tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85830477061877409422024-03-05T04:52:36.695-05:00bro05's blogMy blogging experiences about owning a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV.bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-26832599331112242232018-10-10T01:07:00.002-04:002018-10-10T01:07:09.933-04:00Road tripping is always easier the second time around, right?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Last week, I blogged about an impromptu 470-mile road trip in my
Bolt EV to Pittsburgh, PA that was successful, with a few tense moments of
course. The main point of writing about my trip was to show that while road
tripping in a 200+ mile all electric car like the Bolt is possible, the public
fast charging infrastructure still isn't quite there yet to simply input a
destination in your GPS and go. Advanced planning is still required to ensure a
successful road trip, but it is possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road tripping...not just for Teslas</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">As luck would have it, I had
another trip to Pittsburgh on deck this past weekend, this time to attend a
friend's wedding. As I had just completed a road trip to Pittsburgh not even a
week earlier (and learned some things for a return trip), I was quite confident
that I had all the knowledge I needed to complete another trip to Pittsburgh
and back. And unlike last week, I would be staying at a hotel overnight that
had EV charging stations available, so I figured the trip would be much easier
this time around. As you will soon find out, life almost never goes according
to plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">I decided to use the same
charging strategy I employed last time, which included a quick pit stop at the
EVgo fast charging station located at the Hagerstown Premium Outlet mall. About
halfway into my 60-mile drive to Hagerstown, I realized the wedding we thought
was starting at 7PM actually had a 4:30 PM start time. Crap! Looking at Google
Maps, I realized the ~2-hour buffer we thought we had to make it to the wedding
venue was pretty much gone (Tip #1 to a successful BEV road trip: double check
what time you need to be at your destination). Doing some quick math in my
head, I calculated that we had enough time for the Hagerstown EVgo charging pitstop
and would also need to charge clothes during the stop. My son had forgotten to
pack his dress socks, so I would be able to pick up some socks from the
Children's Place located right next to the charging station. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-l10W2IDWciaDk1wl9OOux246fQCnCACqQRGfbl4y5QQRVENUETE185N5wr9KBLRrLip8NAccwBFP9c01lGx6fymeZ0zhf5pyyt-JMUaM6fzrH-AJn9xZr2d2dpjLQL-mIwLLlShbqY/s1600/IMG_20181007_174351781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-l10W2IDWciaDk1wl9OOux246fQCnCACqQRGfbl4y5QQRVENUETE185N5wr9KBLRrLip8NAccwBFP9c01lGx6fymeZ0zhf5pyyt-JMUaM6fzrH-AJn9xZr2d2dpjLQL-mIwLLlShbqY/s640/IMG_20181007_174351781.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pitstop at the trusty Hagertstown, MD EVgo station.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">After paying for the socks and
walking back to the Bolt, I looked up the actual wedding venue location, as I
figured it was very close to the hotel we were staying at. To my horror, the
wedding venue I had assumed was minutes away from the hotel was actually 50
minutes away! The hotel and wedding venue both had the name "Shady"
in them, so I had assumed they were adjacent properties, or at least very close
to each other (Tip #2: always confirm the address to all stops on your road
trip). Punching in the wedding venue address added an extra 14 miles to my
current drive, and an additional 32 miles on top of that to the hotel. Suddenly
I had to drive an extra 46 miles that I had not planned for. The stress
level started to climb.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Knowing that I had arrived at
Pittsburgh last time with nearly 40 miles to spare, I knew I had a little
buffer to work with. I ended up spending 30 minutes charging in Hagerstown,
which was just enough time for everyone to get changed into our wedding attire.
We departed with the Bolt's battery being replenished back to 88% state of
charge, and 219 miles on the range meter, with 199 miles to go. While the range
buffer was not as big as I preferred, I figured it was good enough. I also
found out there was a EVgo station 12 miles from the wedding venue I could
charge at after the wedding to ensure we had enough range to make it to the
hotel, so that put me a little at ease. Back on the road we went!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Our new ETA to our new
destination was 4:35PM, 5 minutes past the start of the wedding. No biggie, I
thought, weddings never start on time! That's what I was hoping anyways. Knowing
that every minute was precious, I could not take it easy like last time driving
5-10 mph under the speed limit, so I ended up driving close to the 70-mph speed
limit for the next ~180 miles. I knew I would put the Bolt's efficiency ratings
to the test. Observing the elevation climb in my TorquePro app while the range
meter decreased at an increasing rate was not the best feeling in the world. To
top it off, my wife asked repeatedly "Can't you go any faster?? We're
gonna be late!". Hell, I was going as fast as I could go! Being stressed
by time, range, and the wife's impatience...fun stuff! Who needs coffee to stay
alert?? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">As I approached the 2,500-foot
peak of my climb through the Allegany mountains, my range meter reading was 12
miles to the red. I knew I was probably in good shape, with the descent down to
Pittsburgh soon upon me. It was then one of my kids piped up "Hey, look at
those dark clouds in front of us!". We were about to drive into some
wicked thunderstorms that were on a collision course with our Bolt (Tip #3:
always check the weather forecast to account for potential range impacting
weather). I knew that my efficiency would take a hit driving through the rain
(defroster use, windshield wipers, increased road friction due to rain). The stress
level notched up one level higher. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgPG7tqOsEVMxCMubb6g-2A77AC_hZKpM9Gxolpwa4dV5uLGL1S5F8PLq0QbK6_oNFLKlTumNc49dQ4d3kmn2-2-3DmpKuMwjWJHDnGnESLU9lMP6DIa_XrYKNJvaVDAOeBN5yvzwh2I/s1600/Screenshot_20181007-220731%257E3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="1600" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgPG7tqOsEVMxCMubb6g-2A77AC_hZKpM9Gxolpwa4dV5uLGL1S5F8PLq0QbK6_oNFLKlTumNc49dQ4d3kmn2-2-3DmpKuMwjWJHDnGnESLU9lMP6DIa_XrYKNJvaVDAOeBN5yvzwh2I/s640/Screenshot_20181007-220731%257E3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation profile of the drive to Pittsburgh</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fortunately for us, we ended up
driving through torrential rains for only 20 minutes or so, and the range hit
from the weather ended up being almost nothing. We were soon driving under blue
skies again. The last few miles of the drive were fairly uneventful, and we
ended up arriving at the wedding venue at 4:47PM. Luckily, the wedding had been
delayed till 5PM. Woohoo! When I parked the Bolt, the range meter was down to
22 miles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEEc57Q8qDcU-p42VQbSGyObUBdOTNlIzgdHK66b-t1i0wZeAz1EBwmRDDF8mLV1Bl0n1Vsh-GytpKoyhmUtHpnwD_c1IdK9JslGKX5UkHetAAauE8eys8DGWGRVyw_163kSAC0o4WHE/s1600/Screenshot_20181006-174741.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEEc57Q8qDcU-p42VQbSGyObUBdOTNlIzgdHK66b-t1i0wZeAz1EBwmRDDF8mLV1Bl0n1Vsh-GytpKoyhmUtHpnwD_c1IdK9JslGKX5UkHetAAauE8eys8DGWGRVyw_163kSAC0o4WHE/s640/Screenshot_20181006-174741.png" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of range left!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Several hours later, it was
time to depart to our hotel. With a massive 22 miles of range left, I made the 12-mile
drive to the nearest EVgo fast charging station. We were literally in the
middle of nowhere, and the surroundings reminded me of scenes from the movie
'Joy Ride'. I just hoped there were no deranged killer brothers lurking in the
shadows. After arriving at the Dunkin Donuts that hosted the charging station,
I found a lone station at the back of the parking lot. I had to fight a couple
of spiders to activate the charging session (nothing was easy on this trip, it
seemed), and after 15 minutes of charging, we were on the way to the
hotel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Z2UDjLFtIHZG3db9M81HjRa9hX1CsLdlvxW8EsURLQqxIWypZu1wmpm_ghUTu1Jn_rwJbPesDxHgO7l8rALQ6VRbxp1m439L0u54qL7zYhhFm6_Nr43whIEc56Am86YAYz9IO_8sWME/s1600/IMG_20181006_205314933_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Z2UDjLFtIHZG3db9M81HjRa9hX1CsLdlvxW8EsURLQqxIWypZu1wmpm_ghUTu1Jn_rwJbPesDxHgO7l8rALQ6VRbxp1m439L0u54qL7zYhhFm6_Nr43whIEc56Am86YAYz9IO_8sWME/s640/IMG_20181006_205314933_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freakin' spiders!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Upon arriving at the hotel, I
found a much welcome Bosch L2 charging station waiting for me. I plugged in and
made my way to the front office to check it. It turned out that our room was a
quarter mile down the road at a sister property, but the staff assured us there
was a EV charging station at that location as well. After a short drive to the
correct building, I found the charging station: A Tesla-only destination
station. And a BMW i8 was occupying the spot unplugged (thanks jerk bimmer
owner!). I had forgotten to bring my Tesla to J1772 JDapter Stub, but it
wouldn't have mattered anyways due to the rude i8 owner. We brought all our
belongings to our room, and then I drove back to the main building and plugged
in my Bolt at the Bosch station. On the short walk back to my room, I pondered
what I did to piss off Murphy. The next day I woke up to 250 miles of range,
and after seeing some sights in Pittsburgh, the drive back was completely
stress free. I was impressed by the Bolt's 4.0 miles/kWh figure for the mostly highway drive of 65-70 mph. Not bad for the "aero-brick" Bolt!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWEuUQbpul1M0P8HaA3BoIjM1UVqmutJ0jzPJ_ptscbA84b2A9hquCPXcYGchRI0uxt6Dyrmsy6gfXgz_XCxyG-FFg0IV1xOpIJGjhK05NXoakmgrafSPIrY8Dwg1aiTAA2IeEdjXo1s/s1600/IMG_20181006_222708616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWEuUQbpul1M0P8HaA3BoIjM1UVqmutJ0jzPJ_ptscbA84b2A9hquCPXcYGchRI0uxt6Dyrmsy6gfXgz_XCxyG-FFg0IV1xOpIJGjhK05NXoakmgrafSPIrY8Dwg1aiTAA2IeEdjXo1s/s640/IMG_20181006_222708616.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical self-absorbed bimmer driver blocking a Tesla station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XYNYQlcAXJtYKXqlahbUmPmxfxrcAxofZlGGKfKH7OIKL-eJdU6VxzXNZJUhRBe9u-l5DRcxR_OWtz4YU_E8-LRE_JvYHtQYpJVsh3yQI3cUo0ainVv7WayaRgMAtZDxO-wKUDLH-u0/s1600/IMG_20181006_222047548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XYNYQlcAXJtYKXqlahbUmPmxfxrcAxofZlGGKfKH7OIKL-eJdU6VxzXNZJUhRBe9u-l5DRcxR_OWtz4YU_E8-LRE_JvYHtQYpJVsh3yQI3cUo0ainVv7WayaRgMAtZDxO-wKUDLH-u0/s640/IMG_20181006_222047548.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Destination charging FTW!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj250B0AaVZg6s-mG72NSqlzb5UsJ_MaXcqfN-tmzhsGRFfDqqT4Ue6gxGMPw73ImFKAMpn7xOX3y_Maj-756QYDbKQ8Ztct9PinHAbk2rQRZoj2LX6PAvtfLTxCbaM3IO6NIAve_RKUqE/s1600/IMG_20181007_073153860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj250B0AaVZg6s-mG72NSqlzb5UsJ_MaXcqfN-tmzhsGRFfDqqT4Ue6gxGMPw73ImFKAMpn7xOX3y_Maj-756QYDbKQ8Ztct9PinHAbk2rQRZoj2LX6PAvtfLTxCbaM3IO6NIAve_RKUqE/s640/IMG_20181007_073153860.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A welcome sight the next morning</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, another successful road
trip completed in the Bolt, with some unexpected twists. As I found out, NEVER
assume anything on a long-distance BEV road trip. Surprises are usually not
welcome on such trips, and I ran into several that could have been avoided
without ASSuming. The main point of my blog entries is to show what real-life
road trips are like in the Bolt. No pretending that road trips are pain free
and easy as pie, but also to show that the Bolt can in fact be taken on long
distance trips with some planning and is not a "city only car" as the
Bolt FUD (Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt.) spreaders love to propagate online. As
always, your mileage will vary (along with the level of intestinal fortitude.
;) )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b7gvN8lRgMugKEGG3N1sIjXcW3wYj1J43AuF0LNO4H_I4y5ByKNP6VC458dV6WSHEvVxJ8xQ8f4TgqBs9JhdF78bd0-x-Em3NwsL-odyrO1sX9c0CPBeJ1Pe62dRblK1IS50DBg6S_g/s1600/IMG_20181007_205405950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b7gvN8lRgMugKEGG3N1sIjXcW3wYj1J43AuF0LNO4H_I4y5ByKNP6VC458dV6WSHEvVxJ8xQ8f4TgqBs9JhdF78bd0-x-Em3NwsL-odyrO1sX9c0CPBeJ1Pe62dRblK1IS50DBg6S_g/s640/IMG_20181007_205405950.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stats for the return drive spent mostly at 70-75-mph</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxtoW7O9g83aMLjoxr84BCBr10OFcn-uVqTnLds4xOgqKAMsvNmXcMGTLBdvif_1hYWW7K-KY8nAJwEsMAeGWzsdA3fq_pchf4A0w5nbeGRgkXc3qcQH7emz4My1Lei5lYl1941s0Ddg/s1600/IMG_20181007_205413389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxtoW7O9g83aMLjoxr84BCBr10OFcn-uVqTnLds4xOgqKAMsvNmXcMGTLBdvif_1hYWW7K-KY8nAJwEsMAeGWzsdA3fq_pchf4A0w5nbeGRgkXc3qcQH7emz4My1Lei5lYl1941s0Ddg/s640/IMG_20181007_205413389.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overall trip stats. Pretty "long distance" if you ask me. And look at that efficiency!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-58847713380036472732018-10-04T23:46:00.001-04:002018-10-07T23:53:37.516-04:00Blissful Anniversary Bolt EV Road Trip? Or Fast Lane Back to the Bachelor Life?<div dir="ltr">
This past weekend I embarked on a spontaneous 470 mile roundtrip drive to go to an Ed Sheeran concert in Pittsburgh to celebrate 11 years of marriage to my wife. I initially had suggested a trip to Florida in November as a delayed anniversary gift, but the wife said “Hey, there’s a concert in Pittsburgh today…let’s just go to that!” As I did not want to disappoint the wife, we were soon on the road in our Bolt EV! I was hoping this anniversary trip would not lead to a divorce filing!<br />
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The distance from Woodstock, MD to Pittsburgh, PA was 230 miles one way, and it included a 177 mile stretch of highway that has exactly *0* CCS fast charging stations (or any charging stations the Bolt could use, for that matter). There were a handful of fast charging options around the Pittsburgh area (including in a parking garage near the concert venue at PNC Park) that I could use to charge, though I had no clue if those stations would actually be available. Eh, don't sweat the details, right? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HwqTSQ6oSpim9TOtsWuFbW2kR2JshXUPQlTGCQVjAbvaTeg3hU2fhU-1kXt9a50gOVOqQ2qGx_PNZ1Mfs8CXOC813n9s4bGljbeIOZBgQEjsIycKpL3mMQD61nM2W-G2MEMKV5LirpM/s1600/route_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="1333" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HwqTSQ6oSpim9TOtsWuFbW2kR2JshXUPQlTGCQVjAbvaTeg3hU2fhU-1kXt9a50gOVOqQ2qGx_PNZ1Mfs8CXOC813n9s4bGljbeIOZBgQEjsIycKpL3mMQD61nM2W-G2MEMKV5LirpM/s640/route_map.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not exactly the most road trip friendly setup.</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr">
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While the drive to Pittsburgh was around 230 miles, theoretically within the Bolt’s official 238 mile range, there was a significant elevation gain during the drive from near sea level to 2,500 feet. To make matters worse, this elevation gain was smack dab in the middle of the route, so it needed to be traversed regardless of direction of travel. </div>
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Not wanting to roll the dice that I could make it to Pittsburgh on a single charge, after leaving home with a100% charge good for 240 miles according to the Bolt's range meter, I decided to “top off” my Bolt at a fast charging station in Hagerstown, MD 60 miles away for 15 minute pit stop to ensure I had enough battery to make it to Pittsburgh.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51_w8PsKgyjHjZTy1Qp9Z4eNH_cgkRS5naCTno1VdfLONtUB_obOkQmpNeGS4PSu4dPVO7ObhHtGEgd6bMgnG75mXBOY85xkH67bGAZISC1CMMVo4paZLXEMtU1-YsDgL5_ItiPYIXIA/s1600/IMG_20170624_060109764_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51_w8PsKgyjHjZTy1Qp9Z4eNH_cgkRS5naCTno1VdfLONtUB_obOkQmpNeGS4PSu4dPVO7ObhHtGEgd6bMgnG75mXBOY85xkH67bGAZISC1CMMVo4paZLXEMtU1-YsDgL5_ItiPYIXIA/s640/IMG_20170624_060109764_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evgo station in Hagerstown, MD.</td></tr>
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After putting in about 5 kWh of charge into the battery, the GOM told me I had 205 miles of estimated range to cover 177 miles. I figured that was enough of a buffer. Aware of the elevation gain and being the first time I had ever driven this route, I decided to take it easy, driving 60 mph where the speed limit was 70, as there was plenty of time to get to the concert venue. </div>
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Despite the conservative speeds, I watched my range buffer slowly shrink as the elevation slowly gained. At one point during the drive, my range buffer had been reduced to 4 miles, and if I turned on the HVAC, the estimated miles remaining actually dipped below the 'miles to destination' Google Maps in my center display reported (the Bolt subtracts range if you turn on the HVAC to account for energy usage). Knowing that eventually I would soon start the descent down towards Pittsburgh, I drove on without too much worry.<br />
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Finally, the elevation stopped climbing and the rate which I was losing estimated miles slowed down too. The nearly non-existent range buffer I had when I had reached the summit of the drive ended up growing to nearly 40 miles by the time we entered Pittsburgh. After finding the parking garage with the only CCS fast charging stations within 20 miles and plugging in (both stations open. Woohoo!) I observed my Bolt had 13% charge and 38 miles of range remaining. The parking garage was nestled right between Heinz Field and PNC Park, which were pretty cool to finally see in person. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta6CpgV7da7UGLAL9oK-4yYtcRDgVWbT3kA_hyf7lCxqknx6GEO9QzJYcOxjMNyLCg0RGBEJftB-nHgJDfk40TSMQNcMZHNnLZAwi522XlaA3Tlg7-Qnzpvze9uRp-cZ8ZxMWZOk8ur0/s1600/IMG_20180929_182224816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta6CpgV7da7UGLAL9oK-4yYtcRDgVWbT3kA_hyf7lCxqknx6GEO9QzJYcOxjMNyLCg0RGBEJftB-nHgJDfk40TSMQNcMZHNnLZAwi522XlaA3Tlg7-Qnzpvze9uRp-cZ8ZxMWZOk8ur0/s640/IMG_20180929_182224816.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gold 1 parking garage has 2 fast charging stations</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvtrf3c-lak-ONqGknYLuJlRp8-3RNKKdE6ouoG0HQa7XAIWaPGkvgVyZXLqzFHORugwv2NzzCmbjdWEXiUa8KqVsuaCOYZtfaLZJSLNOfIqWJtDpg_gi9U-rzNWg7-eGLMJfDOfTzPs/s1600/IMG_20180929_182314183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvtrf3c-lak-ONqGknYLuJlRp8-3RNKKdE6ouoG0HQa7XAIWaPGkvgVyZXLqzFHORugwv2NzzCmbjdWEXiUa8KqVsuaCOYZtfaLZJSLNOfIqWJtDpg_gi9U-rzNWg7-eGLMJfDOfTzPs/s640/IMG_20180929_182314183.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25 kW fast charging? Better than nothing.</td></tr>
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I’ll skip details of the actual concert itself, but the wife had a good time, so that’s all that really matters I guess. While the concert lasted over 3 hours, I realized that the charging station (what I found out later was a measly 25 kW CCS station) had a 1 hour auto shutoff, and there was no way to reinitiate a charging session remotely. Attempts to contact garage staff also failed. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxEiYc1eWFj3y953TJdfWCj-st-i3GCdKcMijfwYNKHxwrnNPKZzo4IlJ79ZRhRJv32vL7qwElDybJrtCyW6P4Hh8SgtL50r314IM1BT1AzSmceAPaTGQjNw_QM9ZKPVKgfpZ2RalGUQ/s1600/1538711870134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxEiYc1eWFj3y953TJdfWCj-st-i3GCdKcMijfwYNKHxwrnNPKZzo4IlJ79ZRhRJv32vL7qwElDybJrtCyW6P4Hh8SgtL50r314IM1BT1AzSmceAPaTGQjNw_QM9ZKPVKgfpZ2RalGUQ/s640/1538711870134.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pittsburgh skyline at night.</td></tr>
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Reflecting back on the charging station setup, I determined that it was one of the dumber charging arrangements I’ve seen. Ignoring the fact they were 25 kW “fast charging” stations, most people parking in that garage were likely attending sporting events or concerts, usually 3+ hour affairs that don’t allow you to return to the facility once you leave, so after 1 hour, you were for all intents and purposes done charging till you returned to your car. I found that I had gained 77 miles of range in 1 hour (33% SOC added to the battery), which after doing the math, I realized a 7.2 kW L2 charging station would have added more miles (90-100 miles in 4 hours). Someone really dropped the ball with this station by having a 60 minute hard shutoff. </div>
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After we finally escaped Pittsburgh after being stuck in horrific traffic for what seemed like forever, we headed towards an EVgo station about 20 miles east of Pittsburgh which was on the route home. It was a single EVgo station located in a strip mall that was next to an Applebee’s in Monroesville, PA. I was able to plug in and rest for about 30 minutes while my Bolt charged up. The next charging station was over 170 miles away in Hagerstown, MD, and I knew a significant elevation gain was ahead, so I made sure to give myself at least a 25 mile buffer. Turns out that was barely enough.</div>
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During the lonely drive to Hagerstown, I slowly watched the elevation climb in my TorquePro app while my range meter dropped faster than the miles I was covering. To make matters worse, it was very humid and chilly outside, which was the perfect recipe for my windshield fogging up, requiring me to turn on the defroster from time to time. Each time I turned on the defroster, precious electrons were zapped from my battery. About halfway into my 177 mile leg, the Bolt’s GOM spit out a number that was 8 miles less than the miles I still needed to drive. I knew that soon I would start a descent down from my current 2,500 elevation, but seeing a range number less than the miles-to-go number is always unnerving. </div>
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Fortunately, I was soon back several miles to the good and made it to the fast charger at the Hagerstown Premium Outlets with my Bolt’s GOM merely blinking “LOW”. </div>
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As I pulled up to the lone CCS charging station, I saw that a Leaf was plugged in! And he was plugged into the combo CCS/CHAdeMO station, and not the standalone CHAdeMO station just a few feet away! (Great ettiquette guy). The nightmare scenario! Who the heck was charging at an Outlet mall at 4AM in the morning on a Sunday??? Besides me, that is. By some stroke of good luck, the Leaf was not actively charging despite being plugged in (and the owner was nowhere to be found), so I quickly plugged my Bolt in and swiped my EVgo card to activate the charge session. As home was only 58 miles away (this EVgo station was a 125 amp variety, not one of those fake “50 kW” 100 amp stations), so a 20-25 minute charge was all I needed to make it home. After 24 minutes of charging and a seemingly plentiful 78 miles of range, I unplugged and drove like a bat out of hell towards home (and then a slightly slower bat out of hell once I realized I was driving too fast to make it home without stopping to charge again). Made it home with plenty of range to spare!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X6VGj7mX_moArTCn0TmqOW-iIp8yfYk4YQtf4UmIooYKtfggqoJLTLnaEseB_1UjIvFKW-s3KrD97P2aIU3THCoxU1CC55D8YdNZo2gscsLKXnC56jwu24c5eXgrkDvn8m4sl748sHw/s1600/IMG_20180930_053538089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X6VGj7mX_moArTCn0TmqOW-iIp8yfYk4YQtf4UmIooYKtfggqoJLTLnaEseB_1UjIvFKW-s3KrD97P2aIU3THCoxU1CC55D8YdNZo2gscsLKXnC56jwu24c5eXgrkDvn8m4sl748sHw/s640/IMG_20180930_053538089.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living on the edge!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W64OuSq8kqRmfFDg720GV3yOB2dw5Bow-1uI_OOISYj-d2sD-cyVi_qu47HOH9_q0v3B7p84w4L2WnDmox7UogS3kAkO8_keMC3uBmScBv4k7OM_FxUShUl2X7bhjz3arerZZELk5pw/s1600/IMG_20180930_134302688_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W64OuSq8kqRmfFDg720GV3yOB2dw5Bow-1uI_OOISYj-d2sD-cyVi_qu47HOH9_q0v3B7p84w4L2WnDmox7UogS3kAkO8_keMC3uBmScBv4k7OM_FxUShUl2X7bhjz3arerZZELk5pw/s640/IMG_20180930_134302688_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Total trip stats.</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr">
So aside from telling a tale of a not completely stress-free trip to Pittsburgh and back in my Bolt in a single day, what is the point of this story? It’s to show how while the CCS fast charging network has improved immensely compared to a couple of years ago (this trip would not have been possible 2 years ago), and it is possible to travel long distances in a 200+ mile BEV like the Bolt (it's not Tesla or bust for EV roadtrips), the infrastructure still isn’t quite there yet for worry free travel. The Electrify America initiative is definitely a big step in the right direction, and with charging networks like Chargepoint and EVgo continuing to deploy their own fast charging stations (with GM being rumored to be working on their own ultra fast charging network), the CCS charging infrastructure will only continue to improve. For those of us willing to be adventurous and take a little risk, there is no need to wait to embark on those road trips. Just need to have a little bit of a clue and some patience.<br />
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P.S. also found out being worried about running out of range is great for keeping you awake during a graveyard shift drive!</div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-48993650520699155612018-06-21T22:00:00.000-04:002019-04-26T16:52:25.468-04:00Most Versatile Charging Station For a Non-Tesla owner may be a....Tesla Charging Station? What?!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For a new EV owner looking to upgrade from the stock 120V charging cord that came with their vehicle, it may be daunting trying to figure out what kind of 240V EVSE would be best to buy. There are dozens of companies out there that offer 240V EVSEs of varying power ratings, cord lengths, plug types (and the choice between a plug-in or hardwire version). <br></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit to insideevs.com</td></tr>
