Recently, on a chilly, overcast afternoon in Michigan, two all-electric passenger vehicles pulled up to a stoplight. In the right lane was the Chevy Bolt EV, while in the left lane was the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Both models offer zero-emission-motoring and a practical cabin space, but more broadly speaking, the pairing provides an interesting comparison, and it makes for a good snapshot of the current EV landscape.
Chevy Bolt EV
The styling tells much of the tale. First introduced for the 2017 model year, the Chevy Bolt EV looks placid, almost docile next to the much more aggressive Mach-E. Granted, the Bolt EV is mere weeks away from a refresh, with the upcoming 2022 model year set to include a new front and rear fascia design. However, even with new styling revisions, the shape and overall demeanor of the of the Bolt EV will differ greatly from that of the Mach-E.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
In some ways, the Chevy Bolt EV is ahead of the game, beating the Mach-E to market by four full model years. However, in that relatively brief amount of time, the shape of the EV landscape has changed considerably, and these days, EV buyers don’t necessarily want a vehicle that looks like a “traditional” all-electric model.
“We don’t believe customers are really looking for vehicles that scream ‘I’m electric,’ and therefore have a different appearance,” said GM design chief Michael Simcoe in an interview conducted late in 2019. “Most of our customers tell us that we’ll buy an electric vehicle if it does everything that my gas-powered vehicle does, including in some ways the appearance.”
Chevrolet Bolt EUV
Indeed, the times they are a changin’, and with 30 new EV models planned to launch by 2025, GM hopes to change with them. Making such an ambitious goal a reality starts under the skin, and GM’s BEV2 platform, the EV-centric bones upon which the Chevy Bolt EV is based, is only the beginning of the automaker’s new all-electric frontier.
The same can be said for GM’s crosstown rival. Looking ahead, Ford will need to learn from the Mustang Mach-E in much the same way that GM learned from the Bolt EV, and use those lessons to expand its EV portfolio – a necessary step in the rapidly changing auto industry of today.
As for the Chevy Bolt EV and Mustang Mach-E spotted at the Michigan stoplight – to answer your question, no, they didn’t race when the light turned green.
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Comments
This is GM 2nd attempt at a EV while it Fords 1st, FCA hasn’t join this Club yet they too busy putting 6.2 and 6.4 in every model from Dodge to Jeep Appearance and size matter,
Both are firsts in the new generation of electric vehicles. Both are running on dedicated EV platforms.
But if you don’t count that then neither of these vehicles are firsts for either of these companies.
The 4xe is out now though. You can build one with their build tool on the website.
Yeah, it’s a hybrid, but that’s an easier sell.
It’s not Ford’s first: you forgot the Ranger EV.
You also forgot the Chevy S-10 EV, so it’s GM’s third.
I’ve never liked that many automakers feel “green” vehicles have to look weirdly egg-shaped — at least before Tesla.
That’s what I like about my gen 2 Volt. Part of the reason I didn’t buy a Bolt was that I did not like the body style.
Ford made the electric Focus. I saw one close up and met the owner. And Chevy had the Spark EV before the Bolt.
And even before these two, both had electric pickups, but were leased to utilities. Chevy even made over 100 electric Equinox test vehicles in 2009, powered by a HD fuel cell.
dont forget blenders Stellantis loves to put those 6.2 into anything!!!!!!
the new Waring with the Scat pack………………
Everyone keeps going on about that, but apparently they don’t pay attention to the news.
They recently announced that all those large V8 engines are not long for this world. The reason? Electrification.
One is ten times better looking while the other looks like a chinese bug squashed coming to get ya…
Bolt is more like Jeep; function over looks. It outscores Mustang in many ways, and is far, far less money. If you want ugly, look at the newest Lexus grilles. Ugh!!
Regardless of how good it is, I think it’s pretty obvious now that the Bolt was totally the wrong approach. It’s a car only diehard EV enthusiasts could love.
They should have built a purpose made EV that was more of a premium car that could command the premium price.
Building an expensive small hatchback was just dumb. People in our market generally don’t want a small hatchback anyway. Now tell them it costs twice what they’d expect for such a car and it’s no wonder the sales are abysmal.
