HOUSTON — When Chevrolet introduced the 2017 Bolt EV…totally electric or battery electric vehicle…it fulfilled their promise to offer a long-range, affordable electric vehicle for the masses.  This plug-in electric car represents a big step forward in EV design offering more than 200 miles of range on a full charge.

The range estimates on the Bolt are actually conservative.  Even when driven “normally” and not babying the car, it easily exceeds its 200 mile range estimate which is about twice the range of other vehicles in the class. It also features advanced connectivity technologies designed to enhance and personalize the driving experience.

One of the compelling advantages of pure electric powered vehicles is that the powertrain is so uncomplicated.  Because the electric motor is powered by the electricity stored in that car’s battery, none of the complexity of traditional internal combustion engines is needed. 

That translates into no pistons, crankshaft, spark plugs, gas tanks, radiators, fuel pumps, exhaust systems, tail pipes, mufflers, oil changes, transmissions, exhaust emissions etc.  There’s just a battery and a simple electric motor.  Because of the simplicity, vehicle maintenance is minimal and EV’s tend to last a very long time.

The missing element in all EV cars has been efficient battery technology; being able to store enough power to give the vehicle descent range between recharges. That is important because you can fill up the gas tank in your car in about 10 minutes but to fully recharge a battery takes up to 8 hours.

With the Bolt and its 200+ mile range between charges, General Motors has taken a huge step forward in the acceptance of EV’s as 200 miles far exceeds the average daily distance driven in a car in this country today.

The Bolt’s aerodynamic shape also yields a surprisingly large and useful interior for a car with such a small footprint.  The electric motor is compact and the battery is below the floor which allows tremendous flexibility in how the interior is configured.

As you might expect, this totally new and innovative vehicle is festooned with technology.  The Bolt is capable of using the latest mobile apps to enable car sharing, advanced GPS routing and gamification, all designed to enhance the ownership experience now and into the future.

The Bolt EV’s connectivity innovations should provide smart, personalized solutions for managing the driving experience. So systems like low-energy Bluetooth seamlessly connects a smart phone to the car when the owner approaches the vehicle.†The OnStar 4G makes the car a high-speed Wi-Fi hotspot.  The Bolt boasts a 10.2’’ MyLink color touch-screen display controlling vehicle functions and infotainment plus a wide-angle Rear Camera Mirror.

Thanks to large government tax credits intended to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles, the Bolt is priced at about $30,000.  That’s a hefty price for a small vehicle but when you consider that you can avoid the cost of ever having to buy gasoline again, ever…it’s a fair price.

— Kelly Foss (MyCarData)