10 Things to Know Before you buy a Used Chevrolet Bolt - EV Ramblings

It's here - my Used Chevrolet Bolt Buyers Guide! The buyers guide videos I have created in the past have been very popular, and now is a great time to pick up a used Chevrolet Bolt. They have been on the market long enough that there are tons of off-lease options, and this is one great car. Have a question? Post it in the comment and I'll do my best to help out!

[@katiedisalvo-thronson2852]

We wanted to go with a used Bolt and I watched this and took notes before going to the dealer. DUSTIN THANK YOU! We were excited about a deal and I think would have bought the wrong car if I hadn't known what to look for. (I read something that made me think mistakenly that all premiers came with DC charging, which we need. Because I watched this video I went through my 10 point checklist and and realized the car didn't have it! I'm so glad we dodged that bullet.) Also, I knew more than the dealership about how to open the hood, etc - made me feel like a strong woman and I think being more informed helped us get a good deal when we did purchase ;). Since it's a new kind of car for us, I really appreciate your help in feeling confident that we got a good one :).

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write your experience! I'm so glad I was able to help, and I hope you love the car as much as I do! Congrats

[@dougl6304]

DC charging means Level 3 charging?

[@Killmonize]

This is why I love KZbin. Thses videos help others

[@kujo49]

The 2020 Bolt should have a 66 kwh battery, NOT the 60. The max charging rate is actually 55kwh. This is important because many original DCFC chargers were 50 kwh. You WILL charge faster and need to move to a charger with a higher rate. AND the 66 kwh battery with a slightly better charge curve. These factors mean a 10% faster charge. It matters

[@kujo49]

In addition, all Bolt's should have the 66kwh battery installed as a replacement battery and a range of 259 miles. If a Bolt does not have the new battery GM will replace it. Check with a dealer using the VIN #. Their records will show whether it has or not. It's free. No dealer can sell a car with a recall on record until it dealt with, including other brands that have taken one in on trade.

[@Solkre82]

If you're looking at one online and it doesn't show or state if it has DC charging. If there is a engine bay shot, look for the two large orange cables going into the front of the inverter from the driver's side of the car. Those are the DC cables, and show it has fast charging.

[@Tooradj]

Very helpful. Thank you. The only thing I would suggest is that when you use the hand held footage, Maximize the size of it so the content is more usable (like when you were talking about the instrument panel). Thanks again for a wonderful video.

[@igenr8]

Great video. Helped me buy 2017 coming off lease. Love this car

[@djscandela]

Dustin This an excellent review of what to look for Thank you for sharing, I only stumbled onto your video but glad I did.!

[@steveclayton3314]

Thanks for the information. I've been looking for it for a while.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks Steve! Good luck in your EV search :)

[@jcortizenterprises]

Excellent video, Im about to buy used Bolt and now I know what to look for. The only thing id recommend is that you dont do Picture in Picture and rather just cut to the handheld video

[@robertdavenport7802]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@plugandplayEV]

Timely video and guide, thanks Dustin. Plenty to consider for anyone new to the EV game but there's no doubt that the Bolt EV is one of the most capable, affordable used EVs available right now.

[@ernstschepp9365]

Roof rails and 360 cameras are another way to tell it is a premier. Tire infiltrators are optional accessories in the US. I would also recommend that users in cold climate should make sure the model they buy has heated steering and seats (and if they have passengers that need heated seats then they need the premier). This is important to retain as much of the range of the battery for driving vs heating the car.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for all the other points :)

[@wassiswallylokhankin191]

Another way to tell it's a Premier is to see if the car has those nice chrome strips on the door handles. LTs don't have them. And, I couldn't agree more about how important it is to have heated steering wheel and seats - it can help you save the battery and increase your range. One more thing: be careful using the accelerator and regen braking on slippery winter roads! This car is very powerful for its size and the regen braking is strong, so it's easy to get your wheels skidding. Also for that reason, winter tires is a must. Just keep that in mind and you will be as happy with your Bolt as I am with mine. Happy Bolting! :)

[@m1cajah]

I have the rails, but not the rack. Where can one get those racks? Hopefully not from GM?

[@danielone06]

Great video Dustin, thank you !!!

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment!

[@michaelarmbruster911]

Just brought my new (to me) 2017 Bolt Premier home yesterday. Thanks so much for the buyers' guide - it really helped me make a confident choice.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment and good luck with the the vehicle! I'm still really enjoying my 2017 Bolt, and pretty happy that we're all getting new battery packs. Hopefully that can happen sooner rather than later!

[@proberts34]

Very helpful and informative video. Thanks for posting.

[@MasterOfNone88]

Wow. fabulous work. good job man.

[@jeffgrave]

Excellent work on this video! Very helpful.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks Robert, I'm glad it helped!

[@mikeeberts3279]

This video presents useful information in a clear, organized presentation. Thank you Dustin!

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks Mike, I'm glad you found it useful!

[@dougl6304]

Great vid. Only negative are the small videos when trying to show something. Should be full screen.

[@tedchu8888]

Thanks for sharing the tips

[@raitchison]

4:00 the Bolt only comes with the compressor and self-sealing goop in Canada, for U.S. models it's a dealer option and I suspect very few used Bolt's that were first sold in the U.S. would have it.

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

I wondered why mine and a friends didn't have the compressor. But you can see where it would go.

[@jshebib]

purchased a 2017 in Canada, we did not get the compressor and self-sealing goop in Canada, those spots in the trunk were empty.... we got the Premier along with a couple other upgrades...

