The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, which goes on sale later this year, has an impressive EPA-estimated EV range of 238 miles.
2017 Chevrolet Bolt's Impressive 238-Mile Range
When General Motors (GM) introduced the Chevy Bolt in 2015, they said it would have a range of more than 200 miles, and they were right. The Bolt has an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles on a single charge, or a fuel economy rating of 119 miles per gallon equivalent (mpg-e).
With an unofficial starting price of $37,500 before incentives, this makes the Chevy Bolt the first electric vehicle to be sold in the U.S. with an EV range of more than 200 miles and a starting price of less than $40,000.
238 miles exceeds the expectations GM had in mind for its Bolt, and it's almost three times the range of their previous all-electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Spark. The Spark is much smaller and can only go 82 miles on a single charge.
But that's not surprising when you consider the Bolt EV's 60-kWh battery (the Spark's was only 19 kWh). With the 60-kWh battery system, GM says the Chevy Bolt is capable of producing 200 horsepower and has a top speed of 91 mph. Chevrolet's website says the Bolt will take about 9 hours to fully charge with a 240-volt charger.
2017 Chevrolet Bolt Price
According to Chevrolet, the Bolt EV will come with an "expected MSRP below $37,500 before available federal tax credit." The 5-passenger subcompact SUV is believed to come with available tax credits of up to $7,500, though actual savings depend on individual tax situations.
If that unofficial MSRP holds up, the Bolt's price makes it a direct competitor with the upcoming Tesla Model 3, and far more affordable than the available Tesla Model S and Tesla Model X. The Tesla Model 3 is expected to start at around $35,000 before tax credits and hold an all-electric range of 215 — the operative word being expected, as the Model 3 isn't even supposed to go into production until sometime in 2017.
2017 Chevrolet Bolt Availability
The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt will go into production at GM's Orion, Michigan plant soon and will arrive at select dealerships before the end of the year. It will join the Volt and the Malibu Hybrid in Chevy's electric family of vehicles, which the brand is promoting on their new website, ChevyEVlife.com.
With its impressive EV range and cargo space, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt is perhaps the most viable mainstream electric vehicle ever. It's beyond practical enough for the average driver's daily needs and it's priced right around the average transaction price for a new car these days after incentives, making us plenty interested in tracking its sales numbers.
