 252 miles on a full charge. The EUV rates 247 miles.
A full charge at 240v takes about seven hours, perfect for overnight charging at home, the way the Department of Energy estimates more than 80% of EV charging happens.
You get up to 95 miles range in 30 minutes at a DC fast charger, but that’s much slower than new EVs. The Bolt and EUV can only accept DC charging up to 55 kW, while new EVs can charge at 150, 190 or 350 kW.
I tested a top-of-the-line 2022 Bolt EUV Premier. A sporty Redline edition is the only meaningful change coming for the 2023 model.
My test vehicle cost $35,895, after subtracting the $6,300 discount from the window sticker.
The silver — aren’t they all? — EUV Premier was equipped with seven-speaker Bose audio, Super Cruise, panoramic power sun roof, navigation, 10.2-inch touch screen, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, push-button start, pedestrian assist and automatic braking, heated front seats, power driver’s seat, 17-inch wheels, LED headlights and running lights.
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
Behind the wheel
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier
Front-wheel-drive five-passenger compact electric vehicle
Price as tested: $35,895 (excluding $995 destination charge)
Reasons to buy: Affordable electric vehicle, Super Cruise available
Shortcomings: DC charging speed, regenerative braking less advanced than newer EVs
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Redline Edition includes 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels. Preproduction model shown. Available Summer 2022.
Why is GM giving me such a deal?
The Bolt and Bolt EUV face several obstacles.
Their most direct competitors, the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona electric, get a $7,500 federal tax credit that comes off the sticker price.
GM no longer qualifies for that credit, paradoxically because it’s sold too many EVs. The credit phases out after an automaker sells 200,000 EVs. It expires because it was intended to encourage automakers to build EVs. The assumption was that after selling 200,000, they wouldn’t need any more convincing, but the effect is that the automakers that began making EVs early are penalized versus latecomers.
Only GM and Tesla have sold that many EVs. Toyota’s likely to hit the ceiling later this year.
President Joe Biden proposed raising the cap to encourage more people to buy EVs, but the a Senate caucus quashed the bill.
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Redline Edition includes 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels. Preproduction model shown. Available Summer 2022.
On top of that disadvantage, the Bolt’s styling, batteries and electronics are out of sync with the EVs drawing the most attention today. GM developed the Bolt on the assumption that EV buyers wanted modest little vehicles that maxed out on efficiency, not style or luxury.
It only took a decade watching Tesla build electric sports cars and hyping its super fast “ludicrous mode” for the rest of the auto industry to figure out that’s not the case. The result: Today’s crop of fast and gorgeous Lucid and Cadillac luxury cars, 1,000-hp Hummer EVs and $90,000 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinums.
Completing a sales-killing trifecta, the Bolts had a disastrous recall under which GM told owners their vehicles could burst into flames while charging. It took months for battery supplier LG to fix the problem and production to resume, but all appears to be well now.
Still, a deep price cut was advisable.
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
Safety and driver assistance features
Automatic emergency braking
Front pedestrian braking
Blind spot alert
Cross traffic alert
Automatic high beams
Lane keeping alert and assist
Following distance indicator
Forward collision alert
Adaptive cruise control
Super Cruise
Driving impressions
The Bolt EUV is a roomy and comfortable car. The rear seat has plenty of legroom and the long, SUV-style roof provides good headroom.
The electric motor delivers immediate acceleration and the steering is direct and responsive. The EUV doesn’t pretend to be a sporty vehicle, but its power and maneuverability are everything most owners are likely to want.
A paddle on the left side of the steering wheel allows you to increase energy regeneration when slowing down. I got used to it fairly quickly, but didn’t find it as useful as the variable one-pedal driving settings many EVs offer. In addition, the placement of a paddle on just one side of the steering wheel made it inaccessible in some turns, just when I wanted the most control over deceleration.
EV engineering is progressing rapidly and that’s the most obvious example of a feature that was class-leading when the Bolt was originally engineered, but now trails the competition.
The instruments and controls are clear and generally easy to use. Toggles manage climate functions including temperature, fan speed, seat ventilation and heating. There’s a volume dial, but not one for tuning.
The volume dial, touch screen home button and a dial to scroll through features are closely spaced in a spot that’s hard to see behind the steering wheel. I occasionally hit the wrong one, but owners will probably get used to them.
Over a week’s driving, the EUV’s computer-estimated range tracked closely with my real-world energy efficiency.
There’s a lot to like about the Bolt EUV, but the affordable little EV won’t be around forever. The Orion, Michigan, plant that builds it is scheduled to switch to new vehicles with GM’s latest technology in the next 18 months or so. For now, though, the Bolt EUV is an affirmative answer to the question, “Are there any affordable electric vehicles?”
