GM has unveiled the new version of the Chevy Bolt, its popular, affordable EV with an upgraded battery and an otherwise very similar package to its last iteration, and we’re on the scene at the unveiling at Universal Studios Hollywood to get you all the info you need.
The Chevy Bolt was originally released in the 2017 model year. It was GM’s first real, modern effort at an EV, designed to be all-electric rather than a compliance car like the old Chevy Spark EV. (GM did previously design the EV1 from the ground up, but it came along before the lithium ion era of EVs, and was decidedly a compliance car).
But, due to an extended recall and because the Bolt used GM’s first-gen EV platform, rather than its whiz-bang new “Ultium” system, GM retired the vehicle in late 2023, even though it was having its best sales year ever.
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But, that wasn’t the end for the model. After declaring the Bolt dead but before ending production on it, GM said that it would bring back an Ultium-based Chevy Bolt (which our publisher Seth Weintraub has taken to calling the “Boltium”).
And now, it’s finally time for the official unveiling, and we’re on hand at Universal Studios Hollywood for a “Bolt Block Party” showing off the new vehicle.
Meet the new Bolt, same as the old Bolt
When Chevy retired the Bolt and said they would bring it back later, we expected it to be similar, but perhaps not this similar. From the exterior, the new Bolt and the old Bolt EUV are nearly indistinguishable.
The front fascia is slightly modified with a black line between the headlights and no black border around the fake grille, and the rear has different taillights (lifted higher, a big demand from Bolt owners), and slightly more paint on the bumper. That’s about it. But we knew all that already, after seeing it charging in public last week.
Now we’re getting information on the interior and specs, which are the juicy updates we were hoping to hear changes on.
GM hasn’t publicized 0-60 times yet, but the Bolt will use the same motor as the Equinox EV, which gives 210hp. That’s about the same as the previous Bolt, and it weighs a similar amount, so we’re imagining similar performance as the 6-ish seconds 0-60 of the previous Bolt – peppy and more than enough for any daily needs, but not a sportscar.
In particular, the original Bolt’s main technical limitation was its low DC charge speed. It maxed out at 50kW, but often was even slower than that. In a world where many vehicles can now charge at 200kW+ speeds, the new Bolt needed an update.
Thankfully, it got one. The new Bolt is now capable of a 150kW charge rate, with a 10-80% charge in 26 minutes. GM says this is about three times faster than the previous generation.
This is due to a new 65kWh LFP battery, utilizing GM’s Ultium EV platform. The previous Bolt used LG cells, and was built before GM developed Ultium. This led the Bolt to be the only vehicle in GM’s EV stable on a different technology, and is what necessitated its retirement and retooling.
The new battery also offers different specs, with 255 miles of range (GM estimate). That’s a bit more than before, which is nice, plus you can charge to 100% every night because it’s LFP. But the DC charge speeds are really the bigger story here. Faster DC charge rates enable more seamless roadtrips.
Further enabling those roadtrips is the Bolt’s new NACS port, allowing it to use the Tesla Supercharger network. An adapter is still available to use on CCS networks, but Superchargers are typically a better experience, and the whole industry is moving in that direction at this point.
Another major change is in the Bolt’s software. The previous one had CarPlay, but this one won’t.
A lot of people are unhappy about that, and I understand the unhappiness. People have gotten used to CarPlay (or Android Auto), and lots of people love it, because it’s so much better than the software from whatever 2010s-era vehicle they came from. Infotainment systems have been horrendous in vehicles for a long time.
However, I argue that these phone-based car UIs aren’t actually that great. They are inherently generic, and unable to be tied deeply into vehicle functions in a way that provides a single coherent interface. That’s why I actually liked the UI in the Blazer EV, GM’s first implementation of its post-CarPlay solution, and continue to think that GM made an acceptable choice here.
So, I do think the Bolt UI will turn out okay. GM may take a little time to iron out some kinks, but in the longer term, I think this solution is better, and will enable over-the-air updates which saves time and trouble for everyone.
The interior has had a refresh with larger display, added ambient lighting, and cupholders which can be rearranged to accommodate larger cups. It also has more dash storage for passengers.
