Chevrolet Hands the Power of Canada’s First Bolt EV to Customers

Photo Credit: General Motors of Canada

It was almost two years ago when the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept car made an electrifying appearance at the 2015 Canadian International AutoShow. Coinciding with the vehicle’s presence at the auto show was the official news Chevrolet would sell a production version of the all-electric compact. After a short development from car show to showroom, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is ready for the challenging climate of Canada.

At the beginning of February, a trio of electric vehicle enthusiasts has become the first 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV owners. Dean Myers Chevrolet and City Chevrolet of Toronto, Ontario as well as Bourgeois Chevrolet in Rawdon, Quebec (located roughly 60 kilometers north of Montreal) have the distinction of delivering the long-range compact electric car to their customers. Director at Scotiabank Samantha Mesrobian, former president of RenoDepot Claude Michaud and I.T. Executive Joe Winkfein are named as the first members of the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s Canadian reception party. While Mesrobian is trading her Land Rover in favour to the switch to the electrified bowtie machine, Michaud and Winkfein are previous first generation Volt plug-in hybrid owners.

The three Canadian customers of the new all-electric Chevrolet vehicle are now the debut audience of what is effectively a practical battery-powered car. Given a versatile yet compact hatchback profile allowing up to 479 liters of cargo room, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is particularly attractive with an EPA-estimated 383-kilometer maximum range on a single charge. As of the start of 2017, the Tesla Model S sedan and Model X crossover vehicles are the only electric cars available in Canada with a comparable range but a much higher price. Base priced at $42,975 prior to applicable rebates, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV’s standard equipment includes 10 air bags, DC Fast charging capability and 10.2-inch colour touch screen.

For the time being, the Chevrolet Bolt EV is only available in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Those three Canadian provinces currently offer considerable subsidies to the purchase of a battery-powered vehicle. In Ontario, benefits allow the $42,795 to be drawn down to $30,406 (a total savings of $12,389) prior to freight cost. That discount is lower than the $31,434 after-incentive cost calculated in September for the car. A rebate of $8,000 is available for buyers of the 2017 Bolt EV in the province of Quebec. For British Columbia buyers of an electric car, a $5,000 pre-tax sticker price reduction is offered. Chevrolet and General Motors of Canada has expressed the Bolt EV is expected to be offered nationwide by sometime later this year.