[@dougl6304]

Didn’t know that Bolts don’t have spare tire.

[@dougl6304]

Is not having a spare tire a common practice these days?

[@marianneworkman5784]

This is so helpful- thank you!

[@ifuckinghatelife2312]

This was beautiful thank you, I'm planning on financing a 2012 volt and this really helps to get the best price available

[@omrtnz5100]

Bolt and Volt are 2 different cars.

[@zubinfalla7504]

This was awesome! Thanks!

[@DustinBatchelor]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting :)

[@Stebanoid]

Thank you! Very useful.

[@johnporter5828]

Good video ! I have 2 Bolts and still learned some things...

[@southshore0007]

Glad I found this video,I'm on between jobs and considering doing ride share and look at a used Bolt hopefully a Premier dive it comes with a Bose,. lot of great points --GREAT REVIEW 👌

[@brianadler67]

This is an excellent video. I wish I'd watched it before I purchased my used Bolt.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment! Glad you got some use out of the video, and I hope you enjoy your Bolt!

[@sophmcamp]

Thank you so much! I feel much more informed about what to think about for potentially buying this vehicle.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment and glad it helped!

[@bigbossguitar]

I'm about to buy a used 2018 , thank you for the advice....

[@maxxotic1]

This information is gold. Thanks

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment!

[@n8BDetroit]

1st things first: it’s awesome!

[@MattPSU02]

Thanks for this video.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for commenting! Hope it helped

[@markb6853]

Nice video! Perfect for newbies to electric cars, which most folks are.

[@robertpryor7225]

Good info,l on this car the options vary so much. No heated seats would suck, maybe worse than no DC charging for me.

[@madogblue]

Very good info

[@DoomKnight131]

Very informative. Didn't think to make sure to check for missing accessories, safety package, or if the original tires are in place. Thanks!

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comments!

[@bigdaddy3662]

An electric car and affordable healthcare, he's living the dream

[@rosterd96]

And trust me he's paying for it! Like I do in Qc

[@staticbeans]

@@rosterd96 good i pay taxes in america and don’t get shit but “new roads” yet my suspension says otherwise

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

BC is anything but affordable.

[@TristenHernandez]

This was an awesome overview well done I’m buying one on Monday so I’ll be looking for all of this I wanna know more about your roof rack as a matter fact

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for comments and good luck with the purchase. Here is the link to details about it. I didn't create the post but I do comment further in about a few changes I made to original instructions www.chevybolt.org/threads/added-crossbars.28839/#post-419987

[@TristenHernandez]

Dustin Batchelor Very cool I’m reading it now by the way I came from a Chevy volt as well just sold it to the dealer for a great price so now I’m working my way into the bolt

[@TristenHernandez]

Dustin Batchelor That was only a week ago that I sold the Volt**I briefly looked at as BMW I3 Rex since the prices have come way down But with the battery and the range extender it only had a range of 120 miles and that’s just not enough have you found plenty of DC fast charges around?

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@TristenHernandez I've been on several long trips now and the rapid charging has been amazing.

[@beamerbread]

I’d also recommend anyone buying a Bolt to check out the axels and other suspension components. Make sure to get those fixed before the warranty runs out!

[@dougl6304]

Good point. For the general public that would generally be the last thing on their minds. Not even on the radar.

[@randyk7699]

Good video

[@nobrizzle]

Thanks for the great video. I only wish you added to your mention of checking if it was driven hard or not the specifications or ranges you should look for regarding that.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment and recommendation!

[@bayside6207]

With such a new vehicle, how do you tell if it's been driven hard or not? No visible signs of that.

[@subitophoto]

What are the roof bars that you have in looking into buying some for my 2020 Bolt. Nice and useful Video by the way.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comments! The roof racks are actually from a Cadillac XT5 that I cut down and adjusted to fit. There's a few guides buried in this thread www.chevybolt.org/threads/crossbars-for-premier-trim-roof-rails.5441/page-5

[@bederhajali]

hello Dustin thank you so much for the video I am looking into purchasing 2017 bolt Premier and I was wondering if you can provide any advice as it has 190,000 km

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment. I can't offer much more advice than what I have in the video. I know that used prices on bolts have really dropped. The mileage shouldn't be that big of a deal on an EV like the Bolt.

[@kyleyork92]

I believe the tire pump and tire sealer are only included in Canada, and optional in the US. Most dealers in the US will order them with those options, but not always. Unfortunately mine did not come with either of those items, and I purchased my Bolt new in the US. Also, Bose is an optional packages (at least in the US). I have a 2017 Premier with no Bose.

[@kyleyork92]

Otherwise a super helpful video! I bought a Volt back in the day because of your channel.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for taking the time Kyle. Appreciate all the comments

[@lowlifeangler]

Honda has an automatic hood release, just read about the recent recall

[@asteel9549]

Where did you get the roof racks and how much did they cost? Someone in the comments said they were for a Cadillac. Did they fit without modification? I have a 2017 Premiere with the rails.

