2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV Electric

In the world dominated by internal combustion engines, the Bolt EV is a green vehicle leading the charge. The Chevy Bolt comes in hatchback body style. On a single charge, the Bolt EV can travel up to 238 miles and the charging time is 30 minutes. You can charge the Bolt EV using a standard home wall outlet but it may take up to 24 hours to get fully charged. The best option for fast charging is to use a level 3 fast charger or a level 2 charger (9 hours duration).

In the EV market, the Bolt EV competes with the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq. Both the rivals offer better design and features, but the Bolt remains distinguished with its economy attire. We will discuss further in details regarding the offerings of the 2018 Chevy Bolt.

Chevrolet has offered two trim levels with the 2018 Bolt: the base LT and the top Premier variant. Both the variants share similar hybrid powertrain and same size lithium-ion battery package. The difference lies in safety and interior upgrades

The Bolt LT offers two option packages: the $555 Comfort and Convenience package (includes heated front seats and steering wheel) and the $495 Driver Confidence package (includes rear parking sensors, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert). You can get DC fast-charging option for $750.

The Bolt LT is an affordable pick as it comes with an array of standard features such as:

• Backup camera
• 2-inch touchscreen backed by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4G LTE with Wi-Fi
• Proximity-key entry and push-button start

Trims	LT	PREMIER
MSRP	$36,620	$41,780
Features		Everything that comes with LT plus:
	17″ painted aluminum wheel.	17″ Ultra Bright Machined/painted aluminum wheel.
	Body color door handles.	Outside rearview mirror turn indicators.
	Gloss Black outside rearview mirror caps.	Body-color door handles w/chrome strip.
	HID headlamps.	Roof rails.

"The Bolt EV’s electric motor provides power smoothly and quietly. Unlike many of its rivals, however, this Chevy is responsive and impressively quick in our testing."-CarandDriver

Engine and Transmission

The all-electric powertrain for the 2018 Chevy Bolt remains unchanged. Instead of a gas engine, the Bolt EV is powered by a single electric with a 200-hp rating. The electric motor is paired with a 60-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a single-speed transmission. The acceleration is instant and quick.

Models	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Tesla Model 3	Hyundai Ioniq
MSRP	$36,620	$35,000	$29,500
Engine	Electric Motor 60 KWh	Electric Motor 50 KWh	Electric Motor 45 KWh
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic
Power	200hp	258hp	118hp
Torque	266 lb-ft	307 lb-ft	218 lb-ft

Acceleration

The electric motor attached to the 2018 Chevy Bolt offers instantaneous response and acceleration, with ample low-end torque. By selecting the Sport mode, you can make the accelerator pedal more smooth and responsive to driver inputs. However, responses are lower on the highway, but Bolt manages to get through highway speeds somehow.

In comparison to the Hyundai Ioniq, the 0-60 MPH figures of Bolt is quite impressive at 6.5 seconds and 14.9 sec for a quarter mile. While the Ioniq does a 0-60 MPH in 8.1 seconds and covers quarter mile in 8.1 seconds.

Models	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Tesla Model 3	Hyundai Ioniq
0-60 MPH	6.5 sec	6.0 sec	8.1 sec
Quarter mile	14.9 sec @ 93.1 mph	13.4 sec @ 104.4 mph	16.3 sec @ mph
Engine	Electric Motor	Electric Motor	Electric Motor
Emission Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year	0	0	0

Braking and Handling

2018 Chevy Bolt’s brake pedal is responsive and firm. The regenerative braking system allows the battery to recharge whenever you lift off the accelerator. A paddle provided on the left side of the steering wheel allows on-demand regenerative braking and stops the car instantly. The more you use the regenerative braking, more recaptured energy is transferred to the battery.

The ride quality offered by Bolt EV is firm as well. There’s little sign of impacts while driving on uneven terrain. Since the battery pack is mounted beneath the floor, the Bolt wears low center of gravity that makes safe handling. The EV is absolutely fun to drive.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Tesla Model 3	Hyundai Ioniq
Brake pads-front(in)	11.0	12.6	11.0
Brake pads Rear(in)	10.0	13.2	11.2
Curb weight(lbs)	3580	3549	3164
60-0 MPH (ft.)	132	127	129

The 60-kWh battery pack offered with the Bolt EV is capable of returning an EPA-rated range of 238 miles on a single charge. The Bolt EV is efficient, with EPA ratings of up to 128 MPGe. The efficiency is far better than the competitors like Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Tesla Model 3	Hyundai Ioniq
Overall (Mile Per Fullcharge)	238 Miles	220 Miles	218 Miles

"The Bolt's interior is functional, with simple-to-understand controls, plenty of room in the front and the back, and easy entry and exit."-Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

You will witness generous legroom and headroom in both the front and rear seats that makes Bolt comfortable for five occupants. The front seats are thinly padded, but the limited driving range may not make it a matter of concern. You’ll find the heated steering wheel standard on the top Premier variant and optional on the LT trim. You can now slide the sun visors back and forth for better sun blockage.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Tesla Model 3	Hyundai Ioniq
Passenger capacity	5	5	5
Passenger Volume(ft cube)	95	97	96.2
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.7/54.6/41.6	39.6/56.3/42.7	39.1/56.1/42.2
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.9/52.8/36.5	37.7/54.0/35.2	37.4/55/35.7

Infotainment System

With the Bolt’s infotainment, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. You can use them for navigation functions otherwise there’s no built-in navigation offered. You’ll also get several useful EV-specific menus that allow you to extract information like remaining range and battery-energy usage. Bolt’s touchscreen is responsive to most of the smartphones.

