From One Enthused Chevy Bolt Owner To Another

I used to be backed into an area on the city library, rapidly sorting by means of the books I had simply borrowed. I regarded up and noticed a small car driving into the lot. “Chevy?” I puzzled because it drove nearer. “Bolt?” Yup, and blue at that, identical to mine. (“Two Chevy Bolts stroll right into a bar....”)

The Bolt pulled into an adjoining spot. I grabbed my iPhone and jumped out. “I’ve to get an image!” I admitted to the opposite driver. “Do you thoughts?” He introduced as a 30-something male with a lightweight brown ponytail. He additionally had a telephone/digital camera in his hand.

What ensued was a very nice dialog between one enthused Chevy Bolt owner and one other.

As we snapped footage of the side-by-side EVs, we began speaking simply and readily about our Bolt experiences.

Can get lots of car satisfaction: “It’s the very best automotive I ever owned,” my companion declared fortunately. I responded that I had solely owned the automotive for a month however was really liking it. I continued that it was dependable, quiet, easy driving, and had nice vary. I defined that I lived on the bottom of a small mountain, so, whereas going up means consuming about 10 miles of anticipated vary, the Bolt loves the journey again down and beneficial properties the miles again!

The Chevy Bolt is what’s referred to as an “orphan automotive” in auto trade parlance — a car produced by an organization model that has discontinued enterprise. Chevrolet ultimately plans to cease making the small hatchback in favor of newer EVs that use GM’s third-generation platform and Ultium battery propulsion. CEO Mary Barra admitted in an NPR interview that the Chevy Bolt “is one thing that has constructed up lots of loyalty and fairness. So, I can’t say as a result of I don’t talk about product packages, however … that’s an vital car in our portfolio.” Is there hope for a Bolt reboot? Present homeowners need to know in order that we will plan future purchases.

Recall means renewed: My Bolt pal requested if I had the brand new battery, acknowledging that he thought it should be. I confirmed his suspicion, relating how, in preliminary conversations with the automotive supplier, I used to be informed that no automotive with a recall on it may be bought at a dealership. My companion expressed a sentiment that I’ve held since buying this used 2017 Bolt — “It’s like getting a brand new automotive once more,” with an 8-year/ 100,000 mile battery warranty.

(Since 2020, GM has been pressured to restore each single copy of the automotive with a whole battery pack alternative, as my colleague Jennifer Sensiba reported. There have been only a few precise battery fires, however the firm ultimately discovered that defects in LG Chem battery cells GM used had been so widespread that restore and monitoring to point out indicators of bother wasn’t an possibility. As an alternative, all packs had been utterly changed with new cells.)

Prepare your battery mind: We talked concerning the vary indicator on the sprint. I allowed how the automotive continues to be attending to know us. It provides extra anticipated vary on the sprint each time we cost it again up, adjusting the potential miles per cost degree based mostly on our previous driving sample. My companion added to that speculation with an illuminating notion. “The Bolt continues to extend its vary expectations as you prepare it — it thinks it nonetheless has the unique battery.” Ah, that is sensible.

When the Bolt EV was launched in 2017, it had a 60 kWh pack and was EPA-range rated at 238 miles. Then, in 2020, GM elevated the battery capability to 66 kWh, which added 21 miles of EPA-rated vary. That made the 2020 Bolt’s official score 259 miles. Nonetheless, underneath the recall and alternative plan, all Bolt EVs get the brand new bigger battery pack. Which means the Bolts made in 2017 by means of 2019 have extra capability than their unique pack.

No vary nervousness right here: We agreed that the Bolt’s vary is ok for 95% of journey. I associated how my husband Steve installed an outdoor plug on our trip residence’s shed, and we plug in in a single day and as wanted. My new companion’s journey can be usually round city or procuring a dozen or so miles away in suburbia, so, he, too, discovered the vary to be sufficient for his wants.

After all, there’s all the time an exception to the rule. My new pal described a highway journey to southern Maine he took with a trailer hitched to the Bolt, loaded with 2 kayaks. What would’ve been a 3-hour journey in an ICE car prolonged to six hours. He had issue distinguishing chargers that had been open to the general public from those who had been restricted to customers who had bought there. “Don’t attempt to cost at a Harley dealership,” he warned, nonetheless simmering from being dismissed when in charging want. I associated how the dealership the place we purchased our Bolt had an off-limits signal on a outstanding lot charger to maintain away a neighbor who was charging his LEAF there every day. Now it’s solely individuals who purchase from the dealership and who are in the know who can cost there.

Picture by Carolyn Fortuna/CleanTechncia

One charging system to rule all of them: My companion talked about that he had heard that the Tesla charging community would possibly sometime be out there to non-Tesla EV homeowners. At this level within the dialog, I felt snug sufficient to confess that my other car in FL was a Tesla Model Y, and that there was no equal to the great expertise of stopping off I-95 at a Supercharger. I defined concerning the NACS and the way within the close to future, non-Teslas with an adapter would be capable of expertise the fun of a Supercharger, too. He appeared to really feel happy considering forward to this extra, notoriously dependable charging possibility.

Meals for mouse thought: After studying that I might be storing my Bolt in a barn for the winter months, my Bolt buddy opened his frunk and confirmed me a small black rectangular field with a pulsing gentle. “The Bolt has a vent within the grille that lets air in once you’re driving on the freeway,” he started. “I suppose it’s supposed to scale back drag.” It additionally appears to have one other impact: it makes a very good entry level for mice to sneak in throughout the chilly climate months, to munch and nest.

My companion identified what I consider as a “mouse machine” — in all probability higher termed an “underneath hood rodent repellent system” that sends off periodic sound waves that mice actually hate. No extra chewing these tasty, soy-based cables. Good to know, as had been different tidbits we shared in our mutual Bolt-admiration discuss.

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