CHEVROLET Bolt Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Five years after the successful introduction of the first Bolt EV, Chevrolet introduced an updated version that looked like a completely new generation.

Chevrolet sold over 100.000 units from the Bolt EV in just five years before introducing the 2021 version. Even if it wasn't a new generation, it showed some differences that made it more appealing. Best of all, it was a lower price dropped about 15% when compared to its predecessor. Thus, it beat Tesla again in offering the most affordable electric car on the market.

The 2021 Bolt EV shape was the same. It looked like a mix between a hatchback and a minivan. Maybe it wasn't the best aesthetic solution, but it worked well for the bow-tie brand. The new model featured LED daytime running lights and headlamps, while its predecessor was available only with regular bulbs. Its new front fascia featured a blacked-out grille with the Chevy badge in the middle.

Inside, the 2021 Bolt EV featured a simple dashboard design with a 10.2" infotainment display placed in the middle. An 8" TFT screen filled the instrument cluster and made the analog dials obsolete. As an option, Chevrolet installed a safety system that measured the driver's fatigue and warned him to pull over and take a nap. It is understandable since the car rolled in silence for all the five passengers that could sit inside. In the back, the 60/40 split-folding bench was good to expand the trunk.

Under the hood, Chevrolet counted on the same electrical system as its predecessor. A 200 hp electric motor fed by a 65 kWh battery pack ensured a range of up to 259 miles (416 km) on a full charge.

In 2016, Chevrolet introduced the Bolt EV and was the most affordable electric vehicle on the U.S. market and, in 2021, it introduced a bigger brother: the EUV.

GM maybe was not the first to start the electric car revolution. It surely had the Volt that lacked for its interior quality and high sticker price, but it didn't offer something to match Tesla. But the big automotive giant worked harder than Tesla and, we might say, smarter.

Thanks to its crossover style and proven technical platform, the Bolt EUV was one of the biggest surprises from the 2021 start. It was a handsome one, with a completely blacked-out grille and the bow-tie that took center stage. The designers left some openings on the lower side of the bumper to cool the electrical system. Its LED daytime running lights were positioned up above the front fenders. The headlamps sat lower than those and were also full LED. Just remember that the first Bolt was available exclusively with regular bulbs. From its sides, the high profile of the Bolt was part hatch-back and part SUV. A black triangle on the C-pilar induced the floating-roof design.

Inside, Chevrolet used its experience with regular cars to create a roomy cabin with a high-tech dashboard design where a 10.2" infotainment system took most of the center stack. An 8" digital display filled the instrument cluster. For seats, the EUV featured two bucket-seats at the front and a 60/40 split-folding bench in the rear.

The Bolt EUV name stood for Electric Utility Vehicle and used the same motor as the Bolt EV. Its 200 hp were fed by a 65 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that was able to charge completely in about seven hours from a 240 v power outlet.

The electric-car frenzy made Chevrolet build few offers for that segment and, in 2017, it showed the Bolt. It was a daily driver that could offer a real-world autonomy of 283 miles (455 km).

After Nissan launched the first affordable electric car on the market in the form of a compact hatchback, and Tesla stormed the drag-strips with its expensive electric vehicles, Chevrolet offered a good choice of a car that had a higher range than the Leaf and it didn't move like it was in slow-motion.

From the outside, the Bolt looked like a mix between a minivan and a compact hatchback. A raked windshield looked like it was an extension for the hood. The ascending beltline improved the dynamic image of the car. The light-alloy wheels were fitted as standard.

The Bolt, like all the other electric cars on the market, had the battery pack installed inside the floor and that led to a higher seating position and a higher greenhouse. But it didn't offer too much headroom for the occupants and no handles above the doors either. As a plus, it featured a 10.2” screen in the center of the dashboard. The instrument cluster was completely digital, due to a TFT color display.

The Bolt was fitted with a powerful electric motor that could offer a 0 to 60 (0-97 kph) time under 7 seconds. It also featured a “one-pedal” driving mode. A designated button on the steering wheel allowed the electric braking to a complete stop. With the gear-stick in the “L” mode, that driving mode was automatically enabled.