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tinrobot

(10,903 posts)
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:05 PM Jan 2015

GM reveals their 200 mile range, $30k electric car and it isn't ugly.

The game-changing electric car has arrived in the form of the Chevrolet Bolt concept.

According to General Motors, the Bolt EV concept signals the automakers electric vehicle strategy: affordable, long-range electric.

GM claims that the Bolt will “offer more than 200 miles” of electric range with a starting price of “around $30,000.” If General Motors can deliver on those two claims, then the Bolt could well be a game-changer.

Most importantly, GM states that the Bolt is an electric car that will be sold nationwide:


http://insideevs.com/official-chevrolet-bolt-details-range-200-miles-starting-price-30000/

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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GM reveals their 200 mile range, $30k electric car and it isn't ugly. (Original Post) tinrobot Jan 2015 OP
looks like a honda fit. mopinko Jan 2015 #1
Honda CRX-ish. My favorite form factor ever. tridim Jan 2015 #15
the roof line jollyreaper2112 Jan 2015 #2
almost certainly that's due to aerodynamic requirements phantom power Jan 2015 #4
curving down in the back has a purpose flyingfysh Jan 2015 #5
This is the future. Not Hydrogen Fuel Cell cars, that's claptrap. Go Chevy! NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #3
Once again we agree. This may finally be the one I buy and plug in at night into an outlet just Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #8
Oddly enough, the Model T also overwhelmed early Electric Vehicles! NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #13
Let's see: Chevy has the Volt, and now the Bolt, and in the near future: flyingfysh Jan 2015 #6
Change is coming...... Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #7
Totally unimpressed. Daemonaquila Jan 2015 #9
Well this car might not be for you. NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #11
eh jollyreaper2112 Jan 2015 #12
Actually 200 miles is great for most commuters. Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #14
And exactly how many miles do you drive per day? jeff47 Jan 2015 #16
A few points regarding the economics NickB79 Jan 2015 #18
Nice design, horrible name. Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #10
These are great urban cars Warpy Jan 2015 #17
Like to see this - progression northoftheborder Jan 2015 #19

jollyreaper2112

(1,941 posts)
2. the roof line
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:10 PM
Jan 2015

Why does it curve down in the back? Looks like it will make cargo space more restricted for the hatchback.

flyingfysh

(1,990 posts)
5. curving down in the back has a purpose
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:15 PM
Jan 2015

It likely improves mileage. Look at a Prius: they curve down in the back, but have plenty of cargo space. And the back seats for tall passengers are very comfortable. Toyota did a lot of aerodynamic testing to come up with that design. Other cars aiming for efficiency would look similar.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
3. This is the future. Not Hydrogen Fuel Cell cars, that's claptrap. Go Chevy!
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:12 PM
Jan 2015

The automakers know they have to tackle range anxiety.

200 miles is pretty good!

Plug in a home and at work and it will be topped of most of the time.

Build in a DC fast charger and a network along Interstates, and we're good to go!

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
8. Once again we agree. This may finally be the one I buy and plug in at night into an outlet just
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:20 PM
Jan 2015

below a "fuck Big Oil" poster.

Electric is the future, just as the Model T overwhelmed the horse and buggy in less than 10 years, it is happening.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
13. Oddly enough, the Model T also overwhelmed early Electric Vehicles!
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:33 PM
Jan 2015

Henry's wife preferred her electric carriage.

Before the Model T, electric cars outsold gasoline cars:

In the late 1890s electric vehicles (EVs) outsold gasoline cars ten to one. EVs dominated the roads and dealer showrooms. Some automobile companies, like Oldsmobile and Studebaker actually started out as successful EV companies, only later did they transition to gasoline-powered vehicles. In fact, the first car dealerships were exclusively for EVs.

Early production of EVs, like all cars, was accomplished by hand assembly. In 1910, volume production of gasoline powered cars was achieved with the motorized assembly line. This breakthrough manufacturing process killed off all but the most well-financed car builders. Independents, unable to buy components in volume died off. The infrastructure for electricity was almost non-existent outside of city boundaries – limiting EVs to city-only travel. Another contributing factor to the decline of EVs was the addition of an electric motor (called the starter) to gasoline powered cars – finally removing the need for the difficult and dangerous crank to start the engine. Due to these factors, by the end of World War I, production of electric cars stopped and EVs became niche vehicles – serving as taxis, trucks, delivery vans, and freight handlers.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a rebirth of EVs prompted by concerns about air pollution and the OPEC oil embargo. In the early 1990s, a few major automakers resumed production of EVs – prompted by California 's landmark Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate. Those EVs were produced in very low volumes – essentially hand-built like their early predecessors. However, as the ZEV mandate was weakened over the years, the automakers stopped making EVs – Toyota was the last major auto maker to stop EV production in 2003. Thanks to the efforts by DontCrush.com some of these production EVs were saved from the crusher.

