2023 CHEVROLET BOLT EV traction control

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
Driving and Operating 151
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Energy Efficiency . . . . 152
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle . . . . . 162
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 163
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Electric Vehicle Operating Modes
Driver Selected Operating Modes . . . . . . 164
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
One-Pedal Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 168
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) . . . . . . 174
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Assistance Systems for Parking orBacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 188
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Charging
When to Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Delayed Charging Override . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Charging Status Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Utility Interruption of Charging . . . . . . . . 210
Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
Driving and Operating 153
Vehicle Charging/Maintenance
Charging
Keep the vehicle plugged in, even when fully
charged, to maintain the battery
temperature ready for the next drive. This is
important when outside temperatures are
extremely hot or cold.
Maintenance
Always keep the tires properly inflated and
the vehicle properly aligned.
The weight of excess cargo in the vehicle
affects efficiency and driving range. Avoid
carrying more than is needed.
Avoid unnecessary use of electrical
accessories. Power used for functions other
than propelling the vehicle will reduce
driving range.
Using a rooftop carrier will reduce efficiency
due to additional weight and drag.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments haveenacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a mobile phone in demanding
driving situations. Use a hands-free
method to place or receive necessary
phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on mobile phones
or other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
mobile phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the Infotainment section for more
information on using that system, including
pairing and using a mobile phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Driving and Operating 155
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can be
steered, but may require increased effort.
If the steering wheel is turned as far as it
can turn and is held with force in that
position for an extended period of time,
power steering assist may be reduced.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.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.
.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. 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

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
156 Driving and Operating
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. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
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.

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
Driving and Operating 157
{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, crash).
.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 IceCaution
To avoid damage to the wheels and
brake components, always clear snow and
ice from inside the wheels and
underneath the vehicle before driving.
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:
.Turn off One-Pedal Driving.
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the
surface under the tires slick.
.Turn on the Traction Control
System (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.
.Avoid using Regen on Demand paddle.
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
0 281. To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
To save energy, run the vehicle for only
short periods as needed to warm the vehicle
and then shut the vehicle off and partially
close the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
158 Driving and Operating
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow.
The Traction Control System (TCS) must be
turned off by pressing the TCS/ESC button.
Traction control is not completely off, but
will only engage if the maneuver can cause
damage to the electric drive unit.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an underhood
compartment fire or other damage. Spin
the wheels as little as possible and avoid
going above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Turn
off TCS. Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear, spinning
the wheels as little as possible. To prevent
electric drive unit wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting,and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the electric drive unit is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the forward
and reverse directions causes a rocking
motion that could free the vehicle. If that
does not get the vehicle out after a few
tries, it might need to be towed out. See
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle
0258.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how much
weight the vehicle can carry. This
weight is called the vehicle capacity
weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on the vehicle may show how much
weight it may properly carry: the Tire
and Loading Information label and the
Certification label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any heavier
than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the maximum
front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). This can cause
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
systems to break and change the
way the vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a crash.
Overloading can also reduce stopping
performance, damage the tires, and
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Tire and Loading
Information label is attached to the
vehicle's center pillar (B-pillar). The Tire
and Loading Information label shows

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
Driving and Operating 171
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control System
(TCS) and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC), an electronic stability control
system. These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining control,
especially on slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any of the
drive wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, TCS
applies the brakes to the spinning wheels
and reduces propulsion system power to
limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the vehicle
senses a difference between the intended
path and the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the vehicle
wheel brakes to assist the driver in keeping
the vehicle on the intended path.
If cruise control or adaptive cruise control is
being used and TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control oradaptive cruise control will disengage. Cruise
control or adaptive cruise control may be
turned back on when road conditions allow.
Both systems come on automatically when
the vehicle is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while performing
diagnostic checks. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with the
vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both systems on
for normal driving conditions, but it may be
necessary to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
“Turning the Systems Off and On”
later in
this section.
The indicator light for both systems is in the
instrument cluster. This light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working. If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to
drive, but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the vehicle off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the vehicle.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on and stays
on, the vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
172 Driving and Operating
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and release
g.
The traction off light
idisplays in the
instrument cluster.
To turn TCS on again, press and release
g.
The traction off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off. If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
gis
pressed, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil the traction off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF lightgcome on
and stay on in the instrument cluster.
StabiliTrak can only be disabled below
56 km/h (35 mph).
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g. The traction off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF lightgin the
instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0213.
Cruise Control
The cruise control lets the vehicle maintain a
speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does not work at
speeds below 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you cannot drive safely at a steady
speed. Do not use cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could lose
control. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
With the Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
the system may begin to limit wheel spin
while you are using cruise control. If this
happens, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0171. If a
collision alert occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is disengaged. See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System 0189.
When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, cruise control can be turned
back on.
If the brakes or the Regen on Demand
paddle are applied, cruise control
disengages.