Chevy Bolt Named Green Car of the Year

The all-electric Chevrolet Bolt small car was named 2017 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal (GCJ) today in conjunction with the Los Angeles auto show.

Chevrolet won the same award last year with the second-generation Volt plug-in hybrid sedan. The Bolt prevailed this year over four plug-ins: the BMW 330e iPerformance, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Kia Optima hybrid/plug-in midsize sedan and Toyota Prius Prime.

Hailing the Bolt as “breakthrough in every sense,” judges cited the EV’s 238-mile range, driving dynamics, connected technologies and stylish design. They also applauded the EV’s “Regen-On-Demand” feature that allows drivers to initiate more aggressive regenerative braking to slow down without using the brake pedal.

In addition to GCJ’s editorial staff, the judging panel included a mix of celebrities and industry and environmental experts such as comedian and longtime auto enthusiast Jay Leno; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; Alan Lloyd, president emeritus of the International Council on Clean Transportation; and Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy.

The panel evaluated contenders on efficiency, performance characteristics, newness, affordability, mass-market availability and overall environmental achievement.