Chevy hustles its Bolt electric into production to feed the need for green

By Ronan Glon February 12, 2015

Chevrolet has confirmed the well-received Bolt concept (pictured) that was presented to the public last month at the Detroit Motor Show has been given the green light for production.

The Bowtie brand explains that its engineers are working overtime to get the Bolt on the market as quickly as possible. Official details are few and far between but Chevy promises that its next EV will feature several driver-selectable driving modes designed to boost range. The Bolt will be able to drive for over 200 miles on a single charge, a figure that Chevrolet hopes will all but eliminate range anxiety.

Visually, the production version of the Bolt is expected to retain the concept’s overall silhouette but the futuristic styling will be toned down. The same applies to the interior, where the Bolt will get a more conventional-looking dashboard inspired by the one found in the new 2016 Volt.

2016-Chevrolet-Bolt-EV-concept-interior-006 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

General Motors is investing a total of $200 million into its Orion Assembly and Pontiac Metal Center facilities to build the Bolt. Both located on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, Orion will benefit from new tooling and equipment while Pontiac will receive new dies.

The production version of the Chevrolet Bolt will be introduced at a major auto show either late this year or early next year. The Bolt will carry a base price of about $30,000 and, unlike the Spark EV, it will be sold in all 50 states.

Topics

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

Ram 1500 REV vs. Ford F-150 Lightning: Classic trucks go electric

Ford F-150 Lightning

The first Ram electric pickup truck is on the way. The Ram 1500 REV is set to be one of the most desirable electric trucks out there, thanks not only to the Ram name but also to its high-end specifications.

But, of course, it's certainly not the first electric truck out there. The Ford F-150 Lightning is a favorite among electric truck buyers, thanks to the fact that it continues that Ford F-150 legacy with a tried-and-true design coupled with new technologies.

Cars

You can now charge your General Motors EV at a Tesla Supercharger

GM opens up access to more than 17,800 Tesla Superchargers

Taking a road trip in a General Motors-built electric car just got a lot more convenient. EVs made by Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac are now compatible with Tesla's Supercharger charging stations, though drivers will need to purchase an adapter before they can start plugging in.

Opening the Supercharger network to General Motors-built EVs adds over 17,800 charging stations to the list of places where drivers can stop and charge. This should take some of the stress out of taking an EV on a long trip, as Tesla's Supercharger stations are scattered across the nation and built in strategic locations. Tesla notes that a Supercharger is capable of adding up to 200 miles of range in about 15 minutes.

Cars

Lucid Gravity: range, charging, price, release date, and more

A Lucid Gravity electric SUV on the road.

There's finally another option in the world of electric SUVs. The Lucid Air has long been known as the electric car with the longest range, but Lucid is finally branching out with a bigger option -- the Lucid Gravity. It offers a similar design sensibility as the Air, with more room on the inside and pretty great performance.

The Lucid Gravity could well be the go-to electric SUV, at least when it comes to luxury options. Curious to learn more? Here's everything you need to know.
Lucid Gravity design
If you've seen the Lucid Air, you have an idea about the overall design of the Lucid Gravity. The car is sleek and stylish, and while it's not quite as unique-looking as the Air, it's clearly a premium car overall.