Taking the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV RS on a 1,000 Mile Roadtrip!
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- Опубліковано 26 жов 2023
- In this video we take the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV RS AWD on a nearly 1,000 mile roadtrip from south of Dallas Texas up to Western Illinois. This trip including all forms of charging from Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging using several different providers. We experienced difficulties from the beginning picking up the Blazer EV from the shipping yard to the first charging stop at Electrify America to gas vehicles "ICE'ing" chargers to so-so efficiency at highway speeds. Even though the Blazer EV drives very nicely with a quiet interior to good handling, is it worthy of being named SUV of the year? I'm not so sure.
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0:37 - Introduction
2:45 - Vehicle Pickup
4:46 - First Charge, Electrify America
13:05 - Second Charge, Level 2 Overnight
18:05 - Third Charge, Francis Energy
23:54 - Fourth Charge, Electrify America
30:17 - Level 1 Top Up, Day 3 Begins
34:47 - Fifth Charge, Chevy Dealer ABB
38:38 - Sixth Charge, Chevy Dealer Blink
41:58 - Final Thoughts
#chevy #blazerev #electricvehicle - Авто та транспорт
I know EA chargers have issues; however I just did a 7300 mile road trip in a Taycan primarily using EA from Coast to Coast and back. My average charging stop was 18.5min at EA. I was going 650 to 900 miles per day when going cross country. Average freeway speed 75-85 and overall efficiency 2.91mi/kWh with 285mm tires in the rear.
That's impressive! On major interstates that may be possible but certainly not the way I took (or via this vehicle).
Realize the Taycan is an 800v architecture and can change at 265kW from 1% to about 40% then slows to 220kW to 55% then slows to 180kW. About 85kW at 85%. Generally I leave by 80%.
900 miles at 80mph 11hrs + charging x3 or x4 makes for long day, and zero charging issues...😮
I like watching these well made videos created by qualified people. This is a compliment for this young man. I am just so glad that I have a 2024 Toyota Venza Hybrid, before that had a RAV4 Hybrid. I can go well over 500 miles at highway speeds, achieving 44 mpg with all wheel drive. I feel the ultimate would be a plug-in hybrid, such as a RAV4 Prime or Prius Prime...best of both worlds!
We drove ours from San Francisco to Denver with 2 children .. Never, Never again will we do that again. What a major hassle with kids long waits at charging stations. Some pretty dangerous charging locations, afraid to stop, but had too. No more we sold the car. Never again !!
hard to believe that anybody would rather deal with that over a simple gas station fill up grab a fountain drink and be on your way
The vehicle just came out how u buy than sell
I have yet to see a reviewer with two young kids demonstrate what a stop is like. Just dogs.
@@briankerschke5306 It's to save money, and to not have to breathe in the exhaust.
@@mikedsjr All Electric Family has many road trip videos with kids. ua-cam.com/users/AllElectricFamily
Thanks for a great review. I did not know that the Ultium battery has issues with consistent rate of charge.
We are still trying to dial in the tendencies in regards to charging rate/curve but thanks for watching!
Thank you for reminding me why I would never own an EV
That Ram truck driver is a complete jackhole to block the chargers.
Thank you for sharing. I’m a hard no for road trips though, I’m not patient enough😂. Looks like this car is great for around town and commuting but it’s definitely not a primary vehicle if you want to take it on long trips.
Yup, nothing road trips like a Tesla! I recommend the Model Y! I even tow a camper with mine. Never had to wait for a charger, never spent more than 25 minutes charging, just a pleasure to drive with basic included autopilot!
I am surprised that this newly introduced GM product is giving the charging results you explained in detail quite nicely if I might say. I have a model Y Tesla and it is common knowledge, when on a long road trip to charge only to 80%. After that the charge curve drops significantly and the cost is much higher for that last 10 or 20% to 90% or 100%. Yes you may go 30 or so mile farther, but you paid dearly for those extra miles. Keeping the speed limit to under 70mph will get you more miles before needing a charge. Keep the drive setting in eco or the most efficient mode will also get you farther on a charge.
I had a reservation for this. So glad that I did not follow through. All charging reviews so far have been abysmal with Ultium packs.
Yeah it doesn't look positive at the moment. Hopefully GM can iron out the issues.
Gm does not want to do evs. Look at how they were buying lithium at all time highs and how they scaled back at all time lows gm and ford are doomed. They hire less competent engineers and their design teams are from.the 90s The winners in the usa are tesla. Rovian, hyundai kia will be the winners
Some readers are asking about the availability of the new Blazer EV. I have already tested one, and it's an impressive and beautifully designed vehicle! It was Black with a red and black interior leather trim. The instrument panel is large with the integrated 11-inch driver's display, and a huge 17-inch center screen. All that flows together seamlessly with a "Heads-Up" display in the windshield. I don't want a cheap interior like the Tesla has...especially with the Model 3 and the Model Y's "tablet-looking" display thrown up on the middle of a slab dash! Granted, the Tesla has its act together with range and the nationwide charging network, but I don't want that design. I have driven a Model S about three years ago, and it is a great-looking EV. That's the only Tesla I would ever consider...so far. The Blazer is a big vehicle and handles well, has decent acceleration, ride comfort, and great styling. I will wait until I can test the new Equinox EV, and possibly the Toyota Prius Prime PHEV. I have a 2018 Chevy Volt Premier with 52 miles of "all-electric" range and 40-44 miles per gallon in the engine mode. One has to pay "One-Hundred Grand" or more to get a PHEV with anywhere near that range. I'm not giving this car up yet!
