Back in January at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, General Motors fairly shocked everyone with the Chevrolet Bolt EV concept. At that time, the firm announced that it would put the 200-mile, $37,500 electric car into production.
That production version may appear in just a couple of months. The Bolt EV will be presented at CES in January 2016, GM executive vice president Mark Reuss told The Verge at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show. It was previously reported that Bolt EV production would begin at the end of 2016, so the timing does make sense.
GM CEO Mary Barra will also keynote CES 2016, so it’s possible the company will try to make the most of the spotlight with a big reveal. Unveiling a car at CES certainly wouldn’t be unusual. All manner of prototypes and concepts have been unveiled at the event over the past few years, including the test mule for the 2016 Toyota Mirai fuel-cell car, and the Mercedes-Benz F 015 autonomous concept.
Photos of camouflaged prototypes that have been released so far indicate the production Bolt EV will retain the concept’s general shape. But within the tall, five-door hatchback body, there may be more significant changes to the concept’s somewhat unrealistic interior. Beyond the 200-mile range and $37,500 base price, GM hasn’t released any other specifications.
The Bolt EV could use the same platform as the next-generation Chevy Sonic, which will be built at the same assembly plant. GM is also quick to note that the Bolt will be sold in all 50 states, unlike the current Spark EV, which is only sold in California, Oregon, and Maryland.
Getting the Bolt EV into production in just under two years will be difficult, but GM believes a major partnership with LG will help. The Korean company already supplies battery cells for the Chevy Volt and Spark EV, but it will supply much more for the Bolt EV. The long list of these items includes the battery pack, drive motor, onboard charger, infotainment system, and more.