Cargo Space

The bolt is practical in its own way. It offers generous cargo space and allows you to store smaller items throughout the cabin. You’ll find spacious compartment behind the electronic shifter for keeping your smartphone. The “floating” dashboard is designed to bring in more space between the front seats beneath the center console.

Among the competitors, the Hyundai Ioniq offers 23.8 feet cube of trunk space while Tesla Model 3 offers 15.0 feet cube of cargo volume.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Tesla Model 3	Hyundai Ioniq
Trunk volume (ft.cube)	16.9	15.0	23.8

"Cleanly styled, the Bolt EV reflects a blend of current Chevrolet design cues and more adventurous flourishes that impart greater visual distinction."-kbb.com

The 2018 Bolt EV looks more like a conventional hatchback than a crossover. However, it may not turn heads the way Tesla or a BMW i3 does. It is easy to spot at parking lots. It is colorful with jelly-bean-inspired exteriors.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Tesla Model 3	Hyundai Ioniq
curb weight(lbs)	3563	3549	3164
Length(in)	164.0	184.8	176
Width(in)	69.5	72.8	71.7
Height(in)	62.8	56.8	57.1
Ground clearance(in)	6.0	5.5	5.5
Wheel base(in)	102.4	113.2	106.3
Track width(in) F/R	59.1/59.1	62.2/62.2	61.0/60.0

Design and Styling

The base bolt LT trim looks basic and economic, more for economy-minded commutes, while the Premier trim looks dressed up with cool-looking wheels and chrome trim.

The NHTSA is yet to complete the safety tests on the 2018 Chevy Bolt while the IIHS has awarded four stars to the EV. Chevrolet has also offered a suite of active safety, but only on the top level Premier trim.

IIHS Crash test (Top Safety Picks)

Crashworthiness

Small overlap front driver side	Good
Small overlap front passenger side	———-
Moderate overlap front	Good
Side	Good
Roof strength	Good
Head restraints & seats	Good

CRASH AVOIDANCE & MITIGATION

Front crash prevention	Superior
Headlights	Poor
Child seat anchors (LATCH) ease of use	Marginal

Safety Features

You will notice some noteworthy safety technologies with the 2018 Chevy Bolt. With the Driver Confidence Package, you’ll get automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-departure warning. With the base Bolt LT model, you only get optional rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot warning.

• 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Safety Features
• Theft-deterrent system, unauthorized entry The theft-deterrent alarm system sounds the horn and flashes the exterior lights to help deter an attempted break-in.
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system
• LED Daytime Running Lamps
• Passenger Sensing System
• 10 standard airbags Dual-stage frontal, roof rail-mounted head-curtain side-impact and seat-mounted side-impact thorax protection for front and rear outboard seating positions, and knee protection for driver and front passenger (includes Passenger Sensing System).
• Safety belts, 3-point driver, and front passenger includes pre-tensioners and load limiters
• Safety belts, 3-point, rear outboard, and center position
• Safety belt indicator, driver
• Rear child security door locks
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Rear Vision Camera

Chevrolet Bolt EV vs Tesla Model 3

Taking long road trips with the EV can be a complicated thing. It’s really rare to see drivers exceed 100 miles in a commute with a home charger. In this part, Tesla has played around like a genius. Tesla guaranteed Model 3 drivers access to its Supercharger network (with usable up to five or six Supercharger credits per year). On the other hand, GM does not provide fast-charging network, so drivers need to get the deal with a DC Fast charge network.

In terms of driving convenience, there is no competition between the Model 3 and Chevy Bolt EV. With a 30-min Supercharger session, Model 3 adds 130 miles of range while in the same time frame, the Bolt EV is able to add 90 miles.

Chevrolet Bolt EV vs Hyundai Ioniq

Selecting between the Chevy Bolt EV and the Hyundai Ioniq Electric comes down to which fits your budget and priorities. The Ionic Electric starts at $7,000 less. The lower price can be a factor determining its limited 124-mile range and timid acceleration in comparison to the Bolt EV.

You can easily bet that the Chevy Bolt is important to General Motors. With a price tag of $37,495, you get an all-electric vehicle with a driving range of 240 miles on a single battery charge. GM brought the car into shape in less than two years, preparing it to compete against the anticipate Tesla Model 3.

The Bolt is believed to be more like an idea and GM believes the buyers would go for it as it represents an idea of mobility. The new Bolt is affordable, accessible, high-tech, and versatile.