1,800 Mile Chevrolet Bolt EV Road Trip: Part 1
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- Опубліковано 13 гру 2021
- These are taking me a while to complete and upload, but I thought I would share the first part of my recent LA Auto Show road trip. As always, these are primarily meant to help EV owners understand how to travel long distances using the public charging infrastructure.
I hope it's helpful and informative!
Chargers used on this trip:
Electrify America Santa Clara: www.plugshare.com/location/34...
ChargePoint King City: www.plugshare.com/location/22...
Electrify America Santa Maria: www.plugshare.com/location/33...
Electrify America Camarillo: www.plugshare.com/location/19... - Наука та технологія
0:49 G-G-G Ghost cat!
Cheshire maybe?
Haha, yeah. She broke my concentration when she attacked my leg. 😂
"Eat your heart out, Tesla Bjorn"🤣 Love it.
Hahaha!
"barely made it" "Low battery" I tell you what, take a 70 mile ev to seattle from portland and drive that car down to 4 miles, THEN YOU CAN SAY LOW BATTERY! hahaha. Love road tripping in these longer range EV's so much easier lol
I’ve got a 7 bar Leaf. I’d guess I have 45-50 mile range at 55 mph. Using my brothers Leaf with 10 bars had 63 mile range at 65-70 mph. I will be so spoiled with next EV.
I just can’t cut it that close! I try to arrive with 30 miles range.
@@Milhouse77BS I used leaf spy to check how many kwhrs it had before it hit 0.5 kwhr on the app that the flashing with 0 no miles mark on the 2013 leaf. Not all the time. Had chademo on that leaf.
@@mikus4242 I know, I have anxiety just watching him do it
Fading out the cat was classic 👍
Eric, you know you can't do a road trip in an EV unless it is a Tesla !?! Yes, sarcasm for those who can't recognize it.
Great, thanks for the video. It's really nice to know that you can just go on a trip. I am old, so for my peace of mind, I have to plan my trips. It It's nice that we see how your car tells you how efficient it is.
Love your road trips!! 🚗
Edit: yes, if you feel like breaking up the videos helps keep the road trip nice and long, please do! 😎👍
Thanks! Three more parts coming soon....
@@newscoulomb3705 yay
@@newscoulomb3705 nice
Kyle does very well with the long videos! If I play a long video and fall asleep I’ll watch again. Really helps your viewer hours.
A 30 minute video is just about right. Kyle & Bjorn have vids over an hour long which is sometimes hard to schedule for viewing. Would be interesting if you could show your equipment for making your videos and the software used to edit the raw footage. Averaging nearly 50mph in a Bolt EV is not bad; I barely do better in my e-tron which charges @ 150Kw out ot 80%.
CAT!!!! Beautiful Calico.
Nice video. Breaking down into segments was a good choice. The tire information I thought was particularly interesting and helpful. I hope that you keep your car and keep on doing enough trips and documenting them to see if the 5% less efficiency starts to improve as the tires wear in a bit more. Maybe hopefully it will be more like 2 to 3 percent over the life of the tire.
Thanks! Unfortunately, I think I'm past the point where the tires will do significantly better. I'd have to check exactly, but I'm well over 5,000 miles in at this point. I think I simply have to accept the tradeoff at this point.
Great video!
Thanks!
I don't know Eric, I think to keep up with Uncle Bjorn's latest you'll need to drive 600+ miles north to get pizza 🍕❄️
Great to see you back on the road and sharing the knowledge!
Thanks! I definitely have a Northern California wasteland that would provide some fun coverage. Funny enough, Tesla finally added Superchargers along that route a couple months ago, but it's still a ~400-mile gap between public DC fast chargers. I don't know if they have any pizza places, though. :-/
Nice video! I'm looking forward to my next Bolt EV road trip as I just got my battery replacement on my 2019 model. Range is now about 260 miles on a full charge.
Nice. Congratulations!
Great video, definitely miss seeing the road trips. Think breaking them up is probably a good idea. I personally don't care if videos are really long as long as it's interesting. But a lot of people don't have as much time to devote in one sitting.
Nice to see your car is still holding up well. With having 140,000 miles I think if you had a defective battery it would have showed its self already.
In case you didn't see it, inside EVs just did a range test on a lucid air long range I think. That was pretty interesting.
I personally like the long road trip videos... love the site reviews,,,you need to give us a,,,,,Everything that went wrong on this trip video....
Chargepoint & EVgo seem to activate instantaneously using a RFID card, additionally RFID cards work where other methods do not. No celluar service necessary.
Of all the non-Tesla charging companies, Chargepoint is my favorite for ease of use and reliability.
