Taking on Tesla One Bolt at a Time

General Motors (GM) is moving quickly toward an all-electric future with the introduction of its new Chevrolet Bolt concept car at the recent Detroit auto show. Called a “real game changer” by the automaker, the Bolt could turn out to be a serious competitor for the current leading all-electric brands Tesla and Nissan.

The Bolt differs from Chevy’s existing gas-electric hybrid Volt and other extended range electric vehicles on the market in that it will be a battery-powered sedan with an all-electric 200-mile range. The now-familiar Volt can travel 50 miles on the battery and achieve some 400 miles when the range-extending gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the battery during long trips. In contrast, GM says the new Bolt will deliver “range anxiety-free” performance since it doesn’t require a gasoline engine or a recharge for trips up to 200 miles.

Although the Bolt will use the same lithium-ion battery technology as the existing Volt, it will achieve longer range through the use of lighter materials and better packaging and design when it appears on the market in 2017. The new Bolt will be smaller than the current Volt and it will also cost less at around $30,000 each. That 30K price tag might also mean the Bolt could end up being a serious challenger to the upcoming Tesla Model 3 that is expected to cost around $35,000. The Model 3 is said to be Tesla’s newest mass-market car and the third car on Tesla’s lineup after the Model S luxury sedan and the upcoming Model X SUV. The Chevrolet Bolt will also reach the market at about the same time that Tesla plans to begin selling its Model 3.

The Tesla Model 3 will not be an easy target to beat however, as the company’s Model S sedan was the best-selling electric car in the U.S. in January and with a new battery factory going up outside Reno, Nevada, Tesla is thought by many to be about five years ahead of its competitors in terms of battery technology. The new battery factory is also expected to produce batteries for the Model 3 that are cheaper and more efficient than the battery technology that will be employed by GM in the new Bolt.

Sales of electric vehicles in the U.S. have been sluggish as gasoline prices have trended downward and consumers seem less interested in alternative-fueled vehicles. Figures show just 57,379 electric vehicles of all kinds were sold compared to the nearly 16.5 million new vehicles sold in the U.S. last year. Of those 57,379 electric vehicles, 30,200 were Nissan Leafs and 18,805 were GM Volt sales. Add the next generation Tesla Model 3 to the mix for 2017 and the Bolt looks like it might be facing a steep uphill climb.