Good review and have been patiently waiting for it. We make a few road trips a year typically Dallas to Chicago. Lot of things I like about the Blazer EV but biggest negative is the sound system was terrible.
Did you do any battery pre conditioning before charging? Split stops so some you did precondition and others you didn't?
Yeah the non premium system in this vehicle is quite poor for the price. I didn't do any preconditioning but the temperature was also very moderate (right around the target temp, 72°) anyway so I don't think that impacted my sessions too much. I am trying to get the same vehicle to do a more detailed charging curve video but I don't know if I'll be able to. My biggest complaint is going to be the range/efficiency at interstate speeds and possible poor charging curve for road trip basis. The Lyriq has a larger battery which offsets some of the issues in this vehicle but the RWD Blazer might be better too but power is already barely adequate so driving dynamics might suffer with RWF versions.
@@CarsMadeSimpleand GM wants to sell this more Then a Tesla or Lux BMW Electric. Nope I’m good . Get a used Audi Etron instead
Do yourself a huge favor and checkout a Tesla Model Y. You get in, set navigation and go basically anywhere in the country. Oh, and the sound system is amazing. I've had a Tesla since 2016 and watching this video is SO painful and the reason EVs get a bad name.
@hotlobstahvids model y is too small. We did an overnight demo and it just didn't work. I am 6'2 and wife is 6' so we sit woth seats all the way back and a carseat doesn't fit behind us comfortably.
The number-one problem with all public chargers is that they need to be supervised 24/7. That means that charging stations need to either be at gas stations or else the charging companies need to build out charging stations on the gas-station model. Gas stations have evolved over the past century to be as they are for a reason: always manned, with the attendants able to trouble-shoot payment problems, provide an interior space for rest rooms and food/drink, provide an element of security via their presence, maintain windshield-washing materials, and make sure that any pumps that go down are promptly fixed. Oh, and the arrogant blocking of charging stations by self-centered, anti-EV pickup-truck idiots (29:00) would not happen at a manned charging station. Short of the gas-station model with full-time attendants, the public-charging model will fail. (I'll add that the average charging cable is much more difficult to use than the average gas-pump cable. This is an area where assistance could be useful, especially for older or handicapped people, or those who are technology-challenged -- having a local attendant do the "pumping" or dealing with the cable and helping with the payment then and there. You absolutely have to make charging a BEV as easy as putting gasoline into an ICEV.)
Or... they can install some sort of plexiglass wall with a door and all you need is a card if you are an EV owner to open that door, and operate charging. Much like going into some banks to use ATM.. all you got to do is put your vehicle Vin # and pay $25 and the card will be sent to you to use EA chargers everywhere. yeah!!!
I was so excited for this vehicle
Me too! It is a bummer 😕
Thanks for the very detailed review. Would you say the charging issues you had with the Blazer is more Blazer related or 400v battery pack related? Just getting into EVs and really trying to understand the whole lifecycle. It seems like getting 150kw on a 400v is a huge rarity based on how the DC stations are rated.
There are inherent benefits to 800V vehicles on current CCS chargers but once Tesla's network opens to everyone, this should improve charging for 400V vehicles like Blazer EV given they support higher amperage (current) on their equipment. As far as I am aware most 350kW stations are rated at roughly 500amp output which means those are the ones you would have to use to get peak 150kW charging on Blazer EV, Lyriq, etc. I believe the 150kW stations are rated lower (possibly 350amp?) so you may only see just over 100kW in speeds because you are current limited at that point due to the lower battery voltage.
Charging issues is why GM is switching to Tesla supercharger network. EA and most other CCS networks have not been able to maintain a reliable network for users and you probably shouldn’t get a CCS until the NACS switch over unless you are ok with using an adaptor next year.
Great vid. It's a shame that I could not keep my eyes off the stitching coming apart on the back of the steering wheel the whole time... lol
It’s a Chevy!
Good video. I thought this would be the first GM ev with the NACS plug.
I have a '23 Bolt euv Lt which is my commuter, and I do most of my charging at home; I've luckily only been shut out of public charging once. I often get 5mi/kwh in the summer, and while understanding that the Blazer ev is bigger than the Bolt, I'm surprised the Blazer is so inefficient.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Equinox ev.
NACS should start being installed on vehicles in late 2024/early 2025 on 2025MY vehicles.
Do yourself a huge favor and test drive a Tesla. Going from a Bolt you'll think you died and went to heaven(EV heaven).
@@hotlobstahvids -- When purchasing, I had no intention of paying the $12K+ extra to get a base Tesla 3. I have no problem with Teslas, I just don't want one at this point.
Good video. I have yet to do a road trip out of California in my '22 Mach-e. That first charger was horrible. Who designed that charge port door? What were they smoking?
I agree, compared to the elegant almost hidden door on my Model Y, the Blazer EV door is a over-complicated mess.
Thank you for a great video. I'm curious to know how well the air conditioning worked for you during your trip from Texas to Illinois and if the out side temperature was fairly high. Just a side note, I stopped by a couple of Chevrolet dealers on a Saturday evening in the Detroit area to check out their charger locations and found that the chargers were blocked by non-electric vehicles waiting to be sold. Kind of defeats the purpose of having the chargers. Thank you again.
I didn't notice any poor performance with the A/C. I was unable to use the ventilated seats. That is disappointing to hear about the chargers.
Ive only ever seen 2 dealers that had public-facing chargers at all. One of them was a Nissan dealer with 1 J1772 that was available, and a Chevy dealer that does a LOT of electric car sales (by Ohio standards) that has a covered bay of probably 6-8 chargers and ALL of them were filled with their own cars for sale and all of those blocked by ICE cars for sale).
