After five years and 113,000 miles with my 2019 Chevy Bolt EV LT, it was time for an upgrade. Tempted by rebates and the allure of a newer model, I traded it in for a low-mileage 2020 Bolt. Purchasing the 2019 Chevy Bolt new in March 2019, my intention was for it to serve as a practical commuter and local runabout. However, it quickly proved to be much more versatile, capable of handling long-distance journeys with a bit of planning and patience. From San Francisco to Vancouver, BC, and San Francisco to Laramie, WY, the Chevy Bolt 2019 confidently tackled numerous road trips, becoming the vehicle of choice for almost every journey.
Economical Operation: The True Cost of Ownership
The 2019 Chevy Bolt EV proved to be remarkably affordable to run. The initial purchase price, after rebates and including all taxes and fees, was just $22.5k. Over five years, the major expenses were minimal. I replaced two sets of tires, each lasting approximately 45,000 miles, with each set costing around $1,000. A windshield replacement due to a stone chip set me back $400. An $80 front-end alignment was necessary after encountering a large rock in the Tetons, and a faulty TPMS sensor cost $65, largely for labor. Beyond these items, the 2019 Chevy Bolt required no other repairs during my ownership.
Charging and Fueling Costs: Keeping it Low
Living in California, known for its high costs, charging the Chevy Bolt remained surprisingly inexpensive. Free workplace charging was a significant perk, although my commute is now an 80-mile roundtrip, reducing my reliance on it. Home charging, thanks to rooftop solar and an older, favorable Net Electric Metering agreement, has been essentially free. With an average monthly mileage of 1,800 miles, I estimate that at least 80% of charging has been covered by home or work. Even utilizing public charging networks like EA at current prices of $0.50/kWh, the overall running costs remained impressively low.
Minor Imperfections: Small Issues Encountered
Throughout my ownership, the 2019 Chevy Bolt presented only a few minor, unrepaired defects:
- Infotainment System Crashes: The infotainment system would crash every couple of weeks, requiring a hard reboot. No solution was ever found for this intermittent issue.
- Fast Charging Latch Issue: When using newer, faster charging stations (100kW+ from EA and EvGo), initiating a charge sometimes required manually holding down the silver latching pin. A chopstick became my makeshift tool for this workaround.
- iBooster Clicking: The iBooster clicking noise gradually became more noticeable. While I obtained a quote for $180 to address this, I never scheduled the repair.
- Sticky Brake Caliper: Occasionally, one of the brake calipers seemed to stick, likely due to infrequent use of the mechanical brakes in favor of regenerative braking.
Key Drawbacks: Addressing the Downsides
My primary complaints regarding the Chevy Bolt 2019 are common criticisms:
- Slow DC Fast Charging: Despite the battery replacement program offering some improvement by smoothing out the charging taper, fast charging remained slow, particularly above 60% battery capacity.
- Suboptimal Cold Weather Performance: The combination of even slower fast charging in colder temperatures (below 70F battery temp) and the inefficient cabin heater (lacking a heat pump) made winter travel, even in mild California winters, less than ideal.
Final Verdict: A Worthy EV Upgrade
Despite these minor issues and drawbacks, my overall experience with the Chevy Bolt 2019 was overwhelmingly positive. So much so, that I chose to replace it with a nearly identical 2020 LT model with only 25,000 miles. While the replacement initially has a reduced battery capacity due to the recall, it is expected to return to full capacity within 6,000 miles. The battery warranty provides peace of mind for at least another four years of affordable, reliable electric driving. The Chevy Bolt 2019 proved to be a fantastic and economical EV, and I look forward to continuing my electric journey with its successor.
