2021 Chevy Bolt EV

The 2021 Chevy Bolt EV delivers a 259-mile range via a 66-kilowatt-hour battery pack, which can charge in as little as two hours with the available DC fast-charging option, a must-have feature for protecting resale and maximizing convenience. DC fast-charging is notable because it’s the fastest method - versus Level 1 charging (120-volt capability) or Level 2 charging (240-volt capability) - at a 480-volt capability. So, you can spend a long time on the road without having to wait a long time for your car battery to charge up after.

How does that translate into distance and time-to-charge? A 120-volt charger gets you 4 miles of range per hour of charge, a 240-volt charger delivers a full charge in 10 hours, and the DC Fast Charge can charge 90 miles every 30 minutes. For 2021, the Bolt gets DC Fast Charging standard on the Premier trim and optional on the base LT trim level. Remember, a fully-charged Bolt EV gets a range of 259 miles and gets you there via an output of 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, a substantial amount of power.

The Bolt’s charging process is easy and programmable. Location-Based Charging optimizes off-peak electricity hours and saves you money in the process by letting you program the car to charge when electricity is cheapest. At-home charging is also customizable on the Bolt. Utilize the Target Charge Level mode to dial in a specific range based on what you’ll need on any given day. This quick-pick option is designed for convenience, so you can schedule charging time around your schedule.

On the inside, drivers will love the massive 10.2-inch color infotainment touchscreen display. Prominently situated in the center of the dash, it displays detailed and customizable vehicle information in three selectable modes: Classic, Modern, or Enhanced. The system displays real-time data about your driving style and how it affects performance and range, including factoring in specific road and weather conditions.

Every Bolt is available with forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert with side blind zone alert, rear park assist, and a rear camera mirror. It’s a dizzying list of safety systems that all work differently to protect the vehicle and its occupants in different ways. What these systems have in common, however, is they all fall into the category of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). They use automation technology that’s akin to features found on the futuristic driverless vehicles automakers are currently testing. In other words, today’s driver-assist technologies are just the tip of the iceberg.

In addition to advanced safety technology, all Bolt EV vehicles are equipped with 10 standard airbags, strategically located throughout the interior cabin to maximize protection after impact. An HD Rear Vision Camera is standard and gives drivers excellent back-of-the-vehicle visibility to make backing out of parking spots a lot less stressful. Even though the Bolt is small and powered by electricity, it does not lack in any way when it comes to Chevy's amazing optional and standard safety technologies.