CHEVROLET BOLT

Driving this whisper-quiet compact wagon is a purely electrifying experience

There are pros and cons to virtually every car on the road and the Chevrolet Bolt is no different. But any concerns about range, recharging time and electric-grid infrastructure ultimately pale in comparison to the way the Bolt drives, the overall practicality it offers and the operating cost it reduces.

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt comes close to eliminating one of the primary concerns. It has a claimed range of 238 miles, which should be enough for a full week of average daily commuting before a recharge is needed. It’s also a real car that comfortably seats up to five adults and provides more than sufficient stowage space for most toting needs.

The Bolt differs from the Chevrolet Volt sedan, which has a much shorter battery range (53 miles), but has a four-cylinder gasoline generator that kicks in when the juice runs low.

Run out of juice in the Bolt, however, and you might be summoning GM’s OnStar emergency-assist service to bail you out. To prevent occurrence, an easy-to-read dashboard display keeps close tabs on your range status. A smartphone app also performs the same function and can also instruct the Bolt to preheat or cool the cabin to the desired temperature prior to hitting the road.

The Bolt should be admired as much for its attractive interior and exterior styling as for its electric range. However the overly narrow front seats lack back support and are uncomfortable, even for short distances. As well, the hard plastic dashboard and door panel surfaces detract from the car’s otherwise premium image.

Mastering the Bolt’s propulsion system is simple. The electric motor is fed by 960 pounds of lithium-ion batteries and produces 200 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque from the moment you press the accelerator. There’s no waiting for the revs to build, as is the case with internal-combustion engines.

There’s no transmission and no gears, rather, a single-speed controller directs the motor’s output to the front wheels. A “low” mode position on the selector engages regenerative braking that feeds a modest amount of energy to the batteries. Likewise, a small pedal on the left side behind the steering wheel also provides regenerative braking and at low speeds can bring the car to a dead stop without touching the brake pedal.

Once under way, the Bolt is a pretty competent vehicle that drives and rides like a small utility vehicle (think Chevrolet Trax). Chevrolet claims that the 3,580-pound car can reach 60 mph from rest in less than seven seconds on a full charge, but attempting this feat will result in the steering wheel twisting noticeably in your hands (called torque steer). Of course it also cuts into your driving range.

Electricity isn’t free, but the Bolt costs significantly less to run than a gasoline-powered car (the Bolt is rated at 128 mpg equivalency in the city) and of course has no tailpipe emissions, or even a tailpipe (or costly muffler and catalytic converter) that eventually need to be replaced.

The available 240-volt home charging station tops up the batteries from empty in about 9.5 hours. This is likely a mandatory installation since, from personal experience, charging at 120 volts (household current) will take more than a day. Level 3 480-volt DC chargers can provide 90 miles of range in about 30 minutes, but other than in large metropolitan centers or at Chevrolet dealers, they are few and far between.

Chevrolet warranties the Volt’s batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles, but advises that typical battery degradation isn’t covered.

The base, but not-so-basic Bolt LT ($37,500, including destination charges, but excluding federal and state “green” incentives) comes with climate control, 10.2-inch touch-screen, rear-vision camera and self-sealing tires that negate the need to carry a traditional spare. That’s a similar base price to the upcoming Tesla Model 3 that also has a similar range, but unlike the Tesla, the Bolt is already here.

The Bolt Premier model adds leather-covered seats (heated in front), roof rails, fancier wheels and a rear-view camera in place of a traditional glass rear-view mirror.

With real-world driving range, zippy performance and useful passenger and cargo space, the Bolt is so far one of the best solutions for fuel-free driving at a reasonable cost.

(PHOTO: CHEVROLET) If you have to wait well into next year for a new Tesla Model 3, you could just get a similarly priced Chevrolet Bolt, right now.

(PHOTO: CHEVROLET) The speed and range are in plain sight as the general feeling is quite high-tech. On the downside, the materials feel basic and the front seats have little lower-back support.

(PHOTO: CHEVROLET) The bigger the battery, the longer you can drive before recharging, but it also means a longer wait time for a full top-up. With a 120-volt wall plug, it takes much longer than a day.

(PHOTO: CHEVROLET) Think of the Bolt as a 2,600-pound shell with nearly 1,000 pounds of batteries located below the floor. This helps provide a roomy interior.

(PHOTO: CHEVROLET) The Bolt is roomy enough for five people, helped by batteries that are located in the floor.