Last January, we took a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV on a road trip from Detroit, Michigan, to Columbus, Ohio. Or, we tried to. Charging infrastructure made the trek far more… interesting than it should be.
Motor Trend echoed the sentiment in the latest long-term update with its 2017 Bolt EV and detailed how public charging simply isn’t up to snuff yet. Sure, it’s cheaper than filling up a car’s gas tank (normally) but the long wait times make it difficult to plan long-distance driving.
If one purchases a Chevrolet Bolt EV, he or she best have access to a Level 2 or DC fast charging system daily, hopefully at home. If not, it’s going to be a difficult ownership experience. Even in the biggest market for electric cars, that is California, public charging is hardly seamless. Many workplaces don’t offer charging stations, and most public stations are still Level 2, which add about 25 miles per hour to the battery. That’s great for a Chevrolet Volt with an estimated 53-mile range, but the Bolt EV’s battery will go at least 238 miles. That’s a long time to wait for a full charge.
But, it’s not the car’s fault. In fact, MT and us here at GM Authority think the Bolt EV is a wonderful electric car, despite its cheap interior materials and content for the price.
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what are the oil companies going to do with all that gasoline and motor oil if EVs really take over ??? i think they will lower the price of gasoline to where it will not be economical to own a EV. right now it is govt mandates in places like calif that there are even any EVs.
MOTORMAN I think you are 100% right, I have said it many time before but fuel will be a lot cheaper in 10 years to 20 years.
And in 10 years, the electric cars will so good compared to old-fashioned, mechanically complicated ICE cars that literally no one will by a new gasoline car.
And when no one needs fuel, you’ll be right; it will be dirt cheap.
Is anyone in this thread even remotely aware that oil supplies are dwindling? And that drilling for it causes earthquakes?
Please do your research before saying something so stupid. we can’t even put a dent into the oil supply at this rate and with the EV car coming it’s not going to be in as much demand as it is now for the purpose of being used in ICE but it will still be used in all the plastic garbage that we love so much.
cost of production as a percentage of volume will increase price not reduce it!!!
No, because, as is happening now, gas stations will go out of business as less people buy fuel due to fuel efficient cars, hybrids and EV’s. Eventually there will be fewer refineries, oil production, etc. which will limit supplies vs. demand and the price will go back up. Every day, at least in California, a gas station becomes an office building or retail store.
The oil producers can export that gasoline and make more profits from other nations, bring in money for the U.S. economy.
“what are the oil companies going to do with all that gasoline and motor oil if EVs really take over”
Make lubricants. Crude oil isn’t only just used for making gasoline.
i do not believe that you can refine crude and some where in the process not get gasoline
really? look around you right now and look at all the plastic you see what do you think was used to make it?
they recycle plastic just like steel , glass and aluminum
And you think plastic can be recycled indefinitely without any loss of material?
“i do not believe that you can refine crude and some where in the process not get gasoline”
Then you need to change you way of thinking because gasoline is at the far end of the crude oil refinery process.
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I have a 2017 Bolt LT I ordered just what I wanted on the vehicle love the cloth seats its not just a wonderful vehicle, its excellent, love everything about it, GM has a home run with this vehicle, get between 5.5 to 6 miles on 1KWH Charges to 409 miles. each charge, I got news for you the dash is a 100% better the the Tesla 3 dash The Bolt also has more room for legs in back seat and head room. People need to stop wining, and enjoy a excellent running, riding, handling, very well engineered ,excellent inside and outside vehicle.
hi Bob Can you please tell me in your experience if I travel 50 miles a day total to go to work will the regular 110 plug in at my house be good enough to keep me charged up?
Also what happens when it’s cold outside? I mean I realize it won’t get the same range but what about the heat in the cab it’s pretty much instant since you don’t have to wait for an engine to warm up.
If you use 110 volt to charge its 4 miles per hour at 110 volt charge, it would take about 12 hours at 110 volt for 50 miles of charge. I use 240 volt 32 amp charger thats 25 miles in a hour at 240 volt charger. So if you invest in a Bolt or electric vehicle go with 240 volt charger system. On cold weather I live in the south so I use the heated seats. maybe three times a year. Yes the heat if you need it is instant but pulls down battery compared to seats. Its not that cold here to use the car heat. just seats to heat.
The Chevy Bolt EV is perfect for anyone who travels less than 100 miles a day. And if you do have to travel more, get a hybrid/EREV or move closer. It isn’t worth the money or loss of time (and life) to travel such distances each day. Or travel by plane or train and let someone else drive.
This is a commuter car with some of the best charging scheduling software ever created. It was designed to go 60 miles a day, 5 days a week. GM sells ICE cars that are perfect for long trips. Motor Trend may as well have tested the seaworthiness of a motorcycle.
the question will be how many people are wiling to spend $40,000 for $20,000 car with a $20,000 gas tank (the battery}
The answer is the aveage price for a car is about $36,000, So the answer is do I buy a car that I don’t have to go to the gas station I can charge my Bolt at home any time I want to, A car that has very low repairs, change tire around 7,500 miles and go. no oil changing. A car that you can go 22-24 miles on four KWH, that cost me .44 cents to go that many miles. A gas car$2.57 for a gallon of gas to go the same miles.So the $40,000 with $4,500 off sticker price plus $7,500 from Gov your now at $28,000 for the car. and in some states more from state Gov. Plus a flate out better running car then a gas powered car. the warr on battery is 8years or 100,000 miles, the same on the charging system of the car. the battery packs can be rebuild. The bottom line is I will never own a just a gas powered vehicle every again. But I do own a 2018 Volt that I can go any where on the gas generator built in it. That plugs in, I get 72-75 miles on a charge.EV’s are a no brainer its the only way to go.
the $7500 is a tax credit so if you don’t pay that much in taxes when you are retired it does you no good. my son bought his son and daughter new chevy traxs and the cost was about the same as one bolt. as the battery gets older the % of charge it will hold gets less and less
The Bolt and the Volt is a 100 times better vehicle than atrax so you will pay more for a better engineered vehicle, I have had many electric and plug in hybrids over 9 years have not had one that the battery degrade off what it charged up to when new. the battery and car charging system is warr for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Their are no neg to EV. only what you think, and not know. if you have never driven our have never own one. Their are some Volts with 300,000 miles with very little change in % of battery charging. Will never have a gas only car again. gas vehicles have over 2000 moving parts. EV has 18, so now tell me what will have more trouble down the road. The answer is GAS vehicles. Thats the bottom line.
I purchased a Chevy Bolt 4 months ago. It is a wonderful car. It sits up a little higher like a small SUV. The range is perfect for the Puget Sound area. Ive taken it skiing up to Snoqualmie Pass several times from Seattle and driven to Bellingham and back for hiking. All on a single charge. The thing that will be beneficial for Puget Sound if the auto industry goes electric is the cleaning up of non point pollution. There are no gas spills, oil leaks, or brake pad filings coming from the car. The tires still will wear but the others will be gone. Hopefully Puget Sound will become healthier over time if this occurs.