When Chevrolet slashed the price of the Chevy Bolt EV by a significant $6,000, bringing the starting MSRP down to around $25,600, it transformed the vehicle from a compelling EV contender to an outright steal. Suddenly, you had a sporty, 5-star safety-rated hatchback electric vehicle boasting a real-world range of 259 miles, a spacious interior, and a well-appointed cabin, all at a remarkably accessible Chevrolet Bolt Ev Cost.
Intrigued by this value proposition, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a Bolt EV for my mother. Having been an EV enthusiast and Tesla owner for years, I was keen to see how this more budget-friendly option stacked up in real-world ownership. This is my experience, focusing on whether the Chevrolet Bolt EV cost truly translates to value.
Chevy Bolt EV driving on a sunny road with a happy woman behind the wheel
For context, my EV journey began in 2013 with Tesla, and one of the most appealing aspects of the Tesla experience is bypassing the traditional dealership model. However, I had previously leased a 2017 Chevy Bolt from 2017 to 2020 and was genuinely impressed with the car itself, despite less enthusiasm for the dealership interactions. My past Bolt ownership retrospective details these experiences.
This time around, with Chevy’s assistance, I located a Bolt EV available at MSRP heading to Serpentini Chevrolet in Northeast Ohio. Despite the slightly serpentine-sounding name, the dealership had a long-standing reputation. I contacted a salesperson and clearly stated my needs: “Just the car, no add-ons, no maintenance plans.” To my relief, we were quickly on the same page. Being geographically distant, I appreciated avoiding in-person dealership visits, the associated waiting times, paperwork, and, of course, the dreaded upselling attempts.
After a few minor logistical delays, the Bolt EV arrived at the dealership. The initial excitement about the $26,500 Chevrolet Bolt EV cost (including the destination charge) was slightly tempered when the final price, after taxes and miscellaneous fees, climbed to $28,692.04. Ohio, unfortunately, doesn’t offer state-level EV incentives and even imposes an additional $200 annual registration fee on electric vehicles, a policy seemingly designed to discourage EV adoption.
Nevertheless, I proceeded, wiring the funds to the dealership and informing my mother and brother that the car was ready for pickup. They arranged insurance coverage and headed to the dealership the following day.
The Dealership Experience: A Price Beyond the Sticker
It’s almost a universal truth among car buyers: dealership experiences can be painful. My past encounters resurfaced as my 70-year-old mother, admittedly not a car expert, especially EVs, was subjected to a high-pressure sales pitch for a superfluous maintenance plan. Despite my explicit instructions against any add-ons, the salesperson presented it not as an option but as a mandatory choice between two overpriced plans. She ended up writing a check for nearly $2000 for a maintenance package I had specifically declined and already paid for the car outright.
Upon learning about this, I immediately contacted the dealership, expressing my extreme dissatisfaction in no uncertain terms. Thankfully, to their credit, they promptly voided my mother’s check and apologized. It appears their sales system incentivizes such aggressive upselling tactics. It’s worth acknowledging that Serpentini initially offered the car at MSRP, which was commendable at the time. Kudos to Chris at the dealership for his initial assistance.
Following my intervention, the dealership provided a quick overview of the car to my mother and brother. My mother, transitioning from a 2010 Prius, cautiously drove her new Bolt EV home and adapted to it surprisingly quickly.
Qmerit and Charger Installation: Adding to the Chevrolet Bolt EV Cost?
One genuinely smart move by Chevrolet was offering new Bolt EV buyers a choice between $500 in EVgo fast charging credits or $1,000 towards a Qmerit home EV charger installation. This initiative aimed to ease the transition to EV ownership, and I was enthusiastic about installing a Level 2 charger at my childhood home using this offer, further enhancing the long-term value of the Chevrolet Bolt EV cost.
However, the Qmerit installation process became another unexpected hurdle. Qmerit failed to respond to the initial order request for almost a month after the car purchase, necessitating my intervention once again. Calls to Qmerit revealed that the dealership hadn’t approved the work order. Contacting the dealership again, they claimed to have submitted it to Qmerit. Even involving the Chevrolet concierge service yielded no immediate resolution, with each party pointing fingers at the other.
Finally, a three-way conference call and some persistent escalation led to a Qmerit representative taking ownership of the situation and project-managing the installation. He secured manual approval from the dealership and located an installer near the dealership, although 30 miles from my mother’s residence. The initial installation estimate came in at a staggering $2,500 (meaning we would pay $1,500 after the credit). This inflated cost included a device supposedly needed due to a near-capacity 80A breaker box, despite a readily available decommissioned breaker from an old hot tub that rendered this device unnecessary.
Having consulted a local electrician who estimated a $500 installation cost (approximately $250 for parts and $250 for labor, excluding inspection), I sought a second quote through Qmerit. This second estimate was still $1,600, still exceeding the cost of a local electrician. Presenting the $500 estimate to the Qmerit project manager eventually resulted in an acceptable under-$1,000 quote, fully covered by Chevrolet’s offer. Days later, the 240V plug was finally installed.
