As if to suggest people wouldn't be willing to wait a year to get the 3 instead of the Bolt. Do you really think these two products have equivalent level of appeal?
I'm sorry, I may be missing something re: specs, but can you point to where it says that the Bolt will go 0-60 in <6s?
Also, does the Bolt have a nationwide supercharging network? Does it have autopilot? Does it have an astounding, unparalleled safety rating?
Sure. Planned 0-60 in under 7 seconds for the Bolt [1] with similar fast charging capability at suitable chargers. If we're going to split hairs over being a second faster off the line when it's already not even as fast as significantly cheaper cars, then I'm not sure what to say. The lack of a supercharger network is definitely a downside for Chevy, but for your average commuter that shouldn't be a major issue. Please also keep in mind that autopilot is not free for the Model 3 (or Model S) - it's a $3,000 upgrade.
Is the Bolt actually a better car? No, but I think it's evidence that if automakers actually get serious about electric they can put together something competitive and bring it to market far faster than Tesla.
I think the lack of a supercharger network is going to be huge. Yes, for your average commuter it shouldn't be a major issue, but it will be just the same. How to take road trips is the number one question/concern people have when I show them my Model S. There are many arguments to make about how it shouldn't matter, because long road trips are rare, you can take a different car, or rent a car, etc. But people just don't care. They don't want to spend a bunch of money or a car they can't drive to Grandma's house for Christmas, never mind that this is only an issue once a year and can be worked around.
Tiny nitpick: autopilot for the S and X (we'll see for the 3) is a $2,500 upgrade if you order it with the car. It's $3,000 if you activate it later. Incidentally, $2,500 is about how much more expensive the Bolt is than the Model 3.
Fair point. However I don't think there's anything preventing Chevy from dropping the Bolt MSRP in late 2017 or 2018 to be more price competitive. By then it will have been out for more than a year.
> similar fast charging capability at suitable chargers
All the DC quick chargers in the US have CHAdeMO plugs, while the Bolt will use the SAE Combo plug. Right now there's no US network of fast chargers the Bolt can use at all. The Nissan Leaf is the only non-Tesla EV on the road in meaningful numbers, and it uses CHAdeMO, which is why that's all anyone built.
Anyone who didn't preorder right after the announcement is going to be waiting longer than a year, probably more like three years from when the Chevy Volt is available to when they get their Model 3 if they were to preorder the 3 right now.
I'm sorry, I may be missing something re: specs, but can you point to where it says that the Bolt will go 0-60 in <6s?
Also, does the Bolt have a nationwide supercharging network? Does it have autopilot? Does it have an astounding, unparalleled safety rating?