4,000+ Miles to Fully Charged Live - Chevy Bolt EV Road Trip Pt. 1: Horror in Herkimer
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- Опубліковано 28 бер 2020
- Finally, our first vid covering the 4,272-mile round trip from Boston, MA to Austin, TX for the inaugural Fully Charged Live USA event. This is the longest Bolt EV road trip we've ever undertaken and our first in the new 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV, which only had 72 miles on the clock when we set off.
Unfortunately, we have to begin a trip containing many highlights with a low, as Electrify America's first of 25 eventual charge session didn't go to plan (to say the least!). Although it was an inauspicious beginning that sowed a few seeds of doubt for the next few hundred miles of the journey, it provides a reality check and contrast to the following 3,500 miles, which were a resounding success for EA and non-Tesla EV travel in general.
This first leg also covers the initial differences of the 2020 Bolt EV compared to our 2017 model, which are subtle but did prove to be useful over the course of so many miles. Part two will be much more encouraging and cover us all the way to Texas over 2.5 days, so don't let this put you off summer road trips when the current restrictions clear up! Rather, this should serve as a reminder of how to plan a non-Tesla EV road trip and why a plan B/fast charger redundancy is so important.
Enjoy, thanks for watching, and please email plugandplayEV@gmail.com if you have any questions about the trip.
Fuel the channel by shouting us a cup of coffee via Ko-Fi (we'll write your name on the cup, honest): ko-fi.com/plugandplayev
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Thanks for posting been wait for this!
Sorry it took so long, things have been crazy. Hope to pick up the pace this week though 👍
My husband and I just buy one thanks to your videos thank you
That's great to hear, congratulations! If either of you have any questions or need help with route planning in the Northeast, don't hesitate to ask 👍 plugandplayev@gmail.com
Haha the bear made me laugh! Adorable!
Got a few strange looks driving along with him and hauling him out for the odd charge session, but it made for some fun photographs and the kids were happy :-)
It's really difficult when there is absolutely no redundancy in the charging network and all chargers are broken.
Due to this horrible virus, I hear rush hour traffic is down to 10% of what it usually is. I've never seen the NYC and boston area highways without traffic in my lifetime. It's usually packed for miles.
The good news is that NY state is committed to installing DC fast chargers at many of the Thruway rest stops. The bad is that they're all part of a wider renovation project to modernize those stops and will probably not be up and running before mid/late 2021.
Traffic is definitely slow around our way. I did a couple of final cold weather range tests for the season before the MA shelter-in-place order came and the roads were virtually empty. Never thought I'd miss Boston traffic, but here we are.
Here’s another hint drag squares itself
Mariotte salutes ya! 🇫🇷
I just purchased my first EV (2020 Bolt Premier) a few weeks ago and absolutely love it. Still learning the whole EV lifestyle I guess you could say, so I’m not quite brave enough to head out on a long road trip just yet. Enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing.
That's great, glad you're enjoying the car! Looks like Q1 could be quite a solid sales period for the 2020 Bolt EV, unless the events of the last couple of weeks have put a serious dent in momentum.
If you want to get started on road tripping, a weekend trip within around 125-150 miles of home can be a good place to begin. You can plan a destination with L2 charging or simply find a DC fast charger along the route to get yourself familiar with the process, but it's not so far that you'll feel especially challenged. Plus it all gets easier as we hit the warmer months.
Plug and Play EV thanks for the advice.
I did ~2,500 miles roundtrip and encountered 3 down stations. Also drove 8,000 miles over 3 weeks late last year, with probably 40 EA sessions and encountered zero sites entirely unusable. EA should incorporate some redundant measures. Getting stranded for several hours, just isn't acceptable.
Something I've learned from dozens if not over a hundred of unsuccessful EA charge initiations, you can usually reach all four stations from only two parking spots. If the stations are from left to right 1 2 3 4, you can park in front of 4 and USUALLY also plug in from 3, and from 2 you can USUALLY reach 1. It's nice not to have to move the car so much.
