
Chevrolet Bolt EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Climate Controls 189
Maintenance
Air Intake
The air intake at the base of the
windshield under the hood must be
kept clear to allow the flow of air
into the vehicle. Clear away any ice,
snow, or leaves.
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter reduces the dust, pollen,
and other airborne irritants from
outside air that is pulled into the
vehicle.Replace the filter as part of routine
scheduled maintenance.
1. Open the glove box.
2. Pull the damper and push the
side wall to unlock the stopper.
3. Lower the glove box completely.
4. Hold the right side of the filtercover, and then pull and
remove it.
5. Install the new air filter.
6. Reinstall the filter cover.
7. Reconnect the glove box damper.
8. Reinstall the glove box.
See your dealer if additional
assistance is needed.

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Driving and Operating 191
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 195
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 196
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 197
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 201
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Starting and Stopping theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
Driver Selected Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 210
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 212
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 212
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 218
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 219
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 227
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 229
Charging
When to Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Delayed Charging Override . . . 235
Charging Status Feedback . . . 236
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Utility Interruption of Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247

Chevrolet Bolt EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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194 Driving and Operating
.Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge. 3. Turn the steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.

Chevrolet Bolt EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 195
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate. Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.
Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth.
. Turn off cruise control.

Chevrolet Bolt EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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196 Driving and Operating
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain.
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
electric drive unit.
. Keep the vehicle in gear when
going down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the vehicle turned off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
the vehicle and could become too
hot. Hot brakes may not be able
to slow the vehicle enough to
maintain speed and control. You
could crash. Always have the
vehicle running and in gear when
going downhill. This will allow the
electric drive unit to assist in
slowing and maintaining speed. .
Drive at speeds to keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills.
Something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick. .
Turn on TCS.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 031. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.

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Driving and Operating 203
Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle
Starting Procedure
Press the P (Park) button on the
shifter, or move the shift lever into
N (Neutral). The propulsion system
will not start in any other position.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving or the electric
drive unit could be damaged.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the vehicle operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle.
Press the brake pedal, then press
and release POWER
O.
If the RKE transmitter is not in the
vehicle or something is interfering
with the transmitter, a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the vehicle will not start due to a
low RKE transmitter battery, the
vehicle can still be driven. See Key
and Lock Messages 0137 and
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 033.
A vehicle ready light displays in the
lower right corner of the instrument
cluster when the vehicle is ready to
be driven.
The instrument cluster also displays
an active battery gauge when the
vehicle is ready to be driven. Restarting Procedure
If the vehicle must be restarted
while it is still moving, move the shift
lever to N (Neutral) and press
POWER
Otwice without pressing
the brake pedal. The propulsion
system will not restart in any other
position.
A chime will sound if the driver door
is opened while the vehicle is in ON/
RUN. Always press POWER
Oto
turn the vehicle off before exiting.
Stopping Procedure
For information on how to turn the
vehicle off, see Power Button0201.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
The following features will operate
for up to 10 minutes or until the
driver door is opened:
.
Audio System
. Accessory Power Outlets
. Power Windows

Chevrolet Bolt EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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204 Driving and Operating
Shifting Into Park
To shift into P (Park):1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0210.
2. Press the button on top of the shift lever to shift into P (Park).
See Electric Drive Unit 0206.
3. The P indicator on the shift lever will turn red when the
vehicle is in P (Park).
4. Turn the vehicle off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Propulsion System On
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the P (Park) button is
not pressed with the parking
brake set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
propulsion system is running.
If you have left the propulsion
system running, the vehicle can (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
press the P (Park) button.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the propulsion system on, be sure
the vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is set before you
leave it. After you have pressed the
P (Park) button, hold down the
regular brake pedal. If you cannot
see the P (Park) indicator in
instrument cluster, it means that the
shift lever was not locked into
P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be on, the brake pedal must
be applied, and the charge cord
must be unplugged.
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic drive unit. The shift lever
unlock button is designed to prevent
inadvertent shifting out of P (Park)
unless the ignition is on, the brake
pedal is applied, and the shift lever
unlock button is pressed.
Parking the vehicle in extreme cold
for several days without the charge
cord connected may cause the
vehicle not to start. The vehicle will
need to be plugged in to allow the
high voltage battery to be warmed
sufficiently.

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Driving and Operating 205
The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of an uncharged
or low charged 12-volt battery (less
than 9 volts).
If the vehicle has an uncharged
12-volt battery or a 12-volt battery
with low voltage, try charging or
jump starting the 12-volt battery.
To shift out of P (Park):1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press POWER
Oto start the
vehicle.
3. Verify that the vehicle is unplugged and the vehicle
ready light is on.
4. Press the shift lock release button on the side of the shift
lever.
5. Move the shift lever into the desired position.
6. The indicator will turn white and the gear indicator on the
shift lever will turn red when
the vehicle is no longer in
P (Park). 7. After releasing the shift lever, it
will return to the center
position.
Extended Parking
It is better not to park with the
vehicle running. If the vehicle is left
while running, follow the proper
steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move and there is adequate
ventilation. See Shifting Into Park
0 204.
If the vehicle is left in P (Park) while
running and the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter is outside
the vehicle, the vehicle will turn off
after one hour.
If the vehicle is left in P (Park) while
running and the RKE transmitter is
inside, the vehicle will run for two
hours. At the end of the second
hour, the vehicle will turn off.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is
taken out of P (Park) while it is
running.
Electric Vehicle
Operating Modes
Driver Selected Operating
Modes
Sport Mode
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than
Normal Mode, but can reduce
efficiency. Use Normal Mode
whenever possible. When the
SPORT indicator is not on, the
vehicle is in Normal Mode.