General Motors revives the Chevrolet Bolt with LFP battery tech

General Motors is reviving the Chevrolet Bolt for a limited production run in the U.S. market. The updated electric vehicle (EV) will utilize a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, which replaces nickel and cobalt to reduce manufacturing costs. With this new battery and an updated motor, the vehicle achieves an EPA-rated range of 262 miles. Chevy expects to sell out the new Bolt production run after about two years.

The vehicle features a 65 kilowatt-hour battery capacity and an electric motor that produces 200 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. Kris Keary, chief engineer for EV propulsion systems, stated that “the new motor can spin faster and more efficiently, allowing the team to spec shorter gearing.” The new battery pack supports the North American Charging Standard (NACS) and can accept up to 150 kW of charging power, an increase from the previous Bolt charging speed of 50 kW. However, the new Bolt lacks CarPlay and Android Auto support, dropping Apple’s and Google’s in-car infotainment interfaces in favor of a native system.

Key technical and pricing specifications for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt include:

• Starting Price: The base price is $28,995, which includes the destination fee. However, a fully loaded version of the vehicle can cost more than $40,000.
• Super Cruise Trim: To equip the vehicle with GM’s hands-free Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), known as Super Cruise, buyers must select a specific trim configuration priced at $35,655. This configuration requires $6,600 in options. The hands-free system was tested on a 14-mile loop.
• Range and Battery: The vehicle features a 65 kilowatt-hour battery capacity and achieves an EPA-rated range of 262 miles.
• Charging Performance: The new battery pack accepts up to 150 kW of charging power, an increase from the previous model’s 50 kW limit. GM states that charging from 10% to 80% should take 25 minutes. In real-world testing, an observer briefly saw 157 kW at a Tesla Supercharger, while another test in ideal weather reached 115 kW, resulting in a charging time of 24 minutes from 24% to 80%.

The introduction of the LFP battery chemistry also addresses safety concerns from the previous Bolt model, where battery fires sparked a recall.

Why it matters

GM’s decision to revive the Bolt with LFP chemistry highlights the industry’s shift toward cost-effective battery tech, while the removal of smartphone mirroring signals a strategic pivot in vehicle software control.