From $52,000 at the time my Blazer RS reservation was placed to $60,000! This dispite the Model Y price reductions. I canceled my reservation immediately.
I was just looking at the prices for this thing. I can't fathom why I wouldn't just buy a model y.
Glad that there is options for consumers. With that said, feel glad that I don’t need to hazel with crappy chargers and less great charging cars.
Thanks!
Much appreciated David!! Thanks for watching!!
We were just about to road test one of these Blazer EV's. Your road trip experience drove home the point that the infrastructure (specifically here in eastern Canada) is insufficient. We'll keep watching to see if infrastructure improves but for now bought 2023 ICE vehicle for this time around. Not as good as, but better than what we traded in. Fuel economy will improve by at least 50%. So that's a win for now.
Yeah it is still truly hit or miss. Certain provides are good, some are ok, and others are unreliable. The good news is if you charge at home nightly, it's better than ICE in that you don't have to stop for fuel. If you are relying on the public infrastructure, it might not be advisable yet.
I always swipe then plug in on EA. Seems to work better
Watch a Tesla owner make the same trip. They will stop for a restroom break and charge their car. Hop back on the road. No problem.
Yes, we get it. Not everyone wants a Tesla.
Only problem is that all Tesla charges are always busy and you have to wait 😂
Watch a Tesla owner buy a $62,000 MY and the one week later Tesla changes the price to $51,000
I’ve never had to wait for a Tesla charger. Most installations have 12+ stalls. I’ve been to one with 75 stalls. This is with 99% reliability on the stalls themselves. I’ve had 1 broken charger experience in 5 years.
I also have a EV6 and have the exact same experience with what this Blazer is going through. The Tesla charging experience is closer to a gas station experience than it is to the CCS experience.
@@oxirosmusicClearly you have never, EVER, been at a Tesla Supercharger station, or even in a Tesla.
Thanks for this vid. I been considering the Blazer RS ICE vs. the EV, easy choice to stick with the 3.6L 310hp version. Especially given the extra 10K in cost (in Canada), I'd never make that up in fuel savings in the time I'll own it.
Sure thing! Right now in the US with the MSRP reduction and $7,500 bonus cash (for earlier production, tax credit for current production) it brings the price down to equal or less expensive for the EV vs the ICE model. Certainly pros and cons to both.
@@CarsMadeSimple Here in Canada, we can get a 5K discount via the Feds, but it only applies to EV's that at are under 45K, which are virtually nonexistent here. It's laughable.
I travel from NY to Missouri a couple of times a year, I don’t see how I could tolerate all that ev charging hassle.
Beautiful looking vehicle, thanks for the video.
Just remember this wasn't an ideal trip but it could be the real world reality of what happens (depending on the network). Once Tesla's opens up this should make road trips in this vehicle easier but it doesn't change the efficiency or range you might be able to get. Thanks for watching!
I have to admit this is a credible “Non-Tesla” issue. 😢
So what was the full time to change at each stop
Curious as to your current efficiency. Your
i like it. i’m waiting for equinox ev though
For my use. Looks like i will need to hang on to my hybrid for another year or so.
Thank you for you video. I am on the fence regarding purchasing an EV, and I'm a long time GM owner. I've been curious about charging because I live 241 km (150 mi) from the next largest town with no chargers in between. We go out of town about twice a year so EV makes perfect sense for around town, but going on a road trip could be challenging, so the information you've shared was very enlightening regarding chargers and their ability/inability to be available and functioning. Listening to the companies talk about charging up from 20% to 80% in 20 minutes doesn't sound that bad, time for a coffee break. But listening to you it's more like time for a nap. I would be interested to know if 'transit mode' had anything to do with the charging troubles you had.
Thanks for the comment! There are certainly EV's capable of 20-80% in 20 minutes but the Blazer EV is just not one of them. Typically those are going to be the 800V architecture cars that can do that. Make sure to stay tuned because I just did a 15-80% charge yesterday in this exact Blazer EV 😁.
I will check it out. I really like the look of the Blazer EV and I am tempted to order one.@@CarsMadeSimple
@@leightanwishart2238 It does look very nice in the RS (and eventually SS trim). I hope to have the charging video up in the next few days.
Was this your 1st EV roadtrip? Just curious. My experience has been significantly better, both with the charging and the vehicle (EV6). Des Moines to Bay Area in January ~20 degrees) and RT from Bay Area to Houston in October. There is definitely a learning curve to EV road trips.
Second. The EV6 is certainly a much better EV road tripper than the Blazer will be. Also traveling on major interstates is much easier. I could have done that in this case (and may have been ever so slightly quicker) but longer distance.
You have the better kia Ev6
@@CarsMadeSimple I get the impression that, while all these public chargers need work (except perhaps the Tesla network), EA is the worst....is that correct? What if you guys try to go to ChargePoint ones more? I take it they just don't have them in flyover states, or dramatically fewer? I think a large percentage here in the SF Bay Area are chargepoint, though I see a few EA ones on Google Maps. I feel like Chevron, BP et al rolling chargers out at their gas stations might help.
in may i took a 2023 EV6 from oklahoma to colorado with out one problem had bought it 3 weeks before never owned a EV and at 63 so everyone needs to stop saying i would not take ev,s on long trips . so the old saying is if you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch. i say you don't have to stay up with the big dog's its the chase thats the fun . enjoy life you only get one.and try to save some for the next GEN. may the wind always be at your back and the road come up to meet your feet.
