GM Ups Ante Calls Out Other Automakers on EVs?

The future GM products are invisible, as are existing EV sales.

In the next 18 months, GM claims it will introduce two new all-electric vehicles based on experience with the Chevrolet Bolt EV. They will be the first of at least 20 new all-electric vehicles that will launch by 2023, according to GM.

This marketing move obviously ignores the minuscule sales of EVs currently – about 1% of the total market -, and does not bode well for taxpayers as more subsidies seem inevitable to ignite EV sales from the wisp of electrons they are now.

The fate of the existing a taxpayer subsidy via a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 in a thus far failed attempt to make EVs saleable is also unknown in in Chief divider Trump who lives in a magical land of his own. Caveat: actual savings from the federal government depend on individual income and tax brackets, of course, and this applies to all EVs.

Year-to-date GM has sold 14,302 Chevrolet Bolt EVs. During September, Bolt EV had its best month ever with 2,505 retail deliveries and 2,632 totals. Nissan has sold 10,740 Leaf models (+16%) ytd but slid -20% at 1,055 during September.

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV has an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles (383 kM) from its 60-kWh battery pack that is made in Korea. What the future holds depends energy prices, and EV prices – roughly $40,000 or more with options for a Tesla Model 3 or Bolt mid-size car.

However, the larger battery pack in the Tesla pushes the price to, gulp, $53,000. The smaller 2018 Leaf starts debuted last month, and when it arrives on American streets, it’ll have a range of 150 miles, a plethora of optional – emphasis optional – driver assist systems and a starting price below $30,000.

All in all, it’s a conundrum for automakers, policy makers and above all buyers.