In early 2015, Chevrolet unveiled the Bolt EV Concept and promised it would become the first affordable electric car with more than 200 miles of range. Less than two years have passed since then and its seems that GM will keep its promise and deliver a production Bolt with an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles. That's a whopping 131 miles more than the Nissan Leaf, a popular offering on the EV market, and the best mileage you'll be able to get on an affordable car for the 2017 model year.
Speaking of pricing, Chevy says the Bolt is expected to cost less than $37,500. That's before the available federal tax credit of $7,500, meaning some buyers will be able to take one home for less than $30,000. That's significantly more expensive than the Volt and Spark EV, which can be had for as low as $25,750 and $18,495, respectively, but neither can provide the Bolt's 200-mile range. While the Volt can travel for only 53 miles on electricity alone, the Spark EV is rated at 82 miles. The only EV that can deliver something similar is the Tesla Model S, but the base model, which is rated at 210 miles, starts from $66,000 before incentives.
This makes the Bolt quite an attractive package, at least until Tesla begins production of the Model 3 in late 2017.
As for Chevy's electric hatchback, it will arrive in showroom in late 2016. However, the Bolt will be sold in select dealerships only, meaning you might not be able to buy it at the nearest Chevrolet showroom. Stay tuned for more info as the Bolt makes its way onto the production line.
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Why it Matters
While Tesla already offers two vehicles that can return more than 200 miles per charge, on top of tremendous performance figures, both the Model S and Model X are far from being affordable for the average Joe. This is where the Bolt steps in an offers an a package that includes seating for five people, decent luggage room, and a mileage that puts every other electric car priced under $40,000 to shame. This will probably change when the Tesla Model 3 hits the street, but until then, Chevy can brag about having the first affordable electric vehicle that can go for 200+ miles on a single charge.
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Read our full review on the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV here.