EV Comparison: Tesla Model 3 Versus Chevy Bolt

[TMC Staff]

The Model 3 and Bolt are both long-range EVs, but that’s where the similarities end. The Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Bolt are the two leading compact electric vehicles that deliver more than 200 miles of range on a single charge. The Model 3 and Bolt are also, in theory, the first two battery-powered cars...
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[ℬête Noire]

"introduced a $44,000, 260-mile variant"

Not today it isn't. This error is in two places.

 

[seattlite2004]

TLDR:
How Far Can You Go on Electricity? - WINNER: TESLA MODEL 3

Which Car Is More Fun To Drive? - WINNER: TESLA MODEL 3

Charging Times for The Model 3 and Bolt - WINNER: TESLA MODEL 3

Comparing Dashboards and Cargo Space - WINNER: CHEVY BOLT

BEST OVERALL: TESLA MODEL 3

BEST VALUE AND AVAILABILITY: CHEVY BOLT

BEST TO IMPRESS: TESLA MODEL 3

BEST FOR A FIRST-TIME EV OWNER: BOTH

 

[scaesare]

Cue @bro1999 in 3....2....1....

 

[Maximilien]

Nationwide Dedicated Fast Supercharging Capability -

--Game Over--

Model 3 Wins.

 

[seattlite2004]

Nationwide Dedicated Fast Supercharging Capability -

--Game Over--

Model 3 Wins.

Of course it wins....but not everyone can afford a Tesla.

 

[Knightshade]

Nationwide Dedicated Fast Supercharging Capability -

--Game Over--

Model 3 Wins.

The average american drives about 30 miles, total, per day.

So there's tons of folks buying an EV who will never need any sort of charger better than L2.

I agree the capability is important to SOME drivers... but to many it's no difference at all.

 

[Maximilien]

Of course it wins....but not everyone can afford a Tesla.

True. Unless someone need to buy the car urgent, why don't people wait a little longer for Model 3 instead of plunging into Bolt?

Price difference is about $9,000. It is not small difference but definitely with wise financial plan, people can get Model 3 if they can get Bolt.

 

[ℬête Noire]

Of course it wins....but not everyone can afford a Tesla.

Today. Really this whole comparing right now doesn't make any sense. It's right in the opening line; "....but that’s where the similarities end."

However come Q2 2019 there's not going to be much space between prices. Very little on sticker price (GM dealers will need to discount to even it out, which is very likely), and if "afford" is an issue it becomes extremely unlikely there is an any difference in Fed Tax Credit (you need $3750 in Fed Tax liability for it to start mattering in Q2). There might be some effective price difference in Q3-Q4 and the start of 2020 but GM is going to start running out of Tax Credit somewhere in the meantime.

Unless you really want a tall riding, compact hatchback format it won't be close.

 

[seattlite2004]

Today. Really this whole comparing right now doesn't make any sense. It's right in the opening line; "....but that’s where the similarities end."

However come Q2 2019 there's not going to be much space between price. Very little on sticker price (GM dealers will need to discount to even it out, which is very likely) and if "afford" is an issue extremely unlikely there is an any difference in Fed Tax Credit (you need $3750 in Fed Tax liability for it to start mattering).

Unless you really want a tall riding, compact hatchback format it won't be close.

Yep...looking forward to the 35k("before savings") Model 3.

 

[seattlite2004]

True. Unless someone need to buy the car urgent, why don't people wait a little longer for Model 3 instead of plunging into Bolt?

Price difference is about $9,000. It is not small difference but definitely with wise financial plan, people can get Model 3 if they can get Bolt.

Or..they could buy a Leaf or one of the Korean EVs...AND...get full tax credit. Bottomline pricing is pretty compelling for most folks.