Yes, I've had great luck with ChargePoint, especially when they're using their newer CPE 250 units. My biggest issue with ChargePoint right now is their inconsistent pricing.
Love your videos. I'm curious, though, how you do the "picture in picture" with the instrument panel disply and the road.
Thanks! It's just a basic video overlay from a second camera edited with Adobe Premiere.
my 2017 bolt has done 144 000 km, has been too the artic cirkle too . batteri is good as new and i charge too 100% anyway. and now we get a new battery
Love driving the bolt have 2017 ev and will ad an amp and a sub in the back. Great car love my bolt. Great for running 0 wire to the amp. Great car.
You're going to cash in with mega value when you get your new free battery pack.
This was a very consumable video length and was great to watch, thanks!
I asked someone on the East Coast if they thought EVgo was losing market share to EA as newer cars hit the road that can take 150+kW. Do you think that's happening at all from your observations?
Thanks!
I might want to do a video specifically addressing the topic, but I don't think charging speed is the reason EVgo is losing market share. At a surface level, it is simply because more automakers are partnering with Electrify America as their charging provider of choice (Ford, Hyundai, Lucid, VW, etc.), and they are offering incentives and charging plans that drive usage.
Now, looking at the reasons why those automakers are choosing Electrify America is a little more interesting. Sure, an aspect of it could be charging speed, but I don't think that's the main reason. I think the reason EA is their preferred charging provider is due to coverage. Right now, if you want to cross the country east-west or north-south using public DC fast charging, you'd have a hard time doing so without Electrify America.
@@newscoulomb3705 assuming drivers are using DCFC in and around a metro area with both providers, people will take advantage to opportunity charge regardless of the provider. I wonder too if maybe it's not just kW ratings but number of stalls? EVgo is notorious for single charger stations but anyone who has been burned a single time by a single-stall station will maybe avoid them going forward?
how did you video the dash/ speed screen? what cam is that on the column? we are driving a bolt with a MYPOD camper from WA to FL and want to document all we can.
9:46 Those chargepoint stations, if you grab up on the cable near where it comes out of the charger, pull out and that entire bar the cable goes through at the top of the charger will rotate out.
Yup! I a great feature that I'll demonstrate later on this trip. :-)
Eric, Had a rep from EA tell me to start the charger on the app FIRST, then plug in. Can you ask them about that option when you talk with them? I did it and it worked and linked to my Bolt quite quickly.
Thanks! I'll definitely test that out. Anything to speed up the process would be nice.
Yes, I often do that also with my charging service on Electrify America.
@@ronb4633 phone to NFC reader after initializing the charge event - hookup with EA charger seems quite fast.
Hi Eric- Got a '20 Bolt LT Grey like yours- have you had any small annoyances with it? Ever had to pull the 12V battery ground for a reset? Thanks for your great content!
Thanks! I think I've only had one issue where I've tried pulling the 12 V battery to reset. A few times (and a few software updates ago), the buttons on the right side of the steering wheel would go dead. Cycling the car on and off was enough to correct it.
@@newscoulomb3705 thanks. Merry Christmas!
Something that works for me on EA chargers that don't want to start is to activate it via NFC (Apple Wallet) instead of the app. It seems like if the charger is having network issues it'll just trust an EA NFC id until it can re-connect to the network.
GREAT tip!
Like the video. I think parts is better. I usually lose interest after half an hour.
I was watching one of your videos about battery modules.....where did you get those nissan leaf modules from🤔
Big Battery I believe. They were recycled.
Are you saying theBolt has P&C?
My favorite chargers in order….for ease of use and usually start on first attempt:
1. Charge point…. Never failed me
2. Electrify America… 98% first start
3. EV Go, always have start issues and always I end up have to try 2 to 3 stations to get it to start.
Interesting. What part of the country are you in? For me, EVgo has been the most reliable on an individual charger basis, but I know that their reliability on the West Coast appears to be very different than their reliability on the East Coast.
@@newscoulomb3705 Northern California actually. I mainly se the 99 and 80 highways to Reno, NV. EV go stations on 80 and in Reno are where I run into constant issues with failure to initialize on my 2021 Bolt. Usually I can get 1 of 4 or 6 stations to work. Frustrating wasting 15 minutes moving car from station to station till one works. It’s my only complaint with EV charging. I helped an older gentleman with his new Bolt in Truckee with same issues. It was his first long trip from Santa Rosa to North Lake Tahoe…. Never got it to work for him as he only could use credit card reader. I ended up charging him via my app and he paid me cash. He would have been stranded.
@@joebidendidthat5121 Oh, that's crazy. Yes, I'd never use a credit card on EVgo, but my RFID card from over 5 years ago still works just fine. I can count on one hand the number of times I failed to activate an EVgo charger on the first try, and three of those times were due to outright vandalism (broken screens, cut cords, broken charge heads). The other, it turned out that the charger was in the middle of rebooting and was working on its own 5 minutes later.
