Photo: Chevrolet
There was a time when the big names in the car business regarded the fledgling EV segment as nothing more than a source of amusement. "They did what? Oh, these guys are just hilarious," they would laugh among themselves whenever an EV startup announced what they deemed as a breakthrough.
Now, though, the little pup has grown and is threatening to take the big dog's food bowl when it's not looking. That means there is no room left for pleasantries between the two sides, and with the legacy carmakers already venturing into electric vehicle territory, we are witnessing a direct dogfight.
Tesla has long been the only name associated with the idea of a useful electric vehicle, but GM is making a strong claim with its Chevrolet Bolt hatchback. The sub-$40,000, 238-mile EV has everything it needs to become the world's affordable battery-powered car of choice and to make things look even more favorable, it's also early to the party.
The Bolt has no competitors at this moment, with the one coming closest to earning this title being the Renault ZOE. The French electric car has just received a maximum range bump to 248 miles, and its price is even lower than GM's offering. The two main drawbacks, however, are the fact its range has been rated by NEDC, so it's very optimistical, to say the least, and that the dynamic performances are seriously lacking. And did we mention it's not available in the U.S.?
But the real contender will come from Tesla once the Model 3 is released, and GM knows it too well. That's why it has constantly poked Tesla whenever the opportunity presented itself, and yesterday was one of these moments.
The small event that accompanied the handover highlighted what most people were already expecting: a lot of Bolt buyers are going to be EV enthusiasts who had been disappointed with the non-premium offer so far. Look at the first Bolt owners: one had a BMW i3, the other a Chevrolet Spark EV and a Volt while the third drove a Prius.
GM also detailed how it plans to manage Bolt's rollout in the U.S.: “Bolt EVs are currently in transit to California and Oregon markets and are arriving this month. A national rollout begins in 2017, and a number of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States including New York, Massachusetts and Virginia will see first deliveries this winter. Bolt EVs will arrive to more dealerships in additional major metro markets throughout the first half of 2017. The Bolt EV will be available at Bolt EV-certified dealerships across the United States in mid-2017.”
When the Tesla Model 3 does come out, it will be looking at a market full of Bolts. However, if Tesla's production plans hold up, the battlefield will be level very quickly, and then it's the Bolt that's going to be on the defensive. As for us, we'll definitely be watching.
Tesla has long been the only name associated with the idea of a useful electric vehicle, but GM is making a strong claim with its Chevrolet Bolt hatchback. The sub-$40,000, 238-mile EV has everything it needs to become the world's affordable battery-powered car of choice and to make things look even more favorable, it's also early to the party.
The Bolt has no competitors at this moment, with the one coming closest to earning this title being the Renault ZOE. The French electric car has just received a maximum range bump to 248 miles, and its price is even lower than GM's offering. The two main drawbacks, however, are the fact its range has been rated by NEDC, so it's very optimistical, to say the least, and that the dynamic performances are seriously lacking. And did we mention it's not available in the U.S.?
But the real contender will come from Tesla once the Model 3 is released, and GM knows it too well. That's why it has constantly poked Tesla whenever the opportunity presented itself, and yesterday was one of these moments.
First Chevy Bolt Deliveries
General Motors delivered the first three Bolt EVs, and the three gentlemen who got their keys the other day were all invited at a Chevrolet dealership just a few blocks away from Tesla's Fremont factory. Stepping on your opponent's turf doesn't get more obvious than this.The small event that accompanied the handover highlighted what most people were already expecting: a lot of Bolt buyers are going to be EV enthusiasts who had been disappointed with the non-premium offer so far. Look at the first Bolt owners: one had a BMW i3, the other a Chevrolet Spark EV and a Volt while the third drove a Prius.
GM also detailed how it plans to manage Bolt's rollout in the U.S.: “Bolt EVs are currently in transit to California and Oregon markets and are arriving this month. A national rollout begins in 2017, and a number of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States including New York, Massachusetts and Virginia will see first deliveries this winter. Bolt EVs will arrive to more dealerships in additional major metro markets throughout the first half of 2017. The Bolt EV will be available at Bolt EV-certified dealerships across the United States in mid-2017.”
When the Tesla Model 3 does come out, it will be looking at a market full of Bolts. However, if Tesla's production plans hold up, the battlefield will be level very quickly, and then it's the Bolt that's going to be on the defensive. As for us, we'll definitely be watching.
Google News