Affordable Electric Car

General Motors is taking a revolutionary approach to designing electric vehicles that are priced for the masses, recently unveiling the 2017 Chevy Bolt. From the outside, it looks like a typical five-door compact, but if it meets GM claims, it could be a game-changer in the EV market.

The word on the street is that the Bolt will boast a triple-digit range of 200 miles on a full charge. More importantly, after the federal tax credit, it will cost less than $30,000 – a price point lower than the average new car currently sold in the U.S. The only other company that offers comparable range is Tesla, but their least expensive models start at more than $70,000 – not exactly affordable for the masses.

The 60 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery contains 288 cells in 96 cell groups to deliver 160 kilowatts of peak power. A newly-developed, nickel-rich battery chemistry improves thermal operating performance to maintain output in varying climates, and lower profile cells span the entire floor while maximizing the interior space. The automaker has also provided a glimpse at some other interesting features, including a 4G LTE connection with “EV navigation mapping” to guide you to a charging station when the battery is running low. The car can even recognize the driver based on which key is being used, and automatically makes adjustments (like tuning the radio station) accordingly.