Chevy Warns Against Capacity Loss in the Bolt's Battery
Those interested in buying the Chevrolet Bolt may want to read its owner’s manual first.
Currently available online through Chevrolet, the owner’s manual reveals the American automaker expected battery degradation of 10 to 40 percent during the warranty period of eight years or 100,000 miles. That means there’s a possibility that the Bolt’s range could decrease to 143 miles when the eight-year warranty period is up.
Battery capacity loss is expected with electric vehicles, or realistically any device using a rechargeable battery, but it’s worth mentioning for those considering a purchase.
The Chevrolet Bolt is rated at 238 miles, so taking 40 percent of that would be 95.2, which appears to be the worst-case scenario.
SEE ALSO: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Review – First Drive
“Like all batteries, the amount of energy that the high voltage ‘propulsion’ battery can store will decrease with time and miles driven,” it says in the owner’s manual. “Depending on use, the battery may degrade as little as 10% to as much as 40% of capacity over the warranty period. If there are questions pertaining to battery capacity, a dealer service technician could determine if the vehicle is within parameters.”
Also revealed in the manual is that the Bolt EV will accept a charge rate of at least 80 kilowatts for DC fast-charging, allowing a depleted battery pack to recharge 90 miles of range in 30 minutes.
The Chevrolet Bolt should be arriving dealerships later this month, likely in California first.
[Source: Green Car Reports]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Current version of this story shows "Volt's range could decrease to 143 miles" should read as "Bolt".