Chevrolet introduces Bolt concept, says it’s serious about going electric [Gallery]

Chevrolet wants you to know that this time around it’s really serious about electric vehicles. The American marque today unveiled the Bolt concept, a car which it says goes a long way toward achieving its vision for an affordable, long-range all-electric vehicle designed to offer more than 200 miles of range.

The concept doesn’t look all that bizarre, suggesting that there’s a chance something based on it might actually be built, and is apparently designed with attainability rather than exclusivity in mind.

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In fact, it’s a pretty refreshing take on the crossover class, with little front and rear overhang, pleasing lines and plenty of glass. According to General Motors, the Bolt also makes use of a variety of exterior materials, including aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber and woven mesh. These materials, it says, not only complement the design, but also help drive down the car’s overall weight to maximise range.

Inside, things are a lot more obviously designed and, by extension, a lot less likely to make it into any production version of the Bolt. That said, the 10-inch-diagonal capacitive-touch screen would hardly be out of place in most new cars hitting the road today.

The one really exciting tech feature flaunted by the concept is the Bolt EV Connect app, which is designed to:

• Allow a smartphone to perform as the key fob
• Allow ride-sharing management, including reservations, vehicle location, digital key and even payment processing via the smartphone
• Incorporate the concept automatic park-and-retrieval technology, which enables the driver to exit the vehicle and tell the Bolt EV concept to park itself – and when errands are completed, the Bolt EV concept can be summoned to return to the ownerâ€s location.

Thanks to efforts made at different ends of the market, selling electric cars isn’t as daunting as it once was, particularly in Chevrolet’s US home market. If a production model of the Bolt does come to fruition, then it could be an incredibly important step in getting families into electric cars.