Now, they don't always work well (issues with power levels, etc.), but they've been pretty reliable for me. I'm going to have to start focusing on them a little more. Thanks!
@@newscoulomb3705 thanks for the details. I’ll going to get RFID cards for all stations I use. Currently I only have one for ChargePoint and it’s great. I rely on the app for all others and tapping my phone on the station via Apple wallet. Maybe I’ll have better luck with cards. Keep up with the awesome videos. I love them all. I follow the GM recommendations on charging and range, but I go to Reno and back once per week so I charge 100% and go down to 30 miles remaining on that trip. So far no issues
@@joebidendidthat5121 Hi, I live near Reno and your information about EVgo is good to know. When I DCFC, I'm mostly going to the Bay Area so EA is my charger of choice but I use the Chargepoint and EVgo stations as back up if the EA is not working or flaky. Nice you helped that older guy out (I'm older too) and charged his car up. I'll have to remember to help someone out like that if the time comes. BTW, I'm driving a 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge........say hi if you see me buzz by, LOL.
I got a full msrp swap. I got a loaded colorado truck. Driving a truck compared to a bolt is slow and non responsive. My tesla is coming in april and my trade in will be nice. BTW I loved my bolt.
Congratulations on your MSRP swap!
More if that kitty please.
How did the cat disappear?
In video editing, we call that a jump cut. 🙂
Have you heard anything about replacing your battery yet?
No, I still haven't had a time scheduled. I did just receive a notice that the new patch (80% limit and no more parking restrictions) was ready for the 2017s. I might schedule an appointment for next week and see how that goes.
How many years before the batteries need replaced? How much $?
My Bolt EV is on 5 years and almost 150,000 miles, and my battery is still working fine. I've lost about 6% of the original capacity/range, but that's about it. If you want to replace when you lose 20% of the original capacity (the accepted standard right now), it would probably be over 10 years and 500,000 miles of use.
I don't know the cost to replace the battery out of warranty, but it's probably close to $10,000. At that point, it might be cheaper to do an aftermarket battery upgrade. As it is, I'll be getting a new battery soon thanks to the safety recall, which restarts my 8 year/100,000 mile battery warranty.
@@newscoulomb3705
Thanks, that's good to know. I'm tempted to try an EV.
@@tinman1955 There are lots of good options, depending on your needs. If you're using it as a second vehicle, it might be worth trying a cheaper, used EV. Usually less range, but it will give you a better idea of what to look for.
My first plug-in was a Volt (hybrid), and that experience really helped me understand pure electrics better (before I ever bought one).
When you judge your distance. You had a 91 miles to the next charger. But you left with 128 worth of range. You lose miles. So how do you judge the miles?
I typically rely only on the actual battery level and the MIN estimate, but I also try to account for driving speeds, topography, and weather. The 128 mile estimate was based on more efficient driving, so it doesn't really help plan for the next 90-100 mile run with faster driving speeds and less favorable winds.
@@newscoulomb3705 I never got to the orange level. Thx for the info.
@@derekcrayton1173 You're welcome! I usually use it as a buffer myself, but that's why I mentioned the different tires at the end. For most of these stops, I would have just barely hit orange by the time I got to the charger. The orange typically lights up around 15% to 20% battery, so that should be about 30 to 40 miles left.
Have about 8k mile on my continental ControlContact and I'd say 5-7% less efficient is about correct
Thanks. Yeah, I kept hoping to see the efficiency improve, but it never did.
The GM info center doesn’t have any charging map stuff? Only android auto and, I assume apple Car Play?
It depends. My car is a 2017, so it only has maps, navigation, and route planning through Android Auto/Apple Car Play. The 2022+ EV models for GM do have all of that information integrated. The base Chevy Bolt EV might be missing it, but the rest have those features integrated.
Didn’t realize the bolt could utilize plug and charge. Interesting
It still can't right now. If you're referring to the ChargePoint unit, I had the RFID card in my hand. Some charging providers like EVgo are looking into making their stations Plug & Charge compatible for older EVs like the Bolt EV, but for now, that hasn't been implemented.
I'm going to wait about 5 years before buying a EV...when hopefully the # of charging stations have doubled and the average range is over 500 miles.
The number of charging stations are likely to double from what they were in this video by next year, but you're unlikely to see an average range of 500 miles for at least another 10 years.
