The Chevy Volt is inherently practical at this point in our journey. It’s a rare consumer who can survive with only a short range, all-electric vehicle. Not being able to make it from Portland to Salem (Oregon) or Burbank to Victorville (California) limits ownership to families with a second vehicle, urbanites with eclectic tastes and die-hard EV enthusiasts. If you can only afford one electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt provides short, all-electric commutes with virtually limitless gasoline-assisted driving range, aka “range extender.”

Now, GM is announcing the 200-mile range all-electric Chevrolet Bolt. The Bolt will get you to Victorville and back, and then some. But if you aren’t going to purchase the Bolt as a second vehicle, it still might not be the logical choice. Not even a Tesla, with its 256-mile EPA rated range, is as practical as the Chevy Volt. But owning a Tesla isn’t about practicality. And owning a Bolt might not be a logical choice. However, for those who have been bitten by the electron bug, the allure of a true, all-electric, always zero emissions vehicle is hard to resist.

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