Following the unveiling of the Chevrolet Bolt concept car at last week's Detroit auto show, there was a lot of speculation around its chances for production, its final name, and its price. As General Motors' bet on creating The People's Electric Vehicle, capable of 200 petrol-free miles per charge, it will arrive carrying the unenviable weight of meeting expectations that are constantly changing.
But how did GM figure on the target of 200 miles per charge, given that the majority of today's EVs can barely achieve half that range?
"When you get to the 200-mile range, they tell you they can see [how] that can fit their everyday lifestyle," explained Pam Fletcher, who is GM's executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles.
According to Fletcher, when EV owners begin to consider a safe "buffer" for their anticipated travel, "200 miles starts to resonate with them."
By comparison, the Tesla Model S, which starts at around $70,000 before rebates, offers nearly that much mileage, but the Bolt's anticipated competition—the Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus EV, and BMW i3—offer closer to 80 or 90 miles of range in their respective setups.
Before the Bolt ever hits the pavement, GM does still have a toe dipped in the EV market. Yesterday, the company announced that Maryland will become the first East Coast state to offer its only full-electric vehicle currently for sale, the Chevrolet Spark EV. Chevrolet targeted Maryland due to its "strong commuter market," following a slow rollout . The Spark EV, capable of 82 miles on a single charge, will be available for $18,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit and Maryland state tax credits.
Fletcher said that EVs and hybrids will proliferate beyond Chevrolet in the next few years, but was mum on details of which brand and what types of vehicles. As for the return of a full-size SUV hybrid or full-electric, the likelihood is slim.
"We did them. Nobody bought them," she said.
Bring on the Bolt, then?
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
