AN ELECTRIC CAR FOR THE MASSES
New details have been uncovered about the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV as General Motors (GM) released a development video that will probably thrill potential buyers of the 200-mile-range electric car.
GM executives made it clear that the goal of their forthcoming vehicle is to make electric cars “approachable to all, not just to the elite.”
As of today, the least expensive battery-electric car with 200-mile or higher range, the Tesla Model S, starts at $75,000. There are cheaper electric cars on the market, but all suffer from limited range due to expensive, heavy battery packs. The upcoming Chevy Bolt, due to go on sale during 2017, intends to bring “electric vehicles to the masses,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday. The ultimate aim is to correct the impression that a 200-mile electric car is “a $100,000 car.”
CHEAPEST ELECTRIC CAR RACE
Many see this as a race between the Detroit automaker GM and Tesla Motors Inc. So, who is going to launch the most affordable long-range battery-powered car?
Although most details are still in the dark, the Chevrolet Bolt will have a starting price of around $30,000. That is half the price of Tesla’s cheapest model, meaning that we might see more electric cars on the road in the near future.
According to GM CEO Mary Barra this electric vehicle is a “game-changer” designed for “attainability, not exclusivity.”
ARE ELECTRIC CARS GOOD FOR SOCIETY?
The initial investment for electric cars is more substantial compared to gasoline ones. Yet, they are a lot cheaper in the long run as well as cleaner for the environment.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which has completed what is the most comprehensive study to date on the financial and environmental savings of electric vehicles, says that “consumers should feel confident that driving an electric vehicle yields lower global warming emissions than the average new compact gasoline-powered vehicle.”
According to the UCS, electric vehicles are a good choice for reducing global warming emissions and saving money on fueling up.
Will electric cars finally be affordable to a wider segment of customers?
