Is the Chevy Bolt liquid cooled?

The Chevy Bolt uses a liquid-cooled battery thermal management system to regulate temperature, especially during fast charging and demanding driving. This approach helps protect the battery and maintain performance over time.

What cooling system does the Bolt use?

The Bolt’s battery cooling circuit relies on a dedicated liquid coolant loop that circulates a glycol-water mixture through cooling plates attached to the battery modules. The flow is driven by an electric pump and is regulated by sensors and a control module, with heat rejected via a front-end radiator and related heat exchanger.

• Electric coolant pump that drives flow through the battery cooling plates


• Thermostat and electronic control to maintain target temperatures


• Dedicated radiator/heat exchanger located at the front of the vehicle


• Sealed coolant reservoir and pathways to the battery modules


• Sensors monitoring temperature across the pack to adjust cooling and charging behavior

In practice, the system can actively cool the battery during rapid charging and high-load driving, and it can warm the pack when temperatures are cold to improve charging efficiency and performance.

Model-year updates and safety recalls

The cooling system has remained liquid-cooled across Bolt generations, but the battery pack and related hardware have evolved, particularly in response to safety actions and energy-density goals.

Below are the key developments related to the Bolt’s cooling system and battery safety by model year.

• 2017–2020 Bolt EV: powered by a 60 kWh battery pack with a liquid-cooled thermal management system


• 2020–2021: GM issued a recall affecting certain Bolt models due to battery safety concerns; affected packs were replaced with redesigned units and improved cooling hardware to reduce risk of thermal runaway


• 2022 onward: Bolt EV and Bolt EUV adopted a larger 66 kWh battery pack with updated cooling design, while retaining the liquid-cooling approach to manage higher energy density

These changes show how GM has refined the Bolt’s thermal management to balance safety, range, and charging performance, while keeping the core liquid-cooling architecture.

Why liquid cooling matters for charging and performance

Liquid cooling is more effective than air cooling for high-energy battery packs because it moves heat more efficiently, which helps sustain fast charging and protect battery life during demanding driving. For the Bolt, the coolant loop supports higher charging rates and consistent performance across a range of outside temperatures.

Maintenance and driver considerations

The Bolt’s cooling system is designed as a sealed, maintenance-light system that typically requires professional service if leaks, overheating warnings, or performance issues arise. Drivers should be alert to signs such as unusual smells, cabin warnings related to battery temperature, or visible coolant leaks, and seek service promptly.

• Overheating warnings or abnormal battery temperature readings


• Smell of coolant or visible coolant leaks around the front end


• Unusual noises from the cooling pump or accompanying cooling system alerts

When in doubt, consult a Chevrolet service center for a diagnostic, as issues with the cooling system can affect charging speed and battery longevity.

Summary

In short, the Chevy Bolt uses a liquid-cooled battery thermal management system across its model years. This design helps regulate battery temperature during charging and driving, supports higher charging performance, and has been refined over time through safety recalls and battery-pack updates. The core approach—coolant circulating through the battery pack and a front-end heat exchanger—remains central to the Bolt’s ability to deliver consistent performance in a variety of conditions.

Can I charge a Chevy Bolt at a Tesla charging station?

Yes, a Chevy Bolt can use a Tesla Supercharger with an adapter, but it depends on the type of charger. For DC fast charging, you need a special adapter (NACS to CCS) and must use the Tesla app to start the session. For AC Level 2 "destination" chargers, you may need a different adapter (NACS to J1772). 
You can watch this video to see how to charge a Chevy Bolt at a Tesla Supercharger: 59sDrive The Lightning - The EV Tech ChannelYouTube · May 14, 2025
For Tesla DC Superchargers

• You will need an adapter: A NACS to CCS adapter is required for the Bolt, which has a CCS port. 
• Use the Tesla app: You must use the Tesla app to find a compatible station, initiate and monitor the charging session, and pay for the charge. 
• Find compatible stations: The Tesla app will show you compatible stations. Check the station's information page to verify your vehicle's compatibility. 
• Not all stations are compatible: Only certain stations have been enabled for non-Tesla vehicles. Tesla also has a limited number of stations with a built-in "Magic Dock" that can charge a non-Tesla car directly. 

For Tesla AC Level 2 (Destination) Chargers 

• You will need an adapter: A NACS to J1772 adapter is needed for these chargers. 
• Plug and charge: Once the adapter is connected, you can typically plug and charge without using an app. 
• Not all destination chargers work: Some destination chargers may not be compatible with the adapter. 

Other things to know

• Check your car's compatibility: Not all Chevy Bolt models are compatible with all Tesla charging networks. 
• Charging speed: The Chevy Bolt can charge at a maximum speed of around 50 kW at a Supercharger, which is the car's max rate. 
• Use the official adapter: Some third-party adapters may not be compatible with all Tesla stations. If possible, use an adapter from a trusted brand or the official adapter from GM. 

Is the Chevy Bolt battery liquid cooled?

Battery. The Bolt's battery uses "nickel-rich lithium-ion" chemistry, allowing the cells to run at higher temperatures than those in GM's previous electric vehicles, allowing a simpler and cheaper liquid cooling system for the 60 kWh (220 MJ) battery pack.

How many miles per gallon does a Chevy Bolt get?

The Chevy Bolt does not have an MPG rating because it is an all-electric vehicle, but it is rated in miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) by the EPA. The EPA combined city/highway rating for a 2023 Bolt EV is 120 MPGe (131 city/109 highway), and for a 2023 Bolt EUV, it is 115 MPGe (125 city/104 highway). The MPGe is an estimate of the energy efficiency compared to a gasoline car, with 111 MPGe equivalent to the energy in one gallon of gasoline.
 

• Chevy Bolt EV: 120 MPGe combined (131 city / 109 highway) 
• Chevy Bolt EUV: 115 MPGe combined (125 city / 104 highway) 

What this means:

• MPGe is a way to compare the efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs) to traditional gasoline cars. 
• Actual "fuel" costs will depend on your local electricity rates compared to gasoline prices. 
• The Bolt has an estimated driving range of up to 259 miles for the EV and 250 miles for the EUV on a full charge. 

Why are Chevy bolts prohibited?

Chevy Bolts are prohibited in some areas due to a risk of the lithium-ion battery catching fire, which led to a massive recall by General Motors. This risk is why some parking facilities, like those run by SP+ or specific airport garages, have banned them, although many owners have already had their batteries replaced as part of the recall.
 

• Battery fire risk: The primary reason for bans is the risk of spontaneous lithium-ion battery fires. This issue prompted a widespread recall of all Chevy Bolts ever made, advises GM. 
• Recall and warning: Following the recall, owners were advised to park their vehicles outside and away from homes and other structures, especially after charging. 
• Parking bans: Because of the danger of a fire spreading inside a structure, some private parking garages, airport lots, and other facilities have prohibited Chevy Bolts from parking there to protect their property and other customers. 
• Ongoing issues: While GM has undertaken a large-scale battery replacement program, some incidents of fire have been reported even after the recall fix. In late 2024, a separate, smaller recall was issued for a specific group of Bolts where the diagnostic software was incorrectly installed after the initial fix, which could prevent it from detecting battery defects.