Sunday, October 18, 2015
What It Is
A four-door, battery-powered hatchback cube that’s more substantial than Chevy’s diminutive-yet-entertaining Spark EV.Why It Matters
Bolt will complement the new, second-gen 2016 Volt in Chevrolet showrooms while also helping to amortize some of GM’s electric-car development costs. Chevy wants the Bolt to be the first affordable EV lunchbox with a 200-mile range, counting on both mass-market sales to all the commoners who can’t splurge for a Tesla, and public acceptance of GM’s broad definition of the word “affordable.”Platform
GM’s global small-car architecture that underpins the Sonic sedan and hatchback, with production taking place at the same plant north of Detroit that assembles the Sonic and Buick Verano.Powertrain
A compact electric motor and direct-drive gearbox likely evolved from the Spark EV’s, but with a much larger lithium-ion battery pack from GM supplier LG Chem. (GM has not revealed the cell type or the location and configuration of the pack.)Competition
Used BMW i3s, next-gen Nissan Leaf, forthcoming Tesla Model 3.What Might Go Wrong
Real-world range may not be as grand as advertised, and low gas prices could hamper the appeal of EVs in general, even though California and other states still require them to be sold. Let’s hope the stubby concept doesn’t get any dorkier-looking on the way to production.Estimated Arrival and Price
The Bolt will sticker for less than 40 grand when it goes on sale in 2017 as a 2018 model, and tax credits should cut the bottom line down to around $30,000. But EVs often trade on heavily subsidized lease prices that seldom relate to MSRP.