What is GM replacing the Bolt with

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated December 20, 2024

Contributions sourced from

GM announces Chevy Bolt is over, long live the Equinox

GM along with its earnings announcement this morning also announced the end of the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV with the last cars rolling off the Orion assembly line late this year. This marks the end of the Bolt EV as the most affordable/capable EV in the US market and a pioneering electrification milestone.

The news was expected as the Chevy Equinox and its ~$30,000 starting price is expected in the Fall, largely taking the place of the small footprint CUV segment. The Equinox and Blazer SS, due this summer, are based on GMs Ultium platform and this will phase out the Bolts older battery/motor drivetrain system.

A Chevy Spokesperson said:

When the Chevrolet Bolt EV launched, it was a huge technical achievement and the first affordable EV, which set in motion GMs all-electric future. As the company continues to grow its EV portfolio with the Ultium platform, and as construction continues at the Orion Township, MI, assembly plant in preparation for battery electric truck production beginning in 2024, Chevrolet confirmed Bolt EV and EUV production will end late this year. Chevrolet will launch several new EVs later this year based on the Ultium platform in key segments, including the Silverado EV, Blazer EV and Equinox EV.

The Bolt was the best US selling non-Tesla EV in the first quarter with almost 20,000 sold. Chevy dealers are seeing very long lines for the vehicle, sometimes reaching until the end of the year when GM will cease production.

GM said that 75% of Bolt owners were new to GM, the highest conquest rate for any of its vehicles. At the same time, Bolt owners are among the happiest with 80% saying they would buy another Chevy.

The Bolt is coming off its best selling year and quarter ever with GM unable to fill demand.

Record production of 70,000+ Bolt EV and EUV models is expected this year, in line with GMs plan to produce 50,000 EVs in the first half of 2023 and double that in the second half of the year.

Current Chevy Bolt owners including myself got an email from GM this morning:

Seth, thank you for being a Chevrolet Bolt EV owner. We appreciate that you entrusted us with yourelectric vehicle purchase experience. Because you are so important to us, we want to bringyou firsthand news that we will no longer be producing the Bolt EV and EUV after the end of the year. Rest assured, that all the support that you havecome to expect with your Bolt EUV will continue even though we are ending production of this vehicle. And if you are interested in purchasing a new 2023 model, you still can do so.

Electreks Take

We all knew this was coming and with the Equinox sitting right across from the Bolt at trade shows looking remarkably similar in size we pretty much knew the when as well. The Equinox is wider and will have much faster charging, more range/options, AWD and a more modern interior. It will also include features like V2L that GM never would consider on the Bolt.

But this is a big moment nonetheless. The Chevy Bolt in 2017 beat Teslas Model 3 to be the first long range, low cost electric vehicle in production. GM, of course, screwed the pooch in not making enough of them, not getting Dealer buy-in and then of course messing up the relatively small battery fire messaging, making the Bolt into the Pinto of EV battery fire issues.

The Bolt also suffered from some engineering mis-steps. In 2017 when it was introduced, its 54kW charging speed was reasonable (and actually faster than most of the 50kW chargers out there and just a bit slower than Teslas charging speeds). But 7 years later, GM didnt upgrade the charging speed at all, making the Bolt a pariah at DC fast charging stations and more of an around town kind of vehicle, only good for very occasional long trips.

But the Bolt is an incredibly capable EV and is very safe and feature-rich in its current iterations. The Bolt got 5 star NHTSA safety ratings even as a relatively small car. At a starting price of $25,600, before incentives, it is also the most affordable, fully capable EV and was named Electreks EV of the Year last year because of that.

Anecdotally, I own a Bolt EV and 2 older Teslas and my wife and I fight over who gets to take the Bolt every morning. It is a pleasure to drive, has great Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, great sound system, great visibility, quick pickup and smart handling.

So, if Im waiting for a Chevy Bolt or a Chevy Bolt owner (I am), do I panic here?

No! (Nobody panic!)

The current batteries are warranted for at least eight years and will likely last many, many more. Chevy will be stocking parts for the Bolt into the next decade. There are a ton of 2017 Bolts running around still making their drivers happy. Heck, the Bolt has CarPlay and Android Auto, which GMs next gen cars arent guaranteed to have so maybe this is still the GM EV to get in 2023.

