[Paul Gipe]

My friend Gordon Nipp drove to Fresno from Bakersfield in his Bolt.
The roundtrip distance of 240 miles is just beyond the official EPA range of 238 miles for the Bolt so Nipp charged 45 minutes at the EVgo station in Selma. He added 22 kWh to the traction battery.
It was good that he did. He arrived home after consuming 63 kWh, 3 kWh more than the 60 kWh rating of the Bolt's battery.
Nipp averaged 3.8 mi/kWh at freeway speeds.
His consumption was well within estimates from EV Trip Planner and Chevy's Energy Assist but outside estimates by GreenRace.

​

 

[GJETSON]

The 60 kWh "rating" of the Bolt is not a thing. The usable capacity can be anywhere between 60 kWh and 36 kWh, and still be within the "rating." I would strongly suggest that anybody planning a long trip determine the actual usable capacity of their Bolt before heading off.

Ours has ~56 kWh of usable capacity.

 

[Vertiformed]

My friend Gordon Nipp drove to Fresno from Bakersfield in his Bolt.
The roundtrip distance of 240 miles is just beyond the official EPA range of 238 miles for the Bolt so Nipp charged 45 minutes at the EVgo station in Selma. He added 22 kWh

Thanks for sharing these details! A few thoughts…

Depending on where he was going, it might have been easier/cheaper to destination charge in Fresno.

Also, it looks like he would have arrived at the charger in Selma with about 43% battery remaining, which makes for a fairly inefficient charge. Might have been better to charge in Delano.

Finally, based on my model of Bolt energy usage, 3.8 miles/kWh seems like an average speed of 70 mph. Slowing to 60 mph would up the efficiency to about 4.5 miles/kWh, save 5 hWh and add 17 minutes to the trip, and probably allowed squeaking home without stopping to charge.

 

[surgeonFWW]

Also, it looks like he would have arrived at the charger in Selma with about 43% battery remaining, which makes for a fairly inefficient charge. Might have been better to charge in Delano.

Finally, based on my model of Bolt energy usage, 3.8 miles/kWh seems like an average speed of 70 mph. Slowing to 60 mph would up the efficiency to about 4.5 miles/kWh, save 5 hWh and add 17 minutes to the trip, and probably allowed squeaking home without stopping to charge.

Agree on both points. DCFC is done to save time and (if possible) stops should add power when you are at or below 20% SoC and not charged to over 80% SoC. I recently did a trip of 140 miles-DCFC-60 miles to my destination (with NO charging availability). Then a return of 60 miles - DCFC - 140 miles. I could easily get to the destination (200 miles) on one charge, but the 60 miles back to the first available DCFC would have put me into a discomfort zone. As it turned out, I had NO delay for charging, as I only charged as long as lunch & then dinner lasted. My point is that I did NOT want to start out at a 100% SoC, as I would have arrived at DCFC#1 with a 60% SoC and would not have charged as quickly as I did by arriving at a 10% SoC.

Secondly, moving my daughter to a city 45 miles away (in convoy with a pickup truck with furniture & belongings) kept our speed to 55 mph (on the Interstate) and achieved 4.5 mi/kWh, adding 60 miles to the range of a single full charge (as opposed to 3.5 mi/kWh). Many instances of "range anxiety" could be eliminated by just slowing down, not to 40 mph (minimum by law on an interstate highway), but to 60 mph.

 

[DaV8or]

Slowing to 60 mph would up the efficiency to about 4.5 miles/kWh, save 5 hWh and add 17 minutes to the trip, and probably allowed squeaking home without stopping to charge.

My problem is, I find driving 60mph on a freeway super annoying. Not because I don't have the patience, I do, I can be zen and drive, but because everybody is climbing up your butt and trying to get around you. Tractor trailers, RVs, Ice Cream trucks, Yugos, everybody! Then you have the short merges that are typical on highway 99 where every mile or so you have to negotiate a whole string of cars and trucks diving in on you, most of them already faster than you. Anyhow, that's just me. Empty highway with not much traffic, sure camp in the right lane, set cruise control to 60 and daydream away.

 

[GJETSON]

My problem is, I find driving 60mph on a freeway super annoying. Not because I don't have the patience, I do, I can be zen and drive, but because everybody is climbing up your butt and trying to get around you. Tractor trailers, RVs, Ice Cream trucks, Yugos, everybody! Then you have the short merges that are typical on highway 99 where every mile or so you have to negotiate a whole string of cars and trucks diving in on you, most of them already faster than you. Anyhow, that's just me. Empty highway with not much traffic, sure camp in the right lane, set cruise control to 60 and daydream away.

