$30,000 & 200-Mile Electric Chevy Bolt Concept Set To Debut In Detroit

January 10th, 2015 by Zachary Shahan

Originally published on EV Obsession.

That’s the word on the street, at least. According to the Wall Street Journal (you know, the best source in the world for breaking electric vehicle news /s), General Motors (GM) will be bringing a CUV concept to the Detroit Auto Show next week to supplement Chevy Volt 2.0. However, if it is really an all-electric CUV with (theoretical) 200 miles of range and a (planned) price tag of $30,000, then the Volt is the sidekick.

The name of this Tesla Model 3 competitor? The previously trademarked Chevy Bolt.

According to the leaked info, the Bolt will hit the market in 2017 and be sold in all 50 states. In case you don’t follow this industry super closely, I’ll inform you that the Tesla Model 3 is also supposed to be released in 2017 (if all goes according to plan with the Gigafactory… and everything else), and the price is supposed to be ~$35,000 (that is, ~half the price of the Tesla Model S). Granted, Tesla’s Model 3 is expected to have a bit more attractive performance stats… and the Tesla badge. Still, this is getting exciting.

While Nissan and Volkswagen have both made bold statements about long-range, affordable electric cars (see Nissan’s here and Volkswagen’s here), this is the first I’ve heard of a major manufacturer announcing a specific concept vehicle that can — in some ways, at least — compete with the Model 3 concept. (Also note that GM has been talking about such a car for years, so this is no sudden and rash move or claim.)

And let’s not forget that GM, by many standards, knocked the ball out of the park with the Chevy Volt, its “moon shot.” Given the technology available at the time, GM created one of the most attractive electrified vehicles on the road. Its owners and lessees have been immensely happy with the Volt. Prior to the Model S coming onto the scene and dominating Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys, the Chevy Volt was #1 for two years in a row.

We’ll be sure to get you some actual pictures of the Chevy Bolt concept as soon as we can. Chris and Tina will be on the ground in Detroit starting Sunday.

Of course if this news is all for real, then it will probably hasten similar efforts, and maybe announcements, from other EV frontrunners and manufacturers that we can’t quite call frontrunners but at least seem interested in offering decent electric vehicles for decent prices. Grouping them all together, this would include: Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, and Ford.









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