Chevrolet had aimed to offer its first electric vehicle with 200 miles/ 322 km or more range and will exceed those expectations when the 2017 Bolt EV is launched later this year.

With the vehicle’s EPA-estimated range of 238 miles/ 383 km, owners can expect to go beyond their average driving — with plenty of range to spare.

“Chevrolet showed the world the production version Bolt EV earlier this year and in a few short months we’ve moved from that vision to a reality,” said GM North America President Alan Batey. “The Bolt EV is a game changer for the electric car segment and it will start to become available at Chevrolet dealerships later this year.”

“While range is important, we knew Bolt EV owners would want more — more space and more power — and the Bolt EV delivers,” said Bolt EV Chief Engineer Josh Tavel. “Our team took special pride in optimizing every aspect of this vehicle, especially its impressive range and ride dynamics.”

The 2017 Bolt EV, expected to be priced below US$ 37,500 (Rs 25.10 lakh), is the first dedicated production electric car from General Motors since the pioneering EV1 ceased production in 1999. Key among the rivals for the new car is the Nissan Leaf, BMW i3 and the upcoming Tesla Model 3.