Why is GM discontinuing the Chevy Bolt EV line?

It’s no secret that electric vehicles are better for the environment from an emissions standpoint. It’s also no secret that Americans love their trucks. Unfortunately, combining the two has come at the cost of one of the U.S.’ best-selling EV models. Chevrolet’s parent company, General Motors, announced this week that it will stop selling the Bolt EV line by the end of this year.

Why is this unfortunate? Two reasons: One, the Bolt and Bolt EUV are the most affordable EVs in the U.S. The Bolt starts at $26,500 and the EUV at $27,800. This is a big factor when encouraging adoption of cleaner vehicles, and the Bolt represented a huge portion of EV sales in the U.S. overall. It was the fifth most purchased last year following three Tesla models and the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Taking such an affordable option off the market will make it more difficult for more people to make the switch to an EV.

The second reason is that the Bolt is being killed off to make way for electric versions of the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. Both of these are pickup trucks, and while an electric pickup might be better for the environment than a gas-powered one, it’s still worse than an electric sedan like the Bolt. In fact, a recent study found that when you compare efficiency, materials, pollution and other factors, an electric pickup still has an environmental impact equivalent to a compact gas-powered vehicle. So while producing more electric pickups can be beneficial for the environment, doing so at the cost of producing more compact EVs can negate those benefits.