First see “My First EV, Half 1.”
Three weeks in the past, I picked up my new Bolt from the supplier. The dashboard confirmed a completely 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 automobile’s estimate was proper on the cash. To keep away from any “vary anxiousness,” I made a decision to examine it beneath numerous circumstances.
In accordance with FuelEconomy.gov, the Bolt will get 131 mpg within the metropolis and 109 mpg on the freeway. That is primarily based on the belief that 1 gallon of gasoline = 33.7 kWh. In my neck of the woods, if I cost at house, I pay $0.15/kWh, and 1 gallon of gasoline is now $6. This implies as a substitute of 33.7 kWh, for the value of 1 gallon, I should purchase 40 kWh of electrical energy, which pushes the common to 155 mpg within the metropolis and 129 mpg on the freeway. If you happen to take into account an EV, you may determine your numbers the place you reside.
I took a number of 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 pleasing however considerably anticipated shock.
The vary displayed on the display screen is a mean primarily based 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 reveals a variety of 250 miles, it additionally reveals a max of over 300 miles, and for metropolis driving I feel 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 facility 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 facility estimated vary of 259 miles. After a number of full fees, now it reveals 266 miles. My subsequent journey was 33 miles, about 25 of which have been on the freeway. On the best way up, I used to be late, so I drove on the 280 freeway, flowing with the site visitors at about 75 mpg. On the best way again, I used to be not in a rush, so I stayed at 65. The online outcome 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 truly the automobile doesn’t cost to 100% however retains a protected margin to lengthen battery life. At the very least, that’s what appears to be the consensus on the web, so I maintain the automobile charged to 100%.
Please be aware the common 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 “financial 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
I do not like paywalls. You do not like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Right here at CleanTechnica, we carried out a restricted paywall for some time, but it surely at all times felt incorrect — and it was at all times robust to determine what we must always put behind there. In concept, your most unique and greatest content material goes behind a paywall. However then fewer folks learn it! We simply don’t love paywalls, and so we have determined to ditch ours.
Sadly, the media enterprise remains to be a troublesome, cut-throat enterprise with tiny margins. It is a unending Olympic problem to remain above water and even maybe — gasp — develop. So …
If you happen to like what we do and wish to assist us, please chip in a bit month-to-month by way of PayPal or Patreon to assist our group do what we do!
Thanks!