 

[ai4px]

Guys, I own a MS and a bolt. I meter all power to each EVSE in my garage. The bolt gets 113mpg when compared to the price of gas on battery /usage/. The MS gets 95mpg. Here’s the rub.... the Bolt’s on board charger has a terrible power factor... like 0.73. So despite the Bolt getting better MPGe, the charger blows it to 85mpg. How’s that for honesty?
Here’s another point.... the Bolt uses DCFC which is typically biled by the minute rather than consumption. So due to cost of DCFC, on a recent 520 mile trip my cost was the equivalent of 20MPGe as compared to the price of gas. At least the M3 charges for supercharging by kWh used and not time. BTW, that was 25c/minute on chargepoint . Electricfy America and some other stations charge 35c/minute in my region.

I do enjoy my Bolt.... I work at a place that I wear home many days. I couldn’t bear to come home as nasty as I do some days in anything as nice as a Tesla, so i have a bolt me for and a model S for the wife.

 

[ℬête Noire]

Yep...looking forward to the 35k("before savings") Model 3.

I will give the Bolt EV credit where it's due, though. I'm looking at local resale prices and over the last year and nearly 30,000 miles, after accounting for the Fed Tax Credit and TX TERP rebate (total of $10K), I'm only down a portion of the %6 sales tax....and estimate I've reduced our fuel bills over the last 10 months by about that much. It's been a clear winner in that sense. The rub of course is always getting out with only that much depreciation, and I don't think the wife is ready to trade it yet.

 

[ℬête Noire]

Here’s the rub.... the Bolt’s on board charger has a terrible power factor... like 0.73.

This is very surprising. There's a controlled study that ran this with a few test subject Bolts and it did well. Between about 85%-87% efficiency wall-to-battery, depending on ambient temps. It is important to try charge in 70F ambient. They ran it at 50F and it dropped a little but when they took ambient up to 80F is when in really started dropping off. It is surmised that the required running of the HVAC is a large portion of this loss.

You aren't charging with 120V? I wouldn't expect it if you also have an Model S, but maybe? Using 120V is known to be very poor efficiency.

IMPORTANT: MPGe includes the wall-to-battery losses! So that's supposed to be already factored in.

 

[seattlite2004]

I will give the Bolt EV credit where it's due, though. I'm looking at local resale prices and over the last year and nearly 30,000 miles, after accounting for the Fed Tax Credit and TX TERP rebate (total of $10K), I'm only down a portion of the %6 sales tax....and estimate I've reduced our fuel bills over the last 10 months by about that much. It's been a clear winner in that sense. The rub of course is always getting out with only that much depreciation, and I don't think the wife is ready to trade it yet.

After fed credit...my 44K'ish(MSRP) Bolt Premiere was a little over 30k (Chevy gave me a very compelling deal). When the 35k("before savings") Model 3 comes out....Chevy is definitely gonna have to discount....so even more compelling deals on the Bolts to come.

 

[ChrisH]

Yep...looking forward to the 35k("before savings") Model 3.

35k “before savings” is nearly dirt cheap for a Tesla honestly.

 

[Catman20009]

It's interesting. I was just about to update a spreadsheet when this popped up. Deciding whether to go ahead and spend about $24k now on a Bolt with the full federal deduction or wait another year for the $36 version of the M3 (after delivery and without a deduction). The M3 wins every category but price. I'm not day-1 so it's really difficult to know if I would even be able to take delivery in 2019.

 

[ChrisH]

It's interesting. I was just about to update a spreadsheet when this popped up. Deciding whether to go ahead and spend about $24k now on a Bolt with the full federal deduction or wait another year for the $36 version of the M3 (after delivery and without a deduction). The M3 wins every category but price. I'm not day-1 so it's really difficult to know if I would even be able to take delivery in 2019.

I think the $35k version won’t be available until the 2nd half of 2019 so it would be close for you. If you’re willing to do SR+PUP I think you could get it first half of the year.

 

[ℬête Noire]

I'm not day-1 so it's really difficult to know if I would even be able to take delivery in 2019.

It isn't clear that reservation date matters that much, anymore. Just being ready to put your order in has been the key differentiator since about June 27.

 

[EV-lutioin]

Of course it wins....but not everyone can afford a Tesla.

But.... they are essentially the same price!! (Except you get a Supercharger network with the Model 3)