Chevy is expecting to deliver the first 2017 Bolt EV before the end of the year.
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News of the Chevrolet Bolt’s 238 miles of electric range will change the calculus for many EV shoppers, especially those considering the outgoing Nissan Leaf or eyeing the vaporwarish Tesla.
The Chevrolet Bolt will offer 5 doors and it is going to be a hatchback. The Chevy Bolt is expected to be available later this year.
But the Bolt EV’s role goes well beyond simply beating Tesla to the punch with an affordable longer-range electric vehicle.
The Bolt’s 238-miles range “is a potential milestone for EVs”, said David Reichmuth, a senior engineer at the Union of Concerned Scientists, in an interview with the San Jose Mercury News-gushing that the mix of long range, affordability and zippy ride could spark “a revolution”. Chevrolet cited that their upcoming Chevrolet Bolt can run for more than 200 miles of range once it is full charged. Tesla has said that the Model 3 will cost around $35,000, though, which would make it slightly cheaper than the Bolt. With a manufacturing scale that dwarfs Tesla’s, GM has the ability to build a truly affordable mass-market electric auto, or one that challenges Audi and BMW.
But federal tax credits for a given manufacturer run out after that manufacturer sells a certain number of qualifying vehicles. Knows as the Chevy Bolt, the all-electric automobile is not just eco-friendly, it is also said to be easy on the pocket.
So I’m a fan of the Bolt.
Until the Bolt goes on sale later this year, the most affordable range goes to Tesla’s Model S, despite the luxury car’s $65,000 base price.
Dislikes: Pedestrian looking interior; relatively small storage space; can’t be recharged by Tesla’s Supercharger charging stations; somewhat pricey compared to comparably sized gasoline cars. The result of the “push” whihc General Motors earlier talked about allowed the Chevy Bolt to go further on a 60 kWh battery pack.
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Price: $37,500 before taxes, delivery charges and processing fee; eligible for up to $10,000 in federal and state tax credits and rebates.