I never seemed to have luck initiating a fast charge session with the car on. Have you found both your 2017 & 2020 to work fine this way?
The Bolt EV cannonball run! I remember watching that one and being excited that the non-Tesla charging network had reached a place where that's achievable, especially outside the warmer months.
The parking point is a great call... I've used it inadvertently a couple of times when our pull in aligned with multiple stations and it's definitely much less of a hassle (not that we should have to switch in the first place, but this is the reality for now).
A few people have commented about whether it causes problems to leave the car on but it's never been a consideration for us actually starting a session. Neither the 2017 nor 2020 have had any issues starting up with the car on, to the best of my knowledge, and we usually like to have the kW read out to see what power the car is taking in right from the off. We also have the WiFi available when the car is on, which has helped maintain the EA app connection in more rural parts of Pennsylvania.
How long did it take to charge to 80 percent when you were pulling 120amps?
A little under an hour.
6:07 - What was that ICE Volvo doing in that space?!
8:44 -- again? Or perhaps that spot was not EV reserved, hard to see.
@@xchopp Both were okay, just right next to the EV spaces. The 6:07 Volvo is at Lee Services Westbound, which only has the one station and a single space reserved for it. All of those along the Masspike suffer from gas blockers at busier times, but the nature of service areas means that they're typically gone within a few minutes if you keep an eye on the space.
Same at 8:44, there are two stations and two spaces allocated for EVs only. Not sure why the gasser parked so far from the entrance when the lot was wide open, but he wasn't blocking the stations so no harm done.
Thanks to your videos and those of a few others I have purchased a 2017 Bolt EV and am so pleased to be driving the future. I'm still working out the kinks with charging and have a question regarding Energy Information screen, specifically, how do you get the screens to reset. It says reseting occurs with full charge but the one 90 % charge I've done didn't reset. Thanks for clarity on that matter.
Thanks David, I'm happy the videos here and from others have helped your decision.
The reset question is a minor frustration of mine with the Bolt EV, as it makes monitoring different sections of a trip more tricky. It sounds like in your case it might not have actually reached the charge completed stage and triggered the reset for one of two possibilities:
1) The car was at your target charge of 90% but perhaps didn't have "Hill Top Reserve" mode on, which is the 2017's version of the incremental 5% target charge setting in later model years. The 2017 Bolt will only reset its stats earlier than 100% if that setting is engaged.
2) You did have Hilltop Reserve engaged but perhaps unplugged between the moment where the app says "Full"/car reads "Fully Charged" and the point where it sends the "Charging complete" notification via text/email.
On the latter, I observed a brief gap between the two in our 2017, perhaps 15-30 minutes, where the state of charge is high enough to read "fully charged" but the car is still taking in those final few watt hours of juice. I'd recommend leaving it plugged in for an hour or so longer than the "complete by" time to see if that resets the energy screens for you. Good luck and happy Bolting!
I don't understand why chevy limited the charging so low. I know that for most people it isn't such a big deal but it really makes the m3 the obvious choice when it can fast charge 4x as fast. 20mins vs 80 really adds up on a road trip.
It's mostly down to the age of the design and the hardware they used. GM reps have said in the past that the current version of the Bolt EV doesn't have the capability to go much higher than the current maximum of 55kW. The car was designed back in 2015, when the infrastructure couldn't take any more than that. Even up to late 2018, 50kW stations were by far the most common option and Electrify America's 150/350kW stations were barely into double digits.
My hope is that the 2022 Bolt EV (and the larger Bolt EUV) will make some more significant changes and at least get it in line with the likes of the Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro EVs (75kW), if not push above 100kW. If not, it either needs to be pitched as a very entry level model ($25k MSRP) or the Volkswagen ID.4 will eat its lunch in the $30-40k price range (after incentives).
Been gone for a bit. Was looking forward to your recap. Sadly due to current events it looks like I won't be going to VA for my training. Online class now. Although, in other news. Have you seen the new "A Better Route Planner" app?
