Are you still on the fence about purchasing an electric vehicle? If so, you certainly aren’t alone, as it’s a concept that hasn’t fully grasped drivers on a monumental scale just yet. We’re here to tell you that there’s no time like the present, and we’re already seeing some incredible electric vehicles come from popular manufacturers such as Chevrolet. They and other manufacturers have begun an extensive journey to simplify their business strategy while flipping it around entirely at the same time. This strategy is about the shift to electric vehicles, and as foreign of a concept, as it may seem to some, hybrids helped pave the way for EVs for over two decades. With this in mind, should the 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV become your first electric vehicle? Or, should you wait it out and see what happens next?
Trims & Pricing
First, let’s discuss trims and pricing. The LT is the base model for the 2022 Bolt EUV and has a starting price of $33,995. As we’ll discuss further, the Bolt EUV is jam-packed with the latest features, and it’s priced fairly regardless. Useful amenities such as Chevy Safety Assist, which is a set of safety features, is complemented by state-of-the-art connectivity and media-related features with each 2022 Bolt EUV.
The Premier is the next trim level for the Bolt EUV and adds upon the pre-existing safety features with even more enhancements. Additions such as Adaptive Cruise Control are on this trim, which is a separate variant of cruise control that maintains your speed by shifting it up and down depending on the traffic around you, among other features. The Premier also includes an HD Surround Vision Camera for more than one camera angle of your vehicle at any time, and the seats are upgraded to leather from the cloth seats on the LT model. The final trim is the Launch Edition, which includes many of the same features of the Premier, with unique badging to commemorate the start of this model.
Beautifully Efficient
Electric vehicles are becoming more and more desirable due to the fact that they run on a cleaner form of energy that isn’t gasoline based. No longer will you be stopping by your local gas station, waiting in line, and dealing with high, fluctuating gasoline prices. How do EVs manage this? First, EVs ditch the standard engine and transmission for a powertrain that teams an electric motor up with a battery, and in the case of the 2022 Bolt EUV, this is a generously sized 65-kWh battery.
This combo still results in excellent performance regardless and is highly comparable to many other gasoline-powered engines on the market today. The 2022 Bolt EUV produces 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, and its transmission is unlike any vehicle you have driven before. With EVs such as the Bolt EUV, the transmission is best described as a 1-speed automatic as you can’t tangibly feel the gears shifting while accelerating. It may take some getting used to, but it soon will become second nature to you while driving, and it won’t be long before it becomes your personal preference.
One of the main reasons why you’re likely interested in an EV is what you’ve heard about their phenomenal fuel efficiency, and you’d be right. Like we mentioned earlier, EVs don’t utilize either gasoline or diesel and instead require an electric charge before traveling. The 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV has an excellent range of up to 250 miles on a full charge. For the time being, drivers can opt to have a charging station installed at their home, so if you have a garage, then it’d be the perfect space for setting up the larger Level 2 charging station.
Charging your Bolt EUV is also poised to be a simple endeavor and is very much a ‘set it and forget it’ setup. That is true of Level 1 charging using a standard household outlet, which is the slowest method of charging and best left for overnight. Level 2 charging can really speed your charging time up to get a full charge in just 7 hours. However, if you are on the go and need to charge up fast, then going to a DC Fast Charging station is the way to do it. Plug into a DC Fast Charger, and you can get up to 95 miles of charge in just a half-hour. Perfect for taking a rest stop on your road trip. It’s worth noting that charging speeds such as this can’t be achieved at the home just yet, but given some time, faster and more efficient charging solutions are expected to come further down the line.
Interior Features
The 2022 Bolt EUV is a sturdy and comfortable ride. We suspect many drivers will be more drawn towards the tech-oriented features, as they’re plentiful, and this vehicle is very much forward-looking in more ways than one. New features such as One Pedal Driving and Regen On Demand are present, with the former being once found on the 2021 Bolt EV. These features are also shared between the 2022 Bolt EUV and EV, and if this is your first EV, features like these are an exciting addition.
One Pedal Driving is exactly what it sounds like. When this feature is activated, you can use the accelerator pedal to speed the vehicle up as normal, and the vehicle will slow down when you take your foot off the pedal. You can still use the brake if necessary, but One Pedal Driving allows you to take the energy that would have been wasted in braking and save it. Then, you can use the Regen On Demand paddle to send that stored energy back to the steering wheel. While this isn’t going to recharge your battery in any significant way, it is nice to have that extra bit of energy that would have been lost.
Another feature that is making its debut in the 2022 Bolt EUV is Super Cruise, which makes itself noticeable with a bar of light on the top of your steering wheel. When this light is green, that means that you’re on a Super Cruise compatible road, and you can activate the system for a hands-free experience. You do still need to keep your eyes on the road, but this feature will let you relax and let your vehicle handle the driving for a while. There are currently enough Super Cruise roads to span 200,000 miles across both the United States and Canada, and this number is continuing to grow as more roads are added.
Time to Go Electric?
The 2022 Bolt EUV is the best starting point for an electric vehicle that we’ve ever seen. Along with the Bolt EUV, the Bolt EV is comparable in many ways and is also worth your consideration if you’re more interested in a smaller form-factor vehicle. Additionally, the Bolt EUV is the only one of the two vehicles that contain features such as Super Cruise. We’re very pleased with the results of the 2022 Bolt EUV, and with a vehicle that had as much hype surrounding its reveal and eventual launch, we’re proud to say it fits the bill nicely.
If you’ve never had an electric vehicle before for one reason or another, whether it’s because they weren’t quite as developed yet, or other reasons, the time is now to invest in an EV. The 2022 Bolt EUV is all-new this year, and Chevy has also made some notable adjustments to the pre-existing Bolt EV line in a continuous effort to bring electric vehicles to the mainstream. It may be hard to believe, but we’ve come a long way since the days of the first hybrids such as the Prius, and companies such as Chevy have done their research and are on track to become one of the leading EV manufacturers if models such as the 2022 Bolt EUV are anything to go by.