I mean if you like stopping every 3 hrs lol. I drove my altima from close to nyc to buffalo and back on 1 tank of gas. Was like 60 bucks for over 700 miles lol.
ok@@occckid123 sorry your not getting the point change is what we are saying has to happen for the next gen.now lets do the money at home at .09 a kwh to charge my battery at home to get roughly 300 miles its around $4.30 a charge you can do the rest of the math. now EV'S are at the same point when fuel auto's started they well overtake fuel car's that;s a fact with solar and wind being the main source to charge. so for $8.60 i can do the same.
@@terrywyandotte2025 most peoole can't charge at home. Allt of peoole ljbe in apt complexes that don't have charging or in the city where they cannot charge. Yes st home will be cheaper but nkt everyone lives there. Since you want to talk about saving the earthets talk about how dirty it is to build such a large battery and the disposal of it? Like I said here in ny is a catastrophe with the charging network. It's 2 expensive. More expensive than filling up a gas powered car that takes 4 mins to fill up. I drive 2k miles a week. Imagine having 2 stop that many times and that long for electricity? Most times I don't even make it home and I'm trying to throw gas in my car quick so I can get moving. Not planning on traveling and sitting there for 30 mins for 200 miles of range or 300. Whe b I can get 600 miles of range in 4 mins. Show me a better and cheaper infrastructure and I'll move over.
I am with you 100% to take a few minutes and rest or do something different on a Trip is actually have very enjoyable way to travel. Also, the adventure of not knowing exactly what’s around the next corner, but knowing that there will be a way to make it and planning different options, in case something don’t work it just makes life so exciting and by the way, I grew up with horse and buggy and electric cars might be not for everyone but I really love them also love the fact that the maintenance is so easy very little maintenance so for some of us they actually make life simpler better and more enjoyable. Thank you. By the way, the driving experience is certainly a clincher. If you’ve never driven one, then perhaps reserve your comments until you’ve had a few months of experience driving one you will see what I mean nothing like it!
This is why I don’t want a ev
Right. What you want is a Tesla.
The GM dealership in Columbia didn't offer free charging (35:45) ????????
If the first charging session went from 3% to 40% charge and delivered 40kWh of power, that probably means the battery pack is closer to 90-100kWh battery pack.
It could be that 85 kWh is usable which could suggest it is over 90 kWh total. I haven't seen any information that gives total capacity.
I owned a Bolt for 4 years and just swapped for a Blazer EV RS, best vehicle ever. I can fill up at home, or at work or Chevy or down town for free and I have never once paid anyine else to charge 😎
Great video! But… what a RIDICULOUS way to travel. I want to believe in EV’s, I really do. But America just isn’t ready for this yet. I sure hope things get better soon.
Thanks for your video. I didn’t know the Blazer was out already. I was hoping Chevrolet would have come out with the Equinox first, that’s a better size for two people. Besides from the charging issues, what about the difference in problems that the Teslas have? Like body fitment, paint issues, rattles and more. It’s obvious that Tesla has the innovation in the EV mkt. but they should not have the poor Quality Control after all these years. Tell us about the ride quality, the quietness, the power and build quality. What was the price? Does it have 1 pedal driving? EV’s are still for around town driving, not road trips, but that’s fine with me. The infrastructure is not here yet and won’t be for many decades. Thanks, Ronnie
More content coming (hopefully soon) on the Blazer EV! It drives very well and has all of the typical features on would expect from an EV including one pedal driving and shift acceleration (although not groundbreaking).
Road tripping in a Tesla Model Y is a breeze. Charging is fast and reliable and I am always ready to take a break by the time I need a charge….
l would like to road trip my 2021 model 3LR
Thanks for this great video , I now know that I won’t be going to ev anytime soon…
We leave our CCS charging EV at home when we road trip. We don't leave town without our Tesla. Public DC FastCharging is Tesla only at this point. Nothing else comes close.
Gm really needs to fix these charging curves they are just bad.
What this story says only drive a Tesla on a road trips.
In the last year 4500 and 2 3500 mile road trips along with a 1200 end numerous 500 mile road trips with zero issues.
If he drove a Tesla he would of not had any issues
What a fun trip! Calculate the wattage, find a charging station, wait hours for charging (more fun in a sketchy area), find and pay a hotel/motel with chargers for a full charge.........I am not going to ruin my family vacations with those EVs.
Or get a Tesla and have absolutely no issues.
Tesla????? I didn't see any of them when I did my cross country trip.@@junehanzawa5165
no problems with my Gas Mazda hahaha@@junehanzawa5165
Stick with good old dependable ICE vehicles. For now anyway. 🍻
Those newfangled audiemobeels will never catch on. No paved roads that go anywhere, have to buy fuel at an apothecary three towns away, dang things breaking down all the time and scaring folks with their infernal racket. Stick with your good old horse - feeds itself and even makes new horses now and then.
So Is it charger or bms in the car or both?
I believe both were to blame for my experience on this trip.
I go Chicago to Dallas 15 hours straight, 2 fill ups, no overnight stays. Then back again. Round trip once a year. I never have to worry about kilowatts or doing any math at all.
Wow that is lame one road trip a year. I charge all my evs at home 3 in total for free 62 solar panels and 10 powerwalls. I have had the setup long enuff where I have broken even. Power my house for free, make $300 to $500 per month. Never any issues. Have not been to a gas station since Dec 2020. You take your knuckle dragger ice vehicle, I fuel up.at home, cleaner safer and more convenient than what you do daily. We drive each one of our evs over 20k miles per year each.
@MrJinske Sounds awesome, but it doesn't address the 925 mile road trip that this video is actually about. Can we hear about your lame 925 mile road trip maybe? Do you carry your solar panels and power walls with you?
