The Chevrolet Bolt, globally the first long-range, mainstream-priced battery-electric car, has been named Green Car of the Year during an event at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Organizers of this recognition called the Bolt a “game-changer,” suggesting that its launch will change the general public’s understanding of green powertrain innovation from an eccentric niche to something that can attract daily drivers.
” This takes battery power into the mainstream,” stated Ron Cogan, publisher of Green Car Journal and the organizer of the yearly Green Car of the Year award. “This is the transition year. Green innovation is no longer for early adopters.”
The Chevrolet Bolt will reach market before the beginning of next year, as per parent General Motors. It joins a growing list of battery-electric cars, including the upgraded Volkswagen e-Golf and the next-generation Smart Fortwo Electric Drive also making their debuts at the L.A. Auto Show.
The recent variation of the e-Golf will get a 50 percent bump in range, however at an EPA-estimated 124 miles, it will just be able to take a trip about half as far as the Bolt, which can handle 238 miles range. There are numerous vehicles that can run even longer, including the Tesla Model S sedan and Model X SUV, however those battery cars begin at more than double the rate of the brand-new Bolt. The Chevrolet electrical vehicle will carry a base MSRP of $37,495 – dropping below the $30,000 mark after considering a $7,500 federal tax credit.
“Consumers want cars that are effective,” stated Steve Majeros, the marketing executive in charge of Bolt. “But they don’t desire vehicles that shout they are different. They just want a terrific car.”
Unlike numerous early electric cars, Bolt is likewise fairly quick, capable of releasing from 0 to 60 in just over seven seconds.
However the real “game-changer,” stated Cogan, is getting costs down into the mainstream. A number of automakers are targeting 200-plus range and rates under $40,000, as well, that consists of Volkswagen, Ford, Nissan and Tesla.
