Bolt EV: All-Electric Car

Watch out Tesla. Chevy is creeping up in your review mirror in an electric car of its own, and it’s going to cost less than half the price of your Model S. Set to hit the road some time in 2016, Chevy’s upcoming Bolt EV will start at about $30,000, the company confirmed Thursday.

But it’s not just the Bolt EV’s low price that’s a game changer. The carmaker also confirmed that drivers will be able to travel more than 200 miles before needing to recharge the Bolt’s batteries.

That’s huge for a car that will cost far less than Tesla Model S, which gets between 208 and 270 miles on a charge.

The Bolt EV is not to be confused with Chevy’s Volt. The difference between the two, beyond a consonant and their designs, is that the Bolt EV is a purely electric vehicle, while the Volt uses a gas powered generator to power its electric motor when its battery pack is empty.

Chevy is currently testing a host of Bolt EVs around the country to ensure that it performs well before it begins rolling off of the assembly line.

Range and price are the two things that have been holding consumers back from diving headfirst into the electric car market. Range anxiety – the fear that your car will run out of juice, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere – is still a real issue for most drivers.

Also, that’s how most horror movies start. You don’t want that.

With a 200-mile range and roughly $30,000 price tag, though, Chevy is looking to hit two annoying birds with one electric-powered stone.

And when the Bolt EV does run out of power, Chevy says you’ll be able to recharge it up to 80 percent in less than 45 minutes using a super charger station, which is more powerful than a standard charging station.

While that’s way longer than your average fill up, it’s still reasonable for people that just want to leave their car plugged in while getting dinner or staying in for the night.

The Chevy Bolt EV is expected to make its debut next year.