2017 Chevy Bolt at CES 2016

Hey look, it has a phone 'cup' holder. Using phones as key fobs for the 'SKS' doors and driver settings is interesting.

We also have a passenger volume now, 94.4ft{2}. Which gives it the same space as the Prius and most other midsize cars on the smaller end.

 

I really like that idea. It eliminates the issue with using the fob for driver settings when there are multiple drivers.

 

Paid. $23,500 OTD for my 2010 II and $26,005 OTD for the 2015 4 (Son's). No chargers to buy or have installed in the home, no outrageous rates at public chargers (higher than gas per mile) if you can find one where you work or play. Prius TCO still is lower than EVs and for sure other ICE cars that cost the same...and my logbook proved it on the later, otherwise I would not have bought the 2015 Prius

Have you driven/owned a car that cost $16,000? I highly doubt that with your wealth. The TCO on the Bolt and "3" is still considerably higher than comparable ICE and the Prius even if you only plug in at the house and limit your range. I have no problem with whatever and why someone buys and drives...it's their money, but EV's are not now, nor do I expect them to be cost effective and/or practical for regular folks (as media and corporate would have people believe) for at least another 10 years. We previously discussed this and I concede the cost of development, not practical cost and use. The EV Warm and fuzzy for the well to do is still the current status.

...and I could care less who likes that.

 

Yes, I have, although it has been a while
What you say about the TCO is not true in everyone's experience.
Especially when you compare to a equivalent gas burner.

For the most part, the Tesla Model S and Leaf tend to have a lower TCO.

 

TCO is all costs...including purchase, refuel, maintenance, ect...Tesla S...come on.

Still can not drive "anywhere" in the US without an overnight recharge.

I not fighting EV...just stating the facts as they are. Still too expensive and limited range with no infrastructure to replace ICE and Hybrid. I also do applaud early adopters for paying for the technology...but they are still warm-and-fuzzies for the well-to-do'ers. 10 years for regular folks...maybe...unless industry decides on another solution/option.

 

But you aren't stating facts, you are stating some opinions and some outright incorrect information.
I have driven a Model S on a 5000 mile trip without an overnight charge.
I noticed you put "anywhere" in quotes. In your mind, does that "anywhere" in quotes really mean "lot's of places"?

And yes, the TCO of a Tesla is less than that that of a comparable car.
The closest one in terms of style, size, capacity and performance would be the Audi A8/7.
The price is close, the fuel is much cheaper.

Electrics are being bought by people who are not early adopters right now. Sure, not many, but it has started.
Unless you in the top 3% of commuters, EVs are simply better.

 

Corolla has been around for DECADES, that is why it has outsold the Prius!

DBCassidy

O.K., 5000 miles w/o overnight charge, ummm, did you have the depleted batt swapped out for a fully charge one? Clarity is needed, otherwise you are stating incorrect info.

DBCassidy

GM / Chevy is still sucking on the "tax credit" tit. When, if ever, will they learn? Yes, it is the same old Volt bs advertising again.
How about an in depth response on, again, what the intended audience is the Bolt catering to? I sure hope Chevy / GM has learned from the marketing mistakes made from the Volt.

Time will tell.

DBCassidy

 

Supercharger network most likely..

 

Absolutely, the supercharger network is very convenient for most long distance trips.

 

I would love to here the planning you did to do 5,000 miles unrestricted in your Tesla...and I am sure a few others would to. I could not still to this day drive from Fremont to DFW in a Model S Tesla without an over nighter or two...that's direct from Tesla. I asked them this when I looked into the feasibility of purchasing one. TCO as I used it was for affordable cars regular folks can buy, not those costing $75,000-$100,000+ OTD for the-well-to-do...but there is nothing wrong If rich folks want to brag about who has the better toy. Everyone buying EVs are early adopters because they are not mainstream...and you are going to have to explain your last statement, as well as your definition of better...and explain to me why I have not seen one EV on the road in the last couple of months...if everything is so honky-dory in EV land. EVs are not ready to replace ICE and hybrid for the masses prime time...yet...and no amount of clever speak is going to change that. The proposed Bolt and "3" are moving things closer, but you still have to have an above average income and live with mileage, cost and infrastructure limitations though. Thank you again for having the means and will to invest in one possible future for the rest of us though.

 

Well, since you asked... I took out the atlas, found points of interest such as Mount Rushmore, the passes around Denver (georgeous scenery), Las Vegas, and our destination of San Francisco. Then, our return trip we took a different routes back so we could hit Flagstaff (the observatory there was awesome), Two Guns (a ghost town my wife visited 30 years ago as a kid) back up through New Mexico (clearest sky I have ever seen), back up through Denver, Rapid City (it wasn't cloudy this time) and home.
We spent about an hour planning out our hotel stays, and about 10 minutes plotting out the superchargers.

Please note, I'm not saying everyone can use the SC to get to every location in the U.S.
All I'm saying is don't fall into the trap of saying no one can go anywhere just because you can't to one specific route.

I take it going from Fremont to southern CA out west on 40 to OKC then south to DFW is unacceptable?

