General Motors believes the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV offers a good balance between cost and range compared to other electric vehicles and hopes its position in the marketplace will attract more buyers to the vehicle.
Speaking to Automotive News, Bolt EV marketing manager Mike Hayes said the updated version of the vehicle, introduced for the 2020 model year, has “cracked the code” for EVs, falling in the middle of the marketplace with regard to cost.
“(Before) you basically had two ends of the spectrum,” he told AN. “You were either long range and expensive or you were low range and affordable. It was kind of this bimodal scenario where you had this big ocean out there of long range and affordable. Nobody had been able to touch that space.”
With a larger 66-kWh battery pack (versus 60 kWh before), the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV has an additional 21 miles of driving range compared to the 2017-2019 model year version for a total of 259 miles. This puts it ahead of the Nissan Leaf Plus, which has 226 miles of range. Prices for the 2020 Bolt start at $37,495, destination and freight charges included, while the Nissan is about the same at $37,445. The Hyundai Kona Electric is also a rival, which has 258 miles of range and starts at $38,045.
In addition to improved range for 2020, GM hopes its dealers can also help it move more examples of its only battery-electric vehicle. According to AN, only 1,300 of its 3,000 U.S. dealers are certified to sell the Bolt—which requires employees undergo training with curriculum specific to selling EVs and install at least one DC charging station. The automaker also encourages its dealers to install additional chargers to help promote EV usage, believing that sales are hinged on such commitments from its storefronts.
“That’s critical for us because that means the dealer is invested and dedicated to this product,” Hayes told the publication.
Some dealers may be apprehensive to make the initial investment required to train employees and install charging stations at this time, when electric vehicles are still considered to be in their infancy and demand is limited. Additionally, with the federal EV incentive on the Bolt EV having lowered from $3,750 to just $1,875 as of October 1st, there may be concern that demand will drop off.
Bolt sales were strong in the first three quarters of 2019, though, with Chevy selling 13,111 examples of the battery-electric hatch—up 11 percent year-over-year.
Dealers will soon have a more up-to-date Chevrolet EV to sell buyers as well, with the Bolt EUV expected to debut in 2020 and go on sale for the 2021 model year. The Bolt EUV should offer increased range and performance over the Bolt EV and consumers will likely prefer its crossover body style to the hatchback shape of the Bolt EV.
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Source: Automotive News
Comments
Adding 21 miles of range “cracked the code”? Brilliant! They’ll now sell at least another 17 of them…
What a stupid name you have! The true God will not allow His name be posted as you did, and never do such a excrement type of post.
Yet there it is!
I see, so you think they should have some kind of huge gain in range? At this price point that is very impressive. It took the Leaf a few years to get to the range of the Bolt. Did you go on the Nissan website and comment why it took them so long?
the gap between this and an ICE vehicle is still too large. i wouldn’t pay a dime over $30K and that is being generous.
Wait for the Ford Mach-E electric SUV, It is being offered for $40,000. And you save over $20,000 in less maintenance in ten years (only tires and wiper blades – read the Bolt EV owner manual as proof) and no gasoline or oil.
Gee Ray, how do you figure a company that has had an EV in customer’s hands and available for three years behind a company that won’t have one available until late next year? An unveiling isn’t production. Just ask Faraday, Dyson or any of the other companies that didn’t go to EV mass production.
the mach-e isn’t being offered to anyone at any price. those numbers are just guesses at this point. nobody knows what it even looks like.
a car lasting 10yrs without any problems is a lot of wishful thinking.
and trying to convince consumers to pay a high premium upfront for projected savings spread over a decade is going to be a hard sell. it is sort of like solar panels. you pay tens of thousands up front but it will take a at least a decade before you break even and start realizing any savings.
According to a recent MotorWeek Magazine analysis, battery powered vehicles have nearly as much maintenance as a comparable gas powered vehicle other than an internal combustion engine.
General Motors of China raided the parts bin for the Chevrolet Bolt and got the new battery for China’s Buick Velite 6 as the 250+ mile battery range would have made the Chevrolet Volt extremely attractive as it’s a shame that General Motors CEO Mary Barra couldn’t see it.
Right because cars sell so well in the US.
“Dealers will soon have a more up-to-date Chevrolet EV to sell buyers, as well, with the Bolt EUV expected to debut in 2020 and go on sale for the 2021 model year. The Bolt EUV should offer increased range and performance over the Bolt EV and consumers will likely prefer its crossover bodystyle to the hatchback/people-mover shape of the Bolt EV.”
The main competition is way ahead. It is the Ford Mach-E, a Mustang based electric and performance SUV. It will be officially announced November 17th at the Los Angeles Auto Show. So GM has to show something soon or be left behind.
The price is still too high for this little car and electric “refueling stations” are few and inconvenient.
Any Ford electric will be in the shop for repairs or recalls.
Yes, BRILLANT, indeed to the extra 21 miles of range. It helps GM but the real pro lem is it takes 55 minutes to charge from 1 to 80 percent unless they improved that compared to the 2017 model.
Also, where is the charging network? Tesla charges from 0 to 80 percent in less than 35 minutes.
Can’t wait to butly the Tesla pickup at any price
Battery’s are problems in extreme cold and heat.
Sweet spot? Is that when it is 10 degrees with the heater on or 90 degrees with the AC running with the headlights on? The EPA sticker needs real world number for EV’s. Selling over 13K units is quite impressive, so the market is growing.