Competition is heating up in the race to produce an affordable EV, and recently two future rivals came face to face for the first time ever – the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept and the 2016 Nissan Leaf EV. It was the Bolt’s first visit to the west coast, as well as the debut of the Nissan Leaf. In a domestic versus import show down that marked the start of the 2015 National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), around 800 test drives were enjoyed thanks to the organizers of the event – Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association.
Autoblog shows us photos of what went down this past weekend in Los Angeles, which included a praiseful shoutout to movie director Chris Paine, for his work with Who Killed The Electric Car? and Revenge Of The Electric Car. General Motors west coast communications head Dave Barthmuss was one of the speakers at the event, along with California state senator Kevin de Lion, race car driver Leilani Munter, and other guest speakers.
We look forward to seeing which car ends up being the top dog in this increasingly popular market. We’re interested to see which vehicle you think will have the edge, let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will launch next year.
Comments
I have been curious – will the Bolt accept the 400-volt DC quick charger (SAE Combined Charging System, or “Combo Cord”)? I was astonished to find the Volt will not accept it.
GM has already shown the 2017 Bolt EV getting charged with a SAE J1772 CCS in its promotional video, which also reveals the orange colored HV cap covering the DC port. The Chevy Volt’s batery isn’t that big, and over 70% of Volt owners use just the Level 1 EVSE to charge it. The others use Level 2, and almost all are charging overnight. It has a gas engine to extend its range which can refuel faster than a DC charging. But some daring Volt owner will bypass GM’s engineering and attempt to give it a DC charge port. The battery can accept it since the regen flows over 10 kW of power when applied.
It’s obvious which car will be top dog. The Bolt will with it’s longer range battery will be the best with no competition.
C’mon the handling on the Leaf is terrible. Amongst the EV’s and electrics it is an aweful driving car. Wait and see about the BOlt. THe Volt drives nice.
Handling on the leaf is amazing. It has been built from the ground up as an electric vehicle, which means the battery pack is situated low down and gives the car a very low center of gravity. The cornering is amazing. Car and Driver magazing got the leaf to pull more G’s than a Porsche 911 (see the youtube video). I have driven many cars (BMW 328, Subaru WRX ) and the leaf’s handling impresses me every time I get in the car.
Well the Bolt will represent the best of today not 5 years ago so it will be hard to compare the two in this fast changing segment. The same will happen when Nissan ever does a new Leaf.
At least it does not look like a frog like the leaf does.
I thing the Volt avoids the fast charge as they do not say this but in most cases the more fast charge that is used the faster the battery loses life. With the Volt having a ICE a fast charge is not really as great a need as a full electric car that will leave you sitting.
Chris Paine should get ready to produce a third movie, “Resurrection of the Electric Car”, and cover the preent EVs on the market, and the many new models (including the 2017 Chevy Bolt and the 2016 Cadillac PHV CT6) for the next year. Then as the EVs take over by 2020 he can finally produce: “Revolution of the Electric Car”.
The Electric car will gain traction in the market but again it will be slow steady growth in technology and acceptance.
By 2020 it will still be just a small part of the market but larger than today.
The growth of the hybrid will be much greater as it in some models will be come a standard feature. Most customers today can not afford an all electric car nor can they live with one. So many in the urban areas where they would be most popular have no way to charge them where they part alone.
I would peg 2030-35 as more of a larger electric segment by then. Over that time society will have better adapted to making places charge friendly and technology will have advanced much better for longer range, faster charging etc.
Not until the time comes where you do not have to plan your life around charging will the Eclectic car will make larger growth. Only will more work and investment change this.
to much money is being spent on r&d of electrics for it to be that long. Early 2020s electric will be the same price as gasoline cars and without the maintenance it will quickly gain market share.
Doug I wish you were right but with out some breakthroughs and more investment into placed to charge in more placed compatible with all model not just some will take time.
If you live in California you will see faster growth but in most other parts of the country and in colder regions growth will be much slower.
You also can not gauge acceptance. It will take time for some customers to embrace these cars. Not everyone loved a Electric.
Factor in also if gas remains cheap it will also slow people changing over.
Finally until they come up with a fast charge one that is as fast as a fill up with gas and no danger of doing damage to the batter as it does now long term this will be a major stumbling point.
Not many people are willing to walk away for 45 min for a partial charge or many hours for a full charge.
The real key is are there going to be any breakthroughs. As of now we are chipping away but there is still much to chip yet.
Ultimately, Bolt, Leaf and Prius are niche, halo products that help automakers avoid fines.
The technology we see today is primate, and has so much growing to do.
In ten years, we well may be using hydrogen.
Chevy’s Bolt with is estimated 200 mile range might even give the Prius a run for the money especially given how 200 miles might mean a single charge for an entire week of commutes.