[@DustinBatchelor]

They are for a Cadillac XT5 and they require modification. It's not that difficult and I bought mine from Amazon for less than $200 Canadian. Instructions here www.chevybolt.org/threads/added-crossbars.28839/#post-419987

[@dkerlee]

Great video, I wish I could see what you were talking about. Both screen views are super small.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment! Yeah I screwed that one part up :(

[@mcamodell]

I love my used Bolt, best deal out there! I definitely consider it a daily driver doing local delivery in the evening and commuting to school during the day. I make it through my 85-160 mile day with no issues. I do have a small list of gripes about it though. The fact that the radio switches back to FM and yells at you every time you start the car is a Dislike. I find the headrests forcing you into a kyphotic neck stressing position if you attempt to put your seat anything close to upright a Dislike. I hate that Chevy has decided that we will no longer be able to upgrade stereos in OUR cars anymore...no BT 5.0 or newer USB ports as the years go by for us. I personally also find it absurd that my Bolt came with 17" rims and 50 series tires resulting in a terrible ride and extraordinarily expensive tires with increased install costs to boot(50 series = +$10/tire in a lot of places). This, being an economy car with an expensive battery, should have been configured with 15s and the same tire size as a Prius. The suspension is no where near up to the task of mitigating pot holes and speed bumps on 50 series rubber bands. And do not even get me started on the stupidity of implementing a 5x105 bolt pattern! . Thankfully I was able to locate a reasonably priced set of Chevy Sonic 15" alloy wheels which fit perfect with 205/65-15 Kinergy PT tires fitted, straightened out the legs of the headrests with a vice and got an AUX BT adapter to bypass the terrible stereo all together. I am much happier with the car for now, but the intentional lack of options to upgrade the infotainment system in future is very disappointing. I am still working out what to do about the poorly engineered and under-padded seats fit only for a ballerina and her vegan husband, but a pensioner's coccyx seat cushion is solving the problem temporarily.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

"under-padded seats fit only for a ballerina and her vegan husband" lol

[@ghostingwo]

Thx so much for these tips, tbh I didn’t get to observe any of those problems or much of the car yet only test drove it but I like having Bluetooth paired and a comfortable seat rest and strong safe tires so this will be helpful when I get one thx

[@mcamodell]

@@ghostingwo I've since found the Android Auto settings menu and disabled "auto start music" and keep the radio on XM 0. That pretty much solves the blasting music problem.

[@dougl6304]

Are there specific models for certain states in U.S.? For example a California model for emissions requirements like ICE cars. Or maybe safely requirements?

[@DustinBatchelor]

They have different specs for different countries (such as Canada and USA - all Canada sold bolts had rapid charging, it was an option in the States), but the models should be uniform by country.

[@minibx6659]

I noticed that you added the Cadillac roof rack cross bars, how do you like them? How’s the noise if any? Thanks looks good

[@DustinBatchelor]

The crossbars make no noise at all which is a huge bonus and don't seem to impact range in any significant way. They work well for what I want, but they are quite narrow. My SUP barely fits up there.

[@minibx6659]

Dustin Batchelor thanks for the info, yes the seem narrow but I guess that they’ll do . Thanks again

[@amirmoradi9595]

pro tip, if you are only missing one privacy shade hook or other plastic parts you can just get them 3D printed. Many public libraries have free 3D printers

[@DustinBatchelor]

That's a great tip. I think I paid $20 for mine

[@dougl6304]

Would I need a file to instruct the 3D printer what to print?

[@amirmoradi9595]

@@dougl6304 you would. Or you could design one.

[@cwilsonpa]

if it is a 2017 Bolt EV Premier it will have the roof rails , at least in the US.

[@joanaffleck2455]

Seems like Chev uses the same hood releases in there other gasoline models. Hard to release the hood. Something they should look into.

[@PrincessSofia2020]

First and foremost important thing when buying a used car is get a thickness gauge and check for accidents frame body paint repairs because carfax can show you nothing! remember never rely on carfax!!!

[@Dntdgxj]

That's what I was going to say instead of checking the bells and whistles. The coating gauge meter is $40 on Amazon and could save much more headaches and dollars when double coating found.

[@robertpryor7225]

Great tip, I didn't know about this device!

[@T1Oracle]

I have no idea how to do that. Is there a video tutorial?

[@JZONE14U]

You forgot to mention DC fast charging capabilities when you open the hood

[@hellsop]

This is a good point. Most dealerships will usually take a photo of the open hood as a matter of routine listing preparation, but won't always think of taking a photo of the charge plug socket. The open hood will reveal the two fat (thumb-sized) orange cables across the gubbins in there from the driver's side front of the space into the controller kind of in the center of things. No big fat cables across the top front? No fast charge.

[@mattkroening7964]

As an EV noob, are charge rates like those similar to supercharging?

[@hellsop]

@@mattkroening7964 I have no idea what supercharging costs but most ccs chargers in the US cost around $0.30 per minute. Plus or minus discounts for various memberships.

[@RyanWilliams222]

@@mattkroening7964 If you mean rates in terms of how fast you can get energy into the battery (vs. cost to do so), the Bolt has the slowest fast charging of any modern EV. (Any worth buying, anyway.) The maximum charge rate is around 50-55 kW. It’s common now for maximum charge rates to be above 100 kW. I don’t mind the idea of owning a Bolt because I don’t take many road trips, and when I do I can easily kill time on my phone. However, if you want to take road trips frequently or as efficiently as possible, I’d get a car with a max charging rate well above 100 kW. (Some cars even do 250-350 kW these days, though I think those speeds aren’t yet common in practice? Correct me, people?)

[@BearPapa49]

Good info . I have a question if a person doesn’t fulling charge a cars battery doesn’t shorten the battery life ?

[@DustinBatchelor]

If you charge to 100% and leave it at that for an extended time it could damage the battery. If you use it pretty fast you should be fine

[@dougl6304]

My understanding was in general for EVs to keep between 20 - 80% charged?