That's fine, if you mean to add qualifiers to your statements, it would be much simpler if you typed those out to avoid confusion.
That being said, I have seen TCO for the Leaf coming out ahead of other similar cars. Although, that was during the first few years where there were some great deals available. I'm not sure if that still holds.

OK, this kind of bleeds all together, I'll do my best.

A few people, that are not early adopters, are buying these. I have a friend who surprised me when his wife bought a Leaf. Not an early adopter by any means. She just loved the way it drove and the idea of not needing to stop at a gas station.
I know other people that have bought a Tesla simply for economic reasons. These are not many, but they do exist. Typically realtors that drive clients around and put 30,000 miles a year on the car.

By "better" I mean EVs are more efficient, have better performance, have a better drive quality (silence and smoothness), keeps money for fuel local (I.e. Not adding to the trade deficit), supports our troops (ask the Mayor of Indianapolis), causes less local pollution and as such doesn't contribute to respiratory ailments, and for many, are much more convenient.

I can't tell you why you haven't seen any EVs on the road in the last couple of months. Perhaps you live in a state that has very few EVs. Perhaps you spend most your time in rural areas.
I typically see at least one every day in Minneapolis. Not exactly a hotbed of EV activity.
Again, just because you don't see them doesn't mean none exist.

If your definition of "hunky-dory" means you have to see them more often, I guess things aren't "hunky-dory" yet.
Let me ask you, if you moved to a location where 10% of cars were EVs and you saw many every day, would that make things "hunky-dory" even though nothing has changed other than your location?
Seems a poor measure of the health of the EV market.

EVs are certainly not ready to replace ICE and hybrid for the masses. I don't think I ever said they were.
Public education, technology improvements, and a massive increase in production capacity are all needed.

But just because EVs aren't yet a complete replacement for everyone, doesn't mean they aren't a perfectly valid replacement today for some people. And not only early adopters. Some people's driving patterns match up quite well with EVs, so they see no "limitations".

 

Well put!

Although def. not for everyone, simply amazing and perfect for some...

I would def. consider one but as stated in the past I can't currently as my townhouse / association does not allow EV charging areas..

If and when I move I will probably consider one in the future...

 

i will consider the stretch volt, where the distance from the back seat to the hatch door interior and width is the same as prius. 200 miles works for me, and 30k is less than i paid for my pip.

 

More info released on the Bolt at NAIAS (North American International Auto Show):

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Specs Released: Battery Pack, Motor Power, And More

Some specs:

- 3580 lb curb weight.

-60 kWh battery, at least 200 miles of range (I'm guessing 210-225 once EPA estimates are released)

-200 hp, 266 lb-ft torque, 0-60 in about 7 seconds

-7.2 kW charger, CCS (aka L3) charger optional

 

Zythryn, great post.

Frodoz, first off, you seem kinda bitter. Not a good look. Clearly there is no point in arguing with you, so I won't try. I will simply put my money where my mouth is instead. I would be willing to bet my entire net worth (or a more practical $100 if you choose) against you in regards to this statement you made above: "nor do I expect them to be cost effective and/or practical for regular folks for at least another 10 years."

 

-200 HP jet car
-200 mile min.
-huge cargo
-90 mile in 30 mintute fast charge
-beautiful in and out
-crazy tech package and functionality
-made in Amercia!!!!!

I dont get it some Toyota fanboy her......this car look so advance and promising for people who want an EV people should applause Chevy not perfect for everyone me included but this car is really impressive for the price and a big step in the right direction. Other than a
extender gas generator this car have everything. As some people say it is not about saving if I want to save money I will not own a Prius they are expensive for what you get in return. it is a lifestyle not having to depend on gas or to heard a noisy gas engine or have any oil maintenance put a smile in some people face and this is worthless.

 

I was just reading a fairly long Bolt article and came across this.

"These days it’s a refrain among GM executives that in the next five to 10 years, the auto industry will change as much as it has in the past 50. As batteries get better and cheaper, the propagation of electric cars will reinforce the need to build out charging infrastructure and develop clean ways to generate electricity. Cars will start speaking to each other and to our infrastructure. They will drive themselves, smudging the line between driver and passenger. Google, Apple, Uber, and other tech companies are invading the transportation marketplace with fresh technology and no ingrained attitudes about how things are done.

The Bolt is the most concrete evidence yet that the largest car companies in the world are contemplating a very different kind of future too. GM knows the move from gasoline to electricity will be a minor one compared to where customers are headed next: away from driving and away from owning cars. In 2017, GM will give Cadillac sedans the ability to control themselves on the highway. Instead of dismissing Google as a smart-aleck kid grabbing a seat at the adults’ table, GM is talking about partnering with the tech firm on a variety of efforts. Last year GM launched car-sharing programs in Manhattan and Germany and has promised more to come. In January the company announced that it’s investing $500 million in Lyft, and that it plans to work with the ride-sharing company to develop a national network of self-driving cars. GM is thinking about how to use those new business models as it enters emerging markets like India, where lower incomes and already packed metro areas make its standard move—put two cars in every garage—unworkable."

How GM Beat Tesla to the First True Mass-Market Electric Car | WIRED

 

Great article by Wired.

 

weren't these the same guys that laughed at apple when they announced their intention?