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Axle Tech: Why and How To Upgrade Your Stock GM 12-Bolt Axles (and More)

[All images/Jeff Smith]

Axles arent usually a topic of great discussionuntil one fails or otherwise needs replacing.

If you think about these overlooked components, they are often severely abused and then blamed when they fail.Using abig-block Chevelle with a Turbo 400 transmission and 4.10 gears as an example, lets look at the amount of torque applied to a single axle.Torque converters are aptly named because at the moment when a car sitting on the starting line launches, the converter multiplies the most amount of torque. These multiplication factors can range from 1.8:1 to 2.5:1; lets use a conservative figure of 2.0:1. This means if our big block Chevelle makes500 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3,000 rpm, then at the instant the car leaves the starting line, the transmissions input shaft will be twisted with 1,000 ft.-lbs. of torque. Now lets multiply that times the first gear ratio of 2.48:1. We now have 2,480 ft.-lbs. of torque transmitted to the rear end. With a 4.10 rear axle gear ratio, our torque jumps to 10,168 ft.-lbs. of twisting motion. Divide that by two axles and each axle is transmitting over 5,000 ft.-lbs. of torque to each rear tire. If the car hooks up, that is a phenomenal amount of twisting motion applied!

There are all kinds of losses that we glossed over in that mathematical adventure, including gear friction in both the transmission and rear gears, but these will be less than 5 percent. We will also assume that a certain amount of tire slip also occurs, but the point is that a phenomenal amount of twisting motion is still going to be applied to each of those rear axles.

Even if you never abuse your axles like this, they deserve attention.

We recently decided to rebuild our 66 Chevelles 12-bolt rear end and needed a set of axles to complete the upgrade. We discovered that Summit Racings 12-bolt axles are not only a little less expensive than most everywhere we looked, but they also came with new bearings, seals, and lug studs. That was an offer we couldnt pass up.

Its relatively common knowledge that factory style 10- and 12-bolt axles are somewhat spindly. To our surprise, the Summit Racing stock replacement C-clip axles we choseare much higher quality despite their affordable price. The axles are made of induction-hardened 1541H steel, and we noticed the excellent radius transition between the axle itself and the flange. This is where torque concentrates and the greatest bending forceis applied, especially if the car is subjected to high speed cornering as in autocross or track events.

We also compared shaft diameter between the Summit Racing axles and stock axles at the mid-point, and discovered the cross-section on the Summit Racing axles to be a full 0.100-inch larger. Thats a big plus for drag racers who need all the axle strength they can get to withstand the shock of all that torque at launch.

Summit Racing carries these axles for the most popular 10- and 12-bolt GM applications like early Camaros and Chevelles, and also for the popular 8.8 inch Ford axles found under Fox body Mustangs. Its important to note that all of these axle assemblies use an axle bearing that is pressed into the housing. The bearing rides directly on the axle, essentially using the axle shaft as the inner bearing race. The downside to this design is if the bearing should fail, it almost always destroys the axle as well. Thats why Summit Racing supplies new bearings and seals with its axlesand why you should always replace the bearings any time a new axle is installed. This ensures that the new axle will deliver plenty of service life.

Then theres the subject of replacing the stock C-clip axles with high performance pieces. Most drag racing organizations require that you replace the C-clip axle once you exceed a certain ET and trap speed. The reason for this is safety. A C-clip retains the axle in the innermost portion of the axle housing. If the axle breaks outside that retention point, there is nothing to keep the axle in the housing. That means the axle will slide out of the housing and cause all sorts of damage, and possibly a nasty crash.

There are C-clip eliminator kits on the market, but our experience with these has been less than successful. The usual problem is leakage. This may be acceptable for a low mileage drag car but for a street-driven car, this just wont work. Plus, the pillow blocks required for these conversions means you can do a rear disc brake conversion. The alternative is to take your housing to a specialist, have them cut off the factory housing end, and weld on a new end that uses the popular 3.150-inch large Ford axle bearing that is pressed on to the axle shaft. The axles now are retained by a four-bolt ring that will keep the axle in the housing should there be a problem. While the conversion will require new axles, it isnt that expensive and is the best way to upgrade a 12-bolt or 8.8 Ford rear housing.

Armed with a little more information, selecting your next axle upgrade will be a much easier task regardless of whether you are just rebuilding a stock rear end or you have aspirations of being the next 1320 hero.