[dougwmtn58]

So here is the rhetorical question:
How much would range increase on the Bolt if Chevy would have kept the capacity to ~60Kwh but decreased the weight by ~10% for 2020?
I ask because this would approximately lower the battery weight by almost 100 lbs. I think.
Thoughts anyone?

 

[GJETSON]

So half the weight of an average American passenger, or about 2.5% of the weight of car and driver. On anything other than climbing a mountain pass, you couldn't notice the difference. Changing your average speed by one mph would swamp any effect.

Not to mention that the new battery is actually lighter!

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric Vehicle

media.chevrolet.com

Chevrolet Bolt EV - 2020

2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric Vehicle

media.chevrolet.com

 

[GJETSON]

Just for fun, I went to ABRP and took our 2017 Bolt, at 55 mph speed limit from 100% SOC at Rockfish Gap Country Store (elevation 850'), and drove up Rt 250 to the top at the underpass under the interstate (elevation 1873')...a 6.3% grade. You can add weight to the vehicle, so I did it plain, and with an extra 100 pounds.

Both came out at 100% to 96%, 3 miles, and 3 minutes. The difference showed up in the miles per kilowatt hour...1.42 mi/kWh vs 1.40 mi/kWh

 

[Vertiformed]

So here is the rhetorical question:

What is a rhetorical question? A rhetorical question is one where no answer is desired, either because the questioner answers it immediately themselves, or because the question is just asked for effect.

What is wrong with people that they don't know this stuff?

Spoiler: If you want to answer that one…

No, don't, please don't answer that second question. It was just asked for effect!

 

[dougwmtn58]

What is a rhetorical question? A rhetorical question is one where no answer is desired, either because the questioner answers it immediately themselves, or because the question is just asked for effect.

What is wrong with people that they don't know this stuff?

Spoiler: If you want to answer that one…

No, don't, please don't answer that second question. It was just asked for effect!

REALLY?

 

[redpoint5]

Vertiformed is not wrong, but it could have been stated more politely. I don't think it was meant as an insult to a particular individual so much as frustration that we're not getting a good education, plus it was funny.

Anyhow, the difference in range would hardly be measurable. Whatever extra energy you spend hauling that weight uphill will be gained coming back down (mostly). Aerodynamics is almost everything in an EV, and weight is hardly anything. An extra 100 lbs would be some fraction of 1% difference in range.

An object in motion remains in motion unless acted upon by a force. Once you get that extra weight up to speed, there's hardly any extra energy expenditure except a very slight increase in rolling resistance. Then the EV regens most of the energy spent accelerating when slowing back down.

 

[XJ12]

in an EV, and weight is hardly anything

unless you're trying to win a pulling contest...

 

[Vertiformed]

REALLY?

Just to be clear, I needed a second question where no answer was required. The only one that occurred to me is the kind where people exasperatedly say “What's wrong with these people?” (not expecting an answer). I wasn't actually trying to insult you. Sorry that my attempt at humor fell flat for you. (Although, in my defense, some people liked it.)

 

[Verkehr]

At the speeds most people drive, most of the energy is lost to the wind, anyway, so weight wouldn't matter all that much for range. Reduce the CdA (coefficient of drag times frontal area) by 10% and now we're talking...