Yep, this one was a toughie to break down as you might imagine. Pt. 2 is basically plain sailing down to Texas though, with a lot of repetition at Walmarts, so I thought I'd focus on the early issues then the later successes.
ABRP app seemed a bit tough to navigate at first but might be getting better. I just haven't been able to travel enough to try it properly. Will your April training be rescheduled?
@@plugandplayEV Yeah, April has been rescheduled for June with an online class. Ah well, plenty more classes to take. I've played with the app, seems to work well and I wish I could pass it over to Google or Waze in Android Auto. Better yet, use it in Android Auto. It's how I wish Energy Assist worked.
What did you do when none of the charger worked? Were you left stranded?
It's all in the next video - here: ua-cam.com/video/Z_s-sDrlUqI/v-deo.html - but the long story short version is 1) plugged into a nearby level 2 for 30 minutes while we replanned, 2) grabbed lunch/worked in Utica, NY for a couple of hours on another L2, 3) briefly stopped in Liverpool, NY for trip supplies/L2 charge, then took slower roads on NY-20 to next fast charger in Waterloo, NY.
When you charge your car you referred to the number of amps, for example 100 amps or 120 amps. I always thought that you would determine the speed of your charge using kilowatts. For example the Chevy Bolt usually starts out at say 40 or 42 amps, just as long as you're beginning with a low SOC. After reaching maybe 50% SOC, it drops down to what, maybe 25 amps. When you use amps as a guide, what are they telling you? And are they only available on the charging station, or are the amps also displayed on the Bolt's dashboard? Thank you for any explanation.
Charge rate (power) is measured in watts, yes, but that's a function of amps x volts. So the Bolt EV will typically hit 340-350 volts reliably, then it's the amperage of the charge station that determines the overall charge rate. On the station in Lee, that was an older unit that maxed out at 100 amps. So 100 x 350 = 35,000 watts / 35kW. In NY, the station hitting 120 amps meant 120 x 350 = 42,000 watts, so a 42kW charge rate.
In terms of seeing the amperage, that isn't always shown on the station, so you have to deduce it from the overall charge rate. You can also use an app like Torque Pro with an OBD reader, which is shown a few times in this video, to see the separate voltage and amperage delivered to the car while charging.
@@plugandplayEV Thank you - now I understand. And apparently the charge station displays amps.
Great video, I drive 70 miles to work were we have a charger. Then work a food delivery about 60 miles. Then home about 200 miles per day. Would this car or maybe the Volt or a Prius be best.
At 200 miles a day, a lot depends on how and where you're driving. That's assuming you don't have any time to stop and fast charge for 15-20 minutes, which would change the picture again.
Above 40F degrees and/or at lower speeds, you'll push much closer to 275-300 miles in any model year Bolt EV, so that would work for your use case. At mostly highway speeds and/or in temperatures at or below freezing, you're right on the edge of a 2020+ Bolt's capability and probably pushing a 2017-'19 beyond what it can do on a single charge (we saw more like 170 miles per charge on the Interstate in winter).
So in most scenarios the Bolt EV would work for your day, but if you have no time to charge or don't want to think about the range, a Volt or some other fuel-efficient PHEV is probably a better bet for the next few years.
@@plugandplayEV I have 70 miles mix driving to work where I have access to a charger. Then max 130 second job and home. So I think the Bolt should work then charge again at home
@@toddboucher3302 In that case, you're sorted. If you're starting the day with a full charge and can add in even 50 miles or so during the time you're stopped it will cover your day nicely in any Bolt EV.
Out of curiosity did you try hold up (think strain relief) any of the Herkimer plugs when initiating the failed charges?
Yeah, gave it a go on all of them despite the fact that it's not supposed to be an issue with the 2020 Bolt. It wasn't something I needed to do on the subsequent 25 charge sessions with EA and all stations in Herkimer wer down for maintenance right after I left, so this was definitely a sitewide issue. The frustrating thing was I'd charged there perfectly just one month earlier, so I was expecting much better from it.