@@kdisabelle No clown, I don't road trip over 925 miles? Why would I? If I am.going to drive that far I will fly. I live in Atlanta. Ga (Buckhead) the airport is 17 miles away. We have 4 bevs in our household. My wife, 2 children and myself. We take may road trips to Lake Chatuge (N GA lake home) and to Orange Beach Alabama (Beach Condo) We have ev charging at home, and our 2 vacation homes, I good news is that either way we leave home fully charged and can get to either other home on a single charge. When we go to New Orleans we stop at Tesla Mobile, Alabama (airport blvd) Then our Hotel in New Orleans has nacs charging so no issues. When we go to Miami or to California we fly and rent evs there. Both cities have great charging networks. When we go to Europe ev rentals there as well Europe where we go has great networks (UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany) So for our use cases so far no need for solar panels. Clearly your energy and use case intelligence is low or your experience is low either way its simple to see you don't drive evs, and have less experience road tripping them. Remeber in life it's always about understanding how things work best. You my friend are a fool and your comment history proves that point.
@@kdisabelle I don't road trip 925 miles and I am not a gm nor a Ford ev enthusiast, they like you are so far behind the times.
Clearly math is not your thing, tell us all this. If you have a garage, close the doors, all of them and idle your knuckle dragger ice vehicle for a few hours and sit in there and let's us all know how that works out after 4 hours
Q. I'm looking for the Blazer "Likes and Dislikes" video. Where is that?
I've sat in the Blazer. I hated the interior design but am closely watching its performance reviews since it has an identical platform, HP, and torque (288/333) as the Honda Prologue. The Prologue interior seems to better fit my preferences and is more practical. I'm expecting the Blazer and Prologue to have similar charging and road handling abilities.
Q. The Prologue is CCS but is expected to include a NACS (Tesla) plug adaptor. Do you know if a CCS to NACS adaptor makes a difference in charging performance and compatibility at a DC charger? Is it better to wait a couple years for built-in NACS charging ports? I'm also wondering how the 288 HP (Blazer or Prologue - both made at the same Mexican facility) would behave with mountain driving, such as crossing the Sierras between Reno and Sacramento.
If the Blazer/Prologue has charging or other road performance issues, I'll probably buy another Ioniq5.
Love your 1,000-trip review. Very helpful.
re: "The Prologue interior seems to better fit my preferences and is more practical." well time to let go of the "Prologue Dream", it was just a RUSE to buy time (which it did). now another RUSE will be concocted to continue "stringing you along" till the 12th of Never (and it will).
I actually haven't had a chance to film the video yet but I do have some more information regarding the vehicle in this video. Hopefully I can get ahold of it again to create everything I want to. I believe the Blazer is included in the list of vehicles that will be able to use an adapter for Tesla's network. I would prefer to have the NACS built into the vehicle but that is likely at least a year away for most OEM's.
@@phillyphil1513 prologue is still coming out as is the acura based one
I have seen enough. Failed charges, slow, using a credit card, setting up an account, etc. To buy other than a Tesla would require rocks in your head. Charging other than a Tesla is Crappy!
I remember when ppl said “Just wait until GM and Ford get their EVs out there, Tesla will be toast”
Ironically, building EVs will probably kill GM and ford.
Growing pains. Just get a Tesla model Y and you don't have to worry about charging. Everyone else either needs to fix things or will go bankrupt. It is going to take at least 5 years for everyone else to catch up.
all EVs will be able to use Tesla chargers in Jan 2024 as Tesla is opening them to all manufacturers.
@@randomcheese1719 it's never as simple as that. 1- you would be relying on companies that suck at coding to get their stuff together 2- you still have to carry an adapter 3- you still will need to use a Tesla to find chargers cause most of their charger station maps sucks and are slow to route your itinerary from charger to charger 4 - a lot of cars don't charge at high KWH rates so they suck 5- who's to say Tesla won't charge non Tesla extra to use their stations? I would 6- buying a car from a company that doesn't want to invest in ev is pretty dumb cause who to say they will keep the software in your car up-to-date? 7 - what if Tesla changes their mind since it is their software/hardware. When BP bought Tesla chargers in the contract BP has to maintain a proper system or else Tesla will cut them off.
It's kind of silly that so many commenters jump to the conclusion that the Blazer EV stinks. The problem may be the chargers, or it may simply be that the Blazer - being a first run vehicle - has some bugs to work out. The smug Tesla owners should look at some of the early charging experiences with the first Teslas. It wasn't any better. Let's see what kind of experience folks are having in six months or a year before we conclude the Blazer is junk.
Thank you for leaving this. I also wonder why some of these people bought an ev blazer in the first place. Aren't we trying to help offset climate change and become less reliant on gas?
On top of that, the use case for this particular car doesn't seem to scream "road trip." Seems like an inner city daily driver that you'll either plug into your home or a charging station close by.
Nothing that keeps you at a charging station for hours seems like a vehicle I'd take on a long trip. Not hating on those that do. I'm just curious as to what they're thinking.
Folks should identify their use cases before making major purchases.
400 wh/mi from Durant to Wagoner. Not terribly efficient. Tesla ranges from 250-375 kw/mi.
How is the infotainment without CarPlay?
I use Android Auto but regardless not having either available was not pleasant. Given the Google subscription was not active yet, I had to use Google Maps on my phone inside of the cupholder which was like going back 10 years in technology. I wouldn't want to pay monthly for the subscription for Google maps.
No opinions on how the actual driving experience was? And any word on how the "transport mode" might have affected anything? I figured the purpose of that mode would be to nerf capability to protect the car until the car is delivered.
