Looking to buy an EV? You’re in luck, because there’s a growing variety of them on the market, and some of them are quite affordable. If you wanted something that could take you over 200 miles on a single charge, though, you’d have to pony up big bucks. That all changes with the arrival of the new Chevy Bolt, prices for which have just been announced to start at $37,495.
That price includes destination, but doesn’t take into account a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 that stands to reduce the take-home price to $29,995 (before further incentives in states like California, Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Utah). It’ll also come in two specs, with the higher Premier trim still yet to be priced. Either way, you’re looking at an all-electric hatchback capable of driving 238 miles on a single charge.
Now $37,495 may not strike you as “cheap,” and it is a fair bit more than you’d have to spend on, say, a VW e-Golf, Fiat 500e, Kia Soul EV, or Chevy’s own Spark EV. But all of those are limited in range to double digits. Even the recently upgraded Leaf will “only” go 107 miles on a charge. If you wanted (or needed) something that could go for more than 200 miles, your only choice until now has been the Tesla Model S, which will travel a good 210 miles even in base 60 spec, but that’ll cost you at least $66,000.
In that context, the new Bolt comes across as a downright bargain. Tesla is preparing a contender of its own in the form of the forthcoming Model 3, which is slated to offer a range of at least 215 miles and start at $35,000. But it’ll be another year or more before production even begins.
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