General Motors aimed to provide a low-cost all-electric vehicle that will revolutionize long driving. In the recent Detroit Auto Show, Chevrolet, one of the company's divisions introduced Bolt EV concept car.
According to LA Times, Chevy Bolt can run 200 miles between charges for as low as $30,000.
Since most automakers can't seem to deliver the two qualities most drivers are looking for in an EV, Bolt could be "the first mass-market EV success" if the company can deliver its goal according to one industry veteran.
"A 200-mile EV range at about $30,000 in a crossover body shape is a killer combination," John Krafcik, president of auto shopping company TrueCar Inc. and former chief executive of Hyundai Motor America said.
Chevrolet's website boasts of its advanced lithium-ion battery with DC fast-charging capability. It is said that an 80% charge can be reached in less than 45 minutes.
According to thinkprogress.org, Wall Street Journal noted that "Bolt is the biggest risk yet taken by GM's new Chief Executive Mary Barra" as GM and Chevrolet pursue electric vehicle production amidst noticeable drop in the gas price.
"The Bolt EV concept demonstrates General Motors' commitment to electrification and the capabilities of our advanced EV technology," said Barra, who originally approved Bolt's design during her post as product chief. "Chevrolet believes electrification is a pillar of future transportation and needs to be affordable for a wider segment of customers."
Reportedly, the Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicle will feature a "10-inch dashboard touchscreen, the option of using a smartphone as a key, integrated ride-sharing management, and the ability to self-park: using a phone App."
"The Bolt Connect app would provide drivers with an unprecedented level of vehicle control. Incorporating automatic park-and-retrieval technology, owners will be able to exit the vehicle and tell Bolt EV to park itself while they run errands, then summon it to their location when they're done," Chevrolet stated in its website.
The Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicle's production will be start fall of 2016.