The new BMW grill is not much better
I am teaching my grandson to drive we were out yesterday and a Tesler went past, my grandson said I can’t wait for EVs to get cheaper so I can buy one I asked him why and he said he wanted to help save the planet
Teach him to catch a bus, lotta emissions savings there 🚌….
I’m actually for EVs, I’m just against the regulatory factors, as seen with Tesla the market responded positively to it’s products. I don’t want feel good, ulterior motivated legislation to gum it up for everyone.
That’s already happening, and not just in the U.S. In fact, I would argue that EV investment is being driven largely because other countries have announced the end of ICE vehicles over the next 10-15 years. No OEM in it’s right mind would invest new capital in ICE programs now.
With what infrastructure?, unless we see new nuke plants and non-rare Earth batteries we’ll see backpacking as soon as Joe is gone in ’24.
Add the fact that CNN reported Tesla only made it’s first profit by selling carbon credits.
I don’t disagree that we don’t have the infrastructure to support a purely EV fleet, so I think you have a valid concern. But we’re still looking at a point in time 10-15 years out before the OEMs are fully transitioned. There is as much R&D going into the infrastructure solutions as there is to EVs. This year, in fact, 85% of all new energy infrastructure investment is in renewables, nuclear, and battery/capacitor (to smooth peak demand curves).
Of course even if the manufacturers go to exclusively electric vehicles we will have decades of parallel infrastructure, as IC cars tend to run quite a while (two decades?) before going to the junkyard.
We barely have 5G internet deployed nor shutting all coal plants and ’60s Era transit ideas with massive resistance to build a new road, power lines or bridges because it might hurt the blue pidgins but yet in 10-15 years we’re supposed to transition to renewables and E/Vs?. In reality I see 50% of renewable sources by ’40 but as said Biden is probably outta there in a few years.
I don’t disagree that we don’t have the infrastructure to support a purely EV fleet, so I think you have a valid concern. But we’re still looking at a point in time 10-15 years out before the OEMs are fully transitioned. There is as much R&D going into the infrastructure solutions as there is to EVs. This year, in fact, 85% of all new energy infrastructure investment is in renewables, nuclear, and battery/capacitor (to smooth peak demand curves).
As owner of a Chevy Volt, I will never trade it for a boring and cookie cutter SUV or crossover. The Bolt or the Mach-e (even if it has Mustang pertensions) are not for me. Unless GM produces a decent EV or EREV sedan, my next car will be a Tesla Model S.
GM is developing a low roof(their term for a Sedan) Chevy EV.
They should probably provide a little more info on those if they don’t just want everyone to keep buying Teslas.
I like the Mach E looks a lot. Not sure about the Mustang badge. I prefer cars to SUVs and crossovers, which puts me in a minority.
But I would consider the Mach E. We’ll see where used prices are in a few years — near-zero depreciation like Teslas or huge drop-off like the Volt, Bolt, Leaf and most other EVs.
Tesla’s depreciate just like other vehicles. The problem is how they price vehicles, have no model years and change content on a whim. So it’s very hard to compare a 3 year old model 3 to one brought yesterday.
Tesla has the best resale value on the Market. My Friend was one of the first to get a Model 3 and in three years only lost 5K when he sold it for the Model Y
It seems to me that Ford is missing a perfect opportunity here, now we are moving to EV why don’t Ford or all manufacturers for that matter take it upon themselves to create a new breed of “HERO” brand they could still keep the equine brand theme going maybe call it Brumby or Equus (there are many wild bush horse names to choose from) I think that Mustang should be left to die a natural death not only Ford but GM and Dodge, I for one can’t see an E Corvette or Camero nor a Dodge E Challenger or Charger it just doesn’t sit right when you look at their history. At least down here in Australia we no longer have that worry since GM killed of the HOLDEN HSV Commodore and Maloo and Ford killed off the Falcon our hero brands, but when all said and done we will have no say what will be will be
From the front angle and far away where styling touches don’t come across much, both cars look pretty much like boxes. Ford just has done a better job of concealing it when you’re close.
it’s happening and there’s nothing we can (or should) do about it.