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Redline Edition includes 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels. Preproduction model shown. Available Summer 2022.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV at a glance
Base price: $33,000 (all prices exclude destination charge)
Front-wheel drive compact 5-passenger electric vehicle
On sale now
Specifications as tested:
Price as tested: $35,995
Motor: Single electric motor
Output: 200-hp/150kW; 266 pound-feet of torque
Transmission: Single-speed direct drive
EPA fuel estimated range: 247 miles
MPGe equivalent to gasoline: 125 city/108 highway/115 combined. 29 kWh/100 miles
EPA estimated annual fuel cost: $550
Charging time: 7 hours @ 240v and 48 amps; 95 miles in 30 minutes with 55kW DC charging
Wheelbase: 105.3 inches
Length: 169.5 inches
Width: 69.7 inches
Height: 63.6 inches
EPA passenger volume: 96.5 cubic feet
Cargo volume: 16.3 cubic feet behind rear seat; 56.9 with rear seat folded
Curb weight: 3,715 pounds
Assembled in Orion, Michigan
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Looking for an affordable EV? Grab a Chevy Bolt EUV while you can.
Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press
Wed, July 20, 2022
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
Back from an embarrassing production halt due to faulty batteries, the 2022 and 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Bolt make a strong case for being the best affordable electric vehicle on the market.
Deep price cuts and appealing features including up to 252 miles on a fully charged battery make them attractive alternatives to flashier, more expensive EVs like the Cadillac Lyriq and Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T.
GM reduced the sticker prices of a Bolt small car $5,900 and cut the slightly larger SUV-style Bolt EUV by $6,300. The new prices will be reflected on the sticker on 2023 models, but the same discount comes off the price of the remaining 2022s.
And, unlike EVs that brag about monthslong waiting lists like keeping the customer waiting is a good thing, you can probably walk out of a dealership with either today. Cox Automotive estimates Chevy has a four-month supply of Bolt EUVs and nearly two months of the smaller Bolts on hand.
That makes either Bolt a good entrée to EVs for people who don’t want to pay a premium for the latest battery technology.
The Bolt was a sensation when it debuted as a 2017 model, sweeping major awards including North American Car of the Year and Free Press Car of the Year. The Bolt EUV, which is a bit bigger and styled to look like a small SUV — it doesn’t offer all-wheel drive, though — debuted in 2021. It was the first Chevy to offer General Motors’ revolutionary Super Cruise hands-free highway driving assistant. It’s still the least expensive vehicle with the system by a wide margin.
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
More: Cadillac’s enhanced Super Cruise is just that. Super.
More: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq EV is the answer to some questions, leaves others open
More: Chevrolet Bolt EV to disappear from lineup as new technology rolls out
How much?
The Bolt looks like just another compact small hatchback, a couple of inches shorter than a Kia Soul, but with less character.
That’s largely why Chevy developed the Bolt EUV: It needed an electric vehicle with a little visual pizzazz to boost sales. The EUV is visually distinctive — 6.3 inches longer, fractionally wider and taller, with styling tweaks that make it look more substantial and increase passenger space.
Prices for the 2023 Bolt and Bolt EUV start at $25,600 and $27,200, respectively. All prices exclude destination charge.
The Bolt looks like just another compact small hatchback, a couple of inches shorter than a Kia Soul, but with less character.
That’s largely why Chevy developed the Bolt EUV: It needed an electric vehicle with a little visual pizzazz to boost sales. The EUV is visually distinctive — 6.3 inches longer, fractionally wider and taller, with styling tweaks that make it look more substantial and increase passenger space.
Prices for the 2023 Bolt and Bolt EUV start at $25,600 and $27,200, respectively. All prices exclude destination charge.
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
All Bolts come with a 65 kwh lithium-ion battery. A 200-hp electric motor drives the front wheels. Starting with the 2022 model year, all Bolts can accept DC fast charging in addition to the original model’s 240-volt capability.
The Bolt has an EPA estimated range of 252 miles on a full charge. The EUV rates 247 miles.
A full charge at 240v takes about seven hours, perfect for overnight charging at home, the way the Department of Energy estimates more than 80% of EV charging happens.
You get up to 95 miles range in 30 minutes at a DC fast charger, but that’s much slower than new EVs. The Bolt and EUV can only accept DC charging up to 55 kW, while new EVs can charge at 150, 190 or 350 kW.
I tested a top-of-the-line 2022 Bolt EUV Premier. A sporty Redline edition is the only meaningful change coming for the 2023 model.
My test vehicle cost $35,895, after subtracting the $6,300 discount from the window sticker.
The silver — aren’t they all? — EUV Premier was equipped with seven-speaker Bose audio, Super Cruise, panoramic power sun roof, navigation, 10.2-inch touch screen, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, push-button start, pedestrian assist and automatic braking, heated front seats, power driver’s seat, 17-inch wheels, LED headlights and running lights.