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@dougl6304 there are lots of factors. In the case of rapid charging, EVs will essentially only charge to 80% before ramping down significantly. That battery packs themselves have protection to never hit 0% or 100%. As an example, the Bolt has a 60 kWh pack, but you only get access to 57 of those. There is a belief that regularly charging to 100% (of useable) is bad for the battery, so many people charge to 90% for most days, and only charge to 100% for those long trips. You typically want to avoid running the battery down below 10% mostly because it drastically increases the possibility that you'll be stranded somewhere. All manufactures seem to recommend not storing EVs for several months in either a very low or high state of charge.

[@DaveRenfroe]

Thanks for this, Dustin. Its great to see some Canadian and even local (we live in Sooke) representation on the EV thing. The Bolt looks really great ..... but .... what is the latest with the battery fire situation in Canada? Is GM actually replacing batteries? We don't have a EV now, but are close to getting one, but don't wish to start out with a huge "investment". If you buy a used Bolt now, are you subject to parking restrictions, etc? What do you think of the idea of getting one in hopes that GM will provide a new battery? Another thought I had was to get an older Nissan Leaf and plan to "exchange" the battery once we know the EV is going to work for us. Any comments would be appreciated.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Hi Dave, thanks for the comments and questions. I'll try to answer them here. Chevrolet Canada has already started to replace the battery packs in the Bolt. They are starting with the 2019 model year as that appears to be the highest impact, and then will work to replace the packs on the 2017 and 2018 model years next. Once those are complete, they will be replacing 2020 to 2022 model year packs as well. General Motors just announced yesterday that they have stopped production off all new Bolt EV and Bolt EUV until January of 2022 to focus on making replacement battery packs for the Bolts that are already sold. As an owner of a 2017 Bolt, I am looking forward to getting the new pack as it is about 10% higher energy density (60 kWh vs 66 kWh). I believe at this moment, if you can find a used Bolt, that it's one of the best deals on the market. The battery is the primary item in these cars, and the new pack carries a full 8 year warranty. In regards to how I drive the car, prior to the recall I typically always charged to 90% anyways as a way to extend the life of the car, so being told to not charge to 100% isn't that big of an issue. There are obvious potential concerns with the safety, but from what I recall it is only about 14 cars out of the 120,000 or so sold that have had issues. The 'being banned from parking' issue appears to be an overreaction by some parking lots in the United States. I haven't heard of anywhere in Canada going that far. Finally, I owned a 2012 Nissan Leaf, and I would strongly suggest not getting one. The battery has no active cooling system, and seems to suffer from the most battery loss of any EV on the market. Finding a replacement battery pack can also be difficult. Anyways, all I can say is that an EV should be able to work for you. The commute from Sooke to Victoria back is one of the most energy efficient routes you can do (the rolling up and down seems to be the perfect balance to maximize range). I could do that route multiple times in Bolt without even considering charging it. Good luck with your EV research.

[@jbalazer]

@@DustinBatchelor Most 2020-2022 model year Bolts are not eligible to get new batteries.

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@jbalazer hey there, thanks for the comment! That's not entirely true - if the updated diagnostic software detects some issues then the battery will be replaced. I already know of one where the updated software detected an issue with a few weeks of having it applied.

[@dougl6304]

How cold of an ambient temperature would affect the charging rate?

[@DustinBatchelor]

This thread has lots of good info www.chevybolt.org/threads/battery-temperature-and-charging-speed.31093/

[@pedinomefaux]

A very important thing to know if not THE most important is battery degradation. The battery alone is the costliest part of the vehicle.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Definitely a true point, but finding that out on the Bolt is not easy. Luckily it seems that most Bolts have experienced very minimal battery loss (unlike the Leaf)

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

HOWdy D-B, ... THANKS Very Good TIPS Thanks COOP the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA ...

[@damvan]

The “false floor” in the cargo area that levels the floor with the back of the seats was only standard in the Premiers, the LT did not come with it.

[@markmesser4454]

Can you buy it after the fact?

[@damvan]

Mark Messer Yes you can get the false floor from Chevy, it is $170, part 42564933. Chevyonlineparts has it for $144

[@ohbogey]

I've been contacting Vroom, Hgreg & local chevy dealers after seeing their ads on AutoTrader. I always politely ask for a picture of the battery gage when fully charged so I can understand range & battery degradation. Not a single one has done this & only 1 ad showed the gage fully charged, from a Chevy dealer. Nobody selling a used Bolt seems to want to do this in order to make a sale 🤔

[@DustinBatchelor]

Charging to 100% to see range won't actually tell you very much as the range displayed is entirely based on how the car has been driven. For example on my 2017 Bolt the range displayed was very low because the lifetime average kWh usage was just over 20 kW per 100km, which is insanely high. Chances are previous owner drove at very high speeds with the heat on. There isn't an easy way to figure out battery degradation on the Bolt.

[@ohbogey]

@@DustinBatchelor I'd like to at least see one charged to 80%, would that be acceptable?

[@OneManOnFire]

As a gm car salesman myself new and used we only have one dc fast charger at our dealership. The other bigger dealerships have 3 but often multiple bolts are using them taking turns due to them being sold. Even with a fast charger 0 to 80 precent full in 90 minutes. The last 20% will take another 30 or 45 minutes depending on weather. Even our new bolts rarely sell with 25 miles and below on the odometer due PDI pre delivery inspection and test drives. To get anything at 100% fully charged is tricky let alone accounting for the weather. Weather will lower the range.

[@alexsmith3576]

I watched you video before purchasing, very helpful. I missed some damage to the plastic front grille, and that lower plastic molding below the front bumper is separating. How did you find how to clip it back in? I can't find instructions anywhere and am scared of breaking the clips.

