PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Chevy Shows Off Pre-Production All-Electric 2017 Bolt

The 21-second clip offers a quick glimpse under the hood of the car, which is estimated to have a 200-plus-mile range.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Chevrolet has been teasing its upcoming all-electric Bolt since January 2015, but the General Motors-owned car maker is now giving us a good—albeit brief—look at the thing on the production line.

The company on Tuesday released a new video showing the 2017 Bolt EV coming together on an assembly line. The video reiterates some bits of information we already know: the car will have an estimated 200-plus-mile range and a starting price tag of $30,000. But the 21-second clip also offers a quick glimpse under the hood.

"Pre-production is underway for the all-electric vehicle that will make affordable efficiency an everyday reality," Chevy wrote in the video's description. "The Bolt EV will be available in late 2016."

As we noted back in June, Chevy will likely get the head-nod for being the first auto manufacturer to release a mass-market, all-electric vehicle that can hit 200 (or more) miles on a single charge. That rivals Tesla's much more expensive luxury vehicle, the Model S, which hits anywhere from 208-265 miles on a single charge depending on the specific model and battery size.

Today's similarly priced electric vehicles — around $30,000 — are mainly hybrids, which give you electric capabilities for a short distance before the gas kicks in. Other all-electric vehicles can be found for less, but none are going to give you the kind of range GM promises with the Bolt.

Tesla is set to unveil its lower-priced Model 3 at the end of the month, with an expected starting price of $35,000, so we'll have to see how the two stack up. 

Until then, check out the Chevy Bolt in the video above.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read full bio