The Chevrolet Bolt EV: it’s possible to drive “green” during the winter

Update: May 30, 2022

Even drivers with a well-developed ecological conscience can’t escape the last (serious) prejudice that hybrid and/or electric cars suffer from: are they interesting options for winter driving? What about a car like the Chevrolet Bolt?

Find out how it responds to preconceptions through winter road test results and learn more about its performance and comfortable interior.

Cars of the Future and Prejudices

Hybrids and electric vehicles have more skeptics than believers, at this point. Skeptics include purists who can’t imagine life without cars powered by fossil fuel, people with budgets too tight to join the ranks of early adopters, and those who are open to hybrids and electric vehicles but are held back by doubts: 

• What is the real lifetime of electric battery?
• Does their range diminish over time?
• Will my electric car remain usable during the winter?
• Will its battery be constantly flat because of the cold?

Christin Chevrolet keeps the Chevrolet Bolt EV in stock mainly for the following reason: its battery life has already been tested in the middle of February by a well-known car expert specialized in green vehicles. Here are his conclusions.

YES, the Bolt EV’s range is adequate for winter

The test in question was conducted in February with a virtually-new vehicle that came straight from the dealer with a fully charged battery. The parameters to consider are as follows: 

• During the test, the temperature ranged from -11 to 2 degrees Celsius;
• Approximately one third of the distance driven was on the highway;
• The driver did not hesitate to use any heating, including the seats and steering wheel;
• He did not use any special “tricks” to try to lower his energy consumption (such as following closely a truck);
• He naturally encountered occasional traffic congestion.

That being said, our pioneer reports incredible news: while the vehicle’s posted range at the beginning of the test was less than 380 kilometers... it managed to travel nearly 415 kilometers without recharging its battery once!

Skeptics can rest assured that unless you drive a lot, the Chevrolet Bolt EV should give you a good week’s worth of winter driving without worrying about running out of gas.

As for the Chevrolet Bolt EUV 2022, the SUV model, its range is barely reduced due to its weight, offering 397 km.

Better Performance with Regenerative Braking

How come the tester managed to get so many miles in the cold? Well, Chevrolet thought of everything to optimize the battery’s performance in colder temperatures.

That’s because the regenerative braking control allows you to recharge the battery while you’re braking. One-pedal driving also contributes to this optimal use of energy. Finally, if winter driving is synonymous with elevated driving for you, the new SUV is designed for you.

Here’s how the Bolt and Bolt EUV spec sheets compare:

Comfortable for Winter

The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV has been redesigned for the new model year and offers not only more attractive styling, but more importantly, a more comfortable interior. According to Charles René, a journalist for La Presse, in his Chevrolet Bolt review:

“There are significantly more soft materials than before and the integration of the control pod is more harmonious.”

Of course, the integration of heated seats and a heated steering wheel remains a must for Québec weather conditions. With the Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier 2022, you even get perforated leather-trimmed seats.

Even more interesting is the fact that the Chevrolet Bolt price has been reduced by $6,800, making it even more accessible to the general public.

Don’t wait to visit Christin Chevrolet, your Chevrolet dealer in Montréal, near Repentigny and Laval, to get the keys to your Chevrolet Bolt for sale! Whether you’re looking for a new vehicle or a used Chevrolet Bolt, we have something for you.