Electric vehicles currently account for almost one percent of new vehicle sales. With Chevrolet and Tesla announcing new models which can go toe-to-toe with gas guzzlers, automakers are expected to change that equation.

The Chevrolet Bolt is expected to be out by early 2017. The battery-powered electric vehicle is an upright subcompact hatchback, targeted for the mass market; and the first impressions of the car seem to be positive.

The first noticeable feature is the spacious interiors. The floor is flat, lending an extra space. Whether it is the headroom, leg or shoulder room, there is plenty of room. The Larger windows enhance the roomier feeling and also give the driver a wider field of view.

The next noticeable feature is the one-pedal driving. Drivers can engage in a separate driving mode in which both the accelerator and braking functionalities can be done with help of the pedal.  As soon the driver lifts his foot from the accelerator, the car starts to slow down. The amount of pressure exerted by the foot on the pedal determines the aggression of the braking. For immediate braking, brake pedals are available.

The next feature might be confusing for people who have never driven electric vehicles before. Instead of the usual tachometer and speedometer, the Chevrolet Bolt has placed a range meter. The range meter provides the possible miles that can be travelled with the remaining battery power. Instead of the usual single figure, it provides three. The driver can have the information handy for conservative driving.

The Chevrolet Bolt has more range than the Tesla's Model 3. According to EPA, it is 238 miles worth as mentioned in the Cnet. Still, it is slightly costlier than the Model 3 of Tesla.

There are a number of challenges for the Chevy Bolt, as mentioned in the Green Car report. The prominent among those challenges is the lack of fast-charging infrastructure. While Tesla would be providing its supercharger network to the Model 3 drivers (full terms/costs are yet to be disclosed), the fast charging capability in the Chevy bolt would definitely cost extra. For long road trips, this could be a big hurdle.

With the Chevy Bolt arriving earlier than the Tesla Model 3, hope some if not all challenges are addressed by the parent company, General Motors.