My First EV, Half 2 — How Far Can You Drive In A Chevy Bolt? How A lot Will You Pay?

First see “My First EV, Half 1.”

Three weeks in the past, I picked up my new Bolt from the seller. The dashboard confirmed a totally charged battery and a variety of 241 miles. It additionally confirmed max and min numbers which I didn’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to.

Once I obtained house 120 miles later, the dashboard confirmed 120 miles left within the “tank.” The automotive’s estimate was proper on the cash. To keep away from any “vary nervousness,” I made a decision to examine it below numerous situations.

In accordance with FuelEconomy.gov, the Bolt will get 131 mpg within the metropolis and 109 mpg on the freeway. That is based mostly on the belief that 1 gallon of fuel = 33.7 kWh. In my neck of the woods, if I cost at house, I pay $0.15/kWh, and 1 gallon of fuel is now $6. This implies as a substitute of 33.7 kWh, for the value of 1 gallon, I can purchase 40 kWh of electrical energy, which pushes the typical to 155 mpg within the metropolis and 129 mpg on the freeway. In case you take into account an EV, you’ll be able to determine your numbers the place you reside.

I took just a few quick journeys round city. Earlier than every journey, I famous the estimated vary and the odometer. On the finish of every journey, I calculated the variations and I had a nice however considerably anticipated shock.

The vary displayed on the display is a mean based mostly on mixed driving. Once I drive solely on metropolis streets and I brake virtually solely with regenerative braking, I get about 30 miles for each 20 miles of depleted battery. When the dashboard exhibits a variety of 250 miles, it additionally exhibits a max of over 300 miles, and for metropolis driving I believe it’s true.

I additionally took two lengthy journeys of about 250 miles every. I charged as soon as at an EVgo station and as soon as at a ChargePoint station. Every time, I purchased 70–80 miles in half-hour for $12. The charging time was about twice as quick because the manufacturing unit estimate of 100 miles per hour. The estimated vary was precisely the driving vary, virtually to the mile. More often than not I drove on Tremendous Cruise at 65 mph.

The Bolt has a manufacturing unit estimated vary of 259 miles. After just a few full expenses, now it exhibits 266 miles. My subsequent journey was 33 miles, about 25 of which had been on the freeway. On the way in which up, I used to be late, so I drove on the 280 freeway, flowing with the site visitors at about 75 mpg. On the way in which again, I used to be not in a rush, so I stayed at 65. The online consequence was 35 largely freeway miles, for 33 miles on the battery.

Leaving for a brief journey with 266 miles of full cost. Photograph by Mihai Beffa.

35 miles later, nonetheless 233 miles left. Photograph by Mihai Beffa.

If the estimated vary goes down even with 1 mile, the dashboard says “Plug in to cost.” I’m assuming GM is aware of what it’s speaking about, and really the automotive doesn’t cost to 100% however retains a secure margin to delay battery life. Not less than, that’s what appears to be the consensus on the web, so I hold the automotive charged to 100%.

Please word the typical vitality spent of three.9 miles per kWh. At $0.15 per kWh charging at house, I’m paying 3.8 cents per mile, and no oil adjustments in my future. I like my Bolt.

Subsequent week, I’m scheduled for my Degree 2 charger set up. This could “improve” my charging pace from the “economic system” 4.5 miles per hour to the “enterprise class” 35 miles per hour. Please keep tuned. I’ll make some measurements as quickly as I’ve the charger put in.

By Mihai Beffa

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