I have to disagree it must be nice to live in CA and just jump in and go without planning. However on the East coast if you don't live in or around a major city that's not most definitely near the coast your stuck. I ask that you check plug share or A better route planner look at the state of West Virginia NJ on down the coastline to Florida border also hwy 95 on east even hwy 85. It's basically plug and pray that's because EA decided to compete with every charger company in CA and keep putting charges out there and not here on the East unlike Tesla did a full country plan. Tesla is actually still putting superchargers in areas on top each other unlike EVgo or EA.
It's actually easier to plan long trips in areas with sparse charging because you don't have choices. I've been driving 1,000+ mile road trips using the public charging infrastructure for over 5 years, including trips that even Tesla owners found difficult at the time. People also forget that California is a big place, and the area of California where I live is bigger than the state of New York. In fact, California has a "dead zone" in its fast charging infrastructure that's about the size of West Virginia, and because that's a region I travel to often, I'm keenly aware.
Regardless, keep watching that space. EVgo is putting GM's funding to good use, and we're already starting to see redundant fast charging locations pop up along the East Coast.
Those (tires) probably Russian to
Doing a road trip with a bolt is a lesson in futility. A bolt is the slowest charging EV one can buy!
Close, but not quite. There are several EVs that charger slower, but most people aren't considering them because they have a lot less range. The Bolt is in a tricky position. Some people expect it to be good at cannonball runs because it has a longer range than many more expensive, faster charging EVs, but the Bolt is designed more for road trips.
If you don't stop for at least one meal in eight hours of driving, the Bolt EV probably isn't for you.
Time for a new EV.
Or at least a new battery. :-)
@@newscoulomb3705 yes that is an idea also if you can get one that does not have the same problems the old one does.
@@JohnSmith-ug5ci Not that my old battery had problems, but after 145,000 miles, I have lost some range. Plus, after having a chance to drive the 2020 Bolt EV with 10% more capacity and range than my Bolt EV had on day one, I am looking forward to the improvement.
@@newscoulomb3705 yes your battery does have a problem other worse there would not have been software updates to fix it. A 10% increase does not seem worth the expense of another battery. I suggest a newer vehicle with much more range and faster charging ability.
The Bolt EV is neat and all but it really limits the ability to more accurately test charging stations. Sounds like Eric is skipping 50kW sites for reviews now since there's more useful & interesting stations popping up.
Wow this video just show me that it’s not worth having a ev car as a long commuter.
It shows the reality of traveling in a Chevy Bolt EV, but what you take away is more about you, your expectations, and how you manage your time. After all, I've driven a Bolt EV farther in a single day than most people drive in a typical month, but it is a different experience than driving a gas car.
If you expect your EV experience to be similar to a gas car, I recommend checking out my videos on the KIA EV6, which I drove for over 10 hours but only needed to spend a total of 40 minutes stopped (two short bathroom breaks and grabbing some food to go). Even in a gas car, I would have stopped to finish my food.
I enjoy seeing the Biden stickers on the machines.
Heh
Dear Eric, I was looking forward to more road-trip videos from you. However, I can't stand time-lapse videos. They make me sick to the stomach and I see no benefit in them over good old editing. Maybe you find the time to split them in different cuts. I'd be glad.
Eric, that is very dumb! Not logical. Yes, you should know where your next charging station will be unless you are staying over night with level 2 charging. See you did plan...
Knowing where the next charging stop will be is very different than preplanning a trip.
@@newscoulomb3705 Hi, Eric. I think you know where the chargers are, so you did not have to plan. My friend that has a Bolt 2020 since June 2020 would definitely have to plan as arriving at 3% would not leave much range to find one. Have a save trip.
@@davidws5439 You missed the point. All I need to know is that there are chargers along the route. I can choose charging locations in real time while driving. A car like the Bolt EV gives you three hours on the road before you have to stop for the first time, which is plenty of opportunity to find chargers along the way.
@@newscoulomb3705 Eric, you still have to know WHERE they are. You cannot just pull off at 3% and know a charger will be in driving range. It doesn't matter. You know where the chargers are in the areas you drive. At 55 kw max you have lots of time to plan or see where the next charger will be in the direction you are going.
@@davidws5439 The Bolt EV has (as do most modern EVs) access to voice command navigation through Android Auto and Apple Car Play while driving, so you can add chargers to navigation while on the road. I've demonstrated this before. Yes, it helps to know where some chargers are beforehand, but it's not absolutely necessary.
More to the point, I'm speaking specifically about route planners being unnecessary, and I'm calling out the fact that EV owners don't need to map their entire trip around charging site locations. As long as EV owners feel that route planners are required in order to travel, EVs will never become mainstream.
Perhaps you're coming from a Tesla perspective, but there are about five to six times as many public charging sites as there are Tesla Superchager locations, which makes planning charging stops in real-time far easier (like traveling in a fossil car).