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Several companies have made a name in the EV world for making quality products, one such company being Clipper Creek. When I purchased my 2012 Chevy Volt, I had a Clipper Creek LCS-25 (made in USA btw) installed at my home soon after, and for the next 4 years, it performed flawless charging my ’12 Volt, along with plug-ins that have come and gone (’13 C-Max Energi, ’16 Spark EV, ’17 Gen 2 Volt) and my 2017 Bolt EV without fail. While I charged my Bolt EV with the LCS-25 for over 18 months, the unit was only rated for a max 4.8 kW charge rate (4.5 kW in real world observations), and once I purchased a new house with a garage, I decided it was time to upgrade to a unit that could take advantage of the Bolt’s advertised 7.2 kW charge rate. I sold off my trusty LCS-25, and looked to purchase a replacement.</div>
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I thought about simply upgrading to a 32-amp Clipper Creek unit that would support 7.2 kW charge rates, but wanted to see if I could find something a little cheaper than $565 (but still UL-rated and made by a reputable company). One night I was browsing one of the Tesla owner forums, and came across a thread about the new Tesla mobile connector that came with the Model 3. The <a href="https://shop.tesla.com/us/en/product/vehicle-accessories/model-s_x_3-gen-2-mobile-connector-bundle?tesref=true" target="_blank">Tesla Gen 2 Mobile Connector</a> (Gen 2 MC) was a 32-amp unit (perfectly matches the Bolt’s peak 32-amp specs) that came with both 120V and 240V adapters, was portable, and best of all was only $300! It was literally the cheapest UL-rated (no thanks knockoff Chinese made EVSEs) 240V EVSE on the market that could also charge on 120V. Only one problem though: I didn’t own a Tesla.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tesla Gen 2 Mobile Connector</td></tr>
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Fortunately for me, I already had a device (<a href="https://shop.quickchargepower.com/JDapter-Stub-Tesla-Charge-Station-Adaptor-JDPTRSTB.htm" target="_blank">JDapter Stub</a>, a $239 Tesla-to-J1772 adapter sold by QuickChargePower) that could be used to allow my Bolt (and pretty much any other EV) to charge from a Tesla, <b>non-Supercharger</b> charging station. Or in my case, a Tesla Gen 2 MC. Because I already had the JDapter Stub, all I needed to do was purchase the Tesla unit and have a 240V NEMA 14-50 outlet installed in my garage. At $300, the Tesla Gen 2 MC was the best bang for the buck 32A EVSE out there! Who'd a thunk a Tesla product could end up being the most economical?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JDapter Stub from QuickChargePower</td></tr>
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As an added bonus, the Tesla Gen 2 MC comes with a 120V adapter along with the 240V NEMA 14-50 adapter, and can be used to charge from a regular 120V household outlet as well. It is a very versatile, compact unit that can be used for home charging as well as on the road charging as a portable 240V EVSE. </div>
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The electrician finally showed up to my house, and installed the NEMA 14-50 outlet required to use the Gen 2 MC. I plugged it into the outlet, then plugged my JDapter Stub into the Tesla plug end, and voila! My Volt and Bolt now had access to L2, 7.2 kW/32-amp charging once again at my home! What makes this deal even better is the state of Maryland offers a 40% rebate of the cost of a new EVSE. Since the Tesla MC cost $300, 40% of that is $120. But since I sold my old Clipper Creek LCS-25 for $200, and will receive the $120 rebate check from the state of Maryland, the cost of upgrading from a 20-amp EVSE to the 32-amp Tesla one was -$20...or $20 in my pocket! #winning</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tesla Gen 2 MC plugged into NEMA 14-50 outlet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JDapter Stub + Tesla MC charging my Volt</td></tr>
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In the event I go on a road trip in my Bolt, the Tesla MC + JDapter Stub combo gives me more options for on-the-road charging. Many campgrounds have 14-50 outlets that can be accessed, and of course 120V trickle charging is always an option, albeit extremely slow. The JDapter Stub opens up even more charging points, as otherwise inaccessible Tesla destination charging stations also become available as charging options. I never thought I would ever be writing a glowing blog post about a Tesla product, but the Gen 2 MC (with assist from the JDapter) is really a nice option for those EV owners looking for a low-cost, portable dual 120/240V EVSE. </div>
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An EV owner of a plug-in that can only charge at ~3.3 kW (Volts for example) can probably find cheaper options for 3.3-3.6 kW charging (such as the Gen 2 Volt/Bolt's stock charging cord which can be used for 240V charging with an adapter), but for a non-Tesla BEV owner that can charge at a rate of at least 6.6 kW, such as a Bolt EV or Leaf owner, the Tesla Gen 2 MC + JDapter Stub combo is a charging solution that should be considered. And is almost a no-brainer if you already own a JDapter Stub. </div>
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<b>P.S.</b> for those of you looking to duplicate my setup, make sure your electrician runs wire for a 50-amp circuit. While only a 40-amp circuit is required for use of a 32-amp device like the Tesla Gen 2 MC, a NEMA 14-50 outlet is supposed to be wire for 50-amps, so while you could get away with running wire for 40-amps, you wouldn't want to fall into any permit issues if an inspector finds a 50-amp outlet wired for only 40-amps. Pay the few extra bucks and get the proper 50-amp wiring installed. </div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-383511782174463492018-01-21T00:44:00.000-05:002018-01-30T16:19:25.646-05:00Lessons Learned From a Long Distance Winter Road Trip in a Bolt EV<br />
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I just passed my 1 year anniversary owning my Bolt EV, and
during that first year I put over 15,000 emission-free miles on it. Rarely
being affected by range anxiety due to the ample 238 mile range, the
Bolt has met about 99% of my daily driving needs. That being said, there is
that remaining 1% of the time I have found my Bolt doesn’t quite cut it in one area: long distance road trips in the winter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charging at a Tesla station via adapter.</td></tr>
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Twice this winter, I have taken road trips with the family
in tow that exceeded the Bolt’s 238 mile range. I detailed the first
trip in a <a href="https://bro05.blogspot.com/2017/12/this-is-not-going-to-go-way-you-think.html" target="_blank">previous blog entry</a>, and the biggest takeaway was that a cold HV
battery could significantly reduce fast charging speeds on unsuspecting owners. With knowledge from that first trip fresh in my mind, I completed
another road trip (this time a 420 mile roundtrip trek to the Big Apple!). Up until a day before the trip, I was still debating whether to roll the dice and take the Bolt, or just suck it up and burn some gas and take my 2012 Volt. In the end, I decided to take the
Bolt and give it another chance on a long distance winter road trip. My biggest
worry was the aforementioned reduced fast charging speed due to cold HV battery issue, but it
turned out on this trip it a non-issue. However, other issues were experienced.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volt or Bolt?</td></tr>
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In preparation for the trip, I did everything I could to
mitigate the “too cold for peak DCFC” battery temperature issue. After charging up my Bolt to 100%
overnight, I turned on my Bolt and turned on the heater on and let the Bolt
“warm up” for 30 minutes before we departed. By doing this, it helps save
energy for the road by getting the heater (and cabin) warmed up so the Bolt
doesn’t spend the first few miles of driving using extra energy getting the heater
up to temperature. Plus, I found (via my OBDII adapter and TorquePro app) that
the Bolt will keep the HV battery temperature between 50-60F when ambient temps
are freezing while it is turned on and plugged in (heats to 60F, then kicks
back on when the HV battery drops to 50F).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road tripping in a Bolt EV...is it feasible?</td></tr>
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Once we were ready to hit the road, my Bolt registered 168 miles of estimated range, a far departure from the nearly 300 mile estimates I
had been observing during the warmer summer months. The cold impacts range on all EVs;
even six figure Teslas are not immune. As New York City was 205 miles away, at least one fast charging stop would be required. During the summer, I would have had plenty of range to make it to the CCS stations on the New Jersey Turnpike (NJTP) at the Joyce Kilmer Rest Area (<a href="https://www.plugshare.com/location/138286" target="_blank">https://www.plugshare.com/location/138286</a>). However, being 168 miles away and having 168 miles of estimated range staring me in the face, that math told me another pit stop would be good.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iUhHSibr-Ko-dtLyMrfrKbyifaa8nCQhKPWx103MR6jbQwZuvm_UrPufk0bmGFan81y5MoEN7c8zBzsM74i2mP8eQrsHjZPni-R1N7n2zDDLEO6wsuZmFGYsjopan2kTjEtJfK4bs-c/s1600/Screenshot_20180121-002020.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iUhHSibr-Ko-dtLyMrfrKbyifaa8nCQhKPWx103MR6jbQwZuvm_UrPufk0bmGFan81y5MoEN7c8zBzsM74i2mP8eQrsHjZPni-R1N7n2zDDLEO6wsuZmFGYsjopan2kTjEtJfK4bs-c/s640/Screenshot_20180121-002020.png" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6FcSdPV2jYG5SSYj-Shqz-ULpwFwu0c1LB2QFUKui9LoFhQWbAad0smcOiz_Nemf0wH2eYw172WU9ItHjrH7KK6eNdC0m1eoEcNazk_-9XAJXNMHm-TtAdRSyuN93cLJvqDUMSMC_WA/s1600/Screenshot_20180114-143838.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6FcSdPV2jYG5SSYj-Shqz-ULpwFwu0c1LB2QFUKui9LoFhQWbAad0smcOiz_Nemf0wH2eYw172WU9ItHjrH7KK6eNdC0m1eoEcNazk_-9XAJXNMHm-TtAdRSyuN93cLJvqDUMSMC_WA/s640/Screenshot_20180114-143838.png" width="360" /></a></div>
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Fortunately, there are two rest areas near the MD/DE border than have multiple, FREE CCS fast charging stations. Since we still hadn't eaten lunch, the hour drive to the Chesapeake House Travel Center (<a href="https://www.plugshare.com/location/134788" target="_blank">https://www.plugshare.com/location/134788</a>) would be a perfect place to stop to top off the battery and sit down for lunch. I noted that my HV battery temperature was 59F when we left the driveway, and the ambient air temp was 28F. After arriving at the first CCS charging stop, my estimated range had dropped down to 115 miles, and my battery temp had dropped to 57F. I plugged into the 100 amp max (booo) DCFC, and observed the station was outputting max charge rates from the start.<br />
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After eating lunch with the family, we returned to the Bolt. By my calculations, it should have charged to nearly full. However, when I walked up to my Bolt, it was not charging. Uhoh. It turns out that, despite not being a EVgo station that are notorious for 30 minute shutoffs, my Bolt had stopped charging after 30 minutes. Thus, I had "wasted" 30 minutes of charging time. I was fairly annoyed, as there was no indication of the 30 minute shutoff, and I had only charged up to 150 miles. Luckily, my next DCFC stop was only 108 miles away, so I still had plenty of range to make the 108 mile drive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm3PihpRCWpxGjTYoGXl9HMA4Po8zhXpQ_GRifcY3lj81kzJdWfUkXf96Ep1mRpB0TNSxlHhgfwLuJC_wZ_BpGUqosquIdqXTkkFYp3d6oeZgRbTX7g4tZEOTK9JzLOw5pfMc6PQfxfo/s1600/IMG_20180114_141640751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm3PihpRCWpxGjTYoGXl9HMA4Po8zhXpQ_GRifcY3lj81kzJdWfUkXf96Ep1mRpB0TNSxlHhgfwLuJC_wZ_BpGUqosquIdqXTkkFYp3d6oeZgRbTX7g4tZEOTK9JzLOw5pfMc6PQfxfo/s640/IMG_20180114_141640751.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only gained 35 miles in 1 hour (thank you 30 min auto shut-off)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I arrived at my next stop (Joyce Kilmer rest area), I rolled into the charging stations that happens to be collocated with Tesla Superchargers. 3 Teslas were plugged in when I plugged myself into one of the CCS stations. I had arrived with 42 miles of estimated range remaining, and since my destination was only 39 miles away, a 30 minute charge was all that was needed. After another quick restroom stop, I managed to charge up to 94 miles of range, so it was off on the final leg to NYC!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9A-4eLQD57KVjrTZul3_EMrUyLs1oyOMEDXOidy9lJQXRC3QRczgNcCay_QSgUKu8lnk_k0OPeHaQnSnCm2GVaIy3AO1sWqDFs2PdgoaqPhKCTYgqYhPLxuLRtZV1iLtXPoqYtf5ef0/s1600/IMG_20180114_165518517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9A-4eLQD57KVjrTZul3_EMrUyLs1oyOMEDXOidy9lJQXRC3QRczgNcCay_QSgUKu8lnk_k0OPeHaQnSnCm2GVaIy3AO1sWqDFs2PdgoaqPhKCTYgqYhPLxuLRtZV1iLtXPoqYtf5ef0/s640/IMG_20180114_165518517.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30 minute fast charging pitstop on the NJTP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
39 miles later, we had arrived in NYC, and with 60 miles of range remaining. It was now 6PM, so we went to find a place to eat dinner. After finding what is likely the most expensive parking lot in the city ($47 for 2+ hours of parking! Dafuq!) that had a charging station, I had to convince the parking attendant several times that the Blink station inside the garage actually worked. After a phone call to his boss, he was finally convinced it worked. Turns out in the 7 months that guy had been working there, no one had ever asked about the charging station. Of course, being a Blink station, it was priced at a NYC-esque 49 cents/kWh, but as beggars can't be choosers, I begrudgingly plugged in and headed off to dinner, which was luckily only a couple of blocks away. We discovered an Amazon book store on the way!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMknHN4KAgnWBj6zQ5sd-exPhiLpDQQKK9JnOezKhqcIfayZrSF0nya3uKc_C1t84oiNeMY9HMpGzNHc6CeYOBAAoFOejC9O3khNbWj1OBDqeaziR-i9gjTDhiFtbOZkSPxaYxhBG0gE/s1600/IMG_20180114_211120307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMknHN4KAgnWBj6zQ5sd-exPhiLpDQQKK9JnOezKhqcIfayZrSF0nya3uKc_C1t84oiNeMY9HMpGzNHc6CeYOBAAoFOejC9O3khNbWj1OBDqeaziR-i9gjTDhiFtbOZkSPxaYxhBG0gE/s640/IMG_20180114_211120307.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking ain't cheap in NYC. In fact, nothing is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3zgeXvYalE8LNR2iqKdLEQDz5jGEqevbUWM4NejItBNzlyA8EC-Qh9XedjEeLFJLvOLvpD4UXSyFJW3OVeIf2uVgiNFELR7lFXotu_jlX166WydvHQA_RB6h4ihe4xhjWaQ_0sVpIyg/s1600/1516512406501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3zgeXvYalE8LNR2iqKdLEQDz5jGEqevbUWM4NejItBNzlyA8EC-Qh9XedjEeLFJLvOLvpD4UXSyFJW3OVeIf2uVgiNFELR7lFXotu_jlX166WydvHQA_RB6h4ihe4xhjWaQ_0sVpIyg/s400/1516512406501.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sayonara Barnes and Noble?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Two hours later after eating some amazing Korean BBQ (Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong...nom nom nom), I saw that the Blink station had added a whopping ~30 miles of estimated range, or 11 kWh of energy. Having plenty of range to make it back to the NJTP fast charging stations, we parked the Bolt for the night and headed to the hotel for some rest.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipg3I_pyJzj_Zd71zQKYYH5weAV89X1QwNCznZx4eBQAt7nmMB61_YERxqEVk2L6iF9UYZwxNYjQZq4IuJjavRhmdCiSf9H-egg9opevhWnHChb-ttzngkvZPDwKxG31c7pUW5GwxtLtg/s1600/1516513739204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="960" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipg3I_pyJzj_Zd71zQKYYH5weAV89X1QwNCznZx4eBQAt7nmMB61_YERxqEVk2L6iF9UYZwxNYjQZq4IuJjavRhmdCiSf9H-egg9opevhWnHChb-ttzngkvZPDwKxG31c7pUW5GwxtLtg/s640/1516513739204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nom Nom Nom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After spending the next day exploring the city and seeing a Blue Man Group show, it was time to head home. The drive to the Molly Pitcher Service (<a href="https://www.plugshare.com/location/136391" target="_blank">https://www.plugshare.com/location/136391</a>) was only 45 miles, so with over 80 miles of estimated range, we were all set.<br />
<br />
After escaping horrific NYC traffic, we arrived at Molly Pitcher with 55 miles of range left. Home was 162 miles away, so I realized that I would need to log at least 2 full 30 minute charging sessions. While waiting for the Bolt to charge up, we entertained ourselves and the kids by watching some streamed TV shows using the Bolt's unlimited 4g LTE wifi hotspot. After 1 hour of charging, the Bolt stated I had 131 miles of range. That was not nearly close to the 162 mile number to home, so it looked like 1 more fast charging stop would be needed before we made it home.<br />
<br />
Curious if I could actually stretch the Bolt's 131 mile estimated range 162 miles, I employed all range saving techniques I could think of. I reduced my speed to 5 under the 65 MPH speed limit, and I also toggled the heat on and off. I found that even if you turn off the HVAC in the Bolt, it will still blow warm air for several minutes until the heater cooled off. By utilizing these power saving techniques, I was actually able to get the "Max" number on the GOM to exceed the miles remaining to home. However, I decided this was one range test I was not willing to see to the end, and topped off the Bolt for 15 minutes at the same MD rest area I stopped at to charge the prior day to ensure I had enough to make it home. Watching the range meter slowly tick up 1 mile at a time was borderline painful. With no range qualms, I took off for home like a bat out of hell.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGnpJP2T8EdkfOLabM8_df0tK313J13eO7jtYtfzLaEm3eNIXjpn3GFSc79qBIhZc2-QDjb_ZOIi-X4wHuGL1ML1kCpuKT24C8ufkuvyoauwabBZfOqE0qOBKZKvMdGysgLd-NHZGPtM/s1600/IMG_20180115_233607885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGnpJP2T8EdkfOLabM8_df0tK313J13eO7jtYtfzLaEm3eNIXjpn3GFSc79qBIhZc2-QDjb_ZOIi-X4wHuGL1ML1kCpuKT24C8ufkuvyoauwabBZfOqE0qOBKZKvMdGysgLd-NHZGPtM/s640/IMG_20180115_233607885.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final trip stats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnj5771Qlt3ciqgz477LW_yYQaRO7fv7Z6fPDJWGVOxSBVW-lr5WetgxfjKp94Ra4DrTCrX7y0Yhrjviied2m3IcqRHfuOZhEdIkO1eN8kMfrnPiO4p1lvJEjTnAfxIZl4eBX61O7yx5k/s1600/IMG_20180115_233557333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnj5771Qlt3ciqgz477LW_yYQaRO7fv7Z6fPDJWGVOxSBVW-lr5WetgxfjKp94Ra4DrTCrX7y0Yhrjviied2m3IcqRHfuOZhEdIkO1eN8kMfrnPiO4p1lvJEjTnAfxIZl4eBX61O7yx5k/s640/IMG_20180115_233557333.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final trip stats part 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The 420 mile road trip was complete. After looking back at the trip and what I experienced, I came to the following conclusions:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li> NYC destination charging SUCKS. I was fortunate to be able to charge that one time at the Blink station.</li>
<li>100 amp max CCS charging stations SUCK. The Bolt is capable of charging at ~55 kW peak rates on a yet non-existent 150+ amp CCS fast charging station, but even a 125 amp station would have cut down charging times some. </li>
<li>The Bolt's aggressive fast charging taper plain SUCKS. At around 50% SOC, the Bolt tapers currents from a theoretical max of ~55kW/150 amps down to 37 kW/100 amps. At ~70% SOC, the charging rate tapers again down to around 23 kW/60 amps. While not affected much by the 50% taper on this trip, the aggressive charge tapering is not optimal for road trips with multiple fast charging stops.</li>
<li>Parking/driving in NYC SUCKS. I am actually strongly considering taking the Amtrak next time. While I love driving the Bolt, for peace of mind I may just take the train next time. This would hold true even if I owned a $160k Tesla. Actually, driving a Tesla in NYC would probably be even more migraine inducing than a Bolt due to the Tesla's massive size.</li>
<li>CCS fast charging infrastruture is not "there" yet. While it was greatly improved over the last few years, it still does not compare to Tesla's Supercharger network. I believe in a couple years, the CCS network will be close to catching up to Tesla's SC network, but until then Tesla has the advantage. Of course, a gas car trumps any BEV when it comes to road tripping.</li>
</ol>
So to sum it all up, the Bolt is great for 99% of my driving needs, and likely covers the vast majority of needs of the average American. However, if you are thinking of taking a Bolt on a long distance road trip (especially in the winter), you should definitely plan meticulously (with a Plan A, and plans B and C in the back pocket) and consider whether you and your family can stomoche the extra time it will take to complete a trip in an all-electric vehicle, Bolt or something else, along with potential charging pitfalls. The old saying "your mileage may vary" definitely applies.</div>
<br />
P.S. there was one more thing I learned during my trip!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BchsWYPJBMVEceoNPAxSP_3K2WeGxPuVO2Dw8uhGYbu7l-O3hD1kypmKHI-WCBwxoWtkEP2xJKD082V6XfrD92dJFUzBrVUH_AI3O-K2MI9TC6ZM6vBqj6GXJoRGIwXtJOd-1ricrAM/s1600/1515975456048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1044" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BchsWYPJBMVEceoNPAxSP_3K2WeGxPuVO2Dw8uhGYbu7l-O3hD1kypmKHI-WCBwxoWtkEP2xJKD082V6XfrD92dJFUzBrVUH_AI3O-K2MI9TC6ZM6vBqj6GXJoRGIwXtJOd-1ricrAM/s640/1515975456048.jpg" width="521" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indeed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-32137943557695766472017-12-11T17:55:00.002-05:002018-08-11T12:16:47.592-04:00The Bolt EV may give you the cold shoulder fast charging in the winterAs the official start to winter approaches, thermometers in Maryland have been dropping accordlingly. Despite some warmer than normal temperatures in the fall, winter has unofficially arrived in the Free State, with highs in the low 40's and lows dropping into the 20's. As most of us know, colder temperatures mean bad news for EVs when it comes to range and efficiency, as heater use and less efficient batteries due to the lower temps serve as a double whammy to range. However, there is also another drawback to the colder temperatures that a lot of plug-in owners likely aren't quite as familiar with: reduced fast charging capability.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl92gorKOtadKLYiqchVxvXmZ74cXp994SsAXYpN9TnFDQ2YTOTzBnj0vjQ2jtrt4CHYvjsRBPJXpYNEieCdPF3gvCe_JXfJHQKedNUX3-i8Gt67lEVJRb9Tj0WHfRoaFjh35GFJjCqn4/s1600/20171210_095130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl92gorKOtadKLYiqchVxvXmZ74cXp994SsAXYpN9TnFDQ2YTOTzBnj0vjQ2jtrt4CHYvjsRBPJXpYNEieCdPF3gvCe_JXfJHQKedNUX3-i8Gt67lEVJRb9Tj0WHfRoaFjh35GFJjCqn4/s640/20171210_095130.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">One winterized Bolt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This past Saturday, my family decided to check out the Koziar Christmas Village in Bernville, PA (might as well rename "SCORCHED EARTH FOR EV CHARGING PA"). The drive to the village was 132 miles one way (264 miles roundtrip), so fast charging stop(s) would be needed. I was actually semi-fretting leading up the the trip, because of the fact the nearest fast charging station to the village was 60 miles away in York, PA.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3s3b3rT8xT1Dp7bMT9fhojeeq3Bz2m1TPquqF612kksmGnFSIfcskwc2uhmmCVH3FY1t2s7ZY63sCn2Cr8breA87PbJQYRXEOxF0ji7v2Y3WeAOsAZ5ZYnNeP2Lfso70rLCmq5swJhLk/s1600/Screenshot+%252834%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3s3b3rT8xT1Dp7bMT9fhojeeq3Bz2m1TPquqF612kksmGnFSIfcskwc2uhmmCVH3FY1t2s7ZY63sCn2Cr8breA87PbJQYRXEOxF0ji7v2Y3WeAOsAZ5ZYnNeP2Lfso70rLCmq5swJhLk/s640/Screenshot+%252834%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">260 miles round trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There is actually a CCS station near Lancaster, PA closer to Bernville, but as it has a 1.0 rating on Plugshare, I decided to write it off as a charging option. There is no L2 charging near Bernville, PA either, so charging while parked at the Christmas village was not an option. I would need to charge at York either on the way up to Bernville, PA OR on the way back home IF I had enough range to make it back to York on the return trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SlxLYtnwdh8VuKWaNWqolFRrLjmezrfzT50XE9mgfhdWHLJO2B3O4gxz7qtgbptXDrFyczPuQQ5khAkZOyJY-TarOUfo3ZnuXotNH7I7JUnGgZbRbOnmbbcp3Qpig9dBSxXkOphDbqg/s1600/Screenshot_2017-12-11-06-44-20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SlxLYtnwdh8VuKWaNWqolFRrLjmezrfzT50XE9mgfhdWHLJO2B3O4gxz7qtgbptXDrFyczPuQQ5khAkZOyJY-TarOUfo3ZnuXotNH7I7JUnGgZbRbOnmbbcp3Qpig9dBSxXkOphDbqg/s640/Screenshot_2017-12-11-06-44-20.png" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No thanks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Before beginning my trip, I made sure to pre-heat my Bolt. I actually turned the Bolt on and left the heat run while it was plugged in for about 30 minutes priop to departing so the heater and battery would be up to temp and warmed up. When we actually departed (it was snowing lightly and about 32 degrees), the heat was set to 70 degrees on fan speed setting 1. I had an estimated 196 miles of range after doing a 100% charge. It was theoretically possible for me to eek out enough range so that I only needed to hit the CCS station in York on the way back. I quickly found out that would be impossible.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NIt3yZFmZXRhClf-65V44C7hX09NQMuBKYXtXc_5BOqQXFw2ftAzmJbs9-kAxAJBm8et2IWkligkakPZzIdIZyaHe90gr5MBTeybkXuahyphenhyphen2Jot1T3OeQgaNWfxKzVZRC8kDBLY5WYXA/s1600/Screenshot+%252833%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NIt3yZFmZXRhClf-65V44C7hX09NQMuBKYXtXc_5BOqQXFw2ftAzmJbs9-kAxAJBm8et2IWkligkakPZzIdIZyaHe90gr5MBTeybkXuahyphenhyphen2Jot1T3OeQgaNWfxKzVZRC8kDBLY5WYXA/s640/Screenshot+%252833%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fast charging desert in middle of nowhere, PA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
