The Chevrolet Bolt and the Tesla Model 3 are the first affordable, long-distance — over 200 miles of range — electric vehicles. They've both been announced, and will eventually hit dealerships. The Chevy Bolt, however, has a one-year head start on the Tesla. And because Elon Musk has already taken almost 200,000 preorders on the Model 3, you're at the back of a very long line if you order one now. At this point, you might not get your Tesla until well into 2018.

Why will the Model 3 be released so long after the Chevy Bolt? Perhaps it's because General Motors is a massive carmaker who has significant experience launching new cars. Or perhaps it's that the Tesla Model 3 is such an amazing car, it takes more time to figure out how to build it in volume.

Either way, if you need to get from point A to point B without anything coming out of your tailpipe, you'll need to choose between the Bolt and the Model 3. That's why we've built this handy flowchart to help you decide.

It's really straightforward. There's just one question. Ready?