Taking a gander at the automotive industry as a whole, there truly aren’t many mainstream electric vehicles. Tesla has long been king of the hill, but premium pricing keeps many out of the market—something it hopes to change with the Model 3.
But, we digress. With a quick look, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV truly does offer something special at a fairly affordable price point, but other automakers are quickly getting with the program. This time, it’s Kia who will be gunning for a piece of the Bolt EV.
Clean Technica reports Kia will launch an all-electric version of its upcoming compact crossover, the Stonic, in 2018. It will follow the Kia Niro PHEV crossover.
The strategy is important to note. While many other automakers—GM included—focus on cars, Kia is taking to crossovers. Despite what Chevrolet says, the Bolt EV really isn’t a crossover: it’s a hatchback. The Kia Niro, though, is a CUV. Ditto for the upcoming Stonic.
It’s important because consumers are clearly in the midst of a love affair with crossovers, and building BEVs from CUVs may be one way automakers can absorb more costs and put more drivers behind the wheel of such technology.
But, as stated, more automakers will be gunning for the EV space. Ford plans for a 300-mile range crossover in the next few years, Nissan has begun teasing the 2018 Leaf and Volkswagen aims to become the EV champion following its dirty diesel disaster.
The Bolt EV is one of the first to the party, but we’ll see how it fairs in the long run.
Comments
GM could have an electric Trax. The Volt’s powertrain should be an option in the Equinox
The more EV’s, the better for all of us.
GM doesn’t get enough media talk about Bolt and Volt. Daily its all about Tesla. The media only writes about GM China sales if they are down, up months its a secret
When Kia think it’s a great idea to put a t in sonic lol
Chevrolet should take the battery power propulsion system of their Bolt and create an EV capable of replacing Police cruisers as the vehicle doesn’t need to have the capability of speed or performance that the Bolt doesn’t already have which means Chevy can use the same common components in the body style of something more familiar like a sedan possibly with a range of 100-120 miles so that the cars need to be charged every other day.