[@DustinBatchelor]

I just jammed a flat head screwdriver into it and torqued it while pulling out and then up. Might be worthwhile taking to a paint chip and dent repair place to have them reseat it.

[@alexsmith3576]

@@DustinBatchelor Just bought it used, and those places cost a fortune. The grille is 400 just for the plastic piece. So, you pulled it out a bit and then slide them back in. So you used the flathead screw driver to help leverage it out, up, and back in? Not sure how the flathead is used. I was just going to use my hands, but not sure it's enough force.

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@alexsmith3576 I stuck it in between the bumper and the lower piece to help me leverage it out a bit

[@homomorphic]

I don't have the privacy shade, it's just a pita, instead I have 5% tint on all of the rear windows and no one can see what's inside.

[@dougl6304]

“pita”?

[@engineerjay420]

Did you get a letter from Chevy not to charge to 100% due to risk of fire? They say only charge with the hill top reserve. They are doing a recall but not sure if a second hand owner would get that notice. Be safe!

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the comment! I got a notification through my Onstar app, but I was already aware of it due to all the media coverage. I'm not too concerned about this issue as it seems to be only under extreme case situations that it happens. Looking forward to seeing what the permanent fix is.

[@Dushku]

Didn't you say you ended up having to buy the shade's hook (part 42482233)? If so, can you leave a quick note on how to install/detach it please?

[@DustinBatchelor]

I did have to buy the side hook. It just twists out (counter clockwise I believe). My one side wouldn't lock in so I ended up putting some gorilla glue on it and then holding it in place. Hope that helps

[@Dushku]

@@DustinBatchelor Indeed. I'm buying mine from a place where they're willing to pull off one of those tabs from a Volt they have on the lot. I just need to know how to detach it so I don't have to spend the extra $20! Thank you for the quick reply :) And thank you to all your viewers for their input in the comments section 8) It's all been very helpful. Monday, I will join the fraternity of the Bolt! Only 10k miles!!!

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@Dushku awesome, you'll love it!

[@techtips1285]

I'm curious, but which dealer did you get your bolt from? Was it an official Chevy dealer or a 3rd party?

[@DustinBatchelor]

I bought it from a Mazda dealership actually.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Not including a DC Rapid Charger as standard was a mistake. For sure that needs to be common equipment for virtually all EVs.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Couldn't agree more. It just creates a bad experience for anyone who buys the car without that feature not knowing what it is.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@DustinBatchelor And the thing is, it's not a feature that can be added later when you change your mind! Granted, most EV owners do the vast majority of their charging at home but on those occasions where you need to go farther than your built in range, it's kind of a necessity to have that DC Rapid Charger. I wonder if the 2021 Bolt has it as standard finally?

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere yeah good question. In Canada it was standard, so I'm sure that will stay the same. Hopefully they do the same in the States

[@dougl6304]

Any ball park figure about price to replace old battery with new battery on a Bolt? On Testla I understand it cost $16k to replace old battery e new one.

[@DustinBatchelor]

You can actually look at the price of a whole battery pack from online GM part catalogues. Last I checked about a year ago it was $16,000 Canadian, although the need to replace the entire pack would be very rare. More likely that you would just replace a module if something went wrong. I also don't see anyone needing to replace a battery for many years (more than a decade), and by then battery prices should drop off significantly.

[@Noxspecter]

I heard that roof rails was another sign of a Premiere ..? Also , Dustin , what year is your Bolt?

[@DustinBatchelor]

Yes roof rails is another sign, although I've known a few people who have installed the premier roof rails on the lower trim. My Bolt is a 2017

[@Noxspecter]

@@DustinBatchelor Good point about the rails. I just got my 2018 Bolt the first of Oct. 2022. I love it. Thanks for the video!

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@Noxspecter Congrats on the purchase! It is an excellent vehicle :)

[@lw216316]

Dustin - great video - I have some questions 1. my 2015 Leaf has a bar graph I think shows battery degradation - it has 12 bars when new and goes down over time. I am at 11 bars after 52k miles. Does the Bolt have something similar to show degradation ? 2. I have the 110 charge cable that came with the car and I bought an aftermarket 220 cable. Will they both connect to the 2017 Bolt I'm looking at buying? Are the connections on the cars all standard so you can use a cable from one brand on another? 3. I average 5.0 - 5.5 on kw per mile according to my guage. What average do you get with your 2017 Bolt? Do you really get 238 miles on a charge as advertised ? 4. My Nashville, Tn usa dealer has a 2017 Bolt L (not premium) with 25k miles for $17,000 does that price seem a little high to you?

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the questions. Here are my responses: 1. The Leaf is the only car on the market with a display that shows you battery health. There is a way to hook up a Bluetooth obd reader and connect the car to an app called Torque Pro. It will show you a guess at battery health, but it is still not verified that the number shown is accurate. 2. The level 1/2 charger ports all have the same connector so it should be fine. I did find that I couldn't use my previous Volt 110 charger on my Leaf just because the port door was a weird shape on the Leaf (the Volt charger was oversized due to it having a light built into it). The Bolt won't be a problem as it has a huge charging door. 3. I don't have an accurate year round average yet as my wife unfortunately reset my trip counter a few times over the year. The car is very much impacted by how fast you drive, how far, and the temperature. This car loves warm temperature, and in the summer I was easily getting over 400km (248 miles) per charge. Now that we're in winter up here and I'm keeping the cabin set at 21 Celsius (and mostly doing short drives), I'd probably be lucky to get about 260km (161 miles) per charge. 4. I paid $29,980 Canadian ($23,000 USD) almost a year ago for my premiere with 58,000km (36,000 miles). Prices have come down, but I also feel like I got a particularly good deal on my car when I bought it. I don't think that price is entirely unreasonable. If it was a premier for that price then I'd say you were getting a deal on it.

