The electric Bolt has a range of 238 miles and comes in at $37,495 before US tax credits. That puts it in the same class as the Tesla Model 3 that won't start being delivered until around the end of 2017. With potentially a year separating the two vehicles, GM has a huge jump start on reasonably priced, high-milage EV market. And dropping those first cars off near Tesla doesn't seem like a coincidence.

While getting the Bolt EV into the hands of actual customers a year from its unveiling is impressive, it's important to note that only three cars are being delivered today. But, Chevy says that additional vehicles are currently in transit to California and Oregon and will arrive before the end of the month. Mid-Atlantic states will see the car in showrooms this winter after the beginning of new year, with the rest of the United States getting it before before the middle of 2017.