[Test Drive] Chevrolet Bolt EV with 414km Driving Range, 'Sing Sing' Without Charging Worries

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Chevrolet's compact electric vehicle Bolt EV is leading the popularization of electric cars in Korea by securing the longest driving range in its class. The 2020 Bolt EV, released by Chevrolet last month, was designed to increase the driving range by 31 km compared to the previous model, allowing it to travel 414 km on a single charge.

Considering the regenerative braking system that charges while driving, the distance is more than enough to make a round trip between Seoul and Yangyang, Gangwon-do. The Bolt EV is recognized in the market for solving the most vulnerable issue of electric vehicles, the 'charging problem.' On the 2nd, I personally tested the newly revamped Bolt EV to evaluate its driving range and performance.

The 66kWh large-capacity battery installed in the Bolt EV achieved a maximum driving range of 414 km on a single charge. With fast charging, 80% of the battery capacity can be charged in just one hour. When starting the engine and pressing the accelerator pedal, the strong torque unique to electric vehicles was felt, providing a refreshing acceleration experience.

The Bolt EV is equipped with a 150kW high-performance single motor electric drive unit, delivering a maximum output of 204 horsepower and a maximum torque of 36.7 kg.m. Additionally, it demonstrated dynamic performance by accelerating from a standstill to 100 km/h in under 7 seconds.

Bolt EV

The battery is horizontally positioned under the vehicle body to lower the center of gravity as much as possible and ensure driving stability. Through the paddle switch located behind the steering wheel, the driver can charge the battery with regenerative energy using the 'Regen On Demand System.' Thanks to this, even after driving for a long time, the remaining driving range on the instrument panel did not easily decrease.

The interior design was also satisfactory in terms of space utilization, visibility, and intuitiveness. Although the interior materials could not overcome the limitations of a compact car, the intuitive infotainment system, including a 10.2-inch display, received passing marks. However, the absence of built-in navigation was somewhat disappointing, but inconvenience was overcome by using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Bolt EV Interior

Also, by applying an electric vehicle dedicated platform, the interior space was relatively spacious compared to vehicles in the same class. The crossover-style high roof provided ample headroom, and the application of an electronic precision gear shift and electronic parking brake expanded the space in the front row. The second row also appeared much more spacious as the floor was flat without a central protruding tunnel. Although the trunk seemed somewhat narrow, it could be expanded enough to load golf bags by folding the second-row seats completely flat at 180˚.

The exterior design did not differ significantly from the 2019 Bolt EV. Chevrolet added popular exterior colors such as Ibiza Blue and Midnight Black to the 2020 Bolt EV. Additionally, features like a digital surround vision camera that monitors the vehicle's surroundings in real-time during parking and an ionizer function that purifies the interior air were also added.

Although the product value was improved with the model year change, the price remained unchanged. The prices of the Bolt EV, reflecting the reduction in individual consumption tax, are ▲LT 45.93 million KRW ▲LT Deluxe 46.93 million KRW ▲Premier 48.14 million KRW.