You can't buy 2017 North American Car of the Year outside of California and Oregon

The humble, all-electric 2017 Chevrolet Bolt on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (photo from Mark Brush/Michigan Radio).

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Auto writers from the United States and Canada have crowned an EV you can buy in only two states as 2017 North American Car of the Year.

At the international auto show in Detroit, GM's all-electric Chevy Bolt beat out the Genesis luxury sedan and a big Volvo, both powered by conventional internal-combustion engines.

I went online to find out whether I can buy a Bolt in New Jersey, and was told the EV is available in limited numbers only in California and Oregon.

Here's the result of my live chat:

Benjamin:3:00:38 PM

Thank you for your interest in the Bolt EV! The Bolt EV will be available nationally, but the vehicle is currently available in California and Oregon. The national roll-out begins in 2017, and a number of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, including New York, Massachusetts and Virginia, will see first deliveries this winter. Bolt EVs will arrive to more dealerships in additional major metro markets throughout the first half of 2017. The Bolt EV will be available at Bolt EV-certified dealerships across the United States in mid-2017.

New Jersey connection

The Bolt EV-certified dealer nearest my home is in Paramus, which is also is where my Tesla dealer is located. 

The front-wheel-drive Bolt has a range of 238 miles on a full charge, but GM is calling its first mass-produced EV an urban vehicle, because the auto giant isn't providing a Tesla-like network of free chargers.

The 5-door EV is available in two trim levels, LT with a starting MSRP of $36,620, and Premier, with a starting price of $40,905, according to Chevy's website.

Expect to pay another $2,000 to $2,500 for installation of a 240-volt outlet in your garage to achieve the fastest home charging.

DC Fast Charging Capability is an option on both models, but the Driver Confidence II Package is available only on the Premier, with these features:

• Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision Alert
• Following Distance Indicator
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• IntelliBeam® headlamps

Requires available Infotainment Package.

Has tide turned on the media's negative coverage of EVs and other green cars?

A Tesla Model S tucked in and plugged in for the night. 

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Bill Vlasic's report on "as raft of electric and hybrid models" at the annual Detroit auto show stood out for a number of reasons.

Vlasic, who was writing for The New York Times, is one of the few reporters to focus on the showing of green cars instead of the latest, gas-guzzling performance model.

He also doesn't indulge in the usual negatives, such as higher prices for EVs, limited range and other perceived weaknesses.

"With increases in federal fuel-economy standards looming in 2017, car companies are hustling to bring out hybrid and electric models to help them meet the new rules -- even though electrified vehicles make up only 2 percent of overall sales," Vlasic wrote on Jan. 11 from the North American International Auto Show.

The 2017 standard is a corporate average fleet economy of 37 mpg and in 2025, that average will go up to 54.5 mpg.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles introduced "a plug-in hybrid-electric version" of its new minivan model with an old name, the Pacifica.

The Pacifica joined new electrified models introduced by Ford, General Motors and Toyota.

However, Vlasic, like many other reporters, doesn't discuss the environmental benefits of EVs, plug-in and other green cars, and their role in slowing climate change.

The all-electric 2017 Chevrolet Bolt was shown at the Detroit auto show.