My post-mortem feedback to Chevrolet regarding the Qmerit experience included:
- Qmerit acknowledged that hundreds of new Chevy Bolt owners encounter similar issues.
- The communication system between dealerships and Qmerit appears unreliable, placing the burden on the customer to resolve breakdowns.
- Qmerit needs dedicated project managers to ensure smooth operation. Their initial approach seemed to obfuscate the situation until persistent follow-up.
- Installers initially favored direct wiring over plug installations, highlighting a need for clearer customer guidance on the best charging setup.
- Installers mentioned Qmerit taking a 20-30% cut, potentially inflating installation costs and diminishing the value of the $1,000 credit.
Charging Cables: An Unexpected Additional Chevrolet Bolt EV Cost
Adding to the charging complexities, I made an assumption about the included charging equipment. I mistakenly believed both the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV came standard with 240V Level 2 charge cables (like the Webasto Go OEM). It turns out, while the Bolt EUV includes it, the Bolt EV only offers it as a $295 option. The standard Bolt EV comes with a basic 120V Level 1 charger. This oversight meant my mother lacked a compatible cable for the newly installed 240V outlet. This was a holdover from the original Chevy Volt era that I expected to be updated by now.
Webasto 240V Chevy Bolt Charger
Fortunately, her driving habits are minimal, and the 120V charger, adding about 4 miles of range per hour (approximately 60 miles during 15 hours of overnight charging), proved sufficient for her daily needs. However, for a mere $25, I could effectively double the charging speed using a readily available adapter.
I ordered a 120V-to-240V adapter, enabling the standard Level 1 charger to utilize a 240V outlet (at 12A) and deliver nearly 3kW of charging power. This reduces a full charge from empty (65kWh battery) to around 24 hours. Ultimately, a dedicated 240V Level 2 charging solution is planned, but this adapter offered an immediate and cost-effective charging boost. It does raise questions about GM’s decision to include only a Level 1 charger standard, considering the relatively small incremental Chevrolet Bolt EV cost for a Level 2 option, especially given the Qmerit installation program.
Mom’s Verdict: Love for the Bolt EV Outweighs the Chevrolet Bolt EV Cost
Despite the initial dealership and charger installation frustrations, any hesitation my mother had about the Bolt EV quickly transformed into genuine affection for the vehicle. She discovered unexpected benefits:
- Pre-heating: The car is always warm upon starting, with the ability to pre-heat it even while parked in the garage.
- Ease of Access: Getting in and out is effortless, and the hatchback is easy to operate.
- Wireless CarPlay: Seamlessly integrates music and maps, and simplifies calls.
- Improved Headlights: Significantly brighter than her previous Prius, enhancing nighttime driving.
- Rearview Monitor: Provides added confidence when reversing, and the car’s compact size makes parking and garage maneuvering simple.
- No Range Anxiety: Range concerns dissipated quickly after the initial weeks of ownership.
- EV Enthusiasm: She enjoys discussing her EV with curious onlookers.
- Smooth Ride: She consistently praises the Bolt EV’s smooth and quiet driving experience.
Minor dislikes include the unsynchronized windshield wipers and the car’s quietness, occasionally leading to unintentionally leaving it powered on.
Had F-150 Lightning to compare to my mom’s Chevy Bolt last weekend in Ohio. Obviously huge difference. Similar range, double the battery in F-150. Felt like Bolt could have fit in the back of the F-150 (it couldn’t). Stories coming @electrekco pic.twitter.com/tI3mVdo0xy
— Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) October 19, 2022
Electrek’s Take: The Chevrolet Bolt EV Cost Delivers Exceptional Value
Top Comment: Echoing Dealership Disappointments
Joe Acerbic: Liked by 46 people
I was once interested in leasing a Bolt, so I called and emailed all the dealerships nearby and asked for an example of price and terms for a basic one. They all refused to give me any numbers but insisted that I must come to the dealership to “discuss what I need”. This was during the worst covid outbreak. I’m no longer interested in leasing or buying a Bolt or any Chevy.
Despite the less-than-ideal dealership and charger installation experiences, the overall journey has been worthwhile. The traditional dealership model, in my opinion, still lags behind the streamlined approaches of EV-centric brands like Tesla, Lucid, and Rivian. Even legacy automakers like Ford and Volvo/Polestar are exploring separating their EV divisions to circumvent dealer-related challenges. While Chevrolet and Ford claim to be addressing dealer markups, these issues persist. My advice to consumers remains to brace themselves for the dealership experience, attempt to conduct as much business as possible remotely, and firmly stand your ground during vehicle pickup.
However, the Chevrolet Bolt EV itself is a fantastic product, even for individuals less inclined towards new technology. While it has limitations like slower 54kW DC fast charging, front-wheel drive, and a non-luxury focus, the positives significantly outweigh the negatives. For my mother, whose driving rarely involves long trips, fast charging is largely irrelevant.
Ultimately, my mother’s positive experience and my own enjoyable test drive of her Bolt EV have solidified my view: the Chevrolet Bolt EV cost offers exceptional value in the current EV market. It’s a compelling option, and one I might even consider for myself.
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