Rear cargo space is the same as the outgoing Bolt EUV at 16 cubic feet with the seats up, or 57 with the seats down. Incidentally, with the seats down, this is actually the same amount of cargo space as the Equinox EV, which is 20 inches longer than the Bolt. Quite a feat of packaging efficiency here.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the price. Chevy says the launch edition will be a limited run at $29,990, and then later will be accompanied by an LT trim with base price $28,995. That’s quite an attractive price, and as of right now, makes it the cheapest EV announced in America.
Electrek’s Take
One interesting thing about this unveiling is its timing – or rather, the timing of another unveiling which happened just about 24 hours ago. That’s when Tesla finally took the wraps off its long-promised “more affordable” EV, which turned out to just be a stripped-down version of its Model 3/Y with a still disappointingly-high $37k-$40k base price.
Tesla’s timing for that announcement could have been an attempt to steal the wind from the Bolt’s sails, but given the pricing of that vehicle compared to this one, we’re thinking that there may not be much cannibalization.
My main disappointment in the Bolt is that the new model is based on the EUV version, rather than the EV version. The previous iteration of the Bolt originally came in a smaller version dubbed the EV, with a six-inches-longer EUV version coming later. The EV actually sold in higher numbers than the EUV throughout the model’s life, but it was also available for longer.
But when Chevy announced it would bring back the Bolt, it said the new version would be EUV-only. At the time I found this folly, and I still do. We need smaller cars, not larger ones. While the EUV is still a more reasonably-sized vehicle than almost anything else on the road, I am still disappointed that it is moving in the wrong direction as far as size goes.
Nevertheless, in the current US environment where everyone seems determined to make using roads as unsafe as possible, the EUV is still smaller than the vast majority of cars available
And the price, well, that’s really the kicker. After republicans raised the price of every EV by $7,500 during an affordability crisis, with unwisetariffs also inflating consumer prices at the same time, it’s getting harder to buy a vehicle.
But the Bolt now joins the fray as one of the most affordable EVs out there, alongside the new Nissan Leaf which will cost under 30k (and even less, once a future lower-spec trim is announced), and significantly cheaper than other low-ish-priced EVs like the Equinox EV, Ioniq 5, and the aforementioned “more affordable” standard Model 3/Y.
That’s a big deal, and it makes the new Bolt a similar calculation as when it earned Electrek’s Vehicle of the Year. But now, it doesn’t even have the main downside it had at the time – its low DC charge rate, and battery questions during what was a messy recall. Both of those problems were solved here, leaving a calculation with few downsides.
We haven’t driven the car yet, though we’ll get a few minutes in it later in the event. But it’s only going to be around the block at the Universal backlot, so we can’t give a full review, but from what we’ve seen today, it looks like quite an attractive value proposition.
We’re still at the event right now for the next few hours, so if you’ve got any questions that you’d like us to check on or relay to GM employees, let us know in the comments and we’ll see if we can get some answers (especially you Bolt owners). And, we just got all this info, so we’ll be updating this article as we digest more.
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Is this our first look at the Hyundai Crater in action? A new Hyundai EV was spotted testing with a unique design.
Is Hyundai testing a new off-road EV?
Hyundai is at it again. At the LA Auto Show last month, Hyundai unveiled the Crater Concept, a compact off-road electric SUV.
According to Hyundai, the Crater Concept “explores the next evolution” of its extreme-rugged-terrain (XRT) design, sharing design elements with other XRT models, like the IONIQ 5 XRT and Palisade XRT Pro.
Hyundai designed the compact SUV with one clear goal in mind: to create a rugged, capable vehicle that can go anywhere. Hyundai’s design team in Irvine, California, crafted it as the company pushes further into off-road, extreme vehicles.
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Hyundai’s design team added wide skid plates, 33″ off-road tires, tow hooks, limb risers, rocker panels, and a roof platform to give it a truly rugged, go-anywhere attitude.
Although Hyundai has yet to confirm it, the Crater is expected to come to life as a production model. A test car based on the Hyundai Kona was spotted driving in Korea, believed to be an early Crater test mule.
The Hyundai Crater Concept, a compact off-road electric SUV (Source: Hyundai)
The video from our friends at Healer TV shows the vehicle with a unique device mounted on the back, a raised suspension, new wheels, added tow hooks, and a light on the side.
