Chevy electric car bolts to Big Island

The first Chevy Bolt all-electric car in Hawaii has hit the streets.

Hawaii island residents Robert Smith and Karla McDermid Smith said they bought one of the first Chevy Bolts in California and shipped it to their home.

“We live in a rural area on the Big Island, and this Chevy Bolt is a car that has the range that will get us home and back,” Robert Smith said. “We drove the car today from Volcano to Honokaa, a trip of about 80 miles, and only used 40 miles of battery capacity. The car regenerates electricity and charges the battery banks while underway.”

Hawaii dealers won’t get Bolts until June at the soonest, said Jackie De Luz Watanabe of Big Island Toyota and De Luz Chevrolet.

The electric vehicle can drive 238 miles on a full charge. The starting price is about $37,500.

Smith said the Bolt will play an important role in the growth of EVs in Hawaii.

State agencies and energy groups in December announced a partnership that seeks to boost the growth of electric-powered vehicles in the state. The groups said the initiative would help increase electric vehicle charging opportunities and work to improve EV-related policies, regulations and laws.