[buzz]

I just fully charged my Bolt for the first time and the max range on the instrument panel was only 213 miles, not 238. Then, after driving 16 miles the max range dropped to 185 miles (when I expected 197). It was mostly freeway driving at speeds between 45 and 65 mph. The radio was on and the heater was on low. Is this normal or could something be wrong?
:nerd:

Thanks.

Buzz

 

[mailman13]

I just fully charged my Bolt for the first time and the max range on the instrument panel was only 213 miles, not 238. Then, after driving 16 miles the max range dropped to 185 miles (when I expected 197). It was mostly freeway driving at speeds between 45 and 65 mph. The radio was on and the heater was on low. Is this normal or could something be wrong?
:nerd:

Thanks.

Buzz

I don't have my Bolt yet, but on my Leaf it would start out at 105 on a mild day, then drop below 100 before I got out of my neighborhood!

That was a crazy guess-o-meter for sure.

I thought that I read where the Bolt GOM was pretty accurate. I hope to find out soon.

 

[kicoken]

It seems like the estimated range can get a little whacky sometimes. I just charged, drove 10 miles using 0% of the battery, and then charged for another hour (87% SoC) and the meter reads 284 miles!

 

[buzz]

On another blog I read that the Bolt is estimating range based on driving practices over the last several days. Maybe that's how the Leaf works too.

 

[Posatronic]

On another blog I read that the Bolt is estimating range based on driving practices over the last several days. Maybe that's how the Leaf works too.

Yes it's like the Volt. It changes on driving habits, outside temp , inside climate controls and terrain. Then when it levels out and you drive more efficiently it can go up or if you drive less effectively the. It will go down. I like it so you don't always get in at 238 and it drops 2-3 miles estimated for every 1 mile driving. To me it gives a realistic range.

 

[sharkvolt]

If you watch the range guessometer, while you turn heat or air conditioning on/off, you will see the range change.

That is probably what caused the change you saw.

 

[Cardyin]

Yep. Running the A/C and especially the heater will significantly reduce your range.

 

[bobpenn]

That is what mine did on the first charge. I have had car for a week, and have only drived locally, and only once on a California freeway (roundtrip 60 miles), but the A/C was on during the return trip. But after last night's charge I saw this on the dash this morning (see attachment).

I have been driving in L the entire time. And it's warm here in L.A. Still it is nice to see.

 

[wainair]

When you first get the car the GOM will be all over the place. The more you drive, the more the car learns about you as a driver and the estimate will get better. It is probably over reacting to you playing with sport, gunning it at lights, because it's a new car and it's fun to play with!! Once the car notices you don't drive like that all the time it won't over react when you have fun! ( Just guessing you're having fun, I would be!! LoL)

 

[eops]

On another blog I read that the Bolt is estimating range based on driving practices over the last several days. Maybe that's how the Leaf works too.

A lot of vehicle systems are like this, the most popular being some transmissions which I believe adjust shift patterns to your style of driving, or something along the lines of that.

 

[specialed]

Just ignore the range numbers. Observe the gauge. It is a much better indication of the state of charge.

If you are going to look at the range numbers, look at the middle number, AND, the trend bars. If the trend bar extends above the middle number, then you are doing better. If the trend bar extends below the middle number, then you are doing worse.

Ed

 

[Sean Nelson]

If you are going to look at the range numbers, look at the middle number, AND, the trend bars.

Here's an interesting question - do the trend bars still work when you get into the "low charge" state where the range is no longer displayed? If so, and if, say, the last range that was displayed was 30 miles, then if you can keep the trend bars green you should be able to feel confident that you can go the whole 30 miles from the point where the display went blank.

 

[specialed]

Here's an interesting question - do the trend bars still work when you get into the "low charge" state where the range is no longer displayed? If so, and if, say, the last range that was displayed was 30 miles, then if you can keep the trend bars green you should be able to feel confident that you can go the whole 30 miles from the point where the display went blank.

I only got to this condition once. If I remember correctly (I should have taken a picture), the entire state of charge gauge disappears, including the distance estimates. I remember seeing 10 miles on the middle number before this happened (my Leaf went blank at 4 miles). The Bolt went into power reduced mode about 5 miles earlier on the interstate.

I didn't actually know about the trend bars yet, so I wasn't paying attention to them. I was only about a mile from home at this point, and figured I could just push it if necessary.

Ed

 

[Mdgillis]

Range

In the first two weeks, my range never exceeded 200 miles. However, as I learned how to drive the car for efficiency, my numbers improved. I now routinely get a max range of 290 miles. It's all about not lead footing it off the line and using the regenerative brakes.

 

[EllisG]

It seems like the estimated range can get a little whacky sometimes. I just charged, drove 10 miles using 0% of the battery, and then charged for another hour (87% SoC) and the meter reads 284 miles!

From a full charge (my second, IIRC), I drove 260 and had an estimate 20 left, woot! That was with AC off, drive in L mode, lots of regen, going roughly 69mph most of the trip.

 

[Boltar]

Mine is slowly creeping up as it gets warmer out. I'm not looking for max range, and well understand the hit of the heater, cold weather, rain, etc., but I was still disappointed a bit with the bigger than expected cut in range over the winter. Worst I got with winter tires, heater on, heated seats/steering wheel, etc. was about 120 miles max range in 20s F temps. Not complaining, but good for people to understand who might be using the Chevy range calculator and thinking the Bolt will suit their commuting needs without a charge in between.

 

[chrisco1987]

The predicted range varies by your driving habits, terrain, speed, hvac use etc. If you do a lot of city driving you will see the range go up. I have hit max range of 380 miles, but then headed out on the highway and watched it drop down. My commute is 200 miles round trip, mostly highway up to 75 mph, and I usually end up with about 40 miles of range left.

 

[Raymondjram]

Well, one Chevy Bolt EV owner did reach 300 miles of range (not a GOM!). Here is his report on YouTube:

His efficiency was 5.12 miles per kiloWatt-hour (kWh), which could had given him an extra 12 miles if he ran the battery down to the warning level. He has several YouTubes videos on his "channel" and a few cover the use of the EVGo DC charger (which he found faulty after giving him a free charge!).

If he can do it in 60 degree weather, I expect many more Bolt EV owners to reach and pass the 300 mile EV range by summer, blowing away all doubts that the Bolt EV can beat all other BEVs in the same power and price range (including Tesla Motors' Model S). And I seriously doubt that TM and its Model 3 will be able to compete with the Bolt EV except for "appearance".