The Chevy Bolt EV is among the most energy-efficient new vehicles available for purchase in the United States, according to a new chart published by Consumer Reports.
The Bolt EV’s fuel economy rating of 128 MPGe city, 110 MPGe highway and 119 MPGe combined makes the vehicle the fifth most efficient hatchback vehicle available in the U.S., as CR’s new chart outlines. The above figures do not represent the Chevy Bolt EV’s EPA fuel economy figures and are instead pulled from CR’s most recent road test of the vehicle. The 2022 Chevy Bolt EV has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 131 MPGe city, 109 MPGe highway and 120 MPGe combined.
The most efficient hatchback observed by CR is the BMW i3 Giga, which boasts an impressive CR-observed fuel economy rating of 135 MPGe city, 141 MPGe highway and 139 MPGe combined. The Toyota Prius Prime hybrid was second with an MPGe rating of 133 and a rating of 50 mpg, followed by the Tesla Model 3 in third with a rating of 130 MPGe and the Hyundai Kona Electric in fourth with a rating of 120 MPGe. The Chevy Bolt EUV was not included in the list, likely because CR either has not performed a road test on it yet or did not have enough relevant data to reach a conclusion with regard to its real-world energy efficiency.
For clarity’s sake, we should point out this chart directly compares the energy efficiency of battery-electric vehicles like the Chevy Bolt EV and Hyundai Kona Electric with gasoline vehicles. EVs use an MPGe rating to determine efficiency, which is an abbreviation that stands for “miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent.” The Bolt EV’s rating of 119 MPGe means it can travel 119 miles on the electrical equivalent of a gallon of gasoline, which is roughly 33.7 kWh. The Bolt EV has a battery size of 65 kWh.
This chart indicates the Chevy Bolt EV is marginally less efficient than its closest rival, the Hyundai Kona Electric. These efficiency figures were pulled from CR’s own test data, however, so various factors could impact the observed fuel economy of one vehicle compared to another.
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Unfortunately well behind the competition when it comes to efficiency, and then the battery issue. I think the poor Bolt is a victim of circumstance, hard to believe the public is going to warm back up to the Bolt in the future.
Let's not forget the Bolt EV is using yesterdays tech, it is not on the Ultium battery platform!
Either way with the cost of charging an EV being low (for now) the point of this article is moot!
I rented a 2018 Chevy Bolt EV from Maven Gig in San Diego. The area the Bolt Excels at compared to my Tesla Model 3, is the Range w/ Air Conditioning on, and Air Recirculation On, along with Stronger Regen On Demand trigger Button. With the Bolt EV, I actually got the same range w/ AC on, as I did with it off. Passengers always got in and said ‘OMG IT FEELS amazing in here’. The Model 3 has weak air conditioning IMO. Uses too much energy as well. I get about 220mi of range with it on here in Vegas. But it’s also 110°F here, vs 82°F max in San Diego. I’m a big fan of the Bolt EV. I’ve liked it since I’ve seen it, and knew it was built as the same factory as the Sonic, sharing the same production lines!
Agree, the Bolt (sans bad batteries) is a great first effort by GM, GM fixed the flaws in the new model, but the battery is the ultimate downfall. Going forward I see it as a fleet car, as the used market is going to be full of them as people move on to an EV that has lower risk to burn.
Lol Jesus the sonic is pure garbage that is why it’s canceled you should be ashamed of yourself for even liking that trash car.
the prius prime hybrid beats four fully electric vehicles. that should be the headline.
133 combined MPGe estimate is determined by Toyota, I believe that.
I'm pretty sure that was based on the test being in full electric mode for the Prius
120 MPG ... forget that, the Bolt hasn't a gas engine so the mpg figure is bogus. I'm not totally against EV's, but all in all a gas/battery hybrid is the saving grace. Hybrid Gas/Battery powered normally, gas backup when you need it. Personally I won't ever own a EV, I don't want my vacation nor normal routines dictated by where a close by charging station is located, from what I've observed you basically stranded for 30 minutes or longer (an that's if there's no line to charge up), then pay as much or more than I do with my hybrid vehicle. Their fuel charge from empty right now is around $35 to $45 ... mine around $18 to $20 ... and there are hundreds of thousands of gas stations ... not true for EV charging stations, as this is written, not a one in my town. As mentioned above, I'm not totally against EV's, they have their place ... what needs to happen is for the EV builders to partner with a proven winner like "Honda" for instance to design a small generator that can start/stop like a hybrid does now to boost their range in order to get them to a charging station or to their home charger ... remember, people have lives, and people sometimes to forget to do things ... like plugging in a EV.
That is why I never understood why GM decided to trash the 2017-2019 volts (the greatly cost-reduced 'second generation'). Sounds to me not like hard-headed green-eye-shade accounting, but more like political correctness, as Toyota (the world's most profitable automaker) is going great guns with the very volt-like RAV4 Prime - a vehicle of the size that many, many people want - and it goes the first 42 miles solely on electricity.. Like the VOLT, these vehicles save an incredible amount of gasoline without demanding that people change their daily routine, nor spend ANYTHING for infrastructure.
Best of both worlds... Extremely efficient in either gas or electric modes... No changes needed at most peoples' homes since the ubiquitous '110 volt' garage or carport receptacle is sufficient to fully recharge the vehicle in the evening and over night. In the rare cases where it doesn't it is inconsequential since the driver may not drive quite as much the next day, and will make it up the next time coming home.
As a for instance - even though I just purchased a 2022 BOLT EUV, my 2019 VOLT I'm taking to Geneva, NY on Friday and will charge up at the state welcome center there while having lunch. I'll have a snack in Batavia on the way back home (i'm in Buffalo) and will end up using a little less than 1 gallon of 87 octane gasoline for a slightly more than 200 mile round trip..
It may be "ENERGY EFFICIENT", if it doesn't burn your house down first.
At some point every gas station will have to have a charging station in order to survive. The range anxiety might be because you can’t find gas.
energy efficient is correct, it goes 2 feet and burst into flame heating the air and passengers what could be better !!!!
I am not sure if I can squeeze my 12" Dobsonian telescope inside the Bolt hatchdoor ?
Chevy Bolt EV is too tiny to be practical.. Stretch it a foot or two.