During the drive up to the PA border, the snow steadily increased in intensity, and the wet roads took a toll on my efficiency. About 50 miles into my trip, I realized I would absolutely have to top off in York on the way up to Bernville, as there was no way I could make it back to York on a single. When I pulled into the station at York, I had about 105 miles of range remaining. While the distance to York from my home is roughly 67 miles, *91* miles of estimated range had been consumed. Due to arriving at the station with 63% of the battery remaining, my "fast" charge was relatively slow due to the Bolt tapering charging rates when the battery is above 50%. For a 29 minute session, I had managed to put 12.6 kWh into the battery, and had "topped off" to 160 miles of estimated range when I departed for Bernville.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOVLdlNvP9TWvXDU6ucoFbLCj00vF1LdDyU60fHsVeNlaotz7Ix_xDTFMY2t71DQTgDP_b1fntlj5OlykQI4WkQdO_ZaIJNxSCI5Z6vrODNAxXuGDedcHKY66ky_lQQdxhUqx9wG6a5Q/s1600/Screenshot_2017-12-11-06-45-05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1600" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOVLdlNvP9TWvXDU6ucoFbLCj00vF1LdDyU60fHsVeNlaotz7Ix_xDTFMY2t71DQTgDP_b1fntlj5OlykQI4WkQdO_ZaIJNxSCI5Z6vrODNAxXuGDedcHKY66ky_lQQdxhUqx9wG6a5Q/s640/Screenshot_2017-12-11-06-45-05.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">100A max fast charging station in York, PA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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During the remaining 59 mile drive to the village, it continued to snow. Eventually, snow started sticking to the highway, so traffic slowed considerably for streches on the highway. The slower speeds helped increase my efficiency, however, so all was not a total loss. When we pulled into the parking lot of the christmas village, the range meter stated I had 95 miles left. The ambient temperatures were in the mid 20's when we arrived. We ended up spending about 2.5 hours exploring the village (and 2.5 hours of the Bolt's battery cold-soaking in sub-freezing temps).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnxJS6Pm0ke1Vd5Mdm_mdbxkvyLtQO6Uf6PtR3SBiAiPM9Q2CCm22k57qKaJfWRKBvgvJyKFgzJvQrUz1ylZI_qwGUjQ7GRDX_M_iqh8O0DPwa7G5fIJCFpMoFZ4GpoCKiveEJdOyDI4/s1600/1512992516311.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnxJS6Pm0ke1Vd5Mdm_mdbxkvyLtQO6Uf6PtR3SBiAiPM9Q2CCm22k57qKaJfWRKBvgvJyKFgzJvQrUz1ylZI_qwGUjQ7GRDX_M_iqh8O0DPwa7G5fIJCFpMoFZ4GpoCKiveEJdOyDI4/s640/1512992516311.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not optimal conditions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A little after 8PM, we departed back for the CCS station in York. During the entire 60 mile drive, I had the heat set to 70 degrees, with on and off use of the defroster. When we pulled into the fast charger in York, 29 miles of range/16% battery charge remained. I wanted to top off to about 80 miles so I had a comfortable buffer for the 60 mile drive back home.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJPYArPPcMnLq56B5kN_COFEudxrc06mvDXgf2tARcGOpbvkhxxbnsdouRlth_oa6ndQA1DSt1nmQf05u77_5WsMYi0cKX75lKsmLra1lk-C1-cAJ05i1W8LFfXUO15IPYJJ6SB3xR1U/s1600/1512992494846.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJPYArPPcMnLq56B5kN_COFEudxrc06mvDXgf2tARcGOpbvkhxxbnsdouRlth_oa6ndQA1DSt1nmQf05u77_5WsMYi0cKX75lKsmLra1lk-C1-cAJ05i1W8LFfXUO15IPYJJ6SB3xR1U/s640/1512992494846.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purdy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What I DIDN'T expect was the throttled charging rates of my Bolt! Despite having the heat on for the whole hour driving to York, the HV batterty was obviously still too cold to allow for maximum charging rates! I languished at 18-24 kW (or 60-70 amp) rates for the first 20 minutes of charging, resulting in much fewer miles being replenished than I thought. It wasn't until 25 minutes after plugging in did the Bolt finally realize the station's full 100 amp charging rates (or about 35 kW). My stay at the charging station was about 20 minutes longer than I had planned (and MAN that was a long 20 minutes with a cranky wife! Might as well have been an eternity).<br />
<br />
After ~45 minutes charging (and 19.3 kWh pumped out by the EVgo station), I had achieved my 80 mile range, and eagerly took off for home. The rest of the trip was rather uneventful, and I arrived back home with around 20 miles of range left.<br />
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Looking back on this trip, I realized that driving a Bolt to an EV charging wasteland during a minor snowstorm was probably not the best decision. If I were to repeate this trip again, most likely I would have just taken my Volt and burned some gas and shave about 75 minutes off the travel time I ended up spending extra charging the Bolt. The "too cold HV battery" issue doesn't affect just the Bolt, but all EVs in regards to fast charging, even the much balleyhooed Teslas and their Supercharging network. TeslaBjorn has video blogged about reduced Supercharging rates when the HV battery is too cold. Skip to 4:00 to see Bjorn's Model X struggle to register even 1 kW in the video below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c1C-tPkevIA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c1C-tPkevIA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<br />
The Bolt is a mighty fine vehicle, but the cold battery issue I experienced should be something other Bolt owners are aware of before planning a road trip this winter that relies on DC fast charging. As you can see below, while the Bolt can condition the HV battery, it seems that it will only heat (or cool) the battery to keep the battery temperature out of the "danger zones" where the battery can be potentially degraded. Perhaps a "warm HV battery" feature could be implemented by GM so that owners had the option of warming the battery to ensure peak fast charging speeds in cold conditions. It would have been "warmly" welcomed by me this past weekend.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ykEDqD9KNlIxzzXFsvmOLovg46hzBU5HHUQZjPf_FM82rGQSr2iglVoHhb5eH-NV-K-mDIV0cVXUNiE-8gyz8MvCAlp7zdcMvKzmtPAfhOENVLdT4Oyzc2aVvEUPBtwzb6CjWvWYThw/s1600/Screenshot_2017-12-10-10-34-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ykEDqD9KNlIxzzXFsvmOLovg46hzBU5HHUQZjPf_FM82rGQSr2iglVoHhb5eH-NV-K-mDIV0cVXUNiE-8gyz8MvCAlp7zdcMvKzmtPAfhOENVLdT4Oyzc2aVvEUPBtwzb6CjWvWYThw/s640/Screenshot_2017-12-10-10-34-02.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Final trip stats<br />
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</tbody></table>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-50031627921927630782017-10-09T23:21:00.000-04:002017-10-12T20:22:20.383-04:00Charging your Bolt EV at a Tesla destination station? Yes, you can!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPAyyxguIibV0THv_zmOZU84omuPQKNkzU4w_s50YzdXWKyCX6mU4k2rhS6WoqKNCDp1B39YNVX4xKZWPxnOINX1syVZxcYEvsE7fRAj9d638SkNgu4sMd8kFy9O3YBlcnLIYcTnuzk8/s1600/IMG_20171006_150846987_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPAyyxguIibV0THv_zmOZU84omuPQKNkzU4w_s50YzdXWKyCX6mU4k2rhS6WoqKNCDp1B39YNVX4xKZWPxnOINX1syVZxcYEvsE7fRAj9d638SkNgu4sMd8kFy9O3YBlcnLIYcTnuzk8/s640/IMG_20171006_150846987_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As most EV owners are aware, Tesla offers one thing that other EV manufacturers do not offer at the moment: a coast to coast Supercharging network. I've read many stories of Tesla Model owners boasting about being able to travel across the country for free using only Tesla's Supercharging network. As of today, Tesla states that 1,008 Supercharger sites with 7,032 Supercharger stations are active in North America. Compare that to the CHAdeMO and CCS compatible fast charging outlets, which are more concentrated in metropolitan areas and lack the coast to coast coverage that Tesla offers. While more and more CHAdeMO/CCS stations are being installed every day, it will be a little while till coverage can come close to Tesla's proprietary network.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YoYCBGOJE3B4exEK07HAJpyOUdjZ94s5oI-o6KvXi-Mac1ORyu9Awlid6rFRb_HJ8E0AS1wC9QwmgBS1RWWT4GA831WKQJ0G-oKD07cFs2PjIglp80Fu-Y6y7LbQT20b6MQ63VVX-Oc/s1600/Screenshot_20171009-174836.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="1600" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YoYCBGOJE3B4exEK07HAJpyOUdjZ94s5oI-o6KvXi-Mac1ORyu9Awlid6rFRb_HJ8E0AS1wC9QwmgBS1RWWT4GA831WKQJ0G-oKD07cFs2PjIglp80Fu-Y6y7LbQT20b6MQ63VVX-Oc/s640/Screenshot_20171009-174836.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty good coverage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
So what's the non-Tesla owner that still wants to travel the country to do, aside from renting a gas car or biting the bullet and acquiring a wallet-stretching Tesla themselves? While Tesla touts its Supercharging network, it also supports an ever growing "Destination Charging" network as well. And the best thing about the Destination Charging stations? Non-Tesla EV owners can utilize them<b>*</b>! </div>
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While not nearly as fast as Supercharging (for all intents and purposes, non-Tesla owners will only be able to charge at 7.2 kW max, compared to the 100+ kW charge rates Teslas can obtain at Superchargers), Tesla destination charging stations are sprinkled throughout the country at properties and businesses that have partnered with Tesla to install them. In most instances, Tesla provides most, if not all, of the charging equipment for free, and may also cover a portion of the install costs as well. The properties (a good majority hotel and inn owners) cover the cost of electricity and offer the stations as an extra amenity to guests. Most of the time, guests staying at these properties can charge for free as a perk for patronizing that particular establishment.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qXaClSjq2SQnlQSlgoCUKnpzi8Al3v0FChDRqy6ym-ByaNfrzzWhMcAKKyDVmC9aI8v_YAw0kMiEOai1Ctq_qTet2iKkRJlB4dyNahI73lbvKVX1DwOUk6Y_5NI9y8D-Tn8Zfe-rroE/s1600/Screenshot_20171009-174910.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1600" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qXaClSjq2SQnlQSlgoCUKnpzi8Al3v0FChDRqy6ym-ByaNfrzzWhMcAKKyDVmC9aI8v_YAw0kMiEOai1Ctq_qTet2iKkRJlB4dyNahI73lbvKVX1DwOUk6Y_5NI9y8D-Tn8Zfe-rroE/s640/Screenshot_20171009-174910.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not too shabby either, though some noticeable gaps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
So why should any non-Tesla owner care about any of the above I just wrote about? Well, it turns out that there is a handy little device that can unlock access to most Tesla (NON-Supercharger) destination stations!<br />
<br />
A month or 2 ago I came across a special for a JDapter Stub device made by Quick Charge Power (<a href="http://shop.quickchargepower.com/JDapter-Stub-Tesla-Charge-Station-Adaptor-JDPTRSTB.htm" target="_blank">http://shop.quickchargepower.com/JDapter-Stub-Tesla-Charge-Station-Adaptor-JDPTRSTB.htm</a> . Use promo code "Jdapter239" for a $160 discount!), a company in SoCal that makes all sorts of EV accessories. Their JDapter Stub allows for non-Tesla plug-ins to charge using Tesla's (NON-SUPERCHARGER) destination charging stations mentioned above. While these destination charging stations have Tesla's proprietary plug that would normally make it unusable with a non-Tesla plug-in, the JDapter Stub allows just about ANY EV owner to connect and charge using the Stub, with a couple of exceptions. They are the only company I know of that makes this type of off-the-shelf device. Otherwise, I'd post other options available.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.quickchargepower.com/images/JDapter%20Stub(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://shop.quickchargepower.com/images/JDapter%20Stub(2).jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The JDapter Stub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I tested out my Stub on a recent trip to Chincoteague Island in Virginia. Looking at my charging options in the area, I noticed that there was only ONE location on the whole island (or anywhere near it) that had any kind of charging stations, located at the Refuge Inn (<a href="http://www.refugeinn.com/" target="_blank">http://www.refugeinn.com/</a>). According to <a href="https://api.plugshare.com/view/location/89722" target="_blank">Plugshare</a>, it listed the property having 1 Tesla charging station and one Clipper Creek J1772 unit. Based off the positive Plugshare score, I booked the Refuge Inn for our stay.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIacTg2m1EgbJlgLxyKbxicAHiO_TBoVv00svJCETfZeANqmirEyHoE5FvuXAw4R9ZCPu8CUnmkNT8W1yaaYGw7s7WN1TuFqBqRsyjX-d-BupUSIPJrCWrmC13TtjMpbmdleOUghyphenhyphen0Qlg/s1600/Screenshot+%252832%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1600" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIacTg2m1EgbJlgLxyKbxicAHiO_TBoVv00svJCETfZeANqmirEyHoE5FvuXAw4R9ZCPu8CUnmkNT8W1yaaYGw7s7WN1TuFqBqRsyjX-d-BupUSIPJrCWrmC13TtjMpbmdleOUghyphenhyphen0Qlg/s640/Screenshot+%252832%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep (EV) Hole indeed!</td></tr>
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Upon arriving at the Refuge Inn in my Bolt EV, I found the Tesla station in the parking lot of the property. I whipped out my Stub, connected it to the Tesla charging plug, then plugged it into my Bolt. Within 2 seconds, my Bolt's charging light turned green and I was sucking down juice in part thanks to Elon Musk/Tesla (Thanks Elon!).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhgMuu9U1iycFJTwrz315aTqqZ6atLaFDRJUlJmxSV_37W_nbSAin661-t6eIwPoAyW3ZUyAV2ruH7Pxu8e16U815VNa_RQt3F9w3kwSoprXPJzVg3pZk7PolyKbc3rG-q_3TGh8rkWk/s1600/IMG_20170929_224506974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhgMuu9U1iycFJTwrz315aTqqZ6atLaFDRJUlJmxSV_37W_nbSAin661-t6eIwPoAyW3ZUyAV2ruH7Pxu8e16U815VNa_RQt3F9w3kwSoprXPJzVg3pZk7PolyKbc3rG-q_3TGh8rkWk/s640/IMG_20170929_224506974.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Success!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX8SgIbQL_66hdPigvkTkdmz09drhvqk6Tc_6PAIKZgLBZZpyhhe4iezODxR8be38eLTocpQq4lqxKYmsAtnLTvBPZvo2VSv-ovPD_H6BZ05_6-wS-yLzuuPJCslmFkvLW3xbgrPI_V4/s1600/IMG_20170929_224532997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX8SgIbQL_66hdPigvkTkdmz09drhvqk6Tc_6PAIKZgLBZZpyhhe4iezODxR8be38eLTocpQq4lqxKYmsAtnLTvBPZvo2VSv-ovPD_H6BZ05_6-wS-yLzuuPJCslmFkvLW3xbgrPI_V4/s640/IMG_20170929_224532997.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not just Tesla electric vehicle charging anymore. 😎</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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According to my Bolt's DIC, it was charging at a rate of 7 kW, with it bouncing to 8 kW a couple of times. Suffice to say, the Bolt was able to max out its peak charging rate using the Tesla station. I awoke the next day to a full charge. The JDapter Stub was a great success! Evidently the Stub can send a pilot signal to the Tesla destination station and "trick" it into thinking it is a Tesla (that's how it was explained to me anyways...something like that). </div>
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***Now I have to caveat my experience by saying that you should always get permission from the property owner before using a Tesla destination charging station (or any charging station for that matter). While most property owners likely don't care what kind of EV actually uses these Tesla stations, there are some establishments in existence that enforce a strict Tesla-only policy, and at least one person has actually been towed! However, most hotel/inn owners should be more than happy to let a paying guest use the stations, regardless of whether you actually drive a Tesla or not. The Refuge Inn certainly didn't care (great place, btw! Indoor heated pool, real close to Assateague Island, free hot breakfast, and friendly staff!).</div>
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Also, there are some newer Tesla stations that operate at 277 volts, which the Bolt CAN NOT handle. I believe the Bolt would simply refuse to charge if connected to such a station, but user beware!</div>
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Thanks to the JDapter Stub, a lot of additional L2 charging charging plugs are now opened up to my Bolt. If you don't road trip much, this adapter may be of marginal usefulness to you, but for anyone that likes to travel outside the Bolt's 238 mile EPA-rated range, is a very useful accessory indeed. 😊 </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">P.S.</span></b> For those Tesla owners that think a non-Tesla using a Tesla destination station is wrong: get over yourselves! You guys still have the Supercharger network all to yourselves, and Elon himself even said, <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"...we said any car company can use our technology -- it's no problem. They don't even have to pay a fee to us." (<a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/27/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-on-electric-competition-im-gla.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/27/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-on-electric-competition-im-gla.aspx</a>). Non-Tesla owners using Tesla destination stations are just obliging him. 😄 And before you ask "Why didn't you just use the Clipper Creek unit?", answer is I wanted to properly test out my JDapter Stub. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">P.P.S.</span></b> I was recently unceremoniously banned from the main Chevy Bolt EV Owners Facebook group because the admins of that group are a bunch of commies and censor people like North Korean state media. For those that are REAL Bolt owners/fans that want to be able to enjoy some uncensored chit-chat among fellow ACTUAL Bolt owners/fans, I've created a new Facebook group,<br />
<h1 class="_19s-" id="seo_h1_tag" style="background-color: #e9ebee; color: #1d2129; flex: 1 1 0%; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/454458678288623/?ref=group_header" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">REAL Chevy Bolt EV Owners and Fans</a>. Please join up! </h1>
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bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-15794787670777690742017-08-14T06:35:00.000-04:002017-08-14T21:45:20.069-04:00"Sorry, your car has too much range to charge here" (WHAT?!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I bought my Chevy Volt in 2012, EVs were still very much a rarity (even the Tesla Model S was not yet available), and public EV charging infrastructure was more of a unicorn. Back then, finding a public charging station was a rare instance, and finding an EV actually USING a public charging station that wasn't my own was Mission Impossible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpkQ2QhGjpw1-GjghlaG5JCaY6Sf9LyHT_-xattOWXwTnvibdgTPdfkcy8KBQvcJF0pTRyNxQcyrEqL9x-H_yyJ9ArgDh5zDVyXIftpWmqlhtlGTbYv5uVkTaRW-_iOexjMLMQ3FBGk0/s1600/volt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="924" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpkQ2QhGjpw1-GjghlaG5JCaY6Sf9LyHT_-xattOWXwTnvibdgTPdfkcy8KBQvcJF0pTRyNxQcyrEqL9x-H_yyJ9ArgDh5zDVyXIftpWmqlhtlGTbYv5uVkTaRW-_iOexjMLMQ3FBGk0/s400/volt.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was often the only plug-in owner to use local charging stations a few years ago</td></tr>
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During those years leading up to my Bolt EV purchase, I had seen online that some battery electric vehicle (BEV) owners grumbled about how Volts shouldn't use public charging stations as they had a gas backup engine and never truly NEEDED to charge, and that all-electric BEV owners should always have priority since they did not have a gas engine backup. Some of these people even refused to call a Volt an EV, and label merely a "hybrid" due to having a gas engine, even though the majority of Volt owners drive most of the time on battery only. I scoffed at these "BEV purists", as my mantra was pretty much "If it has a plug, plug away". <br />
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Fast forward 5 years, and my, how things have changed! While EV sales still are barely a rounding error compared to overall auto sales (just 1-2%), the population of EVs has steadily grown over that time period, each new year outpacing the previous year in sales. As the demand for EVs has increased, the infrastructure to support them has also expanded. Now charging stations can be found in many more places, to the point that sometimes I find myself filtering out 240V charging stations on the Plugshare app, as the numerous icons block too much of the map! Finding a public charging station NOT in use is the exception as opposed to the norm these days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqd9ipwI4_t3PMa8_CJIGzxwn2eIfyzLsFQ2bt0YD5llSLodY60-EMYGsArogd5ZgpiBDiu_PcsyAo2L26EsMvGhx0oHJRPoyNNuLRA1IHat5R1nVz9pFIC3jNLvMKWbKqji9gZB0_V4/s1600/84373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqd9ipwI4_t3PMa8_CJIGzxwn2eIfyzLsFQ2bt0YD5llSLodY60-EMYGsArogd5ZgpiBDiu_PcsyAo2L26EsMvGhx0oHJRPoyNNuLRA1IHat5R1nVz9pFIC3jNLvMKWbKqji9gZB0_V4/s640/84373.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More common occurrence these days</td></tr>
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Why do I bring this all up? A few days ago, my wife stopped by the local Whole Foods to opportunity charge while shopping for groceries. The Whole Foods location has 2 free charging stations available for customer use, but one of them has been broken the past 16 months (ridiculous, I know). So with only 1 operational station and no other EVs in sight, the wife plugged the Bolt in and went off to shop.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolt local charging...#EVHOLE! Don't mind the 2 Teslas that parked in the EV spaces and were not plugged in</td></tr>
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When she came back out to the Bolt, she had found that a silver Prius Plug-in (first generation plug-in with a whopping 13 miles of range) had unplugged her actively charging Bolt and had plugged himself in! No note, no nothing (thanks, jerk!). Appropriately miffed, the wife left a note to the Prius owner informing them she was not finished charging, and didn't appreciate being unplugged.<br />
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After being told about what had happened, myself (also being quite miffed) posted about it in a FB Bolt owners group. Most other owners agreed that it was a jerk move for the Prius owner to unplug the actively charging Bolt, but then one member (not even a Bolt owner, but rather a Tesla owner. sigh) chimed in and said that plugging in the Bolt in the first place was the more egregious move than the Prius unplugging my Bolt, since it was a "long range" BEV and shouldn't ever need to local charge and the Prius needed it more (dafuq??). Then he proceeded to call me an #EVHOLE (typically used to describe EV owners than block charging spots without plugging in, or just EV owners acting like a-holes in general). And even went so far as to say if a Bolt was low on charge, they STILL should not local charge because it's the Bolt owner's fault they let the car get to such a low state of charge to begin with.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Post"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My reaction to the above comments</td></tr>
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I responded to the rather unpleasant fellow by saying that no matter if it is a 13 mile Prius Plug-in or 315 mile Tesla Model S100D, if there is an empty charging spot, any plug-in has the right to use that charging station. And if some low range BEV needing a charge showed up later? Well, too bad buddy, first come first serve. If a low-range BEV owner asked me if they could charge, I would 99% of the time have no problem letting them take the plug (something the Prius owner mentioned above failed to do). But this cavalier belief that there is a pecking order for who has priority over public charging stations is simply ridiculous. As one person put it bluntly in another FB group:<br />
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"<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Nobody has the right to tell me that I cannot charge locally.</span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">What the F**k? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I live 8 miles away but only have 5 miles range and KMart has a Free EVSE 2 miles from here. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Somebody is going to tell me that I can't plug in ? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">They can f**k off. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I'm gonna charge."</span><br />
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TL;DR version of my blog post: First come, first served for public charging stations; don't be an a-hole and steal plugs from actively charging EVs without permission. And if you DO need to charge, ASK first! And if it is a life or death (riiight) situation and you absolutely need to charge, at least leave a damn note for crying out loud!<br />
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More (tongue in cheek) examples of Bolts local charging like #EVHOLES:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_HQUisRZopDPrGa77XaZtPY4vue_IS8EmAOz3hO5jtGTfeOUTrVGTJNTOjMkEpPjyFLwuFozhQBFbhD66l5Z8KACAMLXMcS9-Kn59o3hlD3o0o2bjPTab5zdDfM9UKNCKZGW01cai2A/s1600/received_10100143381010686.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_HQUisRZopDPrGa77XaZtPY4vue_IS8EmAOz3hO5jtGTfeOUTrVGTJNTOjMkEpPjyFLwuFozhQBFbhD66l5Z8KACAMLXMcS9-Kn59o3hlD3o0o2bjPTab5zdDfM9UKNCKZGW01cai2A/s640/received_10100143381010686.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Total #EVHOLE here</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtMiOkCjZOAAEl7_iwFpWEha04RNtv1E5t0mQYJsi7Pz6HlRTaLYMkNMgekdGszZmAKFuEnbTCW4bPoR-Qk1ZRYqFJodi686HW3GPN9iCMSPdpklDh8ulU5jNndj49sh4yW78vhDHLyY/s1600/IMG_20170702_182233168_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtMiOkCjZOAAEl7_iwFpWEha04RNtv1E5t0mQYJsi7Pz6HlRTaLYMkNMgekdGszZmAKFuEnbTCW4bPoR-Qk1ZRYqFJodi686HW3GPN9iCMSPdpklDh8ulU5jNndj49sh4yW78vhDHLyY/s640/IMG_20170702_182233168_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Bolt #EVHOLE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjmOhKv2dRwcrGS4kdl7BA2PUzaAFlOXGnDIv65FRe-_kLvZNR6fZc1ZGXO8N0kXZSZCkS8n-1Kbt39mXyC22A6qEvaVcx3RKgxdavdMa7oT0XurPgPaILtDIvToMBxE2Hb2dzAxtpRQ/s1600/IMG_20170703_123252864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjmOhKv2dRwcrGS4kdl7BA2PUzaAFlOXGnDIv65FRe-_kLvZNR6fZc1ZGXO8N0kXZSZCkS8n-1Kbt39mXyC22A6qEvaVcx3RKgxdavdMa7oT0XurPgPaILtDIvToMBxE2Hb2dzAxtpRQ/s640/IMG_20170703_123252864.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road tripping Bolt...but WAIT! Probably an #EVHOLE anyways</td></tr>
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bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-10149577947019540182017-07-04T10:05:00.001-04:002017-10-16T23:48:04.094-04:00900+ mile trip in the 238-mile Bolt shows challenges can be overcome with proper planningSo a few months ago, I read the following article on GreenCarReports about a new Bolt owner's saga of an 800-mile road trip in CA: <a href="http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1109117_chevy-bolt-ev-800-mile-trip-in-238-mile-electric-car-shows-challenges-remain" target="_blank">http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1109117_chevy-bolt-ev-800-mile-trip-in-238-mile-electric-car-shows-challenges-remain</a><br />