[@lw216316]

@@DustinBatchelor thanks so much

[@ValMartinIreland]

The batteries life is 7 years. You need to sell at 6 years max.

[@lw216316]

@@ValMartinIreland are you speaking of the Bolt or Leaf - my 2015 Leaf now has 58,000 miles and I am still at 11 bars (out of 12) of predicted rechargeability

[@alexkram]

​@@ValMartinIrelandI hope you are right because mine has an 8 year battery warranty after the recall battery swap. If it fails in 7 years I'll get a new battery for free.

[@MsPokey1234]

Hope "WALMART" soon sees the advantage of having say 6x EV Charge Stations near front door of every USA Store! It is perfect blend~ Shopper now has a hour or more to shop inside!

[@mcamodell]

Electrify America is putting them in at rural Walmarts and expanding some metro area ones to 8 connectors

[@errcoche]

They installed them at my local Walmart. Not sure about the intersection of EV car ownership and shopping at Walmart though.

[@m1cajah]

Same message on every EV video I watch. Do you think Walmart is watching these videos?

[@MsPokey1234]

@@m1cajah Hope so~!!!

[@futbol1972]

Iam looming to trade my 2009 Prius touring for a 2017 Chevy bolt, however iam concert about the batteries catching on fire. Are all the bolt models like that or only certain ones? Also we will be buying a rav4 prime in that future but how would I use a bolt charger to charge a rav 4 price or viseversa? thank u

[@DustinBatchelor]

To start, the charging systems for Level 1 / Level 2 are the identical plug everywhere, so whatever home charger you buy will work with both. Fast/Rapid chargers are a public infrastructure only thing, and most plug-in hybrid electric vehicles don't work with those. With the battery fires, that is a whole different ball of wax. Out of the 100,000 odd Bolts sold, I believe 12 have had fires. It would seem that LG had some kind of quality control issue which impacted some of the Bolts, but there is no easy way for General Motors to determine which cars have the bad cells. I would say the odds of a 2017 catching fire are probably very slim, as that is the oldest model year of Bolt available, and if it was going to catch fire, it probably would have happened by now. This by no means it couldn't happen. As an owner of a 2017 Bolt with over 80,000km on it, knowing that General Motors will be replacing all my battery modules with higher capacity ones is a massive bonus - we just don't know when that will actually happen. It could be a few months, or it could be well over a year. If you are ok with the potential risk, and abiding by General Motors suggested actions (not charging over 90%, charging outside, not storing car indoors immediately after charging, and not letting it go below 30% charge), then it could be quite the bargain buying a 2017 Bolt right now (once you get the new battery modules with 8 year warranty). I personally am following those rules the majority of the time, but I have had to break them as needed for long trips, etc. Anyways, I hope that helps clarify.

[@futbol1972]

@@DustinBatchelor what happens if you charge it over 90% or if I deplete the battery below 30%? By the wah Car will be park in driveway so I gotta figuer out a way to charge it in driveway..I could probably use all these battery issues to my advantage and get a really good discount on a used 2017? And if they are planning on upgrading batteries for free with 8 year warranty I really wolill like that. Iam getting tired of them stealing the catalic converter from my 2009 Prius. It cost me money every time that happens. I just need a cheap car to go to work and to drive in town. My wife will biy a nice hybeid SUV for her and we can use that one for long teipa etc..

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@futbol1972 well if you charge over 90% or let the car below 30%, hopefully nothing happens. General motors is suggesting this is the best way to avoid a potential battery fire, so if you regularly do both of those things then your chance of a fire may go up.

[@mowcowbell]

The biggest thing I see missing from autotrader regarding used Bolt's is a picture of the charging port. A Bolt without the CCS charging port is almost worthless on road trips longer than 200 miles. 8 hour charging stops using Level II charging would be unacceptable. Very surprised this isn't a standard feature of the Bolt.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Chevrolet Canada made the decision that all Bolts come with rapid charging. I have no idea why Chevrolet USA made the decision to have it optional. It doesn't impact the car in any negative way having it, and makes it so much more useable.

[@mowcowbell]

@@DustinBatchelor And even more puzzling is that DC fast charging is not standard on the Premier model in the US. You'd think the fully loaded model would have this.

[@dougl6304]

How much more would it cost?

[@DougRansom1]

Amazing video. For some reason there seems to be more supply on bolts than leafs

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks Doug - it seems to ebb and flow a bit with inventory. I was looking at used bolts for a while and when i actually went to buy one suddenly there were hardly any to choose from.

[@robertpryor7225]

I hope they start giving them away with a new bolt comes out. I wouldn't mind a 2017 to 2019

[@gtmaster3031]

Wondering if I should buy one now because of the battery recall or wait a few months see where the dust settles

[@DustinBatchelor]

That's a tough one. On one hand there is uncertainty around when the fix will happen, but on the other you are getting a basically brand new battery array with a full warranty and potentially more capacity (2017 to 2019). If you can find a Bolt at a good price then it could be an excellent deal. If you can't afford or don't want to buy new, then the Bolt in my opinion is the best deal going right now.

