New Chevrolet Bolt promises to be more affordable

General Motors has revealed a few snippets about its next generation Chevrolet Bolt EV. 

While GM recently discontinued its entry level and most affordable EV, it will resurrect the vehicle next year.

It will be based on the Ultium technology platform and the company is hoping it will be the cheapest EV on the market in the US. During an investor event, GM president, Mark Reuss, confirmed that it will have a faster charging rate than the old car, though that won’t be difficult as the old Bolt only charged at a rate of 55kW on a DC charger. 

While Reuss suggested the next generation Bolt could be slightly more expensive than the old one, which went for $28k in the US, he said to expect a number of variants in the range including a lower cost option. 

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We guess that means one with a smaller battery, which apparently will feature LFP technology. 

This follows on from comments made earlier in the year by GM’s North American chief, Marissa West, who said; “with the scale [of the Ultium architecture], it gives us the opportunity to present really affordable electric vehicles to our customers. We’re really excited to get the Bolt with the Ultium architecture underpinnings to have the most affordable vehicle on the market by 2025.” 

Will the Chevrolet Bolt be made in RHD?

GM has recently released a few models made for right hand drive markets but it’s yet to confirm anything about a RHD Bolt.

GM recently hosted Wall Street financial analysts at its flexible manufacturing site in Spring Hill Tennessee. GM says it has ‘an improving financial outlook for its electric vehicles’. In the US, GM is improving its market share and “making rapid progress toward EV profitability”. 

It is the number two seller of EVs in North America, and is on track to sell 200,000 GM branded EVs this year.