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What a disaster! The owner of that Bolt did about everything wrong you could possibly do wrong when long distance traveling in an all-electric car. I was actually amazed that she did NOT end up on the back of a flatbed. I felt the article should have been re-titled "Clueless Bolt owner drives 800 miles and somehow doesn't end up stranded in the middle of nowhere". It was a complete debacle. Poor route choice, poor energy conservation (Wow, I'm speeding at 80 mph and the range meter keeps going down way faster than I thought....guess I'll keep driving 80!), poor understanding of charging network pricing options...reading the article made me want to do the following:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Words cannot convey my reaction to that story</td></tr>
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That Bolt owner concluded that due to her poor experiences on her 800 mile trip, she would not take the Bolt on any long distance trip again. Good choice, because with her track record, she was destined for the flatbed sooner or later.<br />
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This weekend, I embarked on a 900+ mile road trip from Maryland to Connecticut and back, with a pit stop in PA, determined to show that with proper planning, a long distance road trip is possible in a Bolt, with a few compromises of course (but nothing like that debacle referenced above).</div>
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As some of you may know, I completed a "313 miles on a single charge" drive across Maryland last weekend, just to see if it was possible to drive from Western MD to the Eastern Shore/Ocean City. I admit up front that I engaged in some light hypermiling practices and was assisted by elevation changes. However, this time, I decided to drive the Bolt like any other person would drive a regular gas car, as Joe Schmoe buying his first BEV will not drive like I did last weekend.</div>
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My Saturday actually started with an autocross event in Southern MD (see previous blog posting about my experience <a href="https://bro05.blogspot.com/2017/07/autocrossing-bolt.html" target="_blank">here</a>). As the autocross site was ~50 miles away, I had already logged over 100 miles on the day before I even started my main journey! After returning home and getting my things ready for the trip, my Bolt was just about topped off and I was ready to go! I had an estimated 250 miles on the guess-o-meter as I departed my driveway. As the drive to CT was 320 miles, I would need to stop and charge during the trip</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fast charging the Bolt after the autocross event</td></tr>
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As the temperatures were right near 90 degrees when I departed just shy of 7PM, I turned on the AC and set it at 70 degrees. For the whole first half of the trip, the AC stayed at those settings. Luckily, I encountered little to no traffic, so I was able to maintain a speed of 5-10 mph OVER the speed limits, which was completely opposite my cross-MD drive the previous Saturday. I averaged between 65-70 mph for the entire drive up to CT. </div>
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Fortunately for me, 4 new EVgo, CCS-compatible fast charging stations had just been installed at 2 locations along the New Jersey Turnpike just a week prior, and they were perfectly located for my MD-CT trip. Literally right smack dab in the middle of my route. What is interesting is these 2 new EVgo locations (located at the Molly Pitcher and Joyce Kilmer rest areas on the NJTP) were co-located with existing Tesla Supercharger stations. I believe these are the first such locations in the country that have Tesla and non-Tesla fast charging stations located together. </div>
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I arrived at the Joyce Kilmer EVgo station with 75 miles left on the GOM, and 155 miles to go on my drive. Armed with my EVgo On-The-Go monthly plan, my charging sessions would cost just 10 cents/minute on top of the base monthly fee. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDwkjozN0rChPTaEyyL1ggQf2GHxT4XpMpt-yptrMrpUARcon2TsriVoKhMSwBsIgb0yRm1UKOwVoBXH0I23ruRxxS1sPcgltMR0BvnbQWCA2Qrm2A7URZqkea9xKERMV0FyLHbAGTWM/s1600/IMG_20170701_212949901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDwkjozN0rChPTaEyyL1ggQf2GHxT4XpMpt-yptrMrpUARcon2TsriVoKhMSwBsIgb0yRm1UKOwVoBXH0I23ruRxxS1sPcgltMR0BvnbQWCA2Qrm2A7URZqkea9xKERMV0FyLHbAGTWM/s1600/IMG_20170701_212949901.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go, electrons, go!</td></tr>
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I was at the rest area for approximately 1 hour, hitting the restroom, eating my dinner, and relaxing catching up on email while waiting for the Bolt to charge. After about 45 minutes of charging (had to restart the EVgo station after 30 minutes because of their 30 minute hard cap), it was back on the road! I had gained 103 miles of charge in 45 minutes. </div>
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***Note: the EVgo stations on the NJTP are 50 kW/100-amp max rated stations, so the Bolt will only see peak charge rates of around 36-37 kW in ideal conditions, compared to 46-47 kW when connected to a 125-amp max DCFC station.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAUypFryvTsHpMwmO_RqQutuAhxXUQdqJYGRMbzyY0A0GwpdUcQu8C_SnvJQQZbzedD1Y1ZZq23xBf8eIcOaZQuWhR1ygDVu-8C0IitdLkfLNMCgKYlhpB8OQeLzE_TAZZFmBxjl9gTE/s1600/IMG_20170701_221920799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAUypFryvTsHpMwmO_RqQutuAhxXUQdqJYGRMbzyY0A0GwpdUcQu8C_SnvJQQZbzedD1Y1ZZq23xBf8eIcOaZQuWhR1ygDVu-8C0IitdLkfLNMCgKYlhpB8OQeLzE_TAZZFmBxjl9gTE/s1600/IMG_20170701_221920799.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of range to make it to my destination 155 miles away</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The rest of the drive was fairly uneventful, as I continued my ~70 mph pace with the AC now off since temps had cooled down considerably. I arrived at my mother's house in CT just before 1AM. </div>
<div>
Trip summary - </div>
<div>
Distance: 325.4 miles </div>
<div>
Average economy: 4.1 miles/kWh</div>
<div>
Total time taken (including charging stop): 6 hours, 2 minutes</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ2pHGRgS9Dixl8NViecf2DkoqVAz2VYPmCjDvCMRkQo3u0nrOfev5TOAstZePiq8Eqc6B_p2KDoWdkEXYKA190sOoXK0EETha2wNDqkgSV5x1aced-nsWxFPi4ug1CuQCsGSaDtLUQI/s1600/IMG_20170702_112717861_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ2pHGRgS9Dixl8NViecf2DkoqVAz2VYPmCjDvCMRkQo3u0nrOfev5TOAstZePiq8Eqc6B_p2KDoWdkEXYKA190sOoXK0EETha2wNDqkgSV5x1aced-nsWxFPi4ug1CuQCsGSaDtLUQI/s1600/IMG_20170702_112717861_HDR.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrived with PLENTY of range to spare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The next morning I ventured out to an EVgo station about a 1/2 mile from my mother's house to top off the Bolt. Again, it was a 50 kW/100 amp max station, so I was able to fill 130 miles of rated range in 1 hour, compared to GM's official estimate of 160 miles in 1 hour when connected to an 80 kW capable station. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7-GY-uebVPcoeoNdI3mu4zcmfaQZj9UcX3L9BYsFKNGlbgg9xB9xQrzLYmIxCxjDNNEGY9b5FPsftXGC57-rXiwSsw0e0Luy0rWvWDdGxx-IcpkChj6e-e6fmuxR0ORYFmBgJDdJHAk/s1600/IMG_20170702_113343666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7-GY-uebVPcoeoNdI3mu4zcmfaQZj9UcX3L9BYsFKNGlbgg9xB9xQrzLYmIxCxjDNNEGY9b5FPsftXGC57-rXiwSsw0e0Luy0rWvWDdGxx-IcpkChj6e-e6fmuxR0ORYFmBgJDdJHAk/s1600/IMG_20170702_113343666.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EVgo station at Cumberland Farms in West Hartford, CT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
After spending Sunday around town, it was time to head back home to MD Monday morning. However, a stop to visit the grandparents in Mechanicsburg, PA, was planned, so the total drive would be 420 miles for the day. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoOdNxRWWYp8sFeh0jAr6aJ9DFV5sep5gAcpyflQ8KroBS_fj8lu6JLroIZHCppLguJ_DtjW_ZTQrf7smPagM3wR5OVBYKWH-X76zjD8mkdGvRiDEc3wdT9vhltYCjs4WKLLem1_Q9hI/s1600/IMG_20170702_182233168_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoOdNxRWWYp8sFeh0jAr6aJ9DFV5sep5gAcpyflQ8KroBS_fj8lu6JLroIZHCppLguJ_DtjW_ZTQrf7smPagM3wR5OVBYKWH-X76zjD8mkdGvRiDEc3wdT9vhltYCjs4WKLLem1_Q9hI/s1600/IMG_20170702_182233168_HDR.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Free L2 charging station at my old elementary school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
I did NOT start my trek back home with a full battery, however. Due to having to go to the airport late Sunday night to pick up a family member, I only had about 207 miles of rated range when I departed CT. Despite not having a 100% charge, I knew the DCFC station on my route was only 160 miles away, so I still had plenty of a buffer. HOWEVER, starting with a 100% charge from CT would have made my return trip easier, as you'll see later. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriWUptA8nMAuRSVoZVSy8JVN74aYAdHdDq31g5KspaZm2nKH2vk5nPThPzcU2ZZ4SGe7p6EfU4wJney0jtWuNYdxDwPEdQmi-ipXDU7sYOWgzEOJRicpMqAcHXFieoUWTrwG_txMMXuM/s1600/IMG_20170703_094502852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriWUptA8nMAuRSVoZVSy8JVN74aYAdHdDq31g5KspaZm2nKH2vk5nPThPzcU2ZZ4SGe7p6EfU4wJney0jtWuNYdxDwPEdQmi-ipXDU7sYOWgzEOJRicpMqAcHXFieoUWTrwG_txMMXuM/s1600/IMG_20170703_094502852.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Was not able to top off before leaving CT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once again, with temps in the low 90's, I had the AC cranking at 70 just about the whole drive, speeds between 65-70 mph. My stop at the Molly Pitcher rest area EVgo station was uneventful. I noticed that a Tesla Model X owner was Supercharging when I pulled in. He seemed to give me a rather puzzled look, probably wondering what a non-Tesla EV was doing at the Supercharger site.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATqsYKRvco8Ihbyc1uV1FA2tszDaAsk_Tk6V6EfU82qgP6onNlzZHg88hamxur2uVD7GEIYAFROnfO2SoCl13PaalKZEaovwUAbaw0xXtWYp1c_nK7Q87jm1rPLm5xjVc6QGjTxFEXx4/s1600/IMG_20170703_123252864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATqsYKRvco8Ihbyc1uV1FA2tszDaAsk_Tk6V6EfU82qgP6onNlzZHg88hamxur2uVD7GEIYAFROnfO2SoCl13PaalKZEaovwUAbaw0xXtWYp1c_nK7Q87jm1rPLm5xjVc6QGjTxFEXx4/s1600/IMG_20170703_123252864.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I eat my sammich while my Bolt sucks up the e-juice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a little over an hour of charging (two 30 minute sessions plus a few minutes more), I was on my way, with 169 miles on the GOM and 152 miles to the grandparent's house. While the grandparents were only 152 miles away, the nearest DCFC I was planning to stop at was actually over 180 miles away! As I had found a EVgo station about 60 miles from the Molly Pitcher stations (a 125 amp one no less), I decided to pull the plug at Molly Pitcher and do a quickie charge in Willow Grove, PA, since it had a slightly higher charging rate. I also needed to go to the bathroom, so it worked out nicely.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL3PwCBZv2Qz0cin2EIdr9gmJQ3xbvzLQXKTPPr8wXHiVfoXYuvDWZSfv4iJ_7mtBvZyV457ndQhN5ue7u1LTK1oqjHdE_VNTq3WfFkFBxT7S2Yz_lVOTagelnnh2X9VnXPDASSIcjSk/s1600/IMG_20170703_133628225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL3PwCBZv2Qz0cin2EIdr9gmJQ3xbvzLQXKTPPr8wXHiVfoXYuvDWZSfv4iJ_7mtBvZyV457ndQhN5ue7u1LTK1oqjHdE_VNTq3WfFkFBxT7S2Yz_lVOTagelnnh2X9VnXPDASSIcjSk/s1600/IMG_20170703_133628225.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Departed Molly Pitcher rest area with 169 miles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqg30ya4cqkIc_6qWOAbjQbkGpe3mcbQr3GAZfH_rZ-7p7B6YiGubShGKY0xUN0vHoKLOPHToJ2j9jbFVFfz2mFnS3iVP6FmyPJrsqJzIPwcitNKpZp2cDwplWR-3vIg7vk_hiO9Y7lZU/s1600/IMG_20170703_142515912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqg30ya4cqkIc_6qWOAbjQbkGpe3mcbQr3GAZfH_rZ-7p7B6YiGubShGKY0xUN0vHoKLOPHToJ2j9jbFVFfz2mFnS3iVP6FmyPJrsqJzIPwcitNKpZp2cDwplWR-3vIg7vk_hiO9Y7lZU/s1600/IMG_20170703_142515912.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick pitstop in Willow Grove, PA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJawnxot8hC-7iXVtbkqfNqEbWYdIovN1kVGwyrm6Khx0e1Co-XtWjDd8ldN89iZvjiw_D7iz4u_m4KxUDio3jxFNfFtI1jFRHJ_lkuimS0T66hytMRCCVo5Itt5At1gVAY7x_FHbKTo/s1600/IMG_20170703_143649892_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJawnxot8hC-7iXVtbkqfNqEbWYdIovN1kVGwyrm6Khx0e1Co-XtWjDd8ldN89iZvjiw_D7iz4u_m4KxUDio3jxFNfFtI1jFRHJ_lkuimS0T66hytMRCCVo5Itt5At1gVAY7x_FHbKTo/s1600/IMG_20170703_143649892_HDR.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">148 miles on the GOM, 144 miles to the next DCFC...that works</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I arrived at my grandparents, who despite being over 90 years old, expressed a lot of interest in the Bolt. After spending some time catching up and eating dinner, it was time to hit the road yet again. The GOM said I had 31 miles remaining...but the next planned DCFC stop was 33 miles away. I decided if I drove at the speed limit rather than over it, I would have plenty of range to get to the next stop, as my range estimate was based off me going 5-10 over the speed limit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyzbqYbrMT8BWUrInNknvsDPhAWzrewcHazwSUrTP0zeB8pwwFJsPqibJKreu2_daYgrCyfqRp8ngBc71SOSyfVMtoL80_qDMWmtnNCZoDuIQWrzt_bkhepM3hI7MfWjg2oCiqrwY5_4/s1600/IMG_20170703_201120683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyzbqYbrMT8BWUrInNknvsDPhAWzrewcHazwSUrTP0zeB8pwwFJsPqibJKreu2_daYgrCyfqRp8ngBc71SOSyfVMtoL80_qDMWmtnNCZoDuIQWrzt_bkhepM3hI7MfWjg2oCiqrwY5_4/s1600/IMG_20170703_201120683.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">31 miles of range, 33 miles to go....math works for me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I must admit, during the last 15 miles of the drive after the GOM simply blinked "LOW" at me, I got my first bit of range anxiety. However, based off my previous experiences, I felt reasonably comfortable I had enough range to make it. The constant hills gave me some worry though. Turned out I had plenty of miles to spare! I made it to the EVgo station (another 100-amp station. Bah!) located at an Arby's in York, PA.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtEYAEoAlZA9uFBi4_IE4GSp_-FoIo5yT3WOC3CEkjUWxKAjjECzWqBwVmtkgFhvx5wswzaZYGCkuMh8prZMEeI8rxo1hLNpI1MGBIuYjLy2e-Wb4lgHTMV0ndzgsWCuVwNF0jW24HDo/s1600/IMG_20170703_205316340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtEYAEoAlZA9uFBi4_IE4GSp_-FoIo5yT3WOC3CEkjUWxKAjjECzWqBwVmtkgFhvx5wswzaZYGCkuMh8prZMEeI8rxo1hLNpI1MGBIuYjLy2e-Wb4lgHTMV0ndzgsWCuVwNF0jW24HDo/s1600/IMG_20170703_205316340.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whew, that's cutting it close!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zHvREfKgRT4rSe76Yd_rurk0DhyWyJPEoCxkCi0Y2CadxVm6yE53XOGO4Uwb570qCsLbkDYQMoLT-pjiR5Ucm2eUhG1gP0OtB5qWyErkyTNIZ8Uj2CVmIAZgqphKBMeLxuK_yptQMhY/s1600/IMG_20170703_205332347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zHvREfKgRT4rSe76Yd_rurk0DhyWyJPEoCxkCi0Y2CadxVm6yE53XOGO4Uwb570qCsLbkDYQMoLT-pjiR5Ucm2eUhG1gP0OtB5qWyErkyTNIZ8Uj2CVmIAZgqphKBMeLxuK_yptQMhY/s1600/IMG_20170703_205332347.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had tons of range to spare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spent an hour at this EVgo station, and when I was ready to go I had 95 miles of range and 63 miles to home. I burned down the road at 70-75 MPH the rest of the way, leaving the range worries in the dust. Here are the numbers for my CT-PA-MD return trip:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9KVnyikF6OFCE_Q8LruaKbp0bEgGzlzkfK_9mxHqQUyUC_-_bP3lStFdk10SLnrsB08Wi1WGWL5AmfbKp0mgc9dEuEqrk2b3lsLoiG8obbG1jVX8T9qdVwAVLJ5HntdLaEEOk6eHZJg/s1600/IMG_20170703_223938389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9KVnyikF6OFCE_Q8LruaKbp0bEgGzlzkfK_9mxHqQUyUC_-_bP3lStFdk10SLnrsB08Wi1WGWL5AmfbKp0mgc9dEuEqrk2b3lsLoiG8obbG1jVX8T9qdVwAVLJ5HntdLaEEOk6eHZJg/s1600/IMG_20170703_223938389.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">421 miles traveling 65-70 mph with AC on....not bad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So all in all, I drove over 900 miles over the course of 2 1/2 days, averaging 4.2 miles/kWh driving like an regular person on the highway this 4th of July weekend. While I did have to go a little out of my way to charge my Bolt at certain times during the trip (and it did take longer than a regular gas car), in no way was my trip a near-disaster at every turn like that Bolt owner mentioned at the beginning of my blog. With a little preparation, you CAN road trip in a Bolt. It just will take a little longer and you have to use a little brain power before and during the trip. You need not be a rocket scientist in order to drive a Bolt outside the city limits; you just need to have a clue. 😃<br />
<br />
As far as charging costs go, I engaged in a total of 4.5 hours of fast charging at EVgo stations. Billed at 10 cents/minute, it cost me $27 in total charging costs for my 916 mile trip ($41.95 if you include the $14.95 monthly fee in the total).<br />
<br />
To compare, a 30 MPG gas car would have needed almost $70 in gas to complete the same trip, assuming $2.20 for a regular gallon of gas.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDD6JWpa7BD2GZJL_ysLqGyJUYyKwOZ2dYk7Pil4EpDOie8Wm5YwhQSJCAB1gBG6tXD0pcvcFw2qF5D6LOYTWPEiDNrSPgt8STZ7_sa12sS3YGfsNmJhFq_3IL3PCjw77aUBcL84C7Vw/s1600/IMG_20170703_223955778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDD6JWpa7BD2GZJL_ysLqGyJUYyKwOZ2dYk7Pil4EpDOie8Wm5YwhQSJCAB1gBG6tXD0pcvcFw2qF5D6LOYTWPEiDNrSPgt8STZ7_sa12sS3YGfsNmJhFq_3IL3PCjw77aUBcL84C7Vw/s1600/IMG_20170703_223955778.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All that driving...and no complaints about the front seats, btw!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-15059372782510619022017-07-03T09:19:00.003-04:002017-11-17T18:27:16.479-05:00Autocrossing a Chevy Bolt EV?!As some of you are aware, last Saturday I completed my "Drive 313 miles on a single charge across the state of MD" journey successfully. By engaging in light hypermiling techniques and with some elevation help, I was able to stretch the Bolt's range over 31% past its official 238 mile EPA range number! What could I possibly do to follow up such a feat? Doing the polar opposite and entering my Bolt in an autocross event!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKRYviBQs53SFBSId8G7HyGjWVkx8xYmDELWTSUVl4QpJJGHewza-lycMHa1tE58j8MWQeJ3_tBToA3jZQRmAcfaZyUwbWRx_AzktyumLqBXKfhXRsrWofUorJrhQ6E1-JRuA4ojNRsg/s1600/2017-07-02_19.25.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKRYviBQs53SFBSId8G7HyGjWVkx8xYmDELWTSUVl4QpJJGHewza-lycMHa1tE58j8MWQeJ3_tBToA3jZQRmAcfaZyUwbWRx_AzktyumLqBXKfhXRsrWofUorJrhQ6E1-JRuA4ojNRsg/s640/2017-07-02_19.25.54.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Terry Krebs Photography</td></tr>
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For those of you not familiar with autocross, these types of events are usually held in empty parking lots with a track consisting of a series of tight turns marked by cones. As you can guess, handling, acceleration (and sticky tires) are the keys to the game in autocross as opposed to raw straight line speed in a drag race. Vehicles such as a Dodge Challenger Hellcat need not apply. Instead, modded Corvettes, Miatas, Scion FR-S's, Subaru BRZ's and the like rule the roost. And in my event's case, one helluva souped up '99 Dodge Neon!<br />
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So what was I thinking entering my totally stock 2017 Bolt EV Premier in the event? Why not! While the Bolt has the low end acceleration needed for autocrossing, its rather hefty weight (over 3,500 pounds) and unconventional shape (for an autocross event) are a couple of negatives. Racing on the Bolt's LRR OEM tires was also a huge disadvantage, as most everyone else was at a minimum running performance tires. Toss in the fact I had never participated in an autocross event.....ever, and my set expectations for myself were very modest: don't kill anyone, don't end up on my roof or wrapped around a light pole.<br />
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The only preparation I did before the event was to wash and wax my Bolt (hey, it should at least LOOK nice) and empty out any random junk that was laying around inside the car. I aired up my tires to the max (as someone recommended) and I was off to Blue Crab stadium in Waldorf, MD! As the drive was 50 miles to the event location, I didn't need to charge before the event.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oqqC4Xb9RxyoigM7ufNEyzfBMLepNHvRcYr_-Deh9WaEZORY5IIBZxt5QZjzbXqAz5oGdGvGSfRBv_YecrmQAHBZ_l3gCyRkJClG8T70RSQTHLMx3kjr2cQvSsMwE4PlLk2tdySpIX0/s1600/IMG_20170701_062713150_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oqqC4Xb9RxyoigM7ufNEyzfBMLepNHvRcYr_-Deh9WaEZORY5IIBZxt5QZjzbXqAz5oGdGvGSfRBv_YecrmQAHBZ_l3gCyRkJClG8T70RSQTHLMx3kjr2cQvSsMwE4PlLk2tdySpIX0/s640/IMG_20170701_062713150_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If it's nice and shiny, it'll go a little faster right?! Ehhh.....</td></tr>
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After arriving at the autocross location and checking in, I drove to the "paddock" area where all the other drivers were prepping their cars. I quickly found out that I was the only electric car entered in the event. When I went through tech inspection, one of the inspectors popped the hood, stared at the Bolt's "engine" bay for a few seconds, then went "I have no idea what I'm looking at!". Since nothing was loose that he could see, he passed the Bolt with a shrug of the shoulders.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtawce4tjiU2OeelEZ1jb_WPc8oiyPNE9O438lwSr5yxkxNYvoVf99AdJNaJjBEzrBsAkLznvcnykDnwqTvnLo7AQXf0uqt1XWhbW7Kox3wppJIZxqMskF3A_vQUbFyxMW1LM0CRm8nSc/s1600/IMG_20170701_081239640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtawce4tjiU2OeelEZ1jb_WPc8oiyPNE9O438lwSr5yxkxNYvoVf99AdJNaJjBEzrBsAkLznvcnykDnwqTvnLo7AQXf0uqt1XWhbW7Kox3wppJIZxqMskF3A_vQUbFyxMW1LM0CRm8nSc/s640/IMG_20170701_081239640.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hanging out in the paddock</td></tr>
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There were a total of 118 entrants in the event, and 3 heats scheduled consisting of A and B groups. As I had registered rather late in the process, I ended up in Heat 3, group B, so I ended up watching the other drivers make their runs. Before the actual event, drivers get a chance to walk the course to try and memorize the layout before making their runs. I also chatted up an owner of a 2016 Ford Focus ST. It turned out it was also his first time to an autocross event. I wished Abdullah luck, and I went off to watch some more runs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1llHPnum0L5UKn62_2WmNuGq7BA4x6xBA-2cBaI-w9vGxESGKTGHFA7y2aIuXUbTuK3r_H1KyPDFLrZlmDvvWHdvK-WYksgb2WP0nxSflVlGwORGSa1rW4x5Qo2oNlBlAcdqDyba7xc/s1600/IMG_20170701_085357987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1llHPnum0L5UKn62_2WmNuGq7BA4x6xBA-2cBaI-w9vGxESGKTGHFA7y2aIuXUbTuK3r_H1KyPDFLrZlmDvvWHdvK-WYksgb2WP0nxSflVlGwORGSa1rW4x5Qo2oNlBlAcdqDyba7xc/s640/IMG_20170701_085357987.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of these is not like the other</td></tr>
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The format for the event was fairly straightforward. There were 3 total heats consisting of A and B groups. While group A was making their runs, the B group was out on the track to call in missed turns and replacing hit cones. Numerous cones were sent flying during the day. After group A made 3 runs, group B went to their cars while group A replaced them on the track.</div>
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When Heat 3 started, I was assigned to a section of track with 2 other guys. One of them asked me what I was driving, and I replied a Bolt EV. He then went "Oh, so you're the guy in the Bolt!". I asked them if they see any other EVs at these events, and both (including the guy that owned 6 cars total including a Miata he entered) said they had never seen an electric car at an autocross before. I asked about Teslas, but one guy responded they are too heavy for this type of event, so he had never seen one. After about 25 minutes, it was finally time to hit the track!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kb-jxl9pqPnSxYSOpuxmMGHnrN7SPqWFjOy7M61TPcMYdR_WjVUtf0n9Px3x3LWJtkOjHonuG1P10K2AteSHCOh2web26sxiQzMWfn84M4nxLRYSa92GxELsEqG1iaUSda7BUBgqOls/s1600/IMG_20170701_085533789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kb-jxl9pqPnSxYSOpuxmMGHnrN7SPqWFjOy7M61TPcMYdR_WjVUtf0n9Px3x3LWJtkOjHonuG1P10K2AteSHCOh2web26sxiQzMWfn84M4nxLRYSa92GxELsEqG1iaUSda7BUBgqOls/s640/IMG_20170701_085533789.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car #919 ready for action</td></tr>
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<div>
I got into the Bolt and rolled it up to the staging area. One by one, cars peeled off to make their runs. As my time approached, I started to feel the adrenaline start flowing. I was actually going to autocross a friggin' "greenie" Bolt EV! I made sure to turn off traction control as recommended by another driver, and lined up at the line. </div>
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At this point of the story, I want to be able to say that I, a complete novice, blew away the rest of the competition of 'vettes, Miatas, 911's, and FR-S and BRZ's with the all-electric Bolt's 100% torque from 0.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/kGisi63.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="654" height="301" src="https://i.imgur.com/kGisi63.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You kidding me?</td></tr>
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It turned out I placed 114/118 cars that ran that day. But I was not the worst! Moral victory! In fact, the person that was the slowest turned out to be Abdullah, who I had chatted with earlier. Sorry dude.</div>
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Below are the 4 runs I made, captured on my super crappy GoPro knockoff camera. Apologies for the crappy video. </div>
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Run #1: went off course early, no time recorded. Doh.</div>
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Run #2: 54.42 seconds. A guy actually jumped in before the run, as his girlfriend was interested in buying a Bolt and he wanted to see what it was like. </div>
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Run #3: 52.04 seconds. Improvement!</div>
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Run #4: 51.58 seconds. Because I was only running the morning session, they gave me a 4th run<br />