[@gtmaster3031]

@@DustinBatchelor used prices have already increased because of covid, I hope they don't increase again because of the new battery packs. I'm thinking I might just pull the trigger on a premier. They're 18-19k current with low miles too. I doubt prices will tank because the majority of depreciation has already happened

[@pinkiepie1656]

I'm buying one now. I'm not really concerned with the recall. 14 out of 142000 Bolts have caught fire. I'm good with those odds. Plus, if I get the 2017 model, I can drive it for several months and potentially get a new battery.

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@pinkiepie1656 as an owner of a 2017 Bolt, getting a whole new battery with higher capacity is close to getting a new car - it's a pretty great deal. Congrats on the purchase

[@charlescoker7752]

What is the warranty on the battery? Do you get the warranty on buying a used model? How much to replace a battery if it fails. .

[@DustinBatchelor]

The warranty is 8 years or 160,000km on the battery pack, and it's transferable between owners. In the Bolt models where the battery pack was replaced, you get 8 years from the replacement. In regards to the cost to replace the whole pack, I have no idea. The likelihood of that is pretty small. The pack is designed in a way that individual modules can be replaced if one of them goes bad.

[@charlescoker7752]

@@DustinBatchelor With the limited range of the EVS, and the time it takes to charge. The 8 years would be life of the EV. Any thing close to 8 years, or 160,000 miles you may want to look for one with low miles and at least 6 years left on the warranty.

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@charlescoker7752 having driven EVs since 2013 I myself don't think the range is limited at all. I take my Bolt EV and Mach E all over the place. My 2011 Volt and 2012 Leaf are still on the road

[@Tom-cn4cm]

Are dealerships legally allowed to sell vehicles with open recalls that haven’t been taken care of?

[@DustinBatchelor]

I'm not an expert on this at all, but I would assume it depends on the recall. If it's something like an airbag not functioning then I would imagine they have to do it. But if it's more of a tweak to software in the vehicle to improve performance or avoid a future issue that isn't safety related then I would guess they could sell without.

[@ScubaSteveCanada]

Recalls are only for safety issues and must be addressed prior to selling. A TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) is a manufacturer issue that is covered under warranty but has no bearing on safety. Always ask for confirmation from a dealer that all the recalls and TSBs will be addressed prior to you picking up the vehicle.

[@smeggysmeg]

What year model is yours?

[@DustinBatchelor]

It's a 2017, manufactured October 2017.

[@H-RutherfordHill]

That’s the bumper cover you’re pointing at. The bumper is under that.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the correction Mr. Hill. Best of luck in your Bolt search!

[@louiskhorweiwu]

Amazing video! Thanks for doing this, so helpful as I start to try and figure out about potentially buying a used Bolt. Yours is the first place I've seen mention of the Heads Up Display/HUD on the Bolt. Do you have more information on it? I tried to look it up in the 2017 model year manual, and I don't see anything. A couple of mention on forums, but nothing concrete. If you have more to share about the HUD, I'd be happy to hear it! That alone is making me think the Premier model might actually be worth the price. Though I'm personally not a fan of leather interiors and prefer cloth since it tends to be more cooling in summer :D .

[@DustinBatchelor]

Sorry for delay in response, KZbin isn't notifying me of comments! The HUD is actually a very simple system that is only designed to flash a bright red light on the window. It is tied with the forward collision / automatic braking sensors. So yeah, it's there but it doesn't do any trick things.

[@louiskhorweiwu]

@@DustinBatchelor Good to know :) . I think what the information you provided does is convince me that Premier isn't completely out of the running, and there's no reason not to get it if it's the best deal :D . Thanks so much!

[@wadefarmer1269]

The Matrix's Mr. Smith gets a Bolt!

[@DustinBatchelor]

Haha! I actually purchased all the accessories to do a Mr. Smith costume. I'll unveil it in the future - possibly in a Bolt EUV driving reaction video :)

[@stevelewis7632]

Is that car Silver or 'Arctic Blue' ??

[@DustinBatchelor]

Arctic Blue Metallic

[@bayside6207]

Do you think this is a good deal? 2017 Bolt LT 98,000 new battery pack at 65,000 $13,999 asking & the dealer says that it's priced to sell & they have no wiggle room.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Seems like quite the solid deal. Does it have the rapid charger? If not then you'll just have to understand that it won't be useful for long distance traveling.

[@bayside6207]

@@DustinBatchelor The dealer just told me that it does have rapid charging. I'm going to go into the dealer & make sure, Obviously to me there willl be 2 different looking charging ports to look out for But even if it doesn't have the DC rapid charging port, that is not much of a deterrent for me. I don't mind charging overnight as this vehicle will be an in town shopping errand runner @ 80-90 miles max each day. New Subscriber here & again Thank you.

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@bayside6207 good luck with the purchase! Having the new battery is a huge benefit and you'll get great range

[@bayside6207]

@@DustinBatchelor Just finished completing the entire video and may look out for a Premier instead depending on what additional packages have been added, If it has the safety feature package I'll probably go for it but it doesn't have the rails,, no rails!

[@grantdubiel4843]

Tio from a mechanic, don't use the glue or fix a flat, it coats ur tire sensors and ruins them, and u will have to replace the sensor, I see this at least once a month, and half the time the stuff doesn't work

[@grantdubiel4843]

But I am wanting to buy a bolt, and this was a great video

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@grantdubiel4843 thanks for the feedback and comments :)

[@dougl6304]

“Hilltop reserve”?

[@DustinBatchelor]

Hilltop reserve is meant to not charge the battery pack full, so that if you lived at a top of a hill (your commute is mostly downhill on the way there), then your car will be able to store that energy. When the battery is full your regenerative braking is severely minimized, and the car will brake differently in that state until it uses enough energy to have room to store.