It's a battery saving mode essentially. It locks out certain features and the vehicle goes to sleep quicker once turned off. I am hoping to have more videos with actual driving information and my opinion soon. It drives very nice (smooth and quiet).
@@CarsMadeSimple Between that, and the variable quality of the actual DC fast chargers across the country, I wonder if that could explain the weird charge cycle curves you saw. I mean, some stations may have reduced charging speed because the *charger* had hit heat limits.
@@juliuscheng5788 I believe it could sure be a part of it but with Cadillac Lyriq's showing similar charging curves, it could very well be on the vehicle side. Tomorrow I might be able to do a full charging session with it again.
Quick charging? The cheapest model 3 is 150. Any other one is at 250z
I wish it had a higher ground clearance or a lift kit.
Can’t believe this is “SUV of the Year”! Guess only if you can always charge at home and only use as a daily driver around home.
*Infrastructure for EV’s, that aren’t teslas is frustrating :)
Are the Blazers EVs available? I have yet to spot one...
Absolutely! They have arrived (in relative) mass over the last month. Locally there are 4-5 for sale with some dealers having two and more on the way.
At 37 minutes into your video you were at a Chevy Dealer. Why didn't you ask if they could take it out of transport mode?
I could have but I figured it wasn't worth the potential hassle at that point.
I was considering buying a Cadillac Lyric before watching this video, along with others on UA-cam. I prefer the looks of GM, Ford, Stellantis, and Jeep more than Tesla designs. Unfortunately, their infrastructure isn’t even close to Tesla’s. This is my main concern!!! Subsequently, I will now consider purchasing a Tesla in the future.
I would keep your options open for which EV's you consider. There are several great options currently. It will be a unique period over the next year when everyone starts switching plugs.
Keep in mind that GM and Ford will both have access to Tesla superchargers in 2024
Ooo.... that was 'painful' watching all the charging fails (Tesla owner here). 9.5 cents per mile.. not bad though for that 'brick' of a car rolling down the highway . What size are the wheels on it???
275 width tires with 21" diameter
Frustrating with CCS charging, cannot wait for NACS adapter / or NACS plugs on EV's.
Does this ev not have preconditioning?
It does. Make sure to watch my other video.
you can take it out of transport mode yourself, at least you can with the lyriq. I can't remember how to do it though
found the procedure:
Transport Mode is disabled by activating the hazard
flashers, applying the brake pedal, and then turning the
ignition key to the start position or pushing the ignition
mode switch with the foot on the brake for greater than
15 seconds
How is this possible with no start button? It's already been shown many times that there is not a known way to do it without a diagnostic tool at the dealership.
@@CarsMadeSimple oh, haha there's no start on the blazer, I forgot about that. I have the lyriq, which i think is nearly the same car but it has a start button and I used the procedure once and it worked. I just assumed the blazer was the same.
Get me 600+ miles then I may get interested but probably not. Good review, thanks.
The average ICE vehicle won't even do close to 600 miles on a tank of fuel. Realistically, 350-400 miles on a charge would be the equivalent to an ICE vehicle on one tank of fuel. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this review. I own a ICE Blazer now and was thinking of purchasing the Blazer EV in a couple of years. This has me really thinking that the EV is best as a secondary vehicle. Maybe a Tesla model 3. Rather disappointing.
Thank you! Much has changed with the Blazer EV since creating this video including vehicle software, pricing, and (hopefully) charging experience. Given the Honda/Acura siblings to the Blazer and Lyriq EV's, it should put pressure on GM to improve quality and stay competitive with pricing.
Dealers forgetting to remove transport mode, been there done that on my first EV but my issue was I had to take a 40 minute Ferry ride each direction when my 2019 Soul EV shutdown the infotainment system (due to transport mode) about 2 weeks after delivery of the new car. PDI not likely they just checked teh boxes on the PDI sheet and gave me the keys, did not have that poor delivery experience with my 2023 Tesla Model Y AWD Long range.
I’m not knocking all electric but I just love stopping at a gas station, filling up and then driving off…, I hate wasting time on a road trip. Now if I do find a great car I love driving then maybe it’d be different and I would wait the time it takes to charge.
How does this guy do it? I've never had this type of long travel charging experience in our Tesla Model Y. I'd love to consider branching out from Tesla but yikes! LOVE love love the Blazer look as a Model Y replacement btw. That's why I watched this.
Gm will be using the supercharger in spring 2024
It's also why GM and several other manufacturers are forming a consortium to build their own network with proper facilities and services
The chargers related to the consortium won't be in production for years. They should have started this effort when they launched their EVs.
Our dc fast charger network is way more reliable in my area, but seem a little disappointing charging curve. I actually own a ioniq 5 which charge incredibly fast and Im looking for the blazer ev. I dont travel that much outside the car range, so not a big problem for me, but still a disappointing charging curve. I thought the ultium will be better than that. Maybe the few 800v ultium vehicle get way better charging curve .
Hopefully the 2lt with smaller wheel will get better range.
Great to hear! Yeah the charging curve seems a little suspect with these newer Ultium products. The Ioniq vehicles are going to give you a much mor pleasurable charging experience under ideal conditions and I have no doubt they will achieve better efficiency as well. I actually drove an Ioniq 5 AWD after this video just to see what the power felt like and it's nearly night and day with acceleration. The Blazer EV RWD AWD is at least 2 seconds slower 0-60 over the Ioniq 5 AWD. Of course the Blazer EV SS will be very quick but at an even higher cost.