With features similar to those of the Kia EV9 and Genesis GV70 test mules, the reporter believes “there’s a very good chance” the vehicle is an early Hyundai Crater test car.
From the back, you can clearly see the vehicle’s higher ground clearance, and it also has a towing device installed. The test mule does have mufflers, but many automakers, including Hyundai, test new vehicles with fake mufflers and other disguises to hide the design from the public.
Is this our first look at the Hyundai Crater in real life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. We’ll likely find out more info soon. Check back for updates.
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Thanksgiving may be over, but that just means we’re moving into Cyber Monday savings! Today’s Green Deals are jam-packed with power station and e-bike savings, in particular, led by EcoFlow’s latest DELTA Pro Ultra X Portable Whole-Home Backup Power Station (as well as 18 additional series offers) with up to $13,289 exclusive savings to new low prices starting from $174 – plus, EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro Ultra solar bundle and the brand’s latest flash sale. From there, we have a rare sale from MOD Bikes, with the Easy 3 Cruiser e-bike back at a $2,199 low, among others, as well as Lectric’s Cyber Monday Sale, and new low prices on units from Anker SOLIX, Jackery, an EGO Multi-Head combo, and much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals from last week alongside the latest deals from this week that are collected together in our Black Friday/Cyber Monday Green Deals hub, which we will continue to update through the rest of the week.
Score up to $13,289 exclusive Cyber Monday savings on EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro Ultra X power station + bundles, more from $174
For Cyber Monday, we’ve secured a very special exclusive code from Wellbots that saves our readers an additional 10% on a large selection of offers on EcoFlow’s latest (and largest) backup power solution, with the DELTA Pro Ultra X Portable Power Station (1x inverter + 2x batteries) for $7,199.10 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5CMDPUX at checkout. This is the latest release from the brand, having opened for pre-sale discounts mid-October and officially hitting the market at the top of November carrying a $10,597 MSRP, which starts off lower at $8,299 here at Wellbots. Aside from the initial $1,000 pre-sale promotional discount, we’ve only seen this model taken down to $7,999 in early and full Black Friday sales from the brand, with this exclusive deal giving you a larger-than-ever, combined $1,100 off Wellbots’ starting rate ($3,398 off its MSRP) for the lowest price we have tracked. Head below to learn more about it and check out the 18 other offers for this system.
The EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X power station is an even more capable home backup solution than its predecessor, starting with a 12,288Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that can expand to 180kWh, which is twice as large a maximum as its predecessor’s final expanded capacity. Its power output also expands along with the system, going from 12,000W to 36,000W, complete with all the port options you could need to power devices, appliances, RVs, EVs, and much more. Among those options, you’ll also gain the greatest of the brand’s home backup capabilities here when paired alongside the Smart Home Panel 3 (which is included amongst the offers below).
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You’ll have plenty of options to recharge the station, including the usual AC outlet option, as well as with up to its 10,000W solar input max, gas generators, with a level 2 EV charging station, and through a Smart Home Panel from the grid or solar – or both simultaneously. Speaking of the Smart Home Panel 3, it’s a 200A hub for your home systems that covers up to 32 different circuits once installed, giving you emergency options to cut non-essential loads across your home should the grid ever go down unexpectedly.
***Note: Be sure to use the exclusive code 9TO5CMDPUX at checkout to score the additional 10% discount that gives you the prices seen below.
Exclusive Wellbots EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X deals:
MOD Bikes offers rare Black Friday/Cyber Monday e-bike discounts to lows starting from $1,799 (Up to $400 off)
It’s the final day of MOD Bikes’ Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale event with up to $400 rare discounts across its e-bike lineup, including one of my favorite rides of all time: the Easy 3 Cruiser e-bike at $2,199 shipped. There are also its sidecar counterparts, the Easy 3 SideCar e-bike at $3,499 shipped and the newer Easy SideCar Sahara also at $3,499 shipped – both down from $3,899. The standard Easy 3 e-bike dropped from its $3,499 MSRP to $2,399 during last year’s Black Friday season, which we stopped seeing the brand offer discounts for (alongside its entire lineup) back in spring, likely due to tariffs, but we’re getting a rare discount to its lowest tracked price here today, saving you $200 (and $400 off the SideCar variants to their lowest prices).
