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Not one to be left in the dust, Ford is preparing a rival low-cost EV to go after the Chevrolet Bolt for a Los Angeles reveal this year.
AutoGuide reports the plug-in EV would be a stand-alone model instead of a repurposed product like a Fiesta or Focus. Ford hopes to beat Chevrolet to the punch with a production version before the Bolt hits showrooms in 2017, though both vehicles would likely reach customers before Tesla’s low-cost Model 3 sees the light of day.
Though little else has been found on this project, a concept version of Ford’s Bolt is expected to bow at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
11 Comments on “Ford Readying Chevrolet Bolt Rival For Los Angeles Reveal...”
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200-miles and I’m sold. It’s gotta be bigger than the Bolt though.
An all-electric B-Max? That would seem the easiest product to complete and release to be competitive.
Well….I like the idea of that. With the sliding doors and no B-pillar.
Considering the Bolt already looks nearly identical to a B-Max, hopefully Ford will come with some unique styling..
My phone is being slow, but what sells either of these vs the established Leaf? Are they nicer inside new? I’d google, but…
There’s no specs on the Ford BEV, so who knows. The Focus BEV has a dedicated thermal management system for the battery and the Leaf does not. That’s a plus for some.
For me, for one. I want a 200 mile BEV (or a 40+ mile PHEV). I could get away with on my commute with a 100 mile BEV, but as tempting as a used Leaf is, the lack of thermal management on the battery pack is a disaster.
Both the Volt and Tesla have shown that with active thermal management, the LiIon batteries last a long time. The Leaf has shown that lack of active thermal management really hurts: those things die.
They’ve changed the battery chemistry on newer Leafs, so there isn’t as much of an issue. While I haven’t tested my car in the heat, in the cold I seem to be getting much better range at below freezing temps than older Leafs. My Leaf is also equipped with a battery warmer, so there is some active thermal management.
From page EV-5 of the 2015 Leaf manual”
“The Li-ion battery warmer automatically turns on when the Li-ion battery temperature is approximately -1°F (-17°C) or colder.”
If Bolt does what GM said it would … Range.
Brand new vehicle w/new technology engine and drivetrain being rushed into production-what could go wrong?
The Focus EV is a poor seller because it is a retrofit; thus, no cargo space. I think a “ground-up” BEV from Ford would do better sales-wise. Good to see that GM is upping the ante with the “Bolt” (Please, GM, find another name, FAST).