The Chevrolet Bolt EV’s superpower was worth. Few would name the Bolt EV sensible, horny or premium-feeling. It was a strong EV, delivering a decent 259 miles of EPA vary beginning for lower than $30,000. Gross sales figures had been perking up. However then GM pulled the plug on the mannequin to make room for next-gen Ultium-powered EVs.
When you can not purchase a brand new Chevrolet Bolt EV, there are loads of used examples in the marketplace with leases expiring and fleet gross sales. The Bolt EV was cheap to start with. Used EV costs are tumbling. Scoring a used Bolt EV can get you a serviceable EV for a surprisingly nice deal.
Are you considering of shopping for a used Chevrolet Bolt EV? Listed below are the important thing elements you might want to contemplate.
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How a lot does a used Chevrolet Bolt EV price?
Used Bolt EVs are reasonably priced by EV or every other normal. Pre-refresh 2017-21 mannequin Bolt EVs price between $10,000 and $15,000. Publish-refresh 2022-23 mannequin 12 months Bolt EVs price between $15,000 and $20,000. Practically each used Chevrolet Bolt EV ought to meet the $25,000 threshold to be eligible for the used EV tax credit score.
When was the used Chevrolet Bolt EV constructed?
The Bolt EV lineup remained comparatively static. Nonetheless, Chevy did make some vital adjustments in the course of the mannequin run. The Bolt EV upgraded from a 60 kWh to a bigger 66 kWh battery pack for the 2020 mannequin 12 months, including 21 miles in EPA vary (from 238 to 259 miles). Chevy refreshed the Bolt EV for 2022, making aesthetic adjustments inside and outside and including a sooner 48 amp Degree 2 charging functionality.
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Do you have to get a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Bolt EUV?
Chevy additionally added the Bolt EUV in the course of the 2022 refresh. It shared the identical electrical powertrain and platform because the Bolt EV. The principle distinction was the Bolt EUV being 6.3 inches longer, allowing an additional 3.1 cubic ft of cabin house. Although, paradoxically, the bigger Bolt EUV had much less cargo house, 16.0 cubic ft vs. 16.6 cubic ft. The Bolt EUV additionally had GM’s Tremendous Cruise hands-free driving on its Premier trim.
Do you have to be apprehensive about fireplace danger with a used Chevrolet Bolt EV?
Nobody needs an EV that may catch on fireplace. And the Chevrolet Bolt EV suffered maybe probably the most notorious fire-related recollects within the trade. GM recalled greater than 140,000 Bolt EVs as a result of danger of batteries spontaneously igniting. Ominous warnings instructed homeowners to park the autos exterior and greater than 50 ft from different autos.
The principle concern for used Bolt EV consumers is how the recall was addressed. Many Bolt EVs, significantly these constructed between 2017 and 2019, had their battery packs changed with new (and bigger 66 kW) battery packs. Different Bolt EVs have acquired monitoring software program as a substitute of an entire battery alternative. GM additionally purchased again many Bolt EVs from homeowners, now hitting the market once more.
Potential consumers ought to seek the advice of the car’s upkeep report and CARFAX report to find out whether or not and the way the Bolt EV’s battery recall was addressed.
Photograph by: InsideEVs
Are there every other ongoing issues with used Chevrolet Bolt EVs?
One concern with Bolt EVs is their quick charging functionality (or lack of it by fashionable requirements). The Bolt EV packs older GM battery tech. It tops out at 55 kW and tapers down because the battery fills. At that price, it might take the Bolt EV round 75 minutes to carry out a full 10-80% cost — too lengthy to make highway journeys or residing with out a house charger handy.
The Bolt EV additionally lacks a warmth pump discovered on extra fashionable EVs. A warmth pump reduces the power required to warmth the cabin to mitigate vary loss in chilly climate. Not having the warmth pump leaves the Bolt EV prone to greater than 30 % vary loss in chilly climate.
Homeowners haven’t reported many constant mechanical points with Bolt EVs past the battery pack. Nonetheless, consumers ought to be sure that all software program updates and recollects have been addressed to keep away from technical glitches.
Will a used Chevrolet Bolt EV endure from battery degradation?
All EVs endure some battery degradation. Chevrolet warns of a possible 10-40% capability drop for Bolt EVs in the course of the 100,000-mile guarantee interval. Although anecdotally, Bolt EV homeowners have reported far lower than that. YouTubers have famous degradation of round 5% at 100,000 miles and a bit over 8% at 150,000 miles. And lots of the oldest Bolt EVs on the highway have successfully restarted the degradation clock with brand-new batteries.
Used Bolt EV consumers can do their due diligence by murderer the car battery’s well being earlier than shopping for. Many sellers will have already got carried out exams by a service like Recurrent.
Do used Chevrolet Bolt EVs have guarantee protection?
Usually, sure. Chevrolet offered a three-year or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper guarantee on the Bolt EV. Bolt EVs got here with a further eight-year or 100,000-mile battery and powertrain guarantee. Bolt EVs which have had their battery changed as a part of the recall acquired a brand new eight-year or 100,000-mile guarantee.