15:40 - looks like your technique could use some work :-)
Ha, the only time it respects my technique is when I drive around our local roads like a little old lady!
You do realize your car can only get 55 A input. If you look on the right on your dashboard you’ll see the actual kilowatts being pumped in yours was max 39 doesn’t matter what the machine says Chevy bolts maximum is 55 A can’t believe you’ve had two cars and you didn’t know that.
It's 55kW maximum while DC fast charging, not 55A, and you'll see in almost every Bolt video on the channel we reference that number often.
@@plugandplayEV jus a typo but you
@@plugandplayEV just a typo. You still kept referring to 120
Yes, referring to 120 amps, not kW. Amperage x voltage determines the EV's charge rate in kW, so it matters whether the charger is capable of delivering 125A (or 120A in the case of the Capital Region Welcome Ctr shown here). Those that are capped at 100A, like the one shown at Lee service plaza, mean the Bolt doesn't get close to its max, which I've always been fully aware is 55kW.
You will still have to deal with mileage anxiety women have. I never see any of these long EV trips done by women.
It seems to take about an hour for each charge. You have to have “faith” that the sites are open and will fit your car.
I could never convince my wife to even consider buying an EV. If you are a “prepper” you understand that when the grid goes down you will go NOWHERE.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
With power out, no-one's pumping gas either. And I guess preppers prefer the idea of an off-grid backup, for which solar and battery storage are well-suited. These are interesting scenarios to compare availability of gasoline at a station vs. electricity at every socket, though, thank you.
I've heard plenty of road trip stories from female Bolt drivers, one of whom is closing in on 100k miles on her Bolt and drives through upstate NY winters with it. Definitely agree that crap planners shouldn't own an EV at this point, though. It requires some thought and I know of drivers who wouldn't be capable...but, then, they're not going to do well on long distance drives in any car for the same reason!
@@plugandplayEV Thanks for the reply. We have two hybrids. Great gas mileage and no charging anxiety. Had to replace the 2004 Prius main battery this year. But it lasted all these years! Car is still great!
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
Seems like a stressful and miserable way to travel. You’re a slave to the charging stations plus the hours waiting around to recharge.
No, it's rather relaxing, less expensive, and much smoother to drive. New charging stations are installed every month and charging now happens in 20 minutes on new models (while you're doing other productive things, not standing there pumping).
Never going back to unresponsive gas vehicles ourselves, but feel free to waste time filling up every week and be a slave to the pump prices if you like that sort of thing.
@@plugandplayEV I’ve watched a number of these videos. Nothing relaxing about it. Charging stations issues. As far as expensive, nothing cheaper about it, or cleaner for the environment when you consider all the back end mining for the minerals.
It's significantly better nowadays, travel is about 5 cents a mile, and your info on production vs. lifetime emissions is so off base it's not even close to reality. Enjoy your fossil fuel relic until it rattles itself to death.
@@plugandplayEV Actually I’m not off base. Do you even know the energy spent to mine minerals for one battery? Enjoy your lithium batteries. Let’s see how we handle the disposable of spent batteries with the very toxic for the earth lithium, along with China controlling the majority of lithium and cobalt mining. Might be cheaper now, but wait a few years. I will stick with my relic.
@@BMT3691 One Google search and a little sifting for independently verified studies will give you all you need on battery recycling and the lifetime emissions of a combustion vehicle vs. battery-electric vehicles.
The BEV sector is being built from the ground-up with minimizing emissions, recycling, and a circular economy at its core (see Ford's investment in Redwood as one of hundreds of examples this year), while the combustion sector is in retreat, desperately trying a mixture of FUD and greenwashing to slow the inevitable acceleration of electrification.
If you can't see that, I can't help you, but then I suspect that's not what you're looking for as you waste time trawling UA-cam for things you dislike.