Chevy Bolt - 200 mile range for $30k base price (after incentive)

[EV-lutioin]

The Bolt is a pretty small car.... do you really want to go more than 93 mph

I am curious, is there anyone on the forum that is considering getting a Bolt? My TDI will be going to the glue factory soon and I need a tweener car until the Model 3 comes out and buying/leasing an ICE doesn't feel right now that I am EV spoiled.

 

[3Victoria]

Since you live in California, you should have some choice. Depends on your needs. A toodle-round car and rent for long-distance might work for you?

 

[Sonny Daze]

I am curious, is there anyone on the forum that is considering getting a Bolt? My TDI will be going to the glue factory soon and I need a tweener car until the Model 3 comes out and buying/leasing an ICE doesn't feel right now that I am EV spoiled.

Would you consider a bolt?

 

[Bruinfan]

The Bolt is a pretty small car.... do you really want to go more than 93 mph

I am curious, is there anyone on the forum that is considering getting a Bolt? My TDI will be going to the glue factory soon and I need a tweener car until the Model 3 comes out and buying/leasing an ICE doesn't feel right now that I am EV spoiled.

My exact situation. still debating timing. i am 80% sure I'm going with the bolt. want to test drive first, though. trying to figure out best way to get into m3. 3yr lease bolt, put 1k reservation now? or will 3 yrs be enough time where i won't need a reservation . i am current owner, but if i make reservation and I'm not ready to buy cuz my lease isnt up, do i lose my place? or keep tdi until dec 2018, will i be able to get m3 if i make reservation now? or will i be carless cuz i have to wait my turn into 2019?so hard to decide

 

[Model 3]

You must have unusually short legs and a long torso. I'm 5.8 feet with a ratio of shorter legs and longer torso

My torso/legs ratio may be in favor of the torso, but not "unusually" much so. And it was not like it was cramped and I had to bend my neck, just that I felt the roof in my hair (and I do not have to much of the later... ) and on my head when sitting straight up in the backseat. I could easly be sitting there for a longer trip, the roofing would just be irritating, not directly troublesome. The bending to enter and exit the backseat was more of a problem then the roof height when sitting there.

 

[jgs]

I don't like driving near the limits of my car.

Suit yourself, but I wouldn't worry about "pushing" an EV to its electronically-governed limit. I doubt there's anything magic about 93 mph, they just chose a nice round number. It's not going to be like redlining an ICE.

 

[McRat]

Suit yourself, but I wouldn't worry about "pushing" an EV to its electronically-governed limit. I doubt there's anything magic about 93 mph, they just chose a nice round number. It's not going to be like redlining an ICE.

Yes, it's 150 kph and it's not the only car I've seen with the 93mph limiter sold in the US. IIRC some trucks have the same number.

 

[gdrum]

I was heading to work in my X and passed a Bolt. I went whoa..threw an immediate u-turn, chased it down. The guy gave me a ride and I am totally impressed. The inside is way more roomy then expected. The tech and features are extremely impressive. the power is plenty to have a blast driving, I would compare it to Rav4 EV power. Aside from the drive by appearance the inside, drive and tech features are more then enough to enjoy the EV experience. The seats were comfy too.

 

[EV-lutioin]

Would you consider a bolt?

Not as a alternative to a Model 3, but possibly as a place holder until the M3 is available, but my wife is rightfully concerned about the ability to charge a Bolt on longer trips (she is more subject to range anxiety than I am). The other concern is safety in such a small car.

 

[Jeff N]

Say Hello to the Electric Model T

 

[bro1999]

Say Hello to the Electric Model T

Oh no, not more positive Bolt press!

btw, any word if your Bolt has shipped yet??

 

[Jeff N]

Oh no, not more positive Bolt press!

btw, any word if your Bolt has shipped yet??

As far as I can tell, it is still parked at the factory. This does not surprise me. The early build Volts in December 2010 arrived at dealers with ~70 miles on their odometers due to extra QA at the factory.

 

[McRat]

Looking in the Crystal Ball: Dec 1 will be the rollout.

 

[Zaphod]

Suit yourself, but I wouldn't worry about "pushing" an EV to its electronically-governed limit. I doubt there's anything magic about 93 mph, they just chose a nice round number. It's not going to be like redlining an ICE.

Why not? Electric motors are also limited to certain RPMs. But I think 93mph is limited by the tire speed rating. 93 just happens to be exactly "P" speed rating.

 

[Jeff N]

Why not? Electric motors are also limited to certain RPMs. But I think 93mph is limited by the tire speed rating. 93 just happens to be exactly "P" speed rating.

The Bolt EV tires have an 'H' (130 mph) speed rating. I took this photo of a production ready Bolt tire at a car show a few days ago.

 

[AndY1]

Only 91? Volt1 requires 94.

Is BoltEV so much lighter than the Volt1?

 

[Jeff N]

Only 91? Volt1 requires 94.

Is BoltEV so much lighter than the Volt1?

That probably tells you that the Volt didn't really require 94's although I have not checked to compare the rated cargo weight and weight balance aspects.

 

[scaesare]

Say Hello to the Electric Model T

Happy to see good press for the Bolt, however this does seem to be a bit of revisionist history:

Seven years before Tesla was founded, in 1996, GM engineers spent more than $1 billion to develop the world’s best electric car. It was a stunner called the EV1, and it was beautifully engineered, breathtakingly aerodynamic and affordably priced.

But it only sold a few hundred copies a year, and when GM made a business decision to cut its losses and take the cars back when leases ran out, it was attacked instead of being congratulated for having the courage to make a huge bet on EV technology. That was almost a knockout punch for GM’s EV efforts.

Disillusioned with battery-electric vehicles, GM spent billions developing hydrogen-powered fuel cells and hybrid-electric powertrains for buses and fullsize SUVs.

 

[e-FTW]

Happy to see good press for the Bolt, however this does seem to be a bit of revisionist history:

Makes me wonder what Ward's business model is.

 

[AndY1]

That probably tells you that the Volt didn't really require 94's although I have not checked to compare the rated cargo weight and weight balance aspects.

If I remember correctly, US Volts1 came with Goodyear 93's and had some sidewall blowouts - at least I read some reports on gm-volt forum - and were upgraded to 94s.
In Europe, Ampera initially came with Michelin Energy Saver tires rated as 94 and had no sidewall blowouts.