Your trip videos often remind me of what cross-country driving must have been like before the interstate highway system: I imagine back then you had to plan your trip around where you knew you could get gas (and decent food), compared to today's ICE environment. EV trips are sort of nostalgic (in a good way). Thanks for the video!
Sorry this reply is so late, apparently TH-cam's app isn't the best for past video comments?! And you're right, it's extra work but also brings a sense of adventure with it. I see some folks compare it to pilots plotting a flight plan. Plan refueling stops, factor in weather conditions and the like, anything to plan the best allocation of scarce resources. That will fade away as infrastructure expands and more capable cars are released, but I'm glad to have been a part of it in this early adopter period.
One point I forgot to clarify: the overnight stop in Corning, NY could easily be replaced with a dealership charging stop in Elmira, NY (CCS only) or Horseheads, NY (CHAdeMO and CCS) to get the extra bump needed to move onto the Southern Tier Welcome Center. Both of these locations offer complimentary charging at the time of recording/writing (January 2020). So, given the choice, would you choose the frugal route or the more direct, quick and convenient locations along I-90?
I sometimes wish there were crosswalks at major EV charging centers to cross the main street. Notice many of the small town "off the highway" places are sometimes tucked away near a Walmart and you have to cross the road to get something to Eat, which can be a real bummer when traffic is moving fast and there is no crosswalk.
So far, I've been lucky enough to find EA sites that either had non-Walmart options in the adjacent lot or a decent crosswalk to get to something different. I agree with you though that this is something many US retail places need to work on... I'll try to work that topic into the various places we charge on the way down to Austin.
@@plugandplayEV Just curious, Have you watched News Coulumb's video, another Bolt EV driver from LA area. He does Site reviews, which take into account all important things an EV charger site needs. I think it would be nice if charging providers look into those reviews to make some changes to the way things are structured, especially n the Midwest since we are sorely lacking chargers with good facilities.
@@adithyaramachandran7427 I have indeed. His early videos gave me confidence that we could try our longer trips in the Bolt EV. I think creating best practice for site installations is a very good idea. I just think at the moment the likes of EA - and, to a lesser extent, EVgo - are focused on getting units in the ground as quickly as possible and additional costs aren't going to fly. They can always add extra features like battery storage, canopies, vehicle maintenance stations at a later date, but right now those are secondary and tertiary considerations.
We have relatives just SE of Pittsburgh, so I usually think of I-76 as the hilly route. Same applies to I-80 though and it's definitely not a region you want to be struggling to start a fast charge. Kyle from Out of Spec Motoring gave it a go in a Kona Electric last year and ended up trickle charging in Clarion for the night 😬
Thank you for your very informative and realistic videos. I'm on fence still, Full EV with the Bolt or PHEV with the Prius Prime. I commute in Maryland 150 miles roundtrip daily. I know the Bolt would do this no problem as I do have a garage that I can install a level 2 charger in and work also provides charging (0.16 KW). I may only need to top off at work on cold winter days. It's just when doing longer road trips like you did, a prime gets appx 640 miles a tank straight and wouldn't have to make so many stops. Also will do 25 miles on electric, so even for traveling to work, part of that trip would be 50 miles on electric and sipping gas the remainder of the way. I'm wondering if the all electric savings would be worth it. Part of me is also a Toyota fan boy as I've loved their reliability they have given me since 1989. My last Chevy prior 89 not so much. I tend to keep my cars well after paid off and in 300k mile range. My 06 Scion xB is now at 35mpg 445,000 miles and getting tired so I'm planning it's replacement.
Thanks for watching! Let me start with reliability, as that's the easiest to answer. I'm confident the Bolt EV will go well into six-figure mileage with minimal maintenance. Whatever reputation Chevrolet has with its combustion vehicles, it's leaving them behind with first the Volt and now the Bolt EV. In terms of savings, it will depend a lot on your home electricity rates. In general, I hear reports of 6-7 cents a mile from Prius drivers but you'll know your numbers better than I will there. I can tell you that if your home rates are $0.15 per kWh or lower, it's the equivalent of around 4-5 cents per mile in a Bolt EV. If you can take advantage of EV-friendly rates like time-of-use (TOU) and charge more cheaply overnight, that can come down further still. Then there's the potential for free charging if your area/routine make it possible, which can bring the per-mile cost down again. I'd be happy to offer suggestions on that last point if you give me a broad area in which to check the charging infrastructure. Long trips are the hardest to address, as it comes down to your personal driving style. If you're what I'd term a "road warrior" (perfectly fine, my brother-in-law qualifies as one and has a Volt for just that reason!) and like to jam out 400-500 miles at a time, the Bolt isn't for you. If you don't mind stretching your legs after 200 miles or so (or you can be productive during those breaks e.g. remote working, shop, eat), it's actually quite refreshing. And remember, for trips up to 400 miles, the charging time is negligible. You start with a full charge, cover 200-220 miles, charge for 30-40 mins and finish your trip. Schedule that over a planned meal break and it's a non-issue. It's once you get into multiple stops that the charge time can become a drag, but only you'll know how often you take those very long trips and how you prefer to drive them. Happy to answer any follow-up questions you have and look forward to hearing your decision. (And feel free to email plugandplayEV@gmail.com if the comments section gets too clunky!)
