Chevy Unveils 2027 Bolt Teaser: New Look, NACS Charging Ahead

It was somewhat confusing when General Motors revealed details about the first generation Chevrolet Bolt EV was expected to disappear in 2023. The small electric hatchback was among the few budget-friendly electric vehicles available, with a sales figure of 23,164 units in 2023 showing that it remained popular enough to remain relevant. Although some fire incidents damaged its image, the Bolt EV offered solid, cost-effective features.

Not long after its premature shutdown, GM CEO Mary Barra promised the public that the Bolt would come back with Ultium underpinnings suggesting that the Bolt's failure to adhere to sleek electric vehicle standards led to its demise. Now, the era of the Chevrolet Bolt's resurgence is upon us: on Wednesday, GM released some preview pictures of its updated budget-friendly EV.

"The Chevrolet Bolt revolutionized the market when it was introduced in 2017, becoming the first long-range electric vehicle that was both widely available and reasonably priced for consumers. Manufacturing ceased in December 2023. However, due to strong interest, General Motors plans to reintroduce it for the 2027 model year," according to the statement.

Recent spy images of the prototype that have been released Naturally, it showed more than the planned promotional pictures, yet both groups of images present an enjoyable design discovery: from what we can see, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt uses the same chassis, roof, and windscreen as the earlier model. This is typically positive, since the older Bolt EV and its EUV counterpart were visually appealing within the hatchback category. GM has acknowledged introducing a fresh front bumper and rear lights, although we believe most modifications will be under the hood.

A North American Charging System port will be included as standard, according to GM, but the more significant update arrives through a report by MotorTrend Reportedly, the new Bolt EV will come equipped with lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery technology, marking a major advancement over the initial generation of batteries. These newer cells are not only anticipated to offer greater efficiency, with General Motors aiming for a range of 300 miles, but they could also contribute to reducing the vehicle's cost. Additional enhancements are expected to involve quicker direct current (DC) charging rates and times, addressing the prior maximum charge rate of 50 kW.

Since it is set to debut for the 2027 model year, the renewed Bolt EV is expected to reach dealerships during the autumn of 2026. General Motors hasn’t shared specifics about price or manufacturing schedules yet, although they have confirmed that the Bolt EV will be produced at GM’s Fairfax Assembly Plant located in Kansas City. Persistent initiatives from companies like Volvo, Tesla, Kia, and even Chevrolet highlight that providing an electric vehicle under $35,000 remains a challenge between engineering expenses and buyer expectations. Therefore, if Chevrolet can genuinely offer a Bolt EV with a 300-mile range priced at $30,000, there could be significant interest in the product.

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