[@PC800Fixes]

You monetized the $hit outta that video! Good information, though. Thanks.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Lol really? I actually didn't do anything differently so maybe Google decided to throw a ton of ads in there. I'm sorry :( But thanks for the comments :)

[@PC800Fixes]

Dustin Batchelor I often wonder how the ads work for my videos. For yours, I endured two 2:30 minute videos in the beginning, and then two more lengthy ads every two points you made, for a total of FIVE ad breaks. I did watch the initial two, but clicked thru the rest. Hopefully you made a little scratch from my view! :) Looking to get a 2017 Bolt, and I thought they all had the quick-charge port. Also equipment in the back is good to check for. The trickle charger for my LEAF is very $$$$$.

[@bennyhill8987]

Hi would enjoy video better if the camera lens had zoomed in closer to the the dashboard. Cheers 7

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the feedback. I definitely should have put my GoPro on a narrower field of view and gone in closer.

[@ScubaSteveCanada]

@@DustinBatchelor Actually, what you should do is reverse the PIP - show us what you are talking about rather than show us you talking.

[@heinuchung8680]

Great vehicle now can get for 20k

[@DustinBatchelor]

Yeah the price on them in the USA right now is crazy cheap.

[@carlosguzman-md2mt]

This is a power plant on wheels word up

[@azspotfree]

I wouldn't worry about trim if you're driving a bolt, it won't be an issue. You need to step up to a model 3 for that

[@DustinBatchelor]

Actually there are significant differences in the trim levels between LT and Premier. Roof racks, leather seating, Bose stereo, safety features, 360 degree camera, and more. As a buyer you definitely need to consider what you want from the car. I am constantly taking my mountain bike on the roof of the vehicle so having those factory roof rails was a must.

[@twilson377]

Too many things to worry about. Just buy new. You can get brand new 2020s for $25K with all the dealership discounts.

[@robertgolden616]

I have owned a chveolet Bolt for over 3 years and I don’t have any that don’t like about my car.

[@rotaryrich]

the PiP renders this video near useless. Re-edit so we can see the dash display

[@H-RutherfordHill]

“VIN number”

[@DustinBatchelor]

Actually saying number after VIN is redundant as VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number!

[@joshuasmith7369]

Racoons are nothing, I ran over a porcupine driving at night.

[@zseattle]

I didn't even know porcupines could drive!

[@kyliefan7]

If you call it the BOLT EV it would be easier to understand what you are saying...I thought you were saying Volt the whole time but noticed the video had a Bolt EV.

[@Kitchfox]

The Volt is also a EV so I don't get the point your trying to make. Honestly it should matter very little what kind of power plant is in a car as long as it's reliable and economic to operate.

[@wassiswallylokhankin191]

@@Kitchfox As far as I know, the Volt is a hybrid, not all-electric. So, calling the Bolt EV makes more sense.

[@Kitchfox]

@@wassiswallylokhankin191 well to be honest it being a EV won't sell it. And in some markes might turn people away from it. If GM would try selling it as a quick 200HP hatch back they would get a lot more interest.

[@wassiswallylokhankin191]

@@Kitchfox I am not quite sure I understand what you're saying Joe, but personally, I was looking for an EV and not just any powerful hatchback. I tried several EVs including those offered by KIA, Hyundai, and BMW. Ended up with a brand new Chevy Bolt EV and could never be happier. Still honeymooning with it. :)

[@The81titans]

That’s wrong all the accessories need to be purchased

[@techontesla5284]

I had a 2019 it was a good vehicle that the seats sucked!!!!

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for comment! I personally find the seats to be absolutely fine and have done several long all day drives. The takeaway is that there are many different body types, and everyone should try sitting in any vehicle for at least thirty minutes before buying to make sure it fits well. I owned a 2007 Honda Fit that gave me the worst leg pain when driving it. If I had spent some time to drive it around i would have noticed immediately.

[@gtiguyry]

I feel like the title should be “some things I missed and learned the hard way when buying a used car.” There are many articles that cover most of your points so that others do not make these mistakes when buying a used car, they are not particular to the Bolt, so in a way your video is misleading even though you are trying to inform. Premier has roof rails, and chrome trim. In addition, the two bright orange power cables going to the right of motor under hood indicate DC fast charge so you don’t have to view the charge port to figure this out.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for taking the time to write your comments!

[@fredyounes1279]

Hello DUSTIN, there is NO NEED for a compressor or tire sealant as the vehicle is equipped with Michelin Energy Saver A/S tires which are SELF SEALING. If you had bothered to simply refer to the owners manual it would have made it clear that there is no need for either as a result.

[@DustinBatchelor]

Thanks for the reply! When I bought my car it didn't have the self sealing tires on the rear. I also think it's a good idea to have those components in the car in the case of: A) the self sealing tires don't seal properly or get low on air B) your car isn't equipped with self sealing tires. This is a used buyers guide and it's very possible that someone could have easily replaced the tires with something else (as was my case).

[@fredyounes1279]

@@DustinBatchelorYour issue mentioned was that you were not sure why this vehicle did not include the compressor and sealant and a potential buyer maybe able to negotiate a better price as a result. I just purchased a CPO Bolt and decided to refer to the owners manual for flat tire and or spare to understand why it did not have either. I did put a compressor and a quality tire plug kit in mine right awat.

[@DustinBatchelor]

@@fredyounes1279 thanks for clarifying. I compared what friends Bolts came with who bought new and they indeed did have the compressor / sealant system. I should add that it's possible the Canada Bolts come with it and USA do not.

[@seanm7553]

Youll never use any of those accessories.