Thunderstruck

A BIG DEAL DISGUISED AS A SMALL CAR.

- David Zenlea

BEFORE APPLE OR TESLA, there was General Motors. The company is now an established player in a mature industry, but back when the automobile was new technology, GM was an innovation leader. Just a few of its contributions: the electric starter (1912), car financing (1919), tiered brands (1920s), and the fully automatic transmission (1939).

To that résumé, we might now add the affordable long-range electric vehicle. The Bolt, with a battery pack good for 238 miles and a base price around $30,000 (after tax incentives), brings gas-free mobility to the masses.