Exactly. In many places, the interstate parallels the old highway, which is typically much more scenic, and pleasant.

 

[drdiesel1]

What tire pressure is he running ? I run 50 psi. I usually drive 64 mph on the freeway.
A few tweaks and he could have made it without charging at all.
I did a Monterey to San Francisco round trip and managed to get back home with 28 miles left.

Usually avoiding freeways allows a much better range. It all depends on the route!

 

[GregBrew]

What tire pressure is he running ? I run 50 psi. I usually drive 64 mph on the freeway.
A few tweaks and he could have made it without charging at all.
I did a Monterey to San Francisco round trip and managed to get back home with 28 miles left.

Usually avoiding freeways allows a much better range. It all depends on the route!

It just occurred to me to inflate to 45PSI for long trips (for range), then back it down to 40PSI for around town (for comfort). Thanks for the inspiration!

I've run 50PSI in other EVs with LRR tires as a test, but I found the ride to be a bit too harsh for the added benefit, and the excessively high pressure gave me a large "pucker factor" I'd rather avoid.

 

[Paul Gipe]

The 60 kWh "rating" of the Bolt is not a thing. The usable capacity can be anywhere between 60 kWh and 36 kWh, and still be within the "rating." I would strongly suggest that anybody planning a long trip determine the actual usable capacity of their Bolt before heading off.

Ours has ~56 kWh of usable capacity.

Can you explain how to determine that. There's no Leaf Spy for the Bolt and from the chatter on this and the other forum it didn't appear that Torque Pro has that feature.


Paul

 

[Paul Gipe]

Thanks for sharing these details! A few thoughts…

Depending on where he was going, it might have been easier/cheaper to destination charge in Fresno.

Also, it looks like he would have arrived at the charger in Selma with about 43% battery remaining, which makes for a fairly inefficient charge. Might have been better to charge in Delano.

Finally, based on my model of Bolt energy usage, 3.8 miles/kWh seems like an average speed of 70 mph. Slowing to 60 mph would up the efficiency to about 4.5 miles/kWh, save 5 hWh and add 17 minutes to the trip, and probably allowed squeaking home without stopping to charge.

Gordon is a newbie and that was his first DCFC. He understands the principle but didn't apply it in this case. Yes, it would have been better to wait until closer to Bakersfield to charge.

 

[Paul Gipe]

It just occurred to me to inflate to 45PSI for long trips (for range), then back it down to 40PSI for around town (for comfort). Thanks for the inspiration!

I've run 50PSI in other EVs with LRR tires as a test, but I found the ride to be a bit too harsh for the added benefit, and the excessively high pressure gave me a large "pucker factor" I'd rather avoid.

I am not sure Gordon knows what pressure he's running. He just drives it.


Paul

 

[Paul Gipe]

What tire pressure is he running ? I run 50 psi. I usually drive 64 mph on the freeway.
A few tweaks and he could have made it without charging at all.
I did a Monterey to San Francisco round trip and managed to get back home with 28 miles left.

Usually avoiding freeways allows a much better range. It all depends on the route!

As noted he probably doesn't know what his tire pressure is. And this was a business trip for him and he just drove it like a conventional car. He's a good spokesman for EVs but he's not hypermiling to boost his efficiency and avoid a charge stop.


I just boosted my tire pressure to the max rated but you know it's getting harder and harder to find places where you can put air in your tires. The dealers will only inflate to the recommended pressure. Same with tire retailers.


Thanks for the input. It helps to have someone with on-the-job knowledge on the forums.


Paul

 

[GJETSON]

Can you explain how to determine that. There's no Leaf Spy for the Bolt and from the chatter on this and the other forum it didn't appear that Torque Pro has that feature

I did what many have done. I did a range test, and came up pretty close to 56 kWh usable.

https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=75381&p=1383507&hilit=Chevy+Bolt#p1383416

Our total capacity on Torque Pro, using Telek's formula, came out to 57.7 kWh the first time I checked it on 06-017-18. After charging and checking again it has read 58.0 every day. Neither number comes close to 60 kWh. Although I have seen other's screen shots showing about 60 kWh usable, and Torque Pro numbers for total kWh of over 60 kWh.

 

[NewsCoulomb]

I've made this