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So all in all, even though I sucked, I still had a blast at the autocross event, and met some cool people in the process. Now I am left to wonder what a Bolt with AWD, lowered springs, sticky tires, and a competent driver could do on the course...</div>
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bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-38469559951455224722017-06-25T16:39:00.002-04:002017-09-08T21:51:39.512-04:00Drive across the state of Maryland (313 miles) on a single charge? Yes, you can!Hello friends! It's been quite a while since my last blog post, but the stunt I pulled yesterday deserves a nice, thorough blog entry all to itself.<br />
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Everyone knows that the Bolt's EPA-certified range is 238 miles. A lot of owners (including) me have found that it is quite easy to attain, and exceed that range figure without even trying (at least in non-winter months). I found during several moderate range (100-200 mile) trips, I could attain or even exceed an average of 5 miles/kWh (or a projected 300 miles on a single charge) without even trying. What if I <i>actually</i> tried, though?<br />
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Chevy has recently started playing localized radio spots for the Bolt EV in the MD/DC/VA area, stating that you can travel from Annapolis to Ocean City and back on a single charge. Another version of the ad stated you could travel from Annapolis to Virginia Beach on a single charge. Both of those trips are within the Bolt's official range....BORING! Pretty much anyone could do those trips in their sleep without issues. How about going across the entire state of Maryland on a single charge, or over 300 miles? Now THAT sounds more compelling!<br />
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Mapping out such a trek, a cross-state drive from Deep Creek Lake (McHenry) to Ocean City is 315 miles, way beyond the Bolt's official range...by 77 miles to be precise. Who would be crazy enough to attempt such a stunt?! This guy.<br />
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Despite the length of the trip being way beyond the Bolt's official range, there is a 2,500 foot overall elevation drop driving from McHenry to Ocean City. Factoring that into my calculations, I figured that would help boost the range of my Bolt beyond it's official limits. While the elevation change almost certainly helped maximize my range, it may not have helped as much as I initially thought. According to the below elevation chart, there was over 7,700 feet of climbs on the drive compared to the 2,400 elevation drop!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtilZ8EKxdu6bZQGlj2S6qI-IYBlCWncmhejcOvpWLYwcYqyH-pO06acFgJtcBgnpY4SENJawJ9-Bh0xFYRnryCwXoKbyCRgqoSeG1W8p9M_j2AOnzkSXBp1xY29sCj6pQPE085qFEFxo/s1600/Screenshot_20170625-091749.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1176" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtilZ8EKxdu6bZQGlj2S6qI-IYBlCWncmhejcOvpWLYwcYqyH-pO06acFgJtcBgnpY4SENJawJ9-Bh0xFYRnryCwXoKbyCRgqoSeG1W8p9M_j2AOnzkSXBp1xY29sCj6pQPE085qFEFxo/s640/Screenshot_20170625-091749.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like Ford's stock value in recent years</td></tr>
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Now that I had my trip planned out, the only thing I had to do was get out to McHenry in my Bolt and charge it to 100%! How hard could that be, right? Well, as the saying goes, "Half the journey is getting there". In my case, it was probably more than half.<br />
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Maryland is fairly well developed for EV charging infrastructure compared to all states not named California, and even has a very good number of CCS fast charging stations that the Bolt is compatible with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/Screenshot%2030_zps5q9ity6s.png.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Screenshot 30_zps5q9ity6s.png" border="0" height="351" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/Screenshot%2030_zps5q9ity6s.png~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all those charging stations!</td></tr>
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However, taking a closer look at Western Maryland, we go from charging station Utopia to Scorched Earth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/Screenshot%2031_zpsc60mlnas.png.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Screenshot 31_zpsc60mlnas.png" border="0" height="415" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/Screenshot%2031_zpsc60mlnas.png~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think the Mad Max world had more stations than this</td></tr>
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Absolutely 0 CCS fast charging stations anywhere in the western half of the state, with 2 DCFC sites in Hagerstown being the most westward sites. Hagerstown is 108 miles from Mchenry, so not a chip shot.<br />
I wanted to minimize the time it took to get and then charge back to 100% in Mchenry, so I decided to hit a couple charging sites in between my home in Columbia and McHenry. My "Ocean City or Bust" journey started at 4:41AM on a rainy Saturday morning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU97dtT138GbX0gEgu7IMxDnu_waKdTN6nyP_AMyyjlCc2FvdhQVX-J7DXH_kVOJc08vL0qmfHweZkUzkPtUwHv4JUzgsnOZ6-EmbQN4jthJ_XA3C1yRL7rsiF2mddwQJNzO27_skYgwM/s1600/IMG_20170624_043542353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU97dtT138GbX0gEgu7IMxDnu_waKdTN6nyP_AMyyjlCc2FvdhQVX-J7DXH_kVOJc08vL0qmfHweZkUzkPtUwHv4JUzgsnOZ6-EmbQN4jthJ_XA3C1yRL7rsiF2mddwQJNzO27_skYgwM/s640/IMG_20170624_043542353.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain sucked up a lot more energy than expected</td></tr>
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My first stop was at the EVgo fast charging station at the Hagerstown Premium Outlets. The 67 mile drive out to Hagerstown included driving through a torrential downpour of rain, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy passed by the area. I was also forced to used the defroster, which drained even more energy. I arrived at the EVgo station and after plugging in, the station told me I was at 56% battery state of charge (SOC). This leg of the journey before The Journey used way more energy than expected, which would result in more downtime charging. Luckily, no more rain was encountered the rest of the day. In fact, the weather was almost perfect for driving an EV.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNjg8pC-IToccZZG434oJ2EjL8ld9M5fNnf0n_-2VFERgiUXjJoVO1LHKW3r_vtUp5ad1SZiHHcKUmCSUhEbY_1k3PNZt1KzPDu4kLRA1XA6oMTrr_rYH9ytTw_XJeRd1dtf_2MsfhCo/s1600/IMG_20170624_060109764_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNjg8pC-IToccZZG434oJ2EjL8ld9M5fNnf0n_-2VFERgiUXjJoVO1LHKW3r_vtUp5ad1SZiHHcKUmCSUhEbY_1k3PNZt1KzPDu4kLRA1XA6oMTrr_rYH9ytTw_XJeRd1dtf_2MsfhCo/s640/IMG_20170624_060109764_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaining back charge as quickly as possible</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoonYdQDCQX3KVwk4WEq72S4OS8gLspcbXsUre1-etG1A0lFHt2KJEfh3cD8r1pTskobsyn5AIMk_f8lzJTZbGKjc3FpfX4PXVsxGUmQsKRUf2RaR9XHUGOqrMKtAhpzHfm3L-XHg4PE/s1600/IMG_20170624_062443575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoonYdQDCQX3KVwk4WEq72S4OS8gLspcbXsUre1-etG1A0lFHt2KJEfh3cD8r1pTskobsyn5AIMk_f8lzJTZbGKjc3FpfX4PXVsxGUmQsKRUf2RaR9XHUGOqrMKtAhpzHfm3L-XHg4PE/s640/IMG_20170624_062443575.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Obligatory gratuitous selfie. (swear to God I did not color match my shirt to my Bolt. Literally just realized that)</td></tr>
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After about an hour of charging (including 1 session restart because EVgo can't be bothered to extend the maximum session time past 30 minutes. grrr), I had charged up to 92%. At that point the L3 charging speed was barely any faster than the Bolt's L2 max rate (7.2), so I decided to move on.<br />
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While I could have driven all the way to McHenry at this point, I saw on Plugshare that there was a free charging station at Rocky Gap Casino in Flintstone, MD, so I figured I'd stop there to kill some time and visit a place I had never been to before. In hindsight, I probably should have skipped this stop. Though it did make my wallet lighter, which may have helped with range. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFnDhvc37j9eRxh7A-v1pMGnt0JWkDMrTKJN4JLEm45L0hpN2QXqZPOYntuAMXceNns_vFM18M-s0EP9j9P7yEDO5mTSJnspd-pGWzbBuRo_YX7oiM2_icZ3SSlGEXdiJlvLo6y_NpR8/s1600/IMG_20170624_075957820_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFnDhvc37j9eRxh7A-v1pMGnt0JWkDMrTKJN4JLEm45L0hpN2QXqZPOYntuAMXceNns_vFM18M-s0EP9j9P7yEDO5mTSJnspd-pGWzbBuRo_YX7oiM2_icZ3SSlGEXdiJlvLo6y_NpR8/s640/IMG_20170624_075957820_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completely free charging (as long as you ignore the $40 I lost on slots)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had noticed that even though the Clipper Creek unit was a 40 amp version (and thus should have maxed out the Bolt's 7.2 kW onboard charger), I noticed via my JuicePlug I had brought along that the charge rate was only topping out at 5.9 kW. For whatever reason, the voltage was only reading around 190 instead of the 240 I had expected, which reduced the charge rates. As saving time was a priority, I pulled the plug early and hoped the L2 station in McHenry charged faster.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnwj1TiMtYvBXJjzx1MaTELi9__lvm9suKc1f0rnxFZkLEtJ06FeAkvQvGmXXfo21xipK4KneP_2tj6ZaTT78p3GujBjY3JkCXjuFvexnkZF_26TzOxz3q2zCUh3ldTXAojtKpeew-jU/s1600/1498440897056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnwj1TiMtYvBXJjzx1MaTELi9__lvm9suKc1f0rnxFZkLEtJ06FeAkvQvGmXXfo21xipK4KneP_2tj6ZaTT78p3GujBjY3JkCXjuFvexnkZF_26TzOxz3q2zCUh3ldTXAojtKpeew-jU/s400/1498440897056.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too slow for my blood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
50 miles later, I had arrived in McHenry. The location of the L2 charging station was actually located at a local bed and breakfast, the Lake Pointe Inn. I had noticed that they had a single L2 station along with a couple of Tesla destination chargers. I had emailed the Inn a few days prior to make sure I would be able to use their L2 station.<br />
<br />
<div>
When I arrived at the Lake Pointe Inn, I found that the charging station I needed to use was blocked! And it was marked as employee parking only, no less. I was starting to worry I had driven all this way for nothing, but I found the manager and explained my situation, and he offered to have the employee car moved so that I could charge. Thanks a lot, Scott! The EV world needs more EV-friendly establishments like the Lake Pointe Inn!</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUGCu_4RyYKxEk0McZEHuDBfGlO8cN3JbuZaqUf0taLsDi-jo6TPV2_oDritgmtZB71aQMoVjS9bPVwXQzLGABTrc44HzRDVSc-4BVfdMc0Hd6YZ8PLBuvQN0nEIkvueMCYBZwTaA6mE/s1600/IMG_20170624_111757284_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUGCu_4RyYKxEk0McZEHuDBfGlO8cN3JbuZaqUf0taLsDi-jo6TPV2_oDritgmtZB71aQMoVjS9bPVwXQzLGABTrc44HzRDVSc-4BVfdMc0Hd6YZ8PLBuvQN0nEIkvueMCYBZwTaA6mE/s640/IMG_20170624_111757284_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free charging courtesy of the Lake Pointe Inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
Luckily, the Clipper Creek station (same exact unit as the one at the Casino) was wired better or something, because I was able to achieve charge rates above 7 kW.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG5wMzfPjlFjN-xFk_WwUd_J5H3Cfx0Tl48v7O3cpld8FKnsk8cjxjCu-cXa5e9I-WYUEenr_d23KCNGKvaamSL3efGYbHLOoUVC9fVtlS0Mh-qddd6GFaAB7oaW2Ve0xbHCW8WbBFCU/s1600/1498440886134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG5wMzfPjlFjN-xFk_WwUd_J5H3Cfx0Tl48v7O3cpld8FKnsk8cjxjCu-cXa5e9I-WYUEenr_d23KCNGKvaamSL3efGYbHLOoUVC9fVtlS0Mh-qddd6GFaAB7oaW2Ve0xbHCW8WbBFCU/s400/1498440886134.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There we go, much better</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
For those of you curious, the following are the stats for the Columbia to McHenry leg of the trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpavzlWVna2kYyYYh2YvHLApu0rtiGri6rZlbNXdrRn4-pdxlDWO6M5qQJ6uB4aCHBvA99poKmXA4yClpvQem50L0Al5H1M6ScoSS3m8XqRIAnFssulTXkTdSs0zH0mW_j7yBegVmEeM/s1600/IMG_20170624_105315956_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpavzlWVna2kYyYYh2YvHLApu0rtiGri6rZlbNXdrRn4-pdxlDWO6M5qQJ6uB4aCHBvA99poKmXA4yClpvQem50L0Al5H1M6ScoSS3m8XqRIAnFssulTXkTdSs0zH0mW_j7yBegVmEeM/s640/IMG_20170624_105315956_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Used up just about a full charge worth of energy. The mountains are not kind to range.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I had almost 4 hours to kill before my Bolt charged to 100%, I spent most of the time exploring the Wisp Ski Resort, which was just across the street. All said and told, I walked almost 8 miles while waiting for my Bolt to charge. The Deep Creek Lake area could really use a DCFC station or 2.<br />
<br />
When the Bolt was finally done charging, it was almost 3PM. I had to cover ~315 miles, while the Bolt's guess-o-meter (GOM) stated a figure of 234 miles. I was 81 miles to the bad!<br />
<br />
Despite the fuzzy, if not crazy math, I departed right at 3PM, determined to show that the Bolt could cross the entire state of Maryland on a single charge in as close to real world conditions as possible (no driving around in circles at 25 mph stuff). In fact, the only preparations I made to my Bolt before embarking in this trip was to air the tires up to 44 psi (the maximum allowed). Driving wise, on certain stretches of highway in Western Md, I kept speeds 5-10 mph below the speed limit, as I knew there was no way I could make it traveling at 70 mph for extended periods.<br />
<br />
One interesting thing I noticed is that 100 miles into the drive to Ocean City, the GOM stated I still had 226 miles of range. Which means it dropped only 8 miles after driving 100 miles. The elevation drop definitely messes with the range calculations. My estimated range remaining actually spiked to 268 miles at one point....50 miles into drive!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/DSC_0005_zpsscdj8kor.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo DSC_0005_zpsscdj8kor.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/DSC_0005_zpsscdj8kor.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little over 70 miles into my trip, my 80 mile range deficit went 1 mile to the good</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The rest of the drive was, frankly, rather uneventful. Once I cleared the mountains of Western MD, the GOM stopped bouncing around like a ping pong ball. I maintained about a 20-25 mile buffer on the GOM asI crossed the Bay Bridge.<br />
<br />
The last 1/3 of the drive was very flat, so the GOM estimates remained steady. The last hour of the drive I actually sped up (going 5 miles ABOVE the 55 speed limit) as I wanted to arrive in Ocean City before it got dark. My 25 mile buffer slowly ticked down to a 12 mile cushion, but I pressed on.<br />
<br />
With 30 miles left on the GOM, I got the "Charge Vehicle Soon" message. Yeah, I will, as soon as I get to Ocean City!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/DSC_0009_zpskkkkef2k.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo DSC_0009_zpskkkkef2k.jpg" border="0" height="346" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/DSC_0009_zpskkkkef2k.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did not know that</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With about 5 miles to go until Ocean City, the GOM changed to a blinking "LOW" instead of a number. While I was fairly confident I would make it, it's still a little unsettling to see that message.<br />
<br />
5 hours, 36 minutes after I had departed McHenry and 313.4 miles later (56 MPH average btw), I had made it to Ocean City! And the desperately needed DCFC station at Royal Farms. Huzzah! After charging up for about an hour, I got some Thrasher's french fries (who stops in Ocean City without getting these?) and then headed back home, which was 135 miles away.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170624_203935863_zpsqmis1uya.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170624_203935863_zpsqmis1uya.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170624_203935863_zpsqmis1uya.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">313.4 miles on a single charge! And I could have gone a little farther too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p7bHtzn8mI1mSpgnwWiPYtW705xLdY5A2x4lhzILudWP0F53lrEBNwDRx41_tJvN-RmOzvN1acSfRzHhDNPGcVNyXMwb_JJTT3lcXkOf6ePs3tv3JEu4OiIZYtaCjcZxXwGBEis-Pxc/s1600/IMG_20170624_204140536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1599" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p7bHtzn8mI1mSpgnwWiPYtW705xLdY5A2x4lhzILudWP0F53lrEBNwDRx41_tJvN-RmOzvN1acSfRzHhDNPGcVNyXMwb_JJTT3lcXkOf6ePs3tv3JEu4OiIZYtaCjcZxXwGBEis-Pxc/s640/IMG_20170624_204140536.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much needed charge after the drive! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
So I had done it! I had answered the question probably only I had ever asked, "Can you drive across the state of Maryland in a Bolt on a single charge?" with a resounding "Yes, you can!".<br />
I do have to point out that the opposite drive is definitely NOT possible on a single charge due to the elevation change. However, being able to obliterate the official EPA range by a good 75 miles without going to hypermiling extremes was certainly satisfying.<br />
<br />
Another mark I ended up setting was my Bolt is now #2 on the "Most EV miles traveled in a day" page.<br />
<a href="https://www.voltstats.net/BoltEV/Stats/Achievements" target="_blank">https://www.voltstats.net/BoltEV/Stats/Achievements</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for now. I did enter into an autocross event next weekend, which is a complete 180 from what I just did. I may blog about that one as well!</div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-88138109744866094672017-04-24T23:53:00.001-04:002017-04-25T00:06:16.056-04:00Attention to detail!<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The story I am about to tell can serve as a warning as to how a couple of missed details can cause a huge headache when going on a road trip in an all-electric vehicle...even one with a relatively ample (compared to non-Tesla BEVs) 238 mile EV range like my Bolt EV.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This past weekend I took my family on a trip to the Philadelphia area to go to the <i>Brickfest Live!</i> Lego fan festival as an advance birthday gift for my son and daughter. After purchasing the tickets 3 months prior, I had looked in the area where the event was being held to scope out the charging station situation. As the trip would be a minimum 250 miles round trip, I would need to charge my Bolt at least once while in the Philly area. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I noticed that there was a Hilton property listed on Plugshare that had a 240V L2 charging station (along with a couple of Tesla destination charging stations) that I could use to charge overnight. I thought to myself, "Perfect!". To top it off, I also noticed that there were several DCFC fast charging stations listed on Plugshare as well. I was going to be staying in a charging station haven! Shortly after doing my research, I booked the hotel and that was that. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Or so I thought.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As I thought charging my Bolt would not be an issue during this road trip, I actually departed from home with only about an 85% charge on my Bolt (this was mistake #1 ). The Guess-O-Meter (GOM) stated I had 233 miles of range, but I knew that was an overly-optimistic estimate due to the fact that number was achieved mainly through local city driving. During the drive up to Philly, it was raining decently the whole way up, so I had to use the defroster whic ate up some range. Combined with driving 65-70 mph on the freeway, the 233 mile estimate quickly disappeared. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We arrived at the Brickfest location with about 60 miles of range displayed on the GOM. After the event, which was overall entertaining (if a tad nerdy), especially for the kids, we headed to the hotel, which was 10 miles away, to check in and figure out what to have for dinner. After arriving at the hotel, about 50 miles remained on the GOM. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZvfy_4uUxjyV8rnY2wcnG0BPDnuwwmBum28DhSRkw8F20a7TZt_GERAadXdDuSoiMLXEFfj8Vw5DOudlU6yKyfOtinawTGu9QUoYzorAwXOx92z2IRM_Z1M4jwnoyKB7rmQESoLBVDY/s1600/IMG_20170422_151324633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZvfy_4uUxjyV8rnY2wcnG0BPDnuwwmBum28DhSRkw8F20a7TZt_GERAadXdDuSoiMLXEFfj8Vw5DOudlU6yKyfOtinawTGu9QUoYzorAwXOx92z2IRM_Z1M4jwnoyKB7rmQESoLBVDY/s400/IMG_20170422_151324633.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many Lego sights I saw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After checking in to our room, we relaxed a little while discussing what to have for dinner. It was then I realized my first big problem: the hotel were were staying at did not have any onsite charging stations! It turned out the hotel I had booked 2 months earlier was DIFFERENT from the one I originally was going to book and looked up on Plugshare. Both the original hotel and hotel we ended up booking were Hilton properties, and I had mixed them up like an idiot! Doh!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But no problem, I said to myself! I had seen those handful of fast charging stations listed on Plugshare previously, so I could still just quick charge at one of those before leaving for home the next day, right? Ehhhhh, no. While looking at Plugshare that one fateful evening, I had inadvertently set the filter to list all CHAdeMO stations in addition to CCS stations, so non-compatible CHAdemo fast charging stations were listed as well (mistake #2 ). It turned out among those few DCFC stations in the area, none were actually of the Bolt-compatible CCS variety! All that was available were CHAdeMO-only Blink stations! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So no fast charging options, no hotel L2 option, no nearby L2 station. Not even a 120V outlet, as I found out after chatting with the hotel staff. The nearest CCS-compatible station was over 20 miles away, and even then its operational status was questionable at best, based off its Plugshare rating. I was in a pickle!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mind you, the whole time I was humming the “Everything is Awesome!” Lego Movie song in my head, and did not want to let my wife in on the fact I was secretly semi-freaking out. The last thing I wanted to do was to give her the impression the Bolt was not suitable for a road trip. That is one reason I did not resort to some late night charging station searching like I read in other Bolt road trip reviews. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmk8B6e9AiDGvY9uEiU-Kjnk3vFliEkLa6nrUEd94DtLs1KaPf5gWTJKgmz53MxUueO6dhFr5pIpKZFKpAvVwab_2uKm_KO4HoGutXa3ZD0uD_nLlZznZOVdiSGPaLKy3jo81gm-almqY/s1600/13-everything-is-awesom.w529.h352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmk8B6e9AiDGvY9uEiU-Kjnk3vFliEkLa6nrUEd94DtLs1KaPf5gWTJKgmz53MxUueO6dhFr5pIpKZFKpAvVwab_2uKm_KO4HoGutXa3ZD0uD_nLlZznZOVdiSGPaLKy3jo81gm-almqY/s400/13-everything-is-awesom.w529.h352.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or something like that</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My wife then asked me, “Hey, where is the nearest Lego store? Let’s go get some new Lego sets for the kids”. I Googled the nearest Lego store, and it turned out there was one at a large mall about 10 miles away from our hotel Then I look at Plugshare and saw there was actually a couple of 240V charging stations located in the mall's parking lot! But I found out that they were the notorious Blink stations (f**k). However, the Plugshare rating was 7.6, so there was a decent chance they actually worked.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After agreeing to get dinner and shop at the Lego store at that mall, we drove the ~10 miles and found both stations empty. After downloading the Blink app (and noticing the 39 cents/kWh pricing....gross), I start the charge session. But the Bolt’s charging light indicator stayed yellow. You gotta be kidding me, I thought to myself. I restarted the session a couple of times, but still no go. I then tried the other station, and luckily I got it to start charging. Whew, crisis averted! The GOM stated 37 miles of range when it started charging.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaqkT_ZEweWieYGXlZq4DwMfDc28ppOEqSCMvct9kU8kEMprhgQH30CbsxtZIgBR3o0UPCVEzZvAUE6jpKl76L5tVWps-eQKvl4VatQPj4bCT74gkeF2FcUZYdA_099bBxaehULhoT2Y/s1600/IMG_20170422_190622093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaqkT_ZEweWieYGXlZq4DwMfDc28ppOEqSCMvct9kU8kEMprhgQH30CbsxtZIgBR3o0UPCVEzZvAUE6jpKl76L5tVWps-eQKvl4VatQPj4bCT74gkeF2FcUZYdA_099bBxaehULhoT2Y/s400/IMG_20170422_190622093.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A working Blink station! Holy crap!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After chowing down on some Shake Shack and getting the aforementioned Lego sets, we came back to the Bolt 2 hours later. It turned out my Bolt had ingested 10.88 kWh of juice, and the GOM stated I had 79 miles of range. I also found a Volt owner putting some shopping bags in his Volt, and chatted with him a bit as he asked me how I liked the Bolt. I told him I loved my Bolt, and that the only potential issue would be charging while road tripping, though I didn't let him in on my self-inflicted problems. Afterwards, I (carefully) drove back to the hotel and parked the Bolt for the night with 72 miles of range on the GOM.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I woke up the next day, realizing the charging fairy did not visit my Bolt and finding I still needed about 70 miles of range to make the trip back home. After grabbing some breakfast, we head back to Brickfest to check out a couple of things we didn’t get to see the day prior. 60 miles of range remained on the GOM when we got there. Ended up seeing a Delorean from Back to the Future and equipped with that 1.21 jigawatt onbaord charger. If only I had one of those in my Bolt!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TsuVSiNbBUuSFv0C2xcxmB7M5-ifC-sl_0RNexkxkCcWDYTiArYjRLDqVsUXqWGGgTC_5zmS1Ns6vES4gQbTAhUJAQJlMNEQekbsNPAF_Oj91friWusSfYyiB3UY-7N0QTcIzmb_TOg/s1600/IMG_20170422_153144204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TsuVSiNbBUuSFv0C2xcxmB7M5-ifC-sl_0RNexkxkCcWDYTiArYjRLDqVsUXqWGGgTC_5zmS1Ns6vES4gQbTAhUJAQJlMNEQekbsNPAF_Oj91friWusSfYyiB3UY-7N0QTcIzmb_TOg/s400/IMG_20170422_153144204.