Sources: EAA historical archives, "The Electric Vehicle and the Burden of History”, David A. Kirsch. "The Lost Cord: The Story Tellers History of the Electric Car”, Barbara E. Taylor. "Taken For a Ride”, Jack Doyle.

http://www.electricauto.org/?page=evhistory


flyingfysh

(1,990 posts)
6. Let's see: Chevy has the Volt, and now the Bolt, and in the near future:
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:16 PM
Jan 2015

A car for Republicans: the Dolt.

 

Daemonaquila

(1,712 posts)
9. Totally unimpressed.
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:25 PM
Jan 2015

So, I can buy one of these for twice the price of a really nice Mazda (which it's trying to look like) with their SkyActive features, that gets 40 mpg and has actual RANGE? No thanks. Anything with a top range of less than an average gas guzzler with half a tank of gas is useless except to a city dweller who barely uses a car and never takes a road trip. When I lived in the city I could get more use out of a small motorcycle, a bicycle, and city transit, for far less cost. This expensive thing wouldn't have even worked for me when I last lived in a city where I had to commute, go visit my mom, and run errands all on the same day. Who needs to spend a mint to constantly worry and plan every day's trips around plugging in? At that rate, you might as well get a Smart Car for less than half the cost as a local runabout, if you really need a car for some activities.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
11. Well this car might not be for you.
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:30 PM
Jan 2015

But for many if not most other households where there is already a ICE vehicle, that one is available for long trips while the other one can fuel up for pennies.

You go home, plug in, go to work, plug in, it takes pennies!

Buy you, don't buy one, it's not going to work for you.

jollyreaper2112

(1,941 posts)
12. eh
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:31 PM
Jan 2015

Most gas cars are at 200 mile range. This car will not work out so well for road trips, the kind that require multiple refuelings. But for most people, it's probably 95% of what they need.

A friend of mine has the prius for the main family car and the leaf for the personal commuter. He drives it maybe 20 miles a day. If the family takes a trip, it's in the prius. So as a secondary car this is more than fine for a family.

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
14. Actually 200 miles is great for most commuters.
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 05:00 PM
Jan 2015

Sure 300 or 400 would be better, but all I want is to be able to get there and back again, with errands and events, and recharge overnight. I rarely if ever do long trips in a car any more.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
16. And exactly how many miles do you drive per day?
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 05:31 PM
Jan 2015

I drive about 21 miles/day. This would work extremely nicely for me. Longer trips could use our other car, or easily rent an ICE car with the fuel savings.

If you drive more than 200 miles per day, this isn't the car for you.

Also, if your only goal is to get a car as cheaply as possible, this isn't the car for you. Neither is a Camry or CRV. They still sell a crapload of Camrys and CRVs.

NickB79

(19,253 posts)
18. A few points regarding the economics
Tue Jan 13, 2015, 06:42 AM
Jan 2015

1) EV tax rebates and credits will bring down the initial price to the low $20's.
2) You'll be paying the equivalent of only $1/gal using electricity
3) Virtually no maintenance costs since it doesn't have an ICE to deal with.

This is clearly meant as a second car for most people, used daily for commuting with a gas-powered one for long hauls. I have a Scion xA subcompact that looks almost like the Bolt, and will be replaced with an EV once it dies 5 yr or so from now as our commuter.

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
10. Nice design, horrible name.
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 04:26 PM
Jan 2015

For some reason the image I come up with for "bolt" is:


That is Boris Karloff of course.

Warpy

(111,277 posts)
17. These are great urban cars
Mon Jan 12, 2015, 06:26 PM
Jan 2015

but I don't see them as being practical out here in flyover country until batteries can be charged quickly.

I can see the suburbs going electric but charging would be problematic for the average urbanite with on street parking. You'd need a fast charging option there, too.

One might be perfect for me since I don't do long distance driving any more.

northoftheborder

(7,572 posts)
19. Like to see this - progression
Wed Jan 14, 2015, 03:09 PM
Jan 2015

in electric car - less cost. I like the design. However, when I saw the glass roof - no way would have one here in hot sunny Texas. Hope that idea becomes an option. I had one car with sun roof - never again.

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