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
Behind the wheel
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier
Front-wheel-drive five-passenger compact electric vehicle
Price as tested: $35,895 (excluding $995 destination charge)
Reasons to buy: Affordable electric vehicle, Super Cruise available
Shortcomings: DC charging speed, regenerative braking less advanced than newer EVs
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Redline Edition includes 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels. Preproduction model shown. Available Summer 2022.
Why is GM giving me such a deal?
The Bolt and Bolt EUV face several obstacles.
Their most direct competitors, the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona electric, get a $7,500 federal tax credit that comes off the sticker price.
GM no longer qualifies for that credit, paradoxically because it’s sold too many EVs. The credit phases out after an automaker sells 200,000 EVs. It expires because it was intended to encourage automakers to build EVs. The assumption was that after selling 200,000, they wouldn’t need any more convincing, but the effect is that the automakers that began making EVs early are penalized versus latecomers.
Only GM and Tesla have sold that many EVs. Toyota’s likely to hit the ceiling later this year.
President Joe Biden proposed raising the cap to encourage more people to buy EVs, but the a Senate caucus quashed the bill.
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Redline Edition includes 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels. Preproduction model shown. Available Summer 2022.
On top of that disadvantage, the Bolt’s styling, batteries and electronics are out of sync with the EVs drawing the most attention today. GM developed the Bolt on the assumption that EV buyers wanted modest little vehicles that maxed out on efficiency, not style or luxury.
It only took a decade watching Tesla build electric sports cars and hyping its super fast “ludicrous mode” for the rest of the auto industry to figure out that’s not the case. The result: Today’s crop of fast and gorgeous Lucid and Cadillac luxury cars, 1,000-hp Hummer EVs and $90,000 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinums.
Completing a sales-killing trifecta, the Bolts had a disastrous recall under which GM told owners their vehicles could burst into flames while charging. It took months for battery supplier LG to fix the problem and production to resume, but all appears to be well now.
Still, a deep price cut was advisable.
Chevrolet cut the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric vehicle's price $6,300.
Safety and driver assistance features
Automatic emergency braking
Front pedestrian braking
Blind spot alert
Cross traffic alert
Automatic high beams
Lane keeping alert and assist
Following distance indicator
Forward collision alert
Adaptive cruise control
Super Cruise
Driving impressions
The Bolt EUV is a roomy and comfortable car. The rear seat has plenty of legroom and the long, SUV-style roof provides good headroom.
The electric motor delivers immediate acceleration and the steering is direct and responsive. The EUV doesn’t pretend to be a sporty vehicle, but its power and maneuverability are everything most owners are likely to want.
A paddle on the left side of the steering wheel allows you to increase energy regeneration when slowing down. I got used to it fairly quickly, but didn’t find it as useful as the variable one-pedal driving settings many EVs offer. In addition, the placement of a paddle on just one side of the steering wheel made it inaccessible in some turns, just when I wanted the most control over deceleration.
EV engineering is progressing rapidly and that’s the most obvious example of a feature that was class-leading when the Bolt was originally engineered, but now trails the competition.
The instruments and controls are clear and generally easy to use. Toggles manage climate functions including temperature, fan speed, seat ventilation and heating. There’s a volume dial, but not one for tuning.
The volume dial, touch screen home button and a dial to scroll through features are closely spaced in a spot that’s hard to see behind the steering wheel. I occasionally hit the wrong one, but owners will probably get used to them.
Over a week’s driving, the EUV’s computer-estimated range tracked closely with my real-world energy efficiency.
There’s a lot to like about the Bolt EUV, but the affordable little EV won’t be around forever. The Orion, Michigan, plant that builds it is scheduled to switch to new vehicles with GM’s latest technology in the next 18 months or so. For now, though, the Bolt EUV is an affirmative answer to the question, “Are there any affordable electric vehicles?”
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Redline Edition includes 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels. Preproduction model shown. Available Summer 2022.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV at a glance
Base price: $33,000 (all prices exclude destination charge)
Front-wheel drive compact 5-passenger electric vehicle
On sale now
Specifications as tested:
Price as tested: $35,995
Motor: Single electric motor
Output: 200-hp/150kW; 266 pound-feet of torque
Transmission: Single-speed direct drive
EPA fuel estimated range: 247 miles
MPGe equivalent to gasoline: 125 city/108 highway/115 combined. 29 kWh/100 miles
EPA estimated annual fuel cost: $550
Charging time: 7 hours @ 240v and 48 amps; 95 miles in 30 minutes with 55kW DC charging
Wheelbase: 105.3 inches
Length: 169.5 inches
Width: 69.7 inches
Height: 63.6 inches
EPA passenger volume: 96.5 cubic feet
Cargo volume: 16.3 cubic feet behind rear seat; 56.9 with rear seat folded
Curb weight: 3,715 pounds
Assembled in Orion, Michigan
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Looking for an affordable EV? Grab a Chevy Bolt EUV while you can.
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