Get EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro Ultra power station + a FREE 400W solar panel at a new $3,449 Cyber Monday low ($2,350 off)
With Cyber Monday in full swing, over at Wellbots you can score the DELTA Pro Ultra Portable Whole-Home Backup Power Station with FREE 400W solar panel for $3,449.08 shipped, after using the code ECOBF8 at checkout, beating out the brand’s direct sale pricing that would cost you $4,178 with the event’s extra savings code. This monstrous bundle is dropping down from its $5,799 full price to $3,749, which already starts $50 under the previous low, but the deal gets all the sweeter thanks to the additional $300 that the extra savings code gets you. That’s $2,350 in total Cyber Monday savings, landing it at a new all-time low price.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.
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Lucid Motors (LCID) is calling out the competition after the 2026 Air remains the most efficient EV in the US according to new EPA rankings.
2026 Lucid Air remains most efficient EV in EPA rankings
It has been 9 years since Lucid introduced the +400-mile-range Air, its first luxury electric sedan. Since then, the California-based EV maker has come a long way, introducing its first electric SUV, the Gravity, and plans to launch a series of more affordable midsize vehicles, starting later next year.
Lucid’s former CEO, Peter Rawlinson, who was a top engineer at Tesla before joining the luxury EV startup in 2013, promised the company’s innovations would be “the key to unlocking greater efficiency,” and ultimately, more affordable vehicles.
Rawlinson was not kidding. The 2024 Lucid Air Pure was deemed the “world’s most efficient car” with a record 5 miles of range per kWh and a 146 MPGe rating, the highest rating ever given to an EV by the EPA.
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Even with a slate of new EVs hitting the market, many claiming next-level efficiency, the Lucid Air is still ahead of the pack.
The 2026 Lucid Air (Source: Lucid)
According to new EPA rankings, the 2026 Lucid Air Pure RWD (with 19″ wheels) remains the most efficient EV in the US with a 146 MPGe rating.
The Air beat out the 2026 Tesla Model Y Standard RWD (138 MPGe), 2026 Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD (137 MPGe), 2026 Toyota bZ (131 MPGe), and the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Plus EV (126 MPGe).
Other automakers often tout EV range using lenient WLTP or CLTC test cycles, masking efficiency gaps and inflating expectations. Now that official U.S. EPA numbers are out, the story changes. Lucid Air delivers S-Class size with unmatched efficiency, going farther on less energy… pic.twitter.com/yqYHMgF4tm
Lucid’s communications boss, Nick Twork, shared the news on social media, saying the Air “delivers “S-Class size with unmatched efficiency.”
While many automakers tout EV range using more lenient WLTP or CLTC test cycles, Twork said Lucid’s advantage “comes from a holistic engineering approach” that was designed years ago and “still ahead of any passenger car sold today.”
Electrek’s Take
By developing electric vehicle components from the ground up, including the powertrain, battery systems, and software, Lucid has an advantage over many legacy automakers that rely on third parties to outsource.
For one, Lucid’s innovations are already driving down costs. The first Lucid Air Dream Edition, launched in 2021, started at $169,000. Today, you can snag the Lucid Air for as low as $70,900.
Lucid is now ramping production of its first electric SUV, the Gravity. Last month, it launched the lower-priced Gravity Touring trim, starting at $79,900.
Starting later next year, Lucid will begin production of its midsize platform, which will spawn at least three “top hats” priced around $50,000. The first will be a midsize crossover SUV, followed by a more rugged SUV that will share design clues from the Gravity X concept. Although it’s yet to be confirmed, the third is expected to be a midsize sedan that could go head-to-head with the Tesla Model 3.
Rawlinson previously said Lucid’s midsize vehicles are aimed “right in the heart of Tesla Model 3, Model Y territory.”
After reporting Q3 earnings last month, Lucid said it had enough liquidity to fund it through the first half of 2027 and confirmed it’s on track to begin production of the midsize platform in late 2026.
Ready to test Lucid’s luxury EVs for yourself? Lucid is running a Cyber Monday Special, offering $2,000 toward an Air or $3,000 toward a Gravity. Check out the links below to find Lucid Air and Gravity models in your area.
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