So, who wins???????……………..Who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who wins????? Who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gm is saying that they don’t want a vehicle that screams electric. fine.
how about just giving us a design that justifies the price? at $37K, the bolt doesn’t come close to doing that.
But I just bought a new 2020 Bolt Premier, with all options, for $27,542, plus tax and title. I’ve owned 21 cars and a few trucks, and the Bolt is the most fun and satisfying yet. I got no federal tax credit, but did get the Costco $3k rebate.
My son is a Tesla fan and has a Model 3 Performance. Probably north of $60K. To each his own.
Jim Berry You are the man. The 2020 Bolt is half the price of the Mustang Mach-E at this time. Ford returned my deposit because I didn’t finalize the Mach-E order. Bolt is very tempting but I do not need a car at the present time. Enjoy.
BTW, I am told that used Bolts are quite inexpensive.
Rather than being told, you can just check autotrader. I’m seeing 2017’s with about 25k miles on them for about $18k.
The highest mileage one I’m seeing is a 2017 with 38k miles on it for $14k.
That’s an interesting thing too. The mileage on these is quite low compared to Sonics, Cruzes, and Sparks of the same model years. Those seem to have 2 to 4 times as many miles on them. Those drivers will have a tough time driving electric I’d have to guess.
you got a car with an msrp of around $42K for about $27K. that’s good for you but what about gm?
Good question. One reason I went from a Volt to a Bolt is that all the companies and their customers are in a very transitional state. I wanted a full BEV, but felt that spending big bucks at this time would be a mistake. Not wanting to wait forever (I’m really old), but knowing this technology is rapidly changing — that led to an affordable BEV for the time being. As it turns out, the 4th year Bolt is better than I expected. Perhaps not for long trips, but for local and around town (95%) it’s great. We still have an ICE for occasional trips.
Didn’t the Volt meet your needs for around town? It’s electric range should have been enough.
The msrp was based on the fact that the Bolt EV was initially eligible for the $7500 tax credit. GM doesn’t expect anyone to pay anything close to msrp in it’s absence.
The Bolt EV may be a money loser at the moment, but they don’t sell enough for it to matter much. It keeps them in the game a bit until their next EVs arrive.
I always believed the Bolt was designed as a $25k-$32k EV. The tax rebate just allowed them to have an artificially high price.
I think once the new Bolt EV comes out GM will set the price starting at $25k and the Bolt EUV starting at $32k.
GM lost the tax credit 2 years ago, but didn’t lower the price of the Bolt accordingly. I’d bet that they don’t make any money on the car, and they needed the high price to break even.
The more likely reason was the residuals values of the original Bolt EV leases. They are going to maaintain the original high price until the new versions come out.
gm is saying they don’t want a vehicle that screams electric. fine.
how about giving us a design that justifies the price. at$37K, the bolt doesn’t come close.
The future of ugly cars, you got to be joking. Bring back the cool cars. Electric cars sucks.
Actually, they don’t suck. I was once a skeptic as well – I’m not any more. ICE still has the advantage on range (and the satisfying roar of a V-8), but in almost all other respects, including performance, EVs are superior. They have far fewer moving parts, which means durability should be superior; maintenance costs should be less as a result, and they’ll last longer.
Drive one. You won’t believe how quick, quiet, and fun they are to drive. Even the Bolt, as limited as it is, is vastly better than equivalent ICE econoboxes. When EV pickups and SUVs arrive in the next year, their acceleration will rival Cameros, Vettes, and Porsches.
Njia is right on, but we’ll all have to see how long it takes for knuckle-draggers in their lifted diesel pick-ups, blowing coal, to get the message. Meanwhile a lowly Bolt, let alone a Tesla Performance, will blow the doors off all these poser vehicles, e.g. Honda Civics dragging the ground and making farting sounds through an aftermarket exhaust.
Back in the day, ‘Pipes’ were supposed to sound good, and mostly did. Not anymore.
