General Motors has quietly confirmed pricing details for the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt.
The company originally promised to sell the EV for $30,000. As expected, the figure was a reflection of the cost after deducting $7,500 in federal tax credits. The true MSRP is $37,500 (including freight).
In comparison, the Volt hybrid carries a $33,170 MSRP before government incentives. The 2016 Nissan Leaf with a 30-kWh battery starts at $34,200, with around half the Bolt’s claimed 200+ electric range. Tesla, meanwhile, has promised its Model 3 will run for at least 250 miles and cost around $35,000 before incentives.
GM suggests the Bolt battery can be fully replenished in nine hours via a 240-volt charging system running at 32 amps. For a partially filled battery, owners can expect to gain 25 miles for each hour connected to a 240-volt charger.
The Bolt’s charge time appears to be slow compared to fast-charging systems for rival vehicles. In just a half hour the 2017 Ford Focus Electric can charge to 80 percent, equating to 100 miles of additional range. Tesla’s Supercharger technology is even faster, adding up to 170 miles of range in a half hour. To be clear, GM has only quoted charge times for its custom-installed 240-volt home charger, while Ford and Tesla are citing high-amperage charging infrastructure at select stations. If a Model S is connected to a 30-amp home charger, it will only add 20 miles of range per hour.
When introducing the Bolt concept, GM promised the EV would support fast charging to 80 percent in less than an hour. The claim has not yet been reaffirmed for the production model, however.
A specific EPA-certified range estimate and additional technical details will presumably be announced ahead of the Bolt’s expected arrival at the end of the year.
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