Oh, and be sure to check the seats on a Bolt EV test drive. My wife and I are fine with the fit of them, even on long trips, but some people can't stand them. Which such a sizeable daily commute, that will definitely be a dealbreaker if you're not comfortable!
I like the backup of L2 at rest areas in case a PHEV wants to top up or the DCFC is down, but it generally doesn't fit the bill for EV drivers only planning a 30-45 minute stop. At the price, though, I always prefer to see L2 included alongside DCFC installations. Could also be used for facilities vehicles that will stay longer.
Hi, I live on NY Southern tier and we just returned our 2017 Bolt LT for a 2020 Premier. Cuomo was going to put charges on all the main highways but I don't know if he did it yet. I noticed the new higher charging rate is 80Kw along with the longer range we notice the distance.
Hi and congratulations, hope you like the upgrade! The program you mention is called EVolveNY and it hit some road blocks last year. The timeline to complete many of the fast chargers before the end of 2019 was too ambitious and they had to reset the plan a little. I've been getting some info from the ROC EV group on new momentum for the initiative and should hopefully be able to make an update video on it soon. Thanks for watching.
I just don't think EV long distance is worth the cost 0.42 KWh ... Pain in the ass finding charge stations. takes to dam long... not worth it for long distance... Around town absolutely worth it..
Long distance is really $0.31/kWh for the savvy traveler. The break even point for the EA member fee is 33kWh of charging, so anyone doing more than 300 miles on a trip should be on the Pass+ plan and filling up at the lower rate. Plus the first 200-250 miles are at home charging rates, because most will leave with a full pack. Charge time criticism is fair though. It's getting better, but several years until most EVs can get close to gas fill up speeds away from home.
Your trip videos often remind me of what cross-country driving must have been like before the interstate highway system: I imagine back then you had to plan your trip around where you knew you could get gas (and decent food), compared to today's ICE environment. EV trips are sort of nostalgic (in a good way). Thanks for the video!
Sorry this reply is so late, apparently TH-cam's app isn't the best for past video comments?! And you're right, it's extra work but also brings a sense of adventure with it. I see some folks compare it to pilots plotting a flight plan. Plan refueling stops, factor in weather conditions and the like, anything to plan the best allocation of scarce resources. That will fade away as infrastructure expands and more capable cars are released, but I'm glad to have been a part of it in this early adopter period.
One point I forgot to clarify: the overnight stop in Corning, NY could easily be replaced with a dealership charging stop in Elmira, NY (CCS only) or Horseheads, NY (CHAdeMO and CCS) to get the extra bump needed to move onto the Southern Tier Welcome Center. Both of these locations offer complimentary charging at the time of recording/writing (January 2020).
So, given the choice, would you choose the frugal route or the more direct, quick and convenient locations along I-90?
I sometimes wish there were crosswalks at major EV charging centers to cross the main street. Notice many of the small town "off the highway" places are sometimes tucked away near a Walmart and you have to cross the road to get something to Eat, which can be a real bummer when traffic is moving fast and there is no crosswalk.
So far, I've been lucky enough to find EA sites that either had non-Walmart options in the adjacent lot or a decent crosswalk to get to something different. I agree with you though that this is something many US retail places need to work on... I'll try to work that topic into the various places we charge on the way down to Austin.
@@plugandplayEV Just curious, Have you watched News Coulumb's video, another Bolt EV driver from LA area. He does Site reviews, which take into account all important things an EV charger site needs. I think it would be nice if charging providers look into those reviews to make some changes to the way things are structured, especially n the Midwest since we are sorely lacking chargers with good facilities.
@@adithyaramachandran7427 I have indeed. His early videos gave me confidence that we could try our longer trips in the Bolt EV. I think creating best practice for site installations is a very good idea. I just think at the moment the likes of EA - and, to a lesser extent, EVgo - are focused on getting units in the ground as quickly as possible and additional costs aren't going to fly. They can always add extra features like battery storage, canopies, vehicle maintenance stations at a later date, but right now those are secondary and tertiary considerations.
That Pennsylvania trek - with a Bolt in the colder months - would be quite the challenge, with all of those hills.
We have relatives just SE of Pittsburgh, so I usually think of I-76 as the hilly route. Same applies to I-80 though and it's definitely not a region you want to be struggling to start a fast charge. Kyle from Out of Spec Motoring gave it a go in a Kona Electric last year and ended up trickle charging in Clarion for the night 😬
Plug and Play EV - nice to know that he didn’t get stuck (bricked).
