January 6, 2016 will have been a significant date in the history of the American automobile, despite its apparent banality. It was on this day, at the dawn of the new year, that General Motors (GM) unveiled its Chevrolet Bolt at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Without having the technological extravagance of the Tesla Model 3 presented a few months earlier, the subcompact had a well-defined mission: to democratize the all-electric. GM announced last week the end of this important chapter in its history.
Mary Barra, the big boss of the American giant, confirmed the information that had been circulating for months already during a call with her shareholders. The last Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs will roll out of the Orion assembly plant by the end of the year, after which the plant will be retooled for production of electric versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.
GM Canada also confirmed the news with a brief statement, noting that the model, which has sold 27,000 units since its Canadian debut, “has attracted and retained a whole new customer base for Chevrolet.” . The future is now turned towards a new generation of electric vehicles with Ultium architecture. Larger vehicles, with greater recharging and autonomy capacities.
Low price, long battery life, small size
The big argument to explain the popularity of the Chevrolet Bolt over the years is obviously its price. Launched in 2017 at $44,395 without the incentives subtracted, it’s now offered under $40,000 ($38,943) in entry-level livery. An excellent deal in an inflationary environment, it goes without saying.
PHOTO ANDREW HARRER, BLOOMBERG ARCHIVES
General Motors CEO Mary Barra alongside the Chevrolet Bolt styling study unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2015. A year later, the production model was showcased in Las Vegas at CES.
Then comes the autonomy, calculated at 417 km. This is superior to many more expensive electric models. Note, however, that the Bolt can only supply its 65 kWh battery with a maximum charging power of 55 kW, which increases the time spent at fast terminals compared to more recent vehicles.
The other argument in its favor is its format. An increasingly rare commodity in a market that thrives on inflated SUVs, this Bolt, in both EV and EUV variants, contains its mark. The Bolt EV is thus 14 cm shorter and 2 cm narrower than a Volkswagen Golf GTI. This supports its manoeuvrability, driving pleasure with its 200 hp engine, but also its autonomy.
Admittedly, the Chevrolet Bolt will not have a completely peaceful existence. The mass recall of its batteries in 2021 due to an assembly problem exposes it. That said, it will have been an important product for accessibility to electric cars. It is this remarkable legacy that we will remember.