From this and a few other reviews, OP, I vote-stay with the Ioniq 05- its a far better EV
@@harriettanthony7352 honesltly my ioniq 5 is far from perfect, it require a 800-1000$ cad cooling fluid replacement every 3 years/60000km ,plastic body trim are very weak in cold weather. Its a very good car in summer otherwise, but in winter it has some flaw that my wife chevy bolt dont have.
The worst one is being the only "e-gmp" vehicle with a very pricy low conductivity coolant, that need to be replaced often.
Pretty funny you need the adapter for Tesla's super charges they seem to be the most reliable from all the videos I've seen.
Those BTC dispensers have been erratic for a number of different EV models, not just your Blazer.
Good to know! It seems there are many CCS dispensers with issues.
10:41 interesting, it seems pretty consistent in most of these EV road trip videos that Electrify America chargers are substandard 😲 non-Tesla public charging in general seems to need a lot of improvement. Although, I wouldn't call that a reason not to get an electric car, because most people will charge at home and probably don't need to drive more than the 450 miles of range this thing has in a given week (in their personal car). 🙂
This vehicle does not have a range of 450 miles. It's EPA rated at 279 miles.
@@CarsMadeSimple
I stand corrected...must have been thinking of something else....but Chevy's web site says 320? 🙂Even 279 is a lot, from here ("Silicon Valley") to Santa Rosa, on the other side of San Francisco Bay, is 99 miles, and it's about the same from San Clemente to Santa Clarita (one end of the LA basin to the other)...the average commute is only 30 miles. I feel like 279 is plenty. 🙂
@@neutrino78x 320 miles is the RWD version with the larger 102 kWh pack like the Lyriq.
@@CarsMadeSimple ok. 279 is a lot for most people, though. Maybe not in the flyover states where you might have to drive farther every day than we do on the coasts and Chicago. 🙂
This blazer ev is the first year?
Yes, 2024 is the first year.
@24:34 frustrating for non-Tesla EV drivers. Not perfect yet for Tesla EV drivers, but miles ahead.
GM should have kept building the volt, plug-in hybrid. I think thats going to be the only answer. Home garage charging and electric for short trips, gas for long interstate trips.
Ramcharger is coming with a range extender, 690 miles.
Exactly. I have a 2018 Volt and it's been perfect for my driving habits. Filled up the tank maybe twice in the last 18 months. Hybrids will have to do until the charging infrastructure evolves to the level of today's ICE infrastructure.
A 2024 EV that charges at only 150kws at top speeds. There are EVs that charge at over 300kws now, and Teslas have been charging up to 250kws since 2018 on their V3 Superchargers. Is this the company that killed the EV1 and sold the technology to big oil?
Goodness I can’t imagine having to do a story and the big issue is the charging. A guy that I’m dating has a Mercedes EQS and hasn’t done any roadtrips in it. as a Tesla owner myself I’m shocked that if I ever wanted to try Mercedes, lucid, or Kia that I’d have to worry about charging. That’s so anxiety inducing lol
Remember some of these issues are in relation to the 400V platform this vehicle is on but others are not. Lucid and Hyundai/Kia/Genesis are on a higher voltage platform which should net faster speeds on the exact same equipment outside of Tesla's chargers (all things equal) but it doesn't solve the dispensers not working entirely. Both of these issues were encountered on this trip.
CCS charging network seems extremely unreliable and far from a seamless experience. Once all these EVs move to the NACS connector, this problem will be mitigated...somewhat.
We just sold our electric car, ... I'm SO HAPPY it's gone. Hours and hours I sat and sat doing nothing, I'll never get this time back. Charging stations stole my life. I'm not getting any younger. No time to waste. ... and I don't need the anxiety or hassle
Apartment? Condo? No off street parking?
Definitely not for everyone. I have charging at home and at work, so I'm constantly overcharging my Bolt. I do commute 67 miles per day, so the battery doesn't sit at 100% very long. But I do worry about degradation from overcharging. Hopefully, Chevy sticks to LFP batteries for the 2026 Ultium Bolt EVs. It should work perfectly for folks in my situation.
19.5kW at home building, 10kW at office building. Work 8hr days, so I could completely drain the battery before work and leave with a full charge. Only need 7hrs to fully charge at work. Only 6hrs to fully charge at home.
Bolt has an 11.5kW AC on-board charger.
You can’t tell us what brand of EV with which you parted ways?
Looks great, but not going EV. WILL stick w my Equinox or a Trailblazer.
EV's certainly aren't for everyone at the moment. It will be interesting to see how the Blazer EV does over time.
What a hassle, all this charger crapp, finding one, then does it work, no thanks
Tesla seems to have their act together better than other EV.
Except for the actual EV.
Love my model y, best car I've ever owned. It's a complete package. Fast, plenty of space, warms itself, and I never have to go to a gas station. Have fun when gas is over 5 bucks.
150 peak is *slower* than most other manufacturers max peak. Hyundai/Kia offer either 800 or 400 peak depending on EV vehicle/platform.
You're referring to the Voltage. No EV does more than roughly 350kW's at the moment (and that's only one or two). The E-GMP cars from Hyundai max out at 240-245kW's under ideal conditions. They do however hold peak longer and have a much higher average charge rate over the entire curve.
This video would be a great Tesla commercial
It will be interesting to see what happens to the legacy EV's when they are allowed to use the Tesla network. Will you actually charge faster or is the limitation in the car itself. You can't blame the Tesla network for slow charging....it's been working fine for me....every time. When I roadtrip, I plugin at 10% SoC and walk away to use the restroom. I return 10-15 minutes later and my Model Y is at 60% SoC.
