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158 miles of range on 2017 bolt?

3506 Views 7 Replies 8 Participants Last post by MikeyBolt, Mar 26, 2021

Michael S

Discussion Starter · Mar 25, 2021

I am super excited to have purchased a used 2017 bolt EV with 70k miles on it, however I am a bit concerned now that I have been able to charge it fully.

The range is currently 158 mi at a 95% charge. It is a nice 60 degrees Fahrenheit outside and all tires are at 42 psi. It will not charge past 95% because of the recall software update but that should only take ~12 miles off the full range.

Now to be fair I have given a few test drives to friends and family to demonstrate the powerful torque of EV’s and I live in a hilly area, but can that really account for 80 miles of lost range? I expected some battery degradation at 70k miles, but at 158 miles of range on a full charge should I be concerned?

Any feedback or tips are much appreciated.

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XJ12

· #2 · Mar 25, 2021

Michael S said:
at 158 miles of range on a full charge should I be concerned?

Have you looked at what the car thinks its efficiency is in miles per kilowatt hour? Can't just look at the range estimate alone. If it is your battery, it can be quickly determined through a test or getting an OBD-2 reader. If it is the battery, you still have life left on the warranty.

Welcome to the forum.

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ARob

· #3 · Mar 25, 2021

Range is based on recent history efficiency. If it was ow efficiency for a while due to sitting on the lot, test drives, running HVAC, etc, then range may appear low. Just drive it normally for a while and it should go up.

The energy screen summarizes the factors that influence efficiency. Technique, terrain, climate control, temperature.

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specialed

· #4 · Mar 25, 2021

Michael S said:
The range is currently 158 mi at a 95% charge. It is a nice 60 degrees Fahrenheit

Any feedback or tips are much appreciated.

Have you actually tried to drive it 158 miles and ended up with a dead battery? If you are looking at the range estimates on the driver information console, you should know those estimates are meaningless, and only correct when the say zero and the battery is dead.

I charge using hilltop reserve and the estimate is typically in the 150 to 160 range. However, when I drive conservatively until the battery is dead, I can usually travel over 200 miles on a sunny day when I don’t need to use the climate control system. By the end of the drive, the range estimate is very close to correct.

I can turn the car on with the heater on high and the windows open on a cold day, and the battery will go dead without driving a single mile even though the range was 160 when I started it up.

Look at the percentage charge remaining, not the miles. Those range estimates should not even be there. They are based on some calculation of previous use. I know how far I have already driven. What I want is a calculation based on future use. When they can provide that, I’ll pay attention to the range estimates.

Ed

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Marspilgrim

· #5 · Mar 26, 2021

That range is about right. I'm currently in the 50-60 degree range but coming off a very cold Feb and my efficiency is at 2.2 today. I drive it like a normal car and crank the heat in the winter. Once I'm back in summer I'll be at around 4.8 and at least 250 miles on the GOM middle number.

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RoadTripBiker

· #6 · Mar 26, 2021

As others said depends on your driving. I drive mine like normal which includes running 75 to 79 on the interstate. I go with the flow and try and avoid passing or being passed by too many folks. I also live in a hilly area which does impact the range. I'm usually in the 3.4 to 3.6 range on efficiency when it's in the lower 60s. I drive it like a normal car but do one pedal driving a lot. I don't want anyone running into the back of my vehicle so tend to stop somewhat gingerly but not super slow. The power is really nice and I will try it out from time to time. The Bolt is a fun car. Mine will say 185 miles (middle #) when charged to 95%. It's a 2020 with only a couple of thousand miles on it. How fast you drive does make a difference. Last few days I've done more interstate driving than normal. If I take secondary roads and keep speed down it does much better. Don't worry to much about what the range says, IMO more important to know how many miles per KWH and compare with your driving and range. You should check the battery to make sure it is OK. If you are somewhat tech savvy there are a couple of good threads about how to use the OBDII connector and a program called Torque Pro to see lots of information about the battery and other functions.

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wesley

· #7 · Mar 26, 2021

An often-repeated reminder about EV ranges: estimated range on the dashboard is NOT an indicator of battery degradation by itself, nor are you somehow guaranteed the EPA range at any point.

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MikeyBolt

· #8 · Mar 26, 2021

Yeah, if you've been doing a lot of "rocket launches" to demo to friends, that'll have an impact on the GOM. Drive it normally for something like 60 miles and see if the range goes up. If weather permits, do that without the heat on. See if the GOM updates. If you're still concerned, an OBD2 reader will give you a real answer.

Mike

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