Out of Spec Reviews' Kyle Connor and Andreas are driving a 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV from Virginia Beach to Los Angeles in an attempt to use only IONNA fast charging stations along the way. The 2027 Bolt received a significant update from its predecessor: DC fast charging has been upgraded to 150 kW, three times the previous generation's capability, and the battery chemistry has shifted to LFP, which handles regular 100% charges without the degradation concerns associated with NMC cells. Super Cruise hands-free highway assistance is now available on the car as well. In pre-trip testing, real-world range at 70 mph was measured in the mid-220-mile range. The team is treating this as a genuine stress test of the IONNA network, aiming to cover the roughly 2,800 miles of road between the Atlantic and Pacific using only IONNA DC fast charging stations, with Chevy providing the car and IONNA acting as a trip sponsor.
IONNA now has more than 100 charging locations open to the public. The network is backed by a consortium of North American automakers and has been building coverage over the past two years since its launch. This trip is the first meaningful public test of whether IONNA can support a cross-country run in the most affordable new EV on sale in America, and the team identifies the western stretch, particularly Colorado, as the most likely point where network gaps could force a detour or bailout charge. The LFP battery chemistry is central to the trip's viability. LFP cells can be routinely charged to 100% without significant long-term degradation, and Chevy's engineers confirmed the team can full-charge at every station without issue, recommending only that a complete charge be allowed to finish every few stops to recalibrate the pack's battery management system. The combination of 150 kW charging and LFP chemistry is what makes this trip meaningfully different from attempting the same route in a previous-generation Bolt.
Kyle notes that neither Chevy nor IONNA scripted the route. Chevy asked for a planned itinerary and was essentially told the team would figure it out as they go. IONNA is a channel sponsor but did not request the trip specifically. Both companies were informed primarily by this video going live the evening before departure. The planned route roughly follows I-76 out of the mid-Atlantic, connects to I-70 through the Midwest, and eventually moves to I-15 into Los Angeles. First charging stop after Virginia Beach is Ashland, Virginia. The team is livestreaming portions of the trip on the Out of Spec Motoring channel and sharing location updates for anyone who wants to meet them at a charger along the way. Chevy provided a pre-production Super Cruise retrofit unit for this specific car; production Bolts with Super Cruise follow in regular model year rollout.
Bottom line: The old Bolt had usable range but not usable fast charging. The 2027 model changes that with 150 kW DC and LFP chemistry, and this trip is the first real test of what that update actually unlocks. Whether IONNA has enough coverage to support it without gaps is a genuine open question, and the answer will be more useful to the industry than any press event. Affordable EV plus independent charging network on a cross-country run: the result, whatever it is, matters.