![\"Josh](\"http:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/9ef678172760b2bb63a385ab10f0fb27e932e7d9\/c=116-0-3699-2694&r=x393&c=520x390\/local\/-\/media\/2016\/09\/12\/DetroitNews\/DetroitNews\/636092949939447442-Bolt-Drive-01.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>Los Angeles<\/em> \u2014 Chevy Volt, Fiat 500e, Ford C-Max Energi, Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen E-Golf, BMW i3 … the Los Angeles Auto Show is Ground Zero for showing off electrified vehicles. California\u2019s green culture and the state-mandated EV quotas make it a natural for all things battery-powered.<\/p>\n But unless your name is Tesla \u2014 America\u2019s best-selling large sedan \u2014 electric vehicles have failed to interest U.S. consumers. EVs make up less than 1 percent of vehicle sales despite a $7,500 federal subsidy plus additional perks in several states including California. One of the most notable disappointments has come from one of the world\u2019s most recognized brands, Mercedes. Its $42,000 battery-powered subcompact B-Class<\/a>came to market in 2014 \u2014 yet is selling just 50 per month on average this year.<\/p>\n This week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Chevy Bolt EV took home the Green Car of the Year award<\/a>. The Bolt is the same size as the Mercedes, boasts similar sub-7-second acceleration, and starts at the same price when comparably equipped.<\/p>\n Yet, Chevrolet is bullish that the Bolt is the answer.<\/p>\n Much of that confidence lies in the Bolt\u2019s breakthrough 238-mile range on a single charge \u2014 the first car to achieve that figure under $40,000. The Chevy\u2019s base LT trim will start at $37,495. But the better apples-to-apples comparison to the leather-appointed $42,000 Mercedes is the Bolt\u2019s Premiere trim \u2014 also with leather appointments \u2014 which will start at just above $41,000.<\/p>\n Though the Mercedes interior design is a class above the Bolt hatchback in materials and presentation, the five-door B-Class manages just 85 miles on a full charge.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bolt lies in a quadrant where nobody else plays,\u201d Chevy Marketing guru Steve Majoros said in an interview next to the Bolt, the centerpiece of Chevrolet\u2019s show stand in LA. \u201cThere\u2019s low cost and low range, and there\u2019s high cost and high range \u2014 and in the sweet spot there\u2019s low cost and high range, and that\u2019s where we are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe feel confident in the value equation being solved here,\u201d he continued. \u201cThis is a solution that consumers have been telling us they are craving. People are very clear \u2014 it\u2019s better have a \u2018two\u2019 in front of it.\u201d As in 200 miles.<\/p>\n Mercedes concedes that the B-Class has been a learning experience. Notably, it was not present on the Mercedes show stand in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n \u201cInto the future, we have learned that we need to build up the range,\u201d said Matthias L\u00fchrs, vice president of Mercedes sales functions. \u201cOver 200 miles is a number customers expect.\u201d<\/p>\n Luhrs says Mercedes is now committed to a new strategy that will produce a separate line of EV vehicles under the \u201cEQ\u201d badge. The plan is similar to BMW\u2019s i-brand that sells the i3 and i8 cars.<\/p>\n \u201cEQ is more than just putting an electric vehicle in the market,\u201d says Luhrs. \u201cThat\u2019s one of our key learnings after two or three years of the B-Class. We are going to expand EQ to seven to 10 vehicles beginning with the EQC (a compact crossover) in 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n No coincidence, Luhrs says the EQC is targeted to get a Bolt-like 267 miles of range.<\/p>\n Chevrolet\u2019s Majoros says GM\u2019s commitment to an EV strategy years ago is bearing fruit. \u201cThe commitment we made to Bolt EV wouldn\u2019t have happened if we didn\u2019t commit to Volt Gen 1 in 2010,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd Volt Gen 2. And Malibu hybrid. This has been a progression. It has been a slow, steady march to where we are today.\u201d<\/p>\n But even with its Tesla-like range, the Bolt EV faces an uphill battle in consumer acceptance, say industry analysts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality is, we\u2019re still looking at less than one percent of the market for EVs and that number has been there for years,\u201d said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with Kelley Blue Book. \u201cAnd it doesn\u2019t matter as we bring out more and more. Consumers are still saying, \u2018I\u2019m not familiar with it, I don\u2019t trust it, my neighbor doesn\u2019t have one. What happens \u2018if\u2019?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n