What's even better is being able to make these trips even in the winter without any real level of concern.
Yes, I almost take this for granted now but it's important to remember that it was much less viable even a year ago. Shows how quickly we're moving 👍⚡
Thank you for your very informative and realistic videos. I'm on fence still, Full EV with the Bolt or PHEV with the Prius Prime. I commute in Maryland 150 miles roundtrip daily. I know the Bolt would do this no problem as I do have a garage that I can install a level 2 charger in and work also provides charging (0.16 KW). I may only need to top off at work on cold winter days. It's just when doing longer road trips like you did, a prime gets appx 640 miles a tank straight and wouldn't have to make so many stops. Also will do 25 miles on electric, so even for traveling to work, part of that trip would be 50 miles on electric and sipping gas the remainder of the way. I'm wondering if the all electric savings would be worth it. Part of me is also a Toyota fan boy as I've loved their reliability they have given me since 1989. My last Chevy prior 89 not so much. I tend to keep my cars well after paid off and in 300k mile range. My 06 Scion xB is now at 35mpg 445,000 miles and getting tired so I'm planning it's replacement.
Thanks for watching! Let me start with reliability, as that's the easiest to answer. I'm confident the Bolt EV will go well into six-figure mileage with minimal maintenance. Whatever reputation Chevrolet has with its combustion vehicles, it's leaving them behind with first the Volt and now the Bolt EV.
In terms of savings, it will depend a lot on your home electricity rates. In general, I hear reports of 6-7 cents a mile from Prius drivers but you'll know your numbers better than I will there. I can tell you that if your home rates are $0.15 per kWh or lower, it's the equivalent of around 4-5 cents per mile in a Bolt EV. If you can take advantage of EV-friendly rates like time-of-use (TOU) and charge more cheaply overnight, that can come down further still. Then there's the potential for free charging if your area/routine make it possible, which can bring the per-mile cost down again. I'd be happy to offer suggestions on that last point if you give me a broad area in which to check the charging infrastructure.
Long trips are the hardest to address, as it comes down to your personal driving style. If you're what I'd term a "road warrior" (perfectly fine, my brother-in-law qualifies as one and has a Volt for just that reason!) and like to jam out 400-500 miles at a time, the Bolt isn't for you. If you don't mind stretching your legs after 200 miles or so (or you can be productive during those breaks e.g. remote working, shop, eat), it's actually quite refreshing.
And remember, for trips up to 400 miles, the charging time is negligible. You start with a full charge, cover 200-220 miles, charge for 30-40 mins and finish your trip. Schedule that over a planned meal break and it's a non-issue. It's once you get into multiple stops that the charge time can become a drag, but only you'll know how often you take those very long trips and how you prefer to drive them. Happy to answer any follow-up questions you have and look forward to hearing your decision. (And feel free to email plugandplayEV@gmail.com if the comments section gets too clunky!)
Oh, and be sure to check the seats on a Bolt EV test drive. My wife and I are fine with the fit of them, even on long trips, but some people can't stand them. Which such a sizeable daily commute, that will definitely be a dealbreaker if you're not comfortable!
Great bolt lease deals at the moment
They just made the betterrouteplanner a app yes!
Yes indeed! It's still a bit glitchy in places but I'll definitely be testing it out on the road soon!
I travel that route in the summer months, prefer L2 chargers at rest stops, I got a BMW i3 with Rex but I prefer electric driving.
I like the backup of L2 at rest areas in case a PHEV wants to top up or the DCFC is down, but it generally doesn't fit the bill for EV drivers only planning a 30-45 minute stop. At the price, though, I always prefer to see L2 included alongside DCFC installations. Could also be used for facilities vehicles that will stay longer.
Hi,
I live on NY Southern tier and we just returned our 2017 Bolt LT for a 2020 Premier. Cuomo was going to put charges on all the main highways but I don't know if he did it yet. I noticed the new higher charging rate is 80Kw along with the longer range we notice the distance.
Hi and congratulations, hope you like the upgrade! The program you mention is called EVolveNY and it hit some road blocks last year. The timeline to complete many of the fast chargers before the end of 2019 was too ambitious and they had to reset the plan a little. I've been getting some info from the ROC EV group on new momentum for the initiative and should hopefully be able to make an update video on it soon. Thanks for watching.
I just don't think EV long distance is worth the cost 0.42 KWh ... Pain in the ass finding charge stations. takes to dam long... not worth it for long distance... Around town absolutely worth it..
Long distance is really $0.31/kWh for the savvy traveler. The break even point for the EA member fee is 33kWh of charging, so anyone doing more than 300 miles on a trip should be on the Pass+ plan and filling up at the lower rate. Plus the first 200-250 miles are at home charging rates, because most will leave with a full pack.
Charge time criticism is fair though. It's getting better, but several years until most EVs can get close to gas fill up speeds away from home.