Almost an hour to fill up ???
So, instead of a review of the vehicle, it was a review of the charging network in this country. Would be nice to hear more about the vehicle.
I planned more content with the Blazer EV but since it's been on stop sale for over 3 months, there is very little interest in the vehicle. DC charging speeds in general are not this vehicle's strong suit. Everything else is average at best. I don't believe there is one single aspect it does exceptionally well in comparison to others but there are several negatives.
Speaking on EVs in general... they aren't really convenient for long trips. They're for short to mid commutes... drop the kids off at school, drive to work, maybe hit the grocery store, and plug it up at night. The average person drives less than 40 miles a day, so they should be fine. But taking them on long trips doesn't seem a very bright idea. I wouldn't blame the car... it's just common sense. Wouldn't blame the car for the chargers either... it's infrastructure. Until they are standardized and regulated, it's gonna be hit or miss.
I'm not particularly "for" or "against" EVs. They make sense for some people... others, not so much. Depends on their usage. I personally wouldn't buy one, but to each their own.
I’d rather be in an EV on a long trip.
Because I like to stop every three hours.
I like to take breaks
I like to see the sites
I don’t want to drive 12 hours straight
My bowels can’t last more than three hours so an electric vehicle works great for me
But I choose A Tesla.
When I stop at Wawa and I plug in, I walk over to their convenience store, leave a P, Order an iced coffee and a little sandwich. Go pay for it and wait for them to give me the little sandwich and by the time that’s all done and I walk back to the car there’s only six minutes left of charging.
I can’t even eat the sandwich
It just works great
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: it is likely the chargers were outputting as much as your car was willing to take. Very few EVs have a flat charging curve, meaning they only get their "max charging speed" from about 20-70% SOC. Cars like the Audi E-Tron '19-'22 had a flat charging curve from almost 0 to 85%~ at 150k, meaning even though it had a lower max charging speed than some Teslas, Hyundai/Kia etc, it would overall charge must faster than almost any EV save the 800v architeture ones.
Charging speed of 150kw is good, but if it doesn't sustain that for most of your charging under 80%, the number not very important.
Why such a crazy road trip to deliver this vehicle? So the potential buyer will see a brand new vehicle already with 900+ miles on it? And when ti comes to batteries for charging in general be it EV or even your cell phone. The charging rate/speed will start slow once it gets passed the 80% mark. I follow one channel Out of Spec Review and they know their stuff when it comes to EVs and battery charging.
They will tell you the same thing that top charging on top EV's is faster or slower than others. The Ultium EV's are slower than many.
Q: Why such a crazy road trip to deliver this vehicle? A: exactly, what the "F" is an EV being driven 1000 miles and not simply put on a Flat Bed or moved by one of the thousands of Hot Shot guys...? conspicuously the answering of this question was avoided.
This is why we traded our Kia EV in for a Tesla M3.
lol I've never understood long road trips and yes I'm a fellow American, lol. 1000 miles, I mean, you can fly that in two hours. Dallas to Western Illinois? Why not fly to MLI airport ("quad cities" international, in the western side of Illinois) and then rent a car to go where you want from there? Preferably an EV. 🙂
It’s a good looking vehicle. Reminds me of my wife’s 2023 Mach E GT. But the million dollar question? Will Chevy switch to nacs in 2024 like ford? The peak speed needs to be faster for sure at 250kwh fast charging.
Yes, they were 2nd or 3rd to announce they were adopting NACS. I don't know the timeline as to when they will be installed on vehicles but I believe 2025MY is the target.
I’m Tesla lover and about a year ago I would’ve never said I would buy a EV period. I’m older and come from a different generation. But once i drove a Model S for 2 weeks I ordered one and the genius in Elon Musk. I’m sold on tesla. Eve it’s not for everyone though. It has to fit your lifestyle like can you charge at home. Can you charge at work. A lot of calculations go into it. Your commute everyday including errands. Finally where you live. I live Southern California grew here and this state is complete mess a topic for another day. $7 gas ⛽️ and cost of everything Else here. I still have 3 gas vehicles though. The part I hate the most is it’s being forced down our throats and the American 🇺🇸 people don’t like being told what to do this is a free country.
I'm still not clear if this is a good vehicle or if the video is about the charging infrastructure
The charging infrastructure was problematic in this video. As for the Blazer EV, I think the final verdict is still yet to be determined. It certainly isn't class leading in any metric but is it a bad EV? Probably not but it certainly has a few negatives as seen in this video. If ultimate total range/efficiency plus quick charging speeds are desired, there are better options out there.
Great video. This car has terrible efficiency. Its largish battery pack has mediocre charging at 150 kWh. Even on the Super Charger network next year it will be slow to charge compared to a Tesla. Honestly, just get a Model Y if you're in the market for a car like this.
No, get a Kia Niro BEV. better car, better service experience &tc- I do not care about 0-60mph time, and most rational people do not care either.
Thanks! It does have mediocre efficiency at best it seems. On Tesla's network, it should have the best opportunity to get the 150kW this pack is capable of given the high amp output from Tesla's equipment (Assuming there is no/little limitation for adapters). The charging curve is the biggest issue I see with charging speeds.
Consumers need to realize that efficiency matters. Greater efficiency can mean smaller battery and smaller battery means quicker charging. Ioniq 6 and Model 3 are the sweet spot.
I just wanted to say that I'm sure that they are holding back on putting information on the website just to make people have to go to a dealership.
I wonder exactly what effects Transport Mode has....perhaps better to review when you can get a car that's not in this mode 😲
Is that really possible, I didn’t think so!