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where's Doc Brown when you need him??</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After we were done with Brickfest, the wife decided we should head back to the mall to grab lunch and do some shopping (and to get some much needed charge!).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">When we arrived back at the same Blink station I had used the previous night, I saw a Porsche SUV was plugged into the (broken) station #2. Whoops. First time I had ever seen the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid (turns out it only has 14 miles of range). I plugged into the other, working unit, and while were gone for 3 hours and 40 minutes exploring the mall and grabbing lunch, I was able to put 20.56 kWh of juice into my Bolt. The GOM now said I had 133 miles of range, and since our drive home was only 121 miles, we were probably good to go!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I drove around the speed limit (55-60 mph) during most of the trip to MD, trying to preserve that 12 mile buffer, and by the time we were about 40 minutes from home, I had built that buffer up to 19 miles. That’s when I decided that we have enough to make it home comfortably, so I then droved to 65-70 mph the last 40 miles or so. We end up stopping at the local Whole Foods (GOM was now blinking “Low” by this point...guess I shouldn't have sped up. Whoops), and I found a Bolt was plugged into the only working station! Cool since it was my first Bolt sighting (besides my own) in the wild, but also not so cool because I wanted to “top off” my Bolt.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCzpIqjWlGtiPUqWc83Rt9uL-js7QjdyB_X_qV1h9vanZf0PLKQb-en-dXtCHji5fPbR54efYo9VvxdwnB79G3yTu1G30cVJ30DGXysm-g02lRXv7AD_7XUW13O72Ryu7eppjrZNYtjI/s1600/2017-04-23_18.59.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCzpIqjWlGtiPUqWc83Rt9uL-js7QjdyB_X_qV1h9vanZf0PLKQb-en-dXtCHji5fPbR54efYo9VvxdwnB79G3yTu1G30cVJ30DGXysm-g02lRXv7AD_7XUW13O72Ryu7eppjrZNYtjI/s400/2017-04-23_18.59.35.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why hello there!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">During the 5 mile drive back home, in propulsion power reduced mode and the Bolt’s GOM still blinking LOW at me, I drove gingerly and made it back home on e-fumes. According to my Torque Pro app, the battery SOC (probably raw SOC) was 5.7%. I parked the Bolt and I got the GOM to tell me I had 5 miles of estimated range left. Plenty to spare!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUrU9XHgvKcbGIlTKpqr0HbTlBJnfF-45ui4A5Chb01vwzUAMG9Q2cqiRqCBvCW-q7bUyQkOae9Ld3_D_FFQxTqiQMkIA7GxuChnHX3SItmmMBuNlMuDW6qmmj0GRA2l4gwHxYoV8neE/s1600/FB_IMG_1493068350590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUrU9XHgvKcbGIlTKpqr0HbTlBJnfF-45ui4A5Chb01vwzUAMG9Q2cqiRqCBvCW-q7bUyQkOae9Ld3_D_FFQxTqiQMkIA7GxuChnHX3SItmmMBuNlMuDW6qmmj0GRA2l4gwHxYoV8neE/s400/FB_IMG_1493068350590.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tons of range left!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So lessons learned during this trip:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">#1 – ALWAYS start out with a 100% charge before any trip you will need to charge to get back home, even if you think you are in a charging station heaven at your destination</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">#2 – triple check that the place you think you are staying at is actually the hotel you are staying at</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">#3 – don’t be a dumb@ss and leave the CHAdeMO filter on while checking DCFC stations on Plugshare</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">#4 – Check items 1-3 again</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My Bolt performed just as advertised. The owner just screwed up with the trip planning. The morale of the story is to never assume! Or else you may end up even unluckier than me getting the "Tow of Shame". ;)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-68572164833281559512017-03-03T06:47:00.002-05:002019-02-02T20:35:20.593-05:00Fast charging experiences with the BoltWow, it's been forever and a day since my last blog post! Turns out the blog update frequency tanks once the object you've been obsessively blogging about ends up in your possession! 😋<br />
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So after almost 2 months over ownership and 2,000 miles on the road, I've also managed to use CCS DCFC fast charging stations several times (once out of necessity, the other times purely for testing purposes). What I've found is that, like with EV range, your mileage will vary when fast charging the Bolt....literally.<br />
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The Bolt is outfitted with a SAE Combo Charging System (CCS) charging port, so it can only fast charge at locations with CCS plugs. It cannot use CHAdeMO plugs that Japanese vehicles such as the Leaf can use. While CHAdeMO stations vastly outnumbered CCS-compatible stations a few years ago, the gap is closing as the number of CCS fast charging stations is increasing every day. Most new non-Tesla DC fast charging stations have both CHAdeMO and CCS plugs.<br />
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In my area (Howard County, MD) there is a fairly decent CCS-compatible fast charging network. There are over 60 CCS stations within 100 miles of where I live, so I can pretty much drive anywhere in Maryland without having to worry about range. Hell, the Bolt's 238 (more like 190-200 miles in sub-freezing temperatures) mile EPA range is usually more than enough for my family without even factoring in fast charging capability!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/Screenshot%2026_zpsakkwilql.png.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Screenshot 26_zpsakkwilql.png" border="0" height="411" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/Screenshot%2026_zpsakkwilql.png~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not too shabby a network!</td></tr>
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While there are several companies that offer fast charging stations, the main 2 in my area (and pretty much across the country) are Chargepoint and EVgo. Both currently have fast charging stations that advertise 50 kW charging rates. As we will see a little later, 50 kW advertised does not equal 50 kW observed in real-life charging. The Chargepoint stations in my area (mostly installed at Royal Farms locations) cost 29 cents/kWh, with a $3.50 minimum charge. EVgo charging prices vary by the plan you choose, but the best plan for people charging multiple times a month is its "On The Go" plan, which costs a flat $14.95/month and 10 cents/min while fast charging. Again, these are Maryland rates, so if you live in another region the pricing will vary.<br />
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While GM has been coy with the 2017 Bolt's exact fast charging capabilities, it has stated that the Bolt can achieve "about 90 miles in 30 minutes", presumably based off the official 238 EPA-rated range. There is some fine print stating charging performance is dependent on factors such as ambient temperatures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">90 miles in 30 minutes *HUGE ASTERISK*</td></tr>
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Having experienced at least 6 separate instances of fast charging at various Chargepoint and EVgo stations in my area, here are my findings:<br />
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<ul>
<li>No one will actually see 50 kW charge rates at a 50 kW fast charging station with a Bolt...at least not a a station rated at a maximum 125 amps. 46 kW has been the fastest rate I have observed. I DO believe the Bolt can charge faster than 50 kW if hooked up to a fast charging station rated higher than 50 kW/125 amps. Too bad none exist yet that are available to the public.</li>
<li>The Bolt's battery is pretty sensitive to temperatures when it comes to fast charging. With data logged by my OBDII reader and Torque Pro app, I've noticed that I don't experience max (125 amps) charge rates until the Bolt's HV battery temperature is between 65-70 degrees F. If you are planning on fast charging first thing in the morning after parking your Bolt outside in sub-freezing weather unplugged, you will likely experience throttled charge rates till the battery comes up to temp.</li>
<li>The Bolt tapers the max charge rate fairly early compared to say the Spark EV. While Spark EV owners reported near 50 kW rates from 0% to almost 80% SOC, I've noticed the Bolt starts tapering rates at around 50% SOC (ramps down to ~38kW/~100 amps) and again at 70% (down to ~24 kW/~60 amps) from peak ~46 kW/125 amp charge rates at a 125A station. At a little over 80%, the rate again tapers down to <20 kW and stays there till fully charged.<!--20--></li>
<li>The ~0-50% SOC window is where you will see the Bolt charge at the advertised "about 90 miles in about 30 minutes" rates, assuming the HV battery is up to temperature. In the spring/summer/fall, battery temps shouldn't be an issue, but in winter areas that routinely see sub-freezing temperatures, this is something to be aware of.</li>
<li>The most I ever saw in a 30 minute session was 21.84 kWh charged at a 125A EVgo station. Translated in EPA-rated miles, that's ~87 miles in 30 minutes. Slight throttling was experienced.</li>
</ul>
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The below chart might be an info overload, but you can see that the max charge rates (125A/46 kW) aren't realized until the HV battery temp reaches around 70F. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKgLPDXRsUP5Hd261M5xhiMFZlKty6otSisI6ciA9saVq7J1NN7_ANyTPdmsqcegnKt_-colo3FNWHnE7Nb5CneDYo9hEFlLUAUn14PbMd94M_57NgByv8OcTPABhpMRzbiOUYSdsHk8/s1600/Bolt_DCFC_zpsdfll7sfy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="480" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKgLPDXRsUP5Hd261M5xhiMFZlKty6otSisI6ciA9saVq7J1NN7_ANyTPdmsqcegnKt_-colo3FNWHnE7Nb5CneDYo9hEFlLUAUn14PbMd94M_57NgByv8OcTPABhpMRzbiOUYSdsHk8/s640/Bolt_DCFC_zpsdfll7sfy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 minute gap due to restarting the charge session.</td></tr>
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And the charging figures:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Session start time: 5:27AM</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">HV battery SOC% (SOC-R value in Torque Pro): 9.02%</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Battery SOC% according to the station: 5%</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">HV battery temp: 60.8F</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ambient temp: 57F</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Session end time: 6:08AM</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">HV battery SOC% (SOC-R value in Torque Pro): 50.2%</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Battery SOC% according to the station: 47%</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">HV battery temp: 77F</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ambient temp: 57F</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Total kWh charged: 26.73 kWh (according to Torque Pro) / 27.6 according station</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Total time charging: 39 minutes (2 minute gap when stopping/restarting charging)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Total SOC% gained: 41% (according to Torque Pro) / 42% according to station</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Max charge rate observed according to car: 46 kW</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "tahoma" , "calibri" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Once a >125amp CCS station is online, I am eager to see just how much power the Bolt can suck in! If amperage exceeds 131A, a guy I know owes me 100 bucks. 😎</span></div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-63530142388582880952017-01-24T09:04:00.003-05:002017-01-25T13:29:24.973-05:00So....what's it like owning a Bolt?Apologies for the huge gap since my last blog post. For some reason, something has been taking up a lot of my free time...😉<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170118_164517669_BURST000_COVER_TOP_zpsjjxdy3ag.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170118_164517669_BURST000_COVER_TOP_zpsjjxdy3ag.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170118_164517669_BURST000_COVER_TOP_zpsjjxdy3ag.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just chilling among some gasmobiles</td></tr>
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I've been in possession of my Bolt for over a week now, so I think I have enough time in the seat to give some more in-depth impressions. Bottom line, the Bolt is pretty much what I expected, and even exceeds my expectations in a few ways. The Bolt is not perfect, but the positives waaaaay outweigh the few negatives. Since a lot of you guys have never driven a Bolt (or perhaps even seen one in person), I'll try to comment on aspects of the Bolt prospective buyers probably care about the most.<br />
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First off, I'm going to address the front seats (I have a loaded Premier with leather seats, btw). From reading online forums and social media, it seems that the front seats are by far the most polarizing item in the Bolt. I've seen quite a few complaints saying the front seats are "worse than a 10 year old Kia!", "horribly uncomfortable", and other comments along those lines.<br />
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My take? They are fine for me (not the greatest, but perfectly acceptable). However, I understand where the complaints are coming from. I am 6', 190 pounds, so I would rate myself "average" as far as body type goes. I find that when seated in a normal position, I can feel where the ridge of the seat on the left side presses against my thigh. It does not cause me pain or discomfort, but it is definitely noticeable. I've yet to log any long distance (100+ mile) drives in the Bolt, but for around-town driving, the seats are serviceable. The Bolt's front seats are narrower than both my Volts, and also have less cushioning due to the new, slimmer seat design. <br />
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Could the seats be made perhaps an inch wider to increase comfort? It sure looks like there is room to do that. My advice for any potential Bolt owner worried about the seats is to arrange at least a 30 minute test drive in the trim you are planning on getting. That should be good enough to let you determine whether the seats will be an issue for you or not.<br />
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Ok, now that I got that out of the way, let's get into more interesting items, like that "One pedal driving" GM has been pushing so much! Basically, it's a blast to drive the Bolt, especially in L! With the gear selector in "L", you will almost never need to touch the brake pedal except in emergency/sudden braking situations.<br />
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The regen level while in L is MUCH stronger than any plug-in I've driven to date (G1/G2 Volt, Spark EV, C-Max Energi). I've found that even without using the regen paddle on the steering wheel (for extra regen), I can stop at a light without using the brake pedal. In fact, there have been many times I've actually had to step back on the accelerator a little to inch up to the car in front of me because slowing in L was so effective. The regen paddle gives even more regen, which means you can come to a stop fairly quickly without ever touching the brake. For you tech nerds, max regen observed (either D or L) without the regen paddle was 50 kW, and 70 kW combined with the paddle. These regen numbers may vary based on the battery's state of charge, however. <br />
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Once stopped in L, the Bolt will not "creep" like many gas cars do. It will remain stationary until you step on the accelerator again. In "D", the Bolt will drive and function like any plain ole gas car, for those of you that find "L" driving not to your liking.<br />
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How about the gitty up? The Bolt has plenty! If you floor the Bolt from a stop, you WILL squeal the tires. In fact, you will want to grip the Bolt with two hands firmly if you do just that, because there is also some torque steer you will need to deal with. The Bolt's chief engineer said he actually had to tune down the "off the line" power, as the torque steer could literally rip the wheel from an average driver's hands if they weren't careful. I'd be interested to see how a Bolt fitted with stickier tires would fare. I've also only flipped to Sport Mode (increased throttle response, same max performance) once to make sure it works, since performance in normal mode is more than enough!<br />
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The driver safety packages are pretty cool. Here's a quick rundown of what each does and my take:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Lane Keep Assist (LKA): If you don't engage the turn signal and drift towards a painted lane divider, the Bolt will "nudge" you back towards the center of the lane. I've found it works well in the daytime as well as at night. The Bolt can even guide you around a slight curve on the highway all on its own with LKA active. However, anyone watching you from behind will think you are drunk, so you probably don't want to do that very often...especially if a cop is behind you. If you let it "bounce" around the lanes too much, it'll beep at you and display a message telling you to grip the steering wheel. </li>
<li>Rear view mirror camera: pretty cool. It gives a crisp view out the back and offers a wider angle view compared to the standard mirror. I've found I usually have the rear view mirror flipped to "video mode" during daytime driving. However, video mode fairly useless at night. Also, if it is wet or snowy, the view can get obstructed. The Bolt does have a dedicated sprayer for the rear view cameras, however.<br /> </li>
<li>360 degree birds-eye surround camera: Very cool! Combined with the rear vision camera (along with the front camera), if you can't park the Bolt properly, you probably need to just give up your license. The 360 degree birds-eye view lets you see everything around your car out a few feet in each direction, so there should be no curbing of tires, bumping into other cars, or running over of pets or kids. 😉 <br />If you put the Bolt in "R", the backup/birds-eye cameras will activate on the center display. Put the Bolt back in "D" or "L", and the center display will switch to the front camera view, so you can see what's in front of you (will shut off automatically once you hit 5 mph). The Bolt does not have audible front parking sensors, however, so the front camera/birds-eye cam is all you get for judging front distance, along with your own eyeballs of course. </li>
<li>Rear cross-traffic alerts: ....they work. That's all I can really say about that. If you are in "R" and the Bolt detects a car approaching from the left or right, it will trigger an audible alert combined with some red arrows on the center display pointing in the direction the car is coming from. </li>
<li>Front Collision Alert (FCA)/Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): I've had the FCA trigger twice so far...both times on the highway when I was approaching traffic that had started slowing suddenly. The FCA will flash some red lights in the lower left corner of the windshield in addition to triggering audible alerts. There are 3 settings for FCA you can select via a button on the left side of the steering wheel that adjusts sensitivity. Also, in the settings menu, you can choose to turn FCA off, in addition to "FCA on, EAB off", or "FCA on, EAB on". I haven't had a chance to see how EAB works (nor do I want to). </li>
<li>Front Pedestrian Braking: Haven't had a chance to see that in action either, as I haven't tried to mow anyone down yet. If someone wants to volunteer and be a guinea pig and you're in Central Maryland, let me know. You'll have to sign a waiver saying it's not my fault if I run you over, though. </li>
</ul>
The Infotainment Package adds Bose speakers, wireless charging for compatible smartphones, and 2 USB charge-only ports in the rear. I've yet to test the wireless charging feature, since my phone (Motorola Droid Z Play) needs an accessory to use it, but the phone (5.5") fits snugly without a case. Any phone bigger than 5.5" likely won't fit. The wireless charging pocket is located in front of the center storage compartment...big improvement over the location in the Gen 2 Volt, which was IN the center compartment. Also, the center armrest can be adjusted to slide forward a few inches.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/2017-01-20_23.03.41_zpsh4kgqbts.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 2017-01-20_23.03.41_zpsh4kgqbts.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/2017-01-20_23.03.41_zpsh4kgqbts.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2017 Volt and Bolt side by side</td></tr>
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What if people don't really sit in the rear, you don't care about wireless charging, and you aren't an audiophile? It's likely you won't find the infotainment package of much use, so you can probably save yourself $495. FWIW, the Bose speakers sound pretty nice, but I am definitely not an audiophile.<br />
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Also, there is a fairly large storage compartment between the driver and front passenger seats. Perfect for putting a purse (ladies), murse (metro guys), or other random items.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170122_132817477_zpsm6dwphjc.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170122_132817477_zpsm6dwphjc.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170122_132817477_zpsm6dwphjc.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can also fit a large box of latex gloves for when you need to handle those bodies stuffed in the hatch.....wait, what?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I haven't had a chance to test out the DCFC port yet (too much range!), but I'll probably eventually end up using it sometime soon. <br />
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Android Auto works pretty much like in my Gen 2 Volt....except the Bolt's display shows these 1 inch black margins on each side, which is sort of annoying. According to GM, this is an Android Auto/Google issue, not a GM one. I recommend peppering Google via the Android Auto app's feedback section to get this issue fixed!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/1484615889384_zpsxijwoeor.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 1484615889384_zpsxijwoeor.jpg" border="0" height="480" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/1484615889384_zpsxijwoeor.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Squeezed" Android Auto display....bleh</td></tr>
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If I were to give the (loaded) Bolt EV Premier a grade, I would give it a<b> 93/100</b>. Room for some improvement in a couple of minor nit-picky areas, but the main things (range, performance, utility) meet or exceed my needs!<br />
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p.s. completely random, but the center display will actually display Korean characters if you are streaming some Korean music via an app or something. As LG (Korean company) supplies a lot of components of the car, it makes sense. :)bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-61501759059164899432017-01-17T10:20:00.002-05:002017-01-27T07:24:57.000-05:00The Bolt is MineSo the words a lot of you guys following my blog have been waiting to see: I got my Bolt!!<br />
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On Sunday, I got the call from the truck driver saying he would be stopping in my area in the evening for delivery. I had to meet him at a parking lot near a big box store a couple of miles from my house, since his truck would not be able to drive into the residential area I live in. No problem! I took a Lyft to the meeting area (whatever happened to those rumored Lyft Bolts they were supposed to get first? Whatever).<br />
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Upon arriving in the parking lot, I could see a huge transport truck with a bunch of cars on it. As I got closer, I made first contact with my Bolt in Maryland!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170115_195819975_zpsdoosiqle.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170115_195819975_zpsdoosiqle.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170115_195819975_zpsdoosiqle.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's my Bolt!</td></tr>
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The driver, Max (not Brandon, it turned out), hopped out and told me it was a long drive from CA. He encountered plenty of rain and snow on his trip, and I could tell as my Bolt was covered in road grime and dust. Aside from being a little dirty, my Bolt had made it to Maryland unscathed. The unloading process was pretty cool to watch, as Max needed to raise up the vehicles on the 2nd level via hydraulic lifts in order to drive my Bolt off the trailer.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2SPX0aGBC-A" width="459"></iframe><br />
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After doing a walk around inspection and finding no damage, I signed off on the delivery papers, handed Max 600 bucks, and wished him luck with his other deliveries. I had complained a bit about the shipping process in earlier posts, but it got to me roughly within the original time frame, so I really have no complaints about the shipper. Most people also aren't able to track their vehicles with an app, so a lot of the angst was self-inflicted. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170115_201616079_zpsphb5qs05.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170115_201616079_zpsphb5qs05.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170115_201616079_zpsphb5qs05.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dirty but arrived safe and sound.</td></tr>
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I hopped in my Bolt for the first time, and noticed right away the range was very low (not a surprise since the dealer said they couldn't charge it before my shipper showed up). The GOM said 32 miles of range. After a few miles of driving, the range estimate hit 25 and I hit Propulsion Power Reduced mode, which triggers when the battery state of charge drops to under 10%. Despite being in PPR, I was still able to squeal the tires at a stoplight. 😊<br />
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First destination? A car wash! My Bolt was filthy, and that grime needed to be washed away ASAP!<br />
