• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

1

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
Fortune 500

The Chevy Bolt EV Range Is Blowing Away Expectations—and Even Tesla’s Model 3

By
Kirsten Korosec
Kirsten Korosec
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Kirsten Korosec
Kirsten Korosec
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 13, 2016, 1:20 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The Chevrolet Bolt, the all-electric car that will go on sale later this year, will get 238 miles on a single charge, greater range than it initially promised and 10% more than its rival Tesla’s mass-market car, the Model 3.

At least for now.

Nine months ago, General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra promised the automaker’s upcoming Chevrolet Bolt would be an affordable, connected electric vehicle built for everyone. It was a noteworthy remark—one she made during a keynote at CES, the annual consumer electronics show—largely because it showed GM was gunning for Tesla (TSLA), the much smaller, but popular electric carmaker that has been seen as a leader in the space.

See also: Steve Wozniak Bets on an Old Automaker For His Next Electric Car

General Motors originally said the Chevy Bolt would be equipped with a battery that could get 200 miles on a single charge. The company announced Tuesday that the EPA gave it a range of 238 miles.

It’s a critically important number for GM, which wants to show that it’s serious about electric cars. It’s also a public double-dog dare of sorts to Tesla, which unveiled a 215-mile range electric car—the Model 3—in April.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter about the business of tech.

Both electric cars are aimed at the mass market. The Model 3 is expected to be about $35,000, and the Chevy Bolt is supposed to be below $37,500. Both electric cars should be eligible for government clean energy incentives of up to $7,500.

However, the battle between the two automakers isn’t over yet. GM might be beating Tesla to market with its Chevy Bolt. But Tesla has been mastering electric vehicles for years. It’s likely that the Model 3, which isn’t expected to be shipped until late 2017, will end up with a greater range than 215 miles.

If Tesla does squeeze out more range from its battery, the competition will come down to each car’s performance and built-in tech, as well as brand recognition and geographic reach. The Tesla Model 3 has some slick design finishes, notably the swooping rear window and its sculpted nose. It’s also loaded with tech, including a 15-inch touchscreen and the company’s hands-free semi-autonomous driving feature called Autopilot, which will come standard in the car. And it accelerates from 0 to 60 in six seconds, which should attract consumers looking for some extra zip.

[fortune-brightcove videoid=5120585097001]

Tesla also has a fervent following. Even before the public unveiling of the Model 3, reservations for the mainstream car hit almost 400,000.

Meanwhile, the Chevy Bolt has the backing of the much bigger and cash-rich General Motors. Not only can GM spend millions—if it chooses—in marketing the car, it also has a major presence in every U.S. state. Tesla, which doesn’t use dealerships, is banned from selling directly to consumers in several states (and in at least one case, it’s thanks to legislation GM helped orchestrate).

The Chevy Bolt also has some nice interior touches and tech-forward features of its own, including a 10.2-inch touchscreen and inductive charging so you can power up your smartphone wirelessly. It will also be equipped with OnStar 4G LTE, which turns the Bolt EV into a Wi-Fi hotspot. Apple (AAPL) CarPlay and Android Auto, a platform that lets drivers integrate their smartphone with a vehicle’s dashboard, is standard.

This story has been updated.

About the Author
By Kirsten Korosec
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

U.S. military launches 10th straight night of airstrikes on Iran as Houthi allies threaten Red Sea, but glimmers of hope appear on diplomatic front
EnergyIran
U.S. military launches 10th straight night of airstrikes on Iran as Houthi allies threaten Red Sea, but glimmers of hope appear on diplomatic front
By Jon Gambrell and The Associated PressJuly 20, 2026
7 hours ago
Trump to impose 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, invoking the ‘nuclear option’ that could unleash a new wave of economic chaos and inflation
EconomyTariffs
Trump to impose 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, invoking the ‘nuclear option’ that could unleash a new wave of economic chaos and inflation
By Josh Boak and The Associated PressJuly 20, 2026
7 hours ago
Three women chop their way into the record books at Lumberjack World Championships
North AmericaWisconsin
Three women chop their way into the record books at Lumberjack World Championships
By The Associated Press and Ellen SchmidtJuly 20, 2026
8 hours ago
President Donald Trump walks down the steps from Air Force One.
PoliticsDonald Trump
Trump admin attempted to uncover phone records of NYT journalists and sources related to coverage of Qatari-gifted Air Force One
By The Associated Press, Eric Tucker and Jocelyn NoveckJuly 20, 2026
8 hours ago
Alaskan pilot Ken Jouppi sits in an aircraft hanger in front of a plane.
LawSupreme Court
A passenger brought a 6-pack of beer on an Alaskan pilot’s plane. He now has to defend his plane’s seizure in front of the Supreme Court
By The Associated Press and Michael KunzelmanJuly 20, 2026
9 hours ago
LaLiga president says tech is already making the fan experience better, and it could solve football’s money problem too
AISports
LaLiga president says tech is already making the fan experience better, and it could solve football’s money problem too
By Catherina GioinoJuly 20, 2026
9 hours ago

Most Popular

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
12 hours ago
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
Success
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
By Sydney LakeJuly 20, 2026
16 hours ago
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
AI
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
By Jason MaJuly 18, 2026
2 days ago
Warren Buffett says his $147 billion investing career was an accident: ‘I may be one of the 10 luckiest in the world’
Future of Work
Warren Buffett says his $147 billion investing career was an accident: ‘I may be one of the 10 luckiest in the world’
By Sarah GlodekJuly 20, 2026
22 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 20, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 20, 2026
20 hours ago
Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
AI
Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
By Aaron Walayat and The ConversationJuly 19, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.