The reality of electric vehicles is that there are many more people who would love to drive an electric vehicle (EV) but aren’t doing so today for a number of reasons. Cost and range are the top 2 reasons, with charging being an issue for some buyers as well. The Chevy Bolt was the first mass-produced, widely available, affordable, long-range EV in the US that also happened to offer fast charging. Right on its heels is the Model 3.
BMW is perhaps the automaker most under threat from Tesla Motors. Its brand is about innovation, sporty design, and stellar performance — all in a sophisticated, premium package. Hmm, that sounds like Tesla too, doesn’t it?
Following up on the Tesla Model 3 vs Audi A3, Audi A4, Audi A5, Audi S3 fun, let’s dive into another lineup of premium-class sedans and hybrids that the Tesla Model 3 will compete against.
Doing things a bit differently this time, let’s jump into Lexus sales first. Sales of these 4 Lexus models added up to 119,369 in the US in 2016, about 55,000 more than the Audi A3, A4, and A5 combined (74,579). Combining all of these models, we’re up to nearly 200,000 premium sedan sales the Tesla Model 3 could steal some serious revenue from.
After visiting relatives and having coffee close by, I found two guys staring at the BMW i3. “It’s electric, isn’t it?” … “Yes, but this one has a gas range extender” … “Really? How does that work?”
After switching cars in the morning, leaving the Nissan Leaf and picking up the blue BMW i3 REx, we prepared for the trip to Connecticut. As there would be more than one car travelling, the smaller i3 would be the cargo van, so we filled it with three suitcases and other smaller bags.
This article serves as a complement to my first review of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, which was a summary of my takeaways from my first 24 hours with the car. Disclaimer: I didn’t sleep in the Bolt, so there’s admittedly a gap there in the review process.
The idea for this series of articles came one night while discussing with Zach (Director of CleanTechnica) my upcoming trip to the Northeast of the USA to visit relatives, he asked me…
Many electric vehicle designers felt the need to stand out, to create a design that flies a bold flag to everyone around that proclaims “I’m modern and different!” While this is great for individuals or businesses looking to make a bold proclamation, most people are looking for a car that looks normal, that drives like a normal car with cool features inside that make day-to-day life just a little bit easier.
By most measures, the Chevy Bolt is a breakthrough electric vehicle and may become the best-selling pure electric car in the US in 2017. And for that likely achievement, GM should be applauded. But I have to ask: “What if?”
The good folks over at EV Annex had a great idea — publish the first Tesla Model 3 book*. When I was introduced to the idea, I thought, “That’s a neat idea,” but just thought it would be a book about the momentous arrival of the most important electric car in history, a car that is iconic as a symbol of the unprecedented transition from polluting cars to clean cars.