I wouldn’t characterize people who want to drive lifted pickups as “knuckle draggers.” The fact remains that for many people, myself included, cars are a matter of personal taste and self-image. I’m in no position to judge someone on their personal preferences. There is something visceral and (if I’m being honest) really cool about driving around in a huge pickup. The commanding perch simply cannot be had right now in an EV – though the new Hummer EV will come close (if you can pony up the 100 large).
I live in an area dominated by pick-ups, and they drive around empty (air-trucks) most of the time. Like current humongous motor homes and fifth wheels, they are twice as big as they used to be. When does the “look at me” stop? The idea of an electric Hummer is a bit ludicrous, given that we have to start scaling back sometime. But the marketing guys know that vehicles like the Cyber truck and the Hummer will be big sellers.
“When does the ‘look at me’ stop?” At precisely the same moment that humans stop being human. And, let’s be honest here, a big part of the draw for early adopters of EVs is the virtue signaling. “Oooh! Look at me! I care about the earth!” Many people “care about the earth,” including people who buy pickup trucks. Whether they choose to buy an EV may mean nothing more than the relative importance of the environmental cause doesn’t exceed the 50% premium on the cost of a vehicle in their purchase decision.
Agree that someone living in a 6,000 square foot McMansion while being careful to recycle trash and owning a Tesla is a bit hypocritical. But there is still the argument “you gotta start somewhere”. Perhaps there is bad “look at me” and good “look at me”, and some that’s just nuts, e.g. extreme ape-hanger bars on a motorcycle or blowing coal from a pick-up. Looking at the earth as an island can be helpful in thinking about the bigger picture.
Even the first generation GM ev-1 from the mid to late 1990s did not suck. (I drove one briefly, and it was a hoot to drive.)
The “Who KIlled the Electric Car?” movie resulted when lessees (GM didn’t sell ev-1s) didn’t want to give up their cars. But GM took them back and scrapped most because they really were an experiment in their long term program to electrify.
WIth more advanced batteries such as now are available they could have continued.
@Njia
Could not have explained any better myself.
I think most that Bash EV’s have never driven one.
All you geeks and nerds need to get a life. There is no way Mustang lovers will embrace that abortion on wheels they call a Mustang. And incidentally you can’t change over 50 years of muscle heritage and expect car enthusiasts to buy this crap. Sorry but Elon Musk is a douchebag and GM is trying to play to his greedy arrogant ways. Shame on you GM for leaving the horsepower purist customers who supported your brand for many years and now you’re leaving them high and dry by delivering this crap. It won’t work GM!
You don’t have to have driven an EV to formulate an opinion, for somebody like me in their sixties who has driven since I was seven years old, it is the concept of electric propulsion that puts us on edge, I have driven mostly high powered V8s all my life, I have owned some of Australia’s “Hero” cars, (some of which have been banned in America) these cars offer the driver a thrill and command respect, and if taken lightly would kill the unsuspecting. I have no doubt that EV’s with there low centre of gravity and instant power delivery are thrilling in there own way but it will never be the same as hammering a V8 through the mountains or on a long road trip, feeling the vibration and the resonance of the engine and the roar of the exhaust in your soul and feeling your heart skip a beat.
PS I understand that you can now buy V8 sound tracks synchronised to your EV sound system I would ask the question why?
It seems to me that Ford is missing a perfect opportunity here, now we are moving to EV why don’t Ford or all manufacturers for that matter take it upon themselves to create a new breed of “HERO” brand they could still keep the equine brand theme going maybe call it Brumby or Equus (there are many wild bush horse names to choose from) I think that Mustang should be left to die a natural death not only Ford but GM and Dodge, I for one can’t see an E Corvette or Camero nor a Dodge E Challenger or Charger it just doesn’t sit right when you look at their history. At least down here in Australia we no longer have that worry since GM killed of the HOLDEN HSV Commodore and Maloo and Ford killed off the Falcon our hero brands, but when all said and done we will not have a say, what will be will be
…a mentally challenged patient jumped out a window stole an electric vehicle and took off….they caught him in the red light district…the headline read…Nut Bolts and Screws….