Chevrolet understands that electric driving is the way of the future. As a result, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will be available as a fully electric vehicle. We already know that there are some fully electric cars on the market, but this one will stand out. Not only because of the excellent specifications, but also because of the ‘affordable’ price of around $30,000. The true cost is around $36,600. However, there is a maximum federal tax deduction of $7,500, which reduces the cost. Electric vehicles are no longer limited to a select few. With this model, Chevrolet has also raised the bar in terms of engine specifications. Continue reading to find out what makes this car so special.
Exterior design
Overall, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is a very aerodynamic sedan. The front of the car is small, because the electric engine doesn’t need as much space as a gas engine. The lower fascia is a diagonal with a large air vent for releasing warm air from the engine. The upper fascia is V-shaped and connects the sleek LED headlights tightly. The small hood flows directly onto the steep windshield.
The sides of the car are well-designed, giving the car a luxurious feel. There are two inwards-facing lines on the car, creating a more aerodynamic look. Halfway down to the back, the line of the car goes down, which results in an interesting sideview, with two totally different car doors and windows.
Moving on to the back of the car, the trunk door is a large part made out of glass, without rubber or metal encasings, except for the lower side, where the opening button is. Then there are two extra windows on the upper sides of the backdoors flowing into the trunk door, something you don’t see too often in car design. The lower bumper extends a bit to the sides, resulting in a sturdy and tough back bumper.
Last but not least, what’s very interesting about the 2017 Bolt EV is that it’s quite wide, which translates to a lot of interior space, especially in the cargo area.
Interior design
Step into the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV and feel the great and refreshing interior design. The seats are situated on a pedestal system and look like racing car seats. Furthermore, the seats are not separated by the centre console, leaving an almost open space for the leg room. The automatic transmission is situated in between the seats.
The centre console consists of a big 10.2 inch standard LCD screen and some buttons to control all the knickknacks in the car. Underneath the centre console there’s a power button for starting the car without a key. The Bolt EV will also come with an app for unlocking the car without a key.
The gauges also come in the form of an LCD screen. It’s very minimalist. The driver can customize what is showing on the screen. The steering wheel looks steady and sturdy, and has a couple of buttons for controlling things like Bluetooth and volume.
Engine specs
On to the most interesting part of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, the electric engine. Not much information has been released on the powertrain yet, but what is known is that there will be a single high capacity electric engine. This can produce 200 horsepower and is combined with the new Chevrolet’s Electronic Precision Shift System. This is a space saving system that is super precise in delivering the power to the engine, according to Chevrolet. The engine can reach zero to sixty mph (100 kph) in only seven seconds and the top speed is 91 mph (145 kph), which is amazing for such a sustainable car.
The electric engine’s best feature is the amount of mileage it can achieve on a single charge of the battery. The battery has a capacity of 60 kWh, and Chevrolet estimates it will travel 200 miles (320 kilometers). That’s 76 miles (120 km) more than the Bolt’s financial competitor, the Nissan Leaf, achieves. The Bolt will have the same mileage as the current Tesla Model, but because it is far more expensive, its market will be much smaller than the Bolt’s.
Another important factor for being able to succeed as an EV is the possibility for fast charging. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt offers this, so at specified places the car can be charged in about half an hour. Chevrolet also offers a 240-Volt outlet that can be installed at your home and can charge your Bolt in 9 hours. That’s twice as fast as the regular 120-Volt outlet can make.
Tech specs
The car will come with the option of 4G Wi-fi and the car’s software will be compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The safety features of the Chevrolet Bolt are definitely something to look out for. Features like Forward Pedestrian Alert, Forward Collision Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are all available as options.
Another handy tool on the Bolt is the option for the car to park itself, without the driver needing to sit in the driver’s seat. Chevrolet also discussed the possible feature of ‘valet parking’, where the Chevrolet could park itself in a parking garage. With just the touch of a fingertip on a connected smartphone, the car can drive itself out of the parking garage, just like valet parking.
The car will also be able to brake to a full stop, without touching the brake pedal. Either by itself, or by pushing a braking button on the steering wheel will the car be able to achieve this.
Price
The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will arrive on the American market at a price of $36,620. American drivers will be able to get a federal tax return for driving electric vehicles of about $7,500, which brings the price under $30,000 in the end. The European counterpart of the Chevrolet Bolt has been confirmed as the 2017 Opel Ampera-e. This translates to around €31,000 for European countries.