I went to the Exxon a few miles down the road, and had to go into the store to pay for a car wash since I couldn't purchase one at the pump (can't buy a car wash without buying gas!). Made for a good photo op I just couldn't pass up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170115_202435271_zpskdl6b6ca.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170115_202435271_zpskdl6b6ca.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170115_202435271_zpskdl6b6ca.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Won't see many Bolts at gas stations like this</td></tr>
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After washing off all the road grime, I parked my Bolt at home to feed it some much needed EV-juice and also get acquainted with my Volts.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/3044146a-ee40-47f1-9568-997c23c107e4_zpshnksmguu.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 3044146a-ee40-47f1-9568-997c23c107e4_zpshnksmguu.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/3044146a-ee40-47f1-9568-997c23c107e4_zpshnksmguu.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolt, meet Volt. And other Volt.</td></tr>
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I plugged the Bolt in overnight with my Clipper Creek LCS-25. It is rated at a max theoretical output of 4.8 kW, but I found that it only reaches a rate of around 4.5 kW while monitoring the charging status with my JuicePlug. No biggie, as the Bolt will rarely be fully depleted, and even if it is, an overnight charge of "only" 180 miles or so will be plenty for everyday driving.<br />
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The next day, I took a day trip to Baltimore! Stopped by the science center, and afterwards recharged MY batteries with some Shake Shack. Finding street parking is always a hassle in downtown Baltimore, but I managed to find a spot my Bolt squeezed in. A larger car would not have been able to park in the spot, but the Bolt was no problem with its small footprint. The 360 degree birdseye camera coupled with the rear vision camera + front camera made parking a breeze.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/7ad62d6f-f314-4c48-b3b8-4e961607c941_zps43vail19.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 7ad62d6f-f314-4c48-b3b8-4e961607c941_zps43vail19.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/7ad62d6f-f314-4c48-b3b8-4e961607c941_zps43vail19.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squeezed into a tight spot in downtown Baltimore no problem</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/1a0b91b8-a710-4e62-820a-d1052bdb9ddb_zpsuxolquar.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 1a0b91b8-a710-4e62-820a-d1052bdb9ddb_zpsuxolquar.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/1a0b91b8-a710-4e62-820a-d1052bdb9ddb_zpsuxolquar.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shake Shack! nom nom nom</td></tr>
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For those of you with kids, I took a few shots of the back seat with two Graco Turboboosters in the rear. I found that my 6', 190 pound self had room to squeeze in the middle, though I wouldn't want to do that for a long period of time. Still MUCH better than my 2017 Volt's "middle seat" though. Very similar space in the rear to my old, larger C-Max Energi. Moving one of the boosters to the middle would likely make a trip much more comfortable for an adult.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170117_001735221_zpsf0nktpo8.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170117_001735221_zpsf0nktpo8.jpg" border="0" height="640" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170117_001735221_zpsf0nktpo8.jpg~original" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love that foot space</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170117_001619203_zps95ynj9xs.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170117_001619203_zps95ynj9xs.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170117_001619203_zps95ynj9xs.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still a tight fit for an adult in the middle, though at least it's a real middle seat.</td></tr>
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Here's a shot of my Bolt almost 100% fully charged. As it seems my Bolt spent a lot of time on while sitting idle during the shipping process, that number will surely improve towards the EPA figure (and likely above) once it gets used to my driving style.<br />
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<a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20170117_001813374_zpskddgistn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20170117_001813374_zpskddgistn.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20170117_001813374_zpskddgistn.jpg~original" width="640" /></a><br />
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That's it for the time being. Now that I actually have my Bolt, I'll soon be able to post more detailed hands-on experiences. 😊<br />
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p.s. here is the route my Bolt took to get to me in Maryland. 5,401 miles in all of travel before I could drive a single mile, from the train ride out west to the truck ride back east. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/tracking_map_zpsyoevpnpn.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo tracking_map_zpsyoevpnpn.jpg" border="0" height="376" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/tracking_map_zpsyoevpnpn.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Would have been a much simpler trip direct from MI to MD, eh?</td></tr>
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<br />bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-2638456770570939302017-01-12T08:45:00.001-05:002017-01-27T07:22:43.756-05:00Hit the road, Brandon!It's been a few days since my last blog update, primarily because there was not much to blog about. After I found out my Bolt had been picked up by the shipper from the dealership, nothing of note happened....except lots of angst on my end.<br />
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The day after I personally arranged the pickup of my Bolt, I asked the shipper when my Bolt would be loaded on the truck that would eventually take it east to Maryland. They told me, "Yeah! The driver should be on his way soon!", and said my original delivery window of 11-14 January was still accurate. I said OK, great.<br />
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The next day, I used my OnStar Remotelink app to get the GPS location of my Bolt. It showed me this:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/f556aad2-b34e-42a8-92cc-53247b7c488c_zpsye276hob.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo f556aad2-b34e-42a8-92cc-53247b7c488c_zpsye276hob.png" border="0" height="640" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/f556aad2-b34e-42a8-92cc-53247b7c488c_zpsye276hob.png~original" width="448" /></a> <br />
<br />
Looking up the address, it was the address of the shipping company in Maywood, CA. So Bobby at <i><b>We Part Out Cars R Us</b></i> did not have it, so that was good. I concluded they were still probably finding cars to fill up the truck for the ride east, so the driver hadn't departed yet. There were still 6 days till the back end of their delivery estimate, so I didn't find much reason to worry. Yet.<br />
<br />
A couple of days later I called the shipper again, as my Bolt was still sitting in the shipper's storage lot pictured above according to the Remotelink app. I asked, "Did the driver leave yet for Maryland?", and they responded "Oh yeah! He's on the road now, and should be in Maryland by the weekend!". Right after the call, I checked on my app again, and it still listed my Bolt as being in the same spot it had been the last few days. I was starting to question whether they were feeding me a bunch of BS, or whether the OnStar app was feeding me a BS location for my Bolt. Odds were 50/50 as to which was true. <br />
<br />
Yesterday, seeing my Bolt still hadn't moved an inch, I sent an email to the shipper asking explicitly whether the driver had departed for Maryland, and sent them screenshots of the Remotelink app showing my Bolt was still in their storage lot. They then told me that the driver had not actually left yet, but was eating lunch and he would definitely leave today and would still make it to MD by the weekend. Now I was thinking that the shipper had been feeding me BS the whole time, and the app was indeed accurate. I was starting to regret not ponying up a few more bucks for shipping at that point.<br />
<br />
Later that evening (around 8PM PST, waaaay past lunchtime), I checked on my app again, and my Bolt was....STILL IN THE SHIPPER'S DAMN STORAGE LOT! Either the driver was eating a 72-course lunch, or the shipper had again given me inaccurate info. This was turning into a bigger debacle than my Bolt's trek out west to the California dealer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/694_zpsbczdlqa1.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 694_zpsbczdlqa1.jpg" border="0" height="314" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/694_zpsbczdlqa1.jpg~original" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are you freaking kidding me??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This morning, I used the app to get another GPS location update, expecting it to show me another disappointing shot of my Bolt still being in freaking Maywood, CA. This is what it displayed:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/tracking_zpsdvxeachw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo tracking_zpsdvxeachw.jpg" border="0" height="640" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/tracking_zpsdvxeachw.jpg~original" width="402" /></a><br />
<br />
Wait, what?! It was moving! Praise <i>*<b>insert religious figure you believe in</b>*</i>!! My Bolt was finally heading east!! Now to resist the temptations of requesting 89 location updates a day and drain the 12V battery. Delivery is still supposedly this weekend!<br />
<br />bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-76578475048712282402017-01-04T15:27:00.004-05:002017-01-27T07:37:52.477-05:00(Future) Road Trippin' in My (Future) BoltI have already
started envisioning what road trips would be like in my Bolt and how they may play
out. I've already covered my analysis of a MD-CT trip to grandma's house (see <a href="http://www.chevybolt.org/forum/9-2017-chevy-bolt-ev-general-discussion-forum/5745-long-road-trip-my-volt-weekend-got-me-thinking.html" target="_blank">http://www.chevybolt.org/forum/9-2017-chevy-bolt-ev-general-discussion-forum/5745-long-road-trip-my-volt-weekend-got-me-thinking.html</a> for those details), and have found it would be
rated, "dicey, but doable" with the current CCS network....but what
about other local getaway destinations?<br />
<br />
I plotted out 3 such routes via Plugshare, telling it to show me only CCS-compatible stations within 6 miles of my projected route. So there are actually a lot more CCS stations than what are pictured in the following maps.<br />
<br />
<u><b>TRIP #1: Rehoboth Beach, DE</b></u><br />
<br />
This is a
place my family typically goes to a couple of times each year during the
summer. It would seem this would be an easy trip in a Bolt. From
Columbia, MD to Rehoboth Beach, DE, it is only 119 miles. Theoretically,
I could make the whole round-trip without charging at all if I did some
hypermiling, but who wants to do that?? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/rehoboth_zps6lkybt8m.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo rehoboth_zps6lkybt8m.jpg" border="0" height="422" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/rehoboth_zps6lkybt8m.jpg~original" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
There seems to be not much in the way of CCS fast charging options along my proposed route, though there is 1 station that would
be a perfect top-off point on the return leg in Queenstown, MD if I needed to charge. <br />
<br />
Rehoboth
Beach has at least a half dozen free L2 charging stations located in
convenient spots (2 beefy 19 kW L2 stations located at the north end of the boardwalk, as well as multiple
locations at Tanger Outlets on the main strip). Even without
fast charging, it seems it would be no problem to be able to recharge
full during a trip to the beach or shopping at the outlet mall, 2
locations we usually hit when we go down to Rehoboth.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/rehoboth%202_zpshval6wkq.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo rehoboth 2_zpshval6wkq.jpg" border="0" height="548" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/rehoboth%202_zpshval6wkq.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of free L2 charging at convenient locations.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Final rating for a Rehoboth Beach excursion: <b>Easy Peasy, CCS not required</b><br />
<br />
<u><b>TRIP #2: Shenandoah National Park</b><b>, VA</b></u><br />
<br />
Another
place we frequent is the Big Meadows campground at Shenandoah National
Park (SNP) in Virginia. This location is 127 miles away from my house,
but the campground is at 3,000 feet above sea level, and there is a
pretty steep 6-7 mile climb up the mountain to the park entrance which
would surely devour a few extra EV miles.<br />
<br />
In the past, we would
usually take the direct route that would take us onto Route 211 that
goes through Warrenton and Sperryville, VA, en route to the Big Meadows
campground. There is a single 240V, 6.6 kW Clipper Creek charging
station located at the Byrd Visitor Center less than a 1/4 mile from the
campgrounds that could be used to "top off" during the visit. Also,
there is a dual CCS/Chademo DCFC fast charging station located near the
northern entrance of SNP in Front Royal, VA (96 miles away from my
home). <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/shenandoah_zpsdew1wlte.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo shenandoah_zpsdew1wlte.jpg" border="0" height="405" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/shenandoah_zpsdew1wlte.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
If I wanted to play it safe, I could take the route that
goes through the northern entrance of SNP, allowing me to hit that Front
Royal CCS station for a quick charge, with the option of still "topping
off" at the L2 station at the Byrd Visitor Center. Assuming I could hit
either the Front Royal CCS station or Byrd Visitor Center L2 station once during my
visit, I would be able to make it back home on just a single charge in
the park from one of those 2 charging sites....or both if needed. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/152618_zpsxahghpdd.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 152618_zpsxahghpdd.jpg" border="0" height="640" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/152618_zpsxahghpdd.jpg~original" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6.6 kW L2 station at the Byrd Visitor Center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Due
to the fact the first ~25 miles or so of the return trip would be
nearly all downhill, much of that drive could be considered
"free", as I would be using regen driving down the mountain. If
anything, my Bolt's SoC % could actually end up higher at the bottom of
the mountain than what it started at up top!<br />
<br />
Final rating for a Shenandoah round-trip excursion: <b>Slight sweat broken, 1 charge stop required</b><br />
<br />
<u><b>TRIP #3: Deep Creek Lake, MD</b></u><br />
<br />
Now
for the most difficult trip: Deep Creek Lake, MD. The distance from
Deep Creek Lake (DCL) from my home is 175 miles. In addition to the distance (which would take the Bolt to its range limits during the winter) there is also a net elevation gain of ~2,000 feet. Add in the fact we would most likely be
traveling to DCL in the dead of winter too. A 175 mile trip with a 2,000 foot elevation
climb in freezing conditions in the winter...that's already 2.5
strikes. Now looking at the charging infrastructure map, and you may think
the Bolt strikes out completely:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/Deepcreek_zpswkjexgqi.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Deepcreek_zpswkjexgqi.jpg" border="0" height="328" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/Deepcreek_zpswkjexgqi.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How about a CCS station west of Hagerstown? Anyone? Bueller?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are a couple of CCS
stations in Hagerstown, MD, and then.....scorched earth as far as CCS
charging infrastructure goes. Not a single CCS station west of
Hagerstown...nothing till Columbus, Ohio actually. In fact, there is
only 1 "public" L2 charging station in the DCL area that really isn't even public...it is a Tesla destination charging site at the Lake
Pointe Inn in McHenry, MD that hosts a single Bolt-compatible L2
charging unit alongside the Tesla-only stations. According to Plugshare, you need to ask the front desk to
gain access to the charging stations. <br />
<br />
So for all intents and
purposes, it would seem 120V trickle charging would be the only reliable way of charging a Bolt during a
winter ski trip to DCL (a shaky proposition at best). There IS a place of lodging we've stayed at in
the past where it would be feasible to hook up a 120V charging cord, so
120V charging is a realistic option. Only question (a big question) is whether
120V overnight charging would provide enough juice for local driving
around the DCL area in addition to giving enough charge to make it back
to at least the Hagerstown CCS station 109 miles away. I simply do not know the
answer to that question.<br />
<br />
Final rating for a Deep Creek Lake trip summed up as a gif (as in the kind of intestinal fortitude you would need to make this trip): <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/mlb_zpslacqyssv.gif.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo mlb_zpslacqyssv.gif" border="0" height="300" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/mlb_zpslacqyssv.gif~original" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge balls!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So
in closing, 2 out of the 3 trips seem like they could be completed
without much concern. The Deep Creek Lake trip, however, would be a daunting task indeed. It would seem without either a CCS station located smack dab in
the middle of DCL and Hagerstown (or a CCS/true public L2 charging station in the DCL area), a trip out there in the winter in a Bolt is a sketchy proposition. Maybe I should hit up the local ski resort and inform them of the benefits a couple of L2 charging stations on their property would bring... <br />
<br />
<br />bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-87361046008569085962016-12-27T13:37:00.001-05:002017-07-05T04:38:34.674-04:00My twisted, crazy, and ridiculous journey to the Bolt<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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table.MsoNormalTable
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mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
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Someone made a request for me to give the details on how I ended up
leasing 5 different vehicles since last December without taking a huge bath
financially. Well, now is the time to tell that story! </div>
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<br /></div>
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A year ago, I owned <b>only</b> a 2012 Volt along with a leased 2013
C-Max Energi. I leased the C-Max for 2 years, and it was fine for what it was
(mini CUV-ish car that could haul 5), but I found that the electric range was
simply lacking. The fact that EV performance did not match its ICE performance
was another downside. Plus it wasn’t exactly a looker, though exterior design
is not that high on my priority list….just can’t be Prius or Leaf ugly. ;) Too
many times I found myself babying the C-Max so that I didn’t burn any gas on my
17 mile commute…especially in the winter. That is simply no fun! I ended up deciding to just turn in the C-Max and walk away.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20140309_071555_zpss14h9h6n.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20140309_071555_zpss14h9h6n.jpg" border="0" height="480" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20140309_071555_zpss14h9h6n.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My driveway during simpler times.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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</div>
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At that point in time, the Bolt was rumored to be going on
sale in late 2016, so I started thinking to myself, “How can I bridge the ~1
year gap to the Bolt for the least amount of money possible?” <br />
<br />
Around that time, I had read about a crazy cheap Cruze Limited lease deal that
Volt owners could take advantage of due to a Volt owner-specific $2,500 rebate
being offered by GM. There were reports of people leasing a 2016 Cruze Limited
for $12/month after all incentives! I decided that I could suck up driving a Cruze
until the Bolt landed. </div>
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<br /></div>
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After contacting some local dealers, I found one that was
willing to lease a Cruze to me for 24 months for $0 down, $85/month (the higher
payment is due to Maryland charging FULL sales tax on a lease, and not just the
monthly payment like most other states. Screw you, MD!). I almost ended up
walking out on the deal (supposedly they made a "math error"), but eventually signed it. Combined with the $300 in
Visa e-gift cards the dealership tossed in PLUS the $700 Costco gift card for
using the Costco Auto buying program, my final effective payment for the Cruze
was $43/month! Tax alone should have been $54/month, so that tells you how
ridiculous a deal it was.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/20160123_123550_zpsm4qfraru.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 20160123_123550_zpsm4qfraru.jpg" border="0" height="353" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/20160123_123550_zpsm4qfraru.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The '16 Cruze joined the fleet...and was promptly buried by a foot of snow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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So I had my cheap bridge to the Bolt parked in my driveway,
so how did I end up leasing ANOTHER 4 cars, you ask?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Soon after I signed the Cruze lease deal, I heard about a
fellow Volt owner that also got a dirt cheap Cruze lease that ended up selling
the leased Cruze for $3,000 profit! What?! You can sell leased cars….and sell
them for a profit?? No way, I thought. I got in touch with that person, and he
said he used a new company (name rhymes with Creepy) that offered to buy his
Cruze for $3,000 more than he owed on his Cruze (remaining lease payments +
lease end buyout price combined). That person stated that if the car did not sell within 30 days of the Cruze being listed on the company's website, they
would send a truck, cut him a check, buy his Cruze and haul it away! Which
is what ended up happening.<br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
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After some careful research, I found the company was
actually legit (the company has basically gone bankrupt now though...probably made too many money-loser deals like my Cruze!), so I had my Cruze appraised. They offered $3,700 more than I
owed on the Cruze, so I said, “Hell yes, list it!” Obviously, no one bought the
Cruze in the 30 days it was listed (the company that rhymes with Creepy offered me
waaaaaay too much for my Cruze. You could have bought a new one for less than their asking price). They showed up with a truck, cut me a
$3,700 check, and that was the end of my short-lived Cruze lease. I barely put
200 miles on it all said and told.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/20160404_183347_zps3j2ag7ug.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 20160404_183347_zps3j2ag7ug.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/20160404_183347_zps3j2ag7ug.jpg%7Eoriginal" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye-bye Cruze, I barely knew you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course, selling the Cruze would
leave me with only 1 car, and I still needed 2, so what did I do? Lease another
dirt cheap Cruze, of course! Cruze #2 wasn’t nearly as good a deal as Cruze #1
($124/month, $0 down), but still dirt cheap for a $21k car. The $2,500 Volt
owner incentive had expired, and there was also no $700 Costco card which
explains the difference.</div>
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Around the time I leased Cruze #2,
I found out that GM had slashed the price of a Spark EV lease to its lowest
ever price point! Plus they were offering a free $500 Bosch L2 charging unit with
a Spark EV purchase/lease. Sensing I could make a deal, I ended up leasing a
2016 Spark EV 2LT with fast charging for just $150 a month for 36 months. I was
planning on flipping Cruze #2 for more “rhymes with Creepy” profit in order to
get rid of that lease. However, that did not go according to plan.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/20160526_180813_zps8rwl9fnq.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 20160526_180813_zps8rwl9fnq.jpg" border="0" height="480" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/20160526_180813_zps8rwl9fnq.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the family, Green Machine. Though it was more like a short-term guest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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I had “Rhymes with Creepy” list my
car, but this time they did not give a 30 day purchase guarantee, and it turned
out no one else was willing to pay the price they listed Cruze #2 for. Uhoh,
now I was stuck with 3 cars in the driveway when I only needed 2. What’s a guy
to do?! I contacted the dealer I leased the Spark EV from, and asked what they
could give me for my Cruze. Turns out their offer would put me $1,600 in the
hole. Not too good. I then asked about trading in the Cruze and leasing a 2017
Volt LT. It turns out in Maryland I can get a tax credit for a newly leased car
equal to 6% of the value of the trade-in price of the Cruze, so after factoring
in the sales tax credit, I would only be $800 in the hole. I would also qualify
for a $2,300 MD EV tax rebate for leasing a Volt, so I ended up rolling that
negative equity into a Volt lease, and even with the negative equity managed to
lease the Volt for $261/month, $0 down. So the good news was the Cruze was gone
