This week, General Motors held an event where they announced a slew of new details about its upcoming entry-level EV, the 2027 Chevy Bolt, according to InsideEVs who sourced the news from social media posts. When it rolls off the assembly line at GM’s factory in Fairfax, Kansas, early next year, the Bolt will start at $29,990, including destination fees. A few months later, a base LT trim will arrive starting at $29,990, followed by the RS trim for about $32,000, both including destination fees.
When it comes out early next year, the new Bolt will sport a 65kWh LFP battery that will enable an estimated 255 miles of range. It will come with a native NACS charging port, meaning it will be able to charge as thousands of Tesla Supercharger stations at speeds of up to 150kW. (A NACS-to-CCS adapter will be provided for older charging infrastructure.) It will recharge from 10-80 percent in 26 minutes. And it will have bidirectional, vehicle-to-home charging capabilities, allowing it to supply up to 9.6kW of power.
It will have a larger, 11.3-inch infotainment display than older Bolts, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, as GM has made the controversial decision to disallow phone mirroring in its EVs. There will be an option to include the hands-free Super Cruise driver assist system, which supports route following, lane changes, and highway interchanges. The new Bolt will also have 16-cubic-feet cargo space with the rear seats up, and 57 cubic-feet when they are down.
It cannot be overstated the significance of a brand new American-built EV that starts under $30,000. Not even Tesla, which has the most mature EV business and has honed its supply chain and assembly process over two decades, has been able to strip enough features and content from its vehicles to get them below that number. The new Standard versions of the Model 3 and Model Y will start at $38,640 and $41,600, respectively.
These prices will make the new Chevy Bolt the cheapest new electric vehicle in America when it comes out, sneaking in just below the new Nissan Leaf, which starts at $31,485, including destination. It is likely to be a welcome addition to an EV market that sorely needs more affordable options, especially in the aftermath of the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
