New Chevrolet Bolt likely to ditch subcompact hatch for crossover SUV body as GM confirms LFP batteries and Ultium platform
While EV buyers were met with a blow when Chevrolet announced that it would discontinue the Bolt EV by the end of 2023, hope was restored when the General Motors-owned brand announced that what was once the affordable EV champion would be making a comeback in the coming years.
Now, in a Q3 earnings call (via CarBuzz), GM CEO, Mary Barra, has confirmed a number of details regarding the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt. First and foremost, Barra confirmed that the new Bolt EV would be the first vehicle in North America built on the Ultium platform to use LFP batteries. Not only are LFP batteries generally cheaper to produce, GM has already purchased the cells in question, resulting in reduced research and development cost and time.
Chevrolet is also aiming to equip the new Bolt with more range, faster charging, and more convenience features for end-users.
Additionally, and perhaps more importantly for many potential Bolt buyers, GM confirmed that the next-gen Bolt would share many of the components found in the Bolt EUV, which was previously the compact crossover version of the Bolt. The apparent implication of this is that the Bolt lineup would be shedding its subcompact hatchback form factor in favour of a crossover SUV body.
It seems like GM's focus with the new Bolt is to reduce cost and shorten the development timeline as much as possible By combining the Ultium platform, which can easily be adapted to a number of vehicle shapes and sizes, with known battery chemistry and existing parts from the Bolt EUV, GM claims that it can reach market with the next-gen Bolt at least two years sooner than previously predicted.
That last claim is a little nebulous, since GM hadn't made mention of a development timeline for the updated Bolt before this, but the indication of reduced costs is likely a positive for both the average car buyer looking to get into EVs and the EV industry as a whole.
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