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To the chagrin of the model’s proponents, General Motors (GM) recently announced that the Chevy Bolt would return after its brief discontinuation. It makes sense, too; the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV sold enough electrified models to put Chevy ahead of Ford, Volkswagen, and Hyundai in the electrified market. So, with the Bolt making a return, should fans be excited?

Are Chevy Bolts being discontinued?

While Chevrolet announced it was discontinuing the popular Bolt by the end of 2023, the EV is returning to production. Moreover, GM CEO Mary Barra confirmed that the second-generation electric vehicle would ride on the company’s Ultium battery architecture. 

The model at the center of the battery fire controversy uses a BEV2 platform, an application that GM developed in concert with LG. Moreover, Barra and Chevrolet Media assert that the second-generation Bolt will “deliver what customers have come to expect: great affordability, range, and technology.”

Will the resurrected Bolt still be cheap?

A blue Chevy Bolt EV drives on by a coastline.
Chevrolet Bolt EV | General Motors

Chevrolet says the new Bolt will deliver affordability, and it would have to do so to continue the trends of the 2023 Chevy Bolt. Specifically, the 2023 Chevy Bolt started at $27,495, making it one of the most affordable EVs on the market.

2023 model and trimStarting price
Bolt EV 1LT$27,495
Bolt EV 2LT$30,695
Bolt EUV LT$28,795
Bolt EUV Premier$33,295

The Bolt’s affordable starting price tag makes it a valuable addition to the EV market. Frankly, if Chevrolet’s second-generation Bolt can match the outgoing model’s budget-friendly starting point, it will again be unrivaled. For instance, TrueCar says the Bolt’s closes competitor, the 2024 Nissan LEAF, starts at $29,235, around $1,740 more than the Bolt EV 1LT. Furthermore, the 2023 qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit, a sizable part of the model’s overall ask.

Has Chevy fixed the Bolt battery problem?

The Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV on the BEV2 platform had at least 19 instances of Bolt models immolating. Moreover, the notice covered EVs produced between 2017 and 2022. However, GM started replacing the fire-prone battery modules in 2021, per Electrek.

Of course, the new Bolts will ride on the Ultium platform, the same architecture that GM plans to install in its next generation of EVs. 

Why would Chevrolet bring the Bolt back?

A 2023 Chevy Bolt EV drives on a city highway.
Chevrolet Bolt EV | General Motors

Chevrolet is bringing the Bolt back to capitalize on the model’s popularity as a low-cost EV with a usable single-charge electric range. The Bolt led GM’s EV sales at a time when the company’s electric vehicle market share rose from 0.1% to 9.7%. Clearly, the market values an affordable EV to rival pricier options like the Tesla Model 3. 

Are you excited about the return of the affordable electric Chevrolet model? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).