The Digester

New Chevy Bolt charges faster than GM's Ultium EVs because voltage matters

Mar 15th 2026

GM's new Bolt avoids the company's common Ultium module approach by using an LFP pack with a higher nominal voltage, enabling faster 10-80% charging even compared with some pricier GM EVs.

  • The Bolt uses a lithium iron phosphate battery pack supplied from China instead of GM's Ultium 24-cell module design.
  • GM's Ultium modules use 103 amp-hour cells arranged into 24-cell modules that run about 29 volts each, and many GM EVs use 10-module packs for a nominal pack voltage near 290 volts.
  • Lower pack voltage forces much higher charging current to hit a given kilowatt level, which slows real-world 10-80% charge times for 10-module Ultium crossovers to about 40 minutes.
  • The Bolt's LFP pack has a nominal voltage closer to 400 volts, letting it sustain high charge rates and reach 10-80% in roughly 26 minutes.
  • LFP chemistry is cheaper and longer lasting but typically has lower energy density, so buyers should compare range and cold-weather performance when choosing a model.

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