and replaced with a 2017 Volt (yuuuuuge upgrade), and I was getting a $2,300 check in the mail from
MD soon. The bad news? I still had 3 cars in the driveway!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/975fbd03-fb90-4aca-b9c0-6d5604ecb60a_zps8ugtbidv.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 975fbd03-fb90-4aca-b9c0-6d5604ecb60a_zps8ugtbidv.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/975fbd03-fb90-4aca-b9c0-6d5604ecb60a_zps8ugtbidv.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome, Red Volt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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The Spark EV had almost 2,000
miles on it by now, so I hatched this new plan of trying to trade it in for
ANOTHER Spark EV, since that was the cheapest car I could lease. I would get
ANOTHER $500 Bosch L2 unit in addition to any new deal. So I again asked the
same dealer about swapping my Lime Green Spark EV for a Salsa Red one. He must have
thought I was crazy, but helped me anyways since I was giving the guy a steady
stream of purchases to pad his sales count. After again combining all the crazy
incentives ($11,475 in all), I was able to trade in my green Spark EV for a red
one for LESS than the original Spark EV’s payment (even with another $800
negative equity rolled in!). Spark EV lease #2 was actually $2/month cheaper
than Spark EV #1. I had officially gone mad flipping cars!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/0a8622af-3e2a-466e-9676-da619a756968_zpshvgjbkbq.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 0a8622af-3e2a-466e-9676-da619a756968_zpshvgjbkbq.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/0a8622af-3e2a-466e-9676-da619a756968_zpshvgjbkbq.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adios Green Machine, hello Red Bandit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
So armed with a brand new Spark EV
with just 17 miles on the clock (and a new $500 Bosch L2 EVSE), I ended up
listing that Spark on EBay. I was hoping to break even on the transaction
so that I could reduce my driveway to just 2 cars. I posted an EBay auction
advertising my red Spark EV and L2 Bosch EVSE for $15,400, and a few hours
before the auction expired, a person in Florida bid and won the auction! I ended
up having to pay EBay a $125 auction fee. Since the buyout price of the Spark
EV was $15,250, I had basically broken even on the sale of the Spark EV. Whew! The
buyer arranged his own shipping, and a little while later Spark EV #2 was on
its way to its new owner in Florida. I was back down to a 2012 Volt and 2017
Volt in the driveway.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/DSC_0164_zpsmrmtwmyo.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo DSC_0164_zpsmrmtwmyo.jpg" border="0" height="360" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/DSC_0164_zpsmrmtwmyo.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Red Bandit heads out the revolving door of cars that is my driveway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So that brings me to today, where
I am on the verge of having my Bolt EV delivered to me. But what about when the
Bolt arrives, you ask?? I’ll once again have 3 cars in the driveway! No
problem! I am in the process of finding a person in MD to take over my 2017
Volt lease, and it should be out of my hands by late January. Once my ’17 Volt
is transferred, that should bring an end to the lease flipping chapter of my
life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArRYjPA1q4fc2YolH6Y_J-LZRaGFtSMctYQGWxir7ilz1FG6U5u6ZndHEgqnBY8hv8IVAplMbgHNZnZpzcRGp6XYTZOMeDHrFcN1FEnaqkCZT8gGC_3xzfrTwuDzmju609w8NHbkLJ5g/s1600/IMG_20170322_170248564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArRYjPA1q4fc2YolH6Y_J-LZRaGFtSMctYQGWxir7ilz1FG6U5u6ZndHEgqnBY8hv8IVAplMbgHNZnZpzcRGp6XYTZOMeDHrFcN1FEnaqkCZT8gGC_3xzfrTwuDzmju609w8NHbkLJ5g/s640/IMG_20170322_170248564.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
So, to recap my leases I’ve signed
over the past 12 months:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<ul>
<li>Dec 2015 – leased Cruze #1 for
$85/month, $0 down (sold for $4,700 profit 3 months later)</li>
<li>March 2016 – leased Cruze #2 for
$124/month</li>
<li>May 2016 – leased Spark EV #1 for $150/month</li>
<li>June 2016 – leased 2017 Volt for $261/month (traded in Cruze #2)</li>
<li>July 2016 – leased Spark EV #2 for $148/month (traded in Spark EV #1)</li>
<li>September 2016 – sold Spark EV #2 on EBay (broke even)</li>
<li>(future) January 2017 – acquire Bolt EV, transfer Volt lease </li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
So that is a recap of my crazy year of lease
flipping summed up in a single blog post. <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span></div>
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bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-86095315937480946412016-12-26T21:12:00.000-05:002016-12-27T14:39:12.906-05:00So close, yet so far away...Apologies for this delayed update, but real life matters and some unexpected holiday travel occupied much of my time recently.<br />
<br />
Now the news most of you have been waiting for: the Bolt-train has arrived in California! Finally! At 5:34PM EST on Friday, December 23rd, I received the update I had been waiting for all week long: "Rail car has arrived at customer location", with the customer location being Mira Loma, California. This is the unload site for vehicles destined for Southern California dealers being shipped by the auto train. The following is a list of all the places the Bolt-train passed en-route to Mira Loma:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">12/3 - Bolt ready for shipment</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">12/9 - on a truck from Orion to Toledo, Ohio</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">12/12 - arrived in Toledo</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">12/16 - arrived in Airline Junction, Ohio</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">12/18 - arrived in Gibson, Indiana</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">12/20 - Thorton, IL</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">12/21, 6:53AM - Rock Creek Junction, MO</span></span><br />
<div class="gmail_msg" dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; unicode-bidi: isolate;">
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/21, 8:37AM - West Yard, Kansas </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/21, 11:10AM - Topeka, Kansas </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/21, 1:44PM - Dwight, Kansas </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">12/21, 3:18PM - White City, Kansas 3:18PM</span><br style="color: #333333;" /><span style="color: #333333;">12/21, 4:20PM - Ramona, Kansas 4:20PM </span></span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/22, 5:10AM - Dalhart TX </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/22, 6:52AM - Tucumcari, NM </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/23, 3:07AM - Picacho, AZ </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/23, 4:33AM - Sentinel AZ </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/23, 5:35AM - Calford, AZ </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/23, 7:07AM - Yuma, AZ </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/23, 7:59AM - Cactus, CA </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/23, 11:00AM - Garnet, CA </span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>12/23, 5:34PM - Mira Loma, CA (woohoo!)</b></span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_msg">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/6a473a96-12eb-4183-ab32-a5d589f4cf68_zpsjomfnker.png.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 6a473a96-12eb-4183-ab32-a5d589f4cf68_zpsjomfnker.png" border="0" height="406" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/6a473a96-12eb-4183-ab32-a5d589f4cf68_zpsjomfnker.png~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The winding trek the Bolt-train took to its final destination in CA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
Once it left Thorton, IL, it reall hauled the mail--er, Bolts! A few times I called for train location updates, I literally could not make out the city the system was stating due to the robotic voice pronunciation. Otherwise, I would have had a few more locations listed.<br />
<br />
According to my dealer, the Bolts could arrive at the dealership as soon as tomorrow, December 27th. Assuming pre-delivery prep goes as planned, it could be ready to be picked up for shipping back to MD as soon as this Wednesday! Then my Bolt begins its final ~2,800 mile leg of its long journey to my driveway in Maryland. Soon I will actually be able to start blogging about my Bolt in my possession...hopefully by the end of the first week in January. Then the fun really begins, where I can do stuff like.....haul baby llamas.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/llama_zps6p4ap29b.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo llama_zps6p4ap29b.jpg" border="0" height="426" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/llama_zps6p4ap29b.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit to Kdawg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-22009197544429171682016-12-22T09:10:00.002-05:002016-12-22T11:45:55.690-05:00So a loaded Bolt is how much?<b>Latest "Dude, where's my Bolt?" update:</b><br />
<br />
As of early this morning, the Bolt-train was passing through Tucumcari, New Mexico, or around 1,000 miles from its final destination in Mira Loma, CA! That puts it on a schedule to possibly arrive late tomorrow evening at the earliest. As it usually takes a few days for the cars to be unloaded off the train and trucked to local-area dealers, SoCal people that were expecting a Bolt for Christmas will likely be disappointed. However, they should hopefully be getting a nice gift to bring in the New Year! Btw, thanks dude in New Zealand who is still reading! 😉 <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/bolt_map_zpsrzr6cfqp.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo bolt_map_zpsrzr6cfqp.jpg" border="0" height="268" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/bolt_map_zpsrzr6cfqp.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 1,000 miles to go! Or 3,700 if you're me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now as promised, here are the details for my Bolt deal. My Bolt was a fully loaded Arctic Blue Metallic (non-premium color) Premier with Drivers Confidence II, Infotainment, and Fast Charging options. Add that all up, and it comes to a total of $43,510. The dealer I am purchasing from, Rydell Chevy, offered a $1k dealer discount off MSRP of a loaded Bolt, which I found more than fair given the demand and supply situation. Other dealers are charging MSRP....and one dealer in the same area as Rydell is even looking to sell over MSRP! Screw those guys. <br />
<br />
Anyways, here is the final price worksheet for my deal. As I will be registering the Bolt in MD, the dealer did not charge any CA sales tax, and I will be responsible for paying that tax when the Bolt arrives in Maryland. I put $0 money down, and ended up financing with the dealer at a rate of 2.99% over 72 months (TD Auto Finance btw). If I find a better rate down the road, I can simply refinance as I please, but the 2.99% rate was the best I could find at the moment. Also, I found out that I could NOT use my GM card earnings on the Bolt! Dealer said that is the first time they ever encountered that. I only had a couple hundred bucks of earnings, but still! GM sure is pinching pennies with the Bolt. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/price%20sheet2_zpstqyfnkig.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo price sheet2_zpstqyfnkig.jpg" border="0" height="310" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/price%20sheet2_zpstqyfnkig.jpg~original" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The $653 monthly payment is a pretty hefty amount, but I will be receiving the $7,500 federal tax credit early next year, so that lightens the blow. I <i>would</i> have also been eligible for a $3,000 MD state rebate as well, but funds for that program expired 3 months ago, and a new program won't be in place until at least next July. Owell.<br />
<br />
As for shipping? I found a quote of $775 (open transport) via Ship a Car Direct for transport from CA to MD. Supposedly I will also get a $30 gift card in return if I fill out a review for my experience with Ship a Car.....we'll see.<br />
<br />
P.S. as I will soon have a shiny new Bolt in my driveway, that means I will have to say goodbye to my 2017 VOLT! If anyone in <u><i><b>Maryland</b></i></u> is interested in taking over a Siren Red 2017 Volt LT lease, check out my swapalease listing! Thanks. Only MD residents are eligible to take over this lease. <br />
<a href="http://www.swapalease.com/lease/details/2017-Chevrolet-Volt.aspx?salid=999559">http://www.swapalease.com/lease/details/2017-Chevrolet-Volt.aspx?salid=999559 </a><br />
<br />
P.P.S. Cleantechnica and Electrek, no soup for you!<br />
<br />bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-15303614230875408522016-12-20T07:37:00.005-05:002016-12-20T22:31:47.585-05:00A Bolt before Christmas? Eh, noAs you can tell by the title, it looks like my Bolt will not get to the <i>dealer </i>by Christmas, let alone to my house in Maryland. As a mini "Dude, where's my Bolt?" update, here is the latest tracking information for the train my Bolt (and a lot of other Bolts) is on: <br />
<ul>
<li>12/9 - on a truck from Orion to Toledo, Ohio</li>
<li>12/12 - arrived in Toledo</li>
<li>12/16 - arrived in Airline Junction, Ohio....3 miles west of Toledo. =/</li>
<li>12/18 - arrived in Gibson, Indiana (city is actually Hammond)</li>
<li>12/20 , 6:23AM: Still in Gibson, Indiana </li>
<li>12/20, 12:03PM: Departed Thorton, IL! </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/boltmap2_zpsiy3ir8mw.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo boltmap2_zpsiy3ir8mw.jpg" border="0" height="181" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/boltmap2_zpsiy3ir8mw.jpg~original" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train has been moving slightly faster than a frozen snail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So my Bolt has traveled a little over 300 miles in.....11 days, or a whopping 29 miles a day. Good lord! Only 2,000 miles to go. Or 4,600 miles if you count the cross-country trip back to MD.<br />
<div>
<br />
FYI, it is 558 miles from the Orion factory to my doorstep. My Bolt will likely be the most traveled retail Bolt in existence when it finally gets delivered to me despite the fact it will have just a handful of miles on the odometer when it hits my driveway. ☺<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/bolt_map_zpspd32fsat.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo bolt_map_zpspd32fsat.jpg" border="0" height="216" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/bolt_map_zpspd32fsat.jpg~original" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ridiculous trip my Bolt will take to get to my driveway in MD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So besides the location of my Bolt (might as well be on the moon), what else is there to talk about? How about insurance costs, of course. How expensive will it be to insure a Chevrolet Bolt?! <br />
<br />
I called my insurance company last week to find out. I asked the rep to find out how much it would be if they removed my 2017 VOLT from my policy (I have a 2012 and 2017 Volt) and replaced it with my future 2017 BOLT. It took the rep a while to even find the Bolt in her system, but it eventually loaded up after I gave her the VIN. She asked me if the Bolt had Onstar, active emergency braking, and adaptive headlights. I responded yes to the first 2 questions, and after a little discussion, found out the Bolt did not qualify for the adaptive headlight discount. Turns out the Bolt's Intellibeam feature only switches the high beams on and off automatically, and does not adjust the level of the lights that would be required for the adaptive headlight discount.<br />
<br />
The final quote for the Bolt was *drumroll*......just $80 more per year than the 2017 Volt! My Volt had a $35k price tag (LT model with just comfort package). The Bolt has a $43,510 MSRP, so the $80 per year difference may be solely due to the MSRP difference. Basically, the Bolt is no more expensive to insure than a Volt! It could be even cheaper if compared against similarly equipped Volt Premier. So my worries about the Bolt being significantly higher to insure have now been put to rest. If you think about it, it makes sense, as the Bolt does not have any of the gas engine components a Volt has. <br />
<br />
My next post will be all about pricing for my Bolt, as I should have that locked down in the next few days.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: The Bolt train just left Thorton, IL! Based off tracking history from Corvette forums, the train could arrive in CA as soon as this Friday! Woohoo! Then up to a few days to get trucked to the actual dealership. <br />
<br />
p.s. yadda yadda yadda <b>cleantechnica.com</b> and <b>electrek.co</b> <u>don't link my stuff</u>, yadda yadda yadda <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-51036658440205265672016-12-16T09:15:00.000-05:002016-12-16T10:25:26.854-05:00Dude, where's my Bolt?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Since my initial blog post chronicling my Bolt adventure
went live a few days ago, it’s already been viewed almost 1,400 times…including
by one person in New Zealand! You win the “Most Distant Reader” award, whoever
you are. 😉 Thanks to everyone that has taken interest. Knowing that my Bolt
was built and loaded on a truck, the next question is (and the thing all you
guys care about): Where’s my Bolt??</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/73990485_zpsmxpwpj1n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 73990485_zpsmxpwpj1n.jpg" border="0" height="320" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/73990485_zpsmxpwpj1n.jpg~original" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I’ve gleaned some new information about my Bolt’s
whereabouts. After badgering my sales rep to death, I was able to finally
convince him to give me the rail car information for the train that my Bolt was
loaded on. The info I had previously received stated that my Bolt had left the
Orion factory on a truck heading towards Toledo, Ohio. Using that rail car
number the dealership gave me, I was able to get an update on the location of
the train car my Bolt was loaded on! (a Norfolk Southern rail car, FYI). A big assist goes out to the Corvette owners forum that had all the rail car tracking information stickied!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/Bolt-transit-12616-668x409_zps11t6ad86.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Bolt-transit-12616-668x409_zps11t6ad86.jpg" border="0" height="391" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/Bolt-transit-12616-668x409_zps11t6ad86.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe my Bolt was on this hauler? Photo credit to Joe Lopez</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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That’s the good news. The bad news? My Bolt is still in
Toledo, Ohio! As of 8PM yesterday, it has moved a whopping 2.9 miles since it
was initially loaded on to the rail car a few days ago. I’m fairly certain the sub-zero
winter weather in the Midwest region hasn’t helped anything.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/train_zpskz18py2h.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo train_zpskz18py2h.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/train_zpskz18py2h.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Bolt is on a train! And moving excruciatingly slow. 😔</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I am happy that I am now able to track my Bolt on its
journey to sunny California, but am hoping that train gets moving a bit quicker
than 3 miles per day! It’s looking less likely that I will be able to get my
Bolt back to MD before the year is out, but I should at least be able to finish
all the paperwork so that I qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit this
year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If anyone has any questions at all, please feel free to ask
in the comments section. I’ll try to answer as best as I can.<br />
<br />
p.s. again, feel free to share as long as you are not <b>Cleantechnica.com</b> or <b>Electrek.co</b>. 😎 <br />
<br />
<a class="dmca-badge" href="http://www.dmca.com/Protection/Status.aspx?ID=eb681ea7-e982-41f2-8823-e9d613d1308c" title="DMCA.com Protection Status"> <img alt="DMCA.com Protection Status" nbsp="" src="https://images.dmca.com/Badges/dmca_protected_sml_120m.png?ID=eb681ea7-e982-41f2-8823-e9d613d1308c" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583047706187740942.post-41683044020272193352016-12-12T12:21:00.004-05:002017-09-16T08:28:13.609-04:00"Bolt"ing into the Future<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, you have clicked the link to this blog, so I must have
piqued your interest somehow, so let's get started!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
First, a super quick bio for me. I’m just a guy in Maryland
that happens to own a couple of Chevy Volts. Well, technically, I am leasing
one of them, but I digress. The 2017 Volt I leased is one of 5 Chevy vehicles I
have leased in the past 12 months, but that story deserves a whole separate
blog in itself!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyways, as you can tell, I have an interest in electric
vehicles, and the new all-electric 2017 Chevrolet Bolt is currently the one on
my dream sheet. With 238 miles of EPA rated range, a sub-$30k price tag after
tax credits, and small CUV/hatchback form factor, it checks nearly all the
boxes I desire in a battery electric vehicle. The 2017 Volt is a mighty fine
vehicle, but it was really just a placeholder for the Bolt (my other Volt is a
2012 which I am keeping for the long haul). Having a family of 4, including 2 young
kids, the CUV-shaped Bolt better fits my family’s needs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now to my Bolt story! I was initially expecting that
Maryland would be one of the states included in the initial launch for the
Bolt, since my state was also one of only 3 states in the country to sell the
Chevy Spark EV. However, I soon learned that only California and Oregon
residents would be able to pick up a Bolt by the end of this year! What is a
guy in Maryland to do when he can’t acquire one locally until maybe Spring of
next year? Reach out to a California dealer and try to snag a “loose” Bolt they
have inbound, of course!<br />
<br />
Shipping cost for a Bolt from SoCal to Maryland is roughly $800, give or take a few bucks, and that is a price I am willing to pay for the honor of owning a Bolt roughly 3 months before a Marylander is supposed to be driving one around! Plus I'm sure there are many people interested to know how a Bolt performs in the snow and dead of winter, right? 😉<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Upon hearing that California dealers were accepting deposits
for Bolts, I contacted one high-volume Volt dealer in SoCal after confirming
they indeed would have Bolts stocked by the end of the year. I mailed a $500 check
to that dealer to reserve a fully loaded Arctic Blue Metallic Premier Bolt with infotainment package, driver's confidence II package, and of course DCFC fast charging. Once
the dealer had a Bolt meeting my specifications arrive in stock, they would contact me
for final pricing and to close the deal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/mybolt_zpsfede17kh.jpg.html" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo mybolt_zpsfede17kh.jpg" border="0" height="344" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/mybolt_zpsfede17kh.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My future Bolt EV as configured</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
However, while waiting (im)patiently for Bolts to ship out from
the Orion factory in Michigan, I soon learned that the sales manager I was dealing with
was…..a little lacking in the customer relations department, to put it nicely.
After exchanging enough messages back and forth, I decided I did not want to take
delivery from that dealer. If you are the general manager of that dealership
and are reading this blog and figure out who I am, feel free to rip my deposit check
up! And learn some people skills while you’re at it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily, I got in contact with another dealership that also had
Bolts incoming (Rydell Chevrolet in Northridge...last I checked 10 out of their 16 Bolts inbound were reserved), and managed to lock down the Bolt of my dreams with a representative
that actually knew what customer service was. They have been completely
pleasant and timely with responses to date, and have offered a very reasonable
price for a car that is in hot demand. I literally arranged the purchase of a $43k vehicle solely through text messages! Welcome to the future of car buying....that, or I'm just a crazy S.O.B. for purchasing a car sight unseen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Late last week, I was informed that my future Bolt at status code 4300, which means it was on a
transport truck heading to Ohio to be loaded on a train to sunny Southern California!
With any luck, my Bolt will be delivered to the dealership within the next 2
weeks, and hopefully in my driveway a week later. That would make it a Happy Holidays for me indeed! I may actually be the first
person in Maryland, if not the entire east coast, that will be
driving around a Bolt on New Year’s Day!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/bro19991/media/IMG_20161209_234748_zpsi8ddjzf8.jpg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo IMG_20161209_234748_zpsi8ddjzf8.jpg" border="0" height="531" src="https://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah20/bro19991/IMG_20161209_234748_zpsi8ddjzf8.jpg~original" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the cross-country trek to SoCal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be continued...<br />
<br />
p.s. feel free to share my blog to anyone that may be interested. <b>Except</b> if you are associated with <b>Cleantechnica.com</b> or <b>Electrek.co</b>. Since you two "news sites" will likely twist my experiences into some negatively slanted Bolt/GM article, you two do <u><b>NOT</b></u> have permission to link my article to an article published on your websites unless you have my <u><b>EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT</b></u>, requested formally in my blog's comment's section.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
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</div>
bro1999http://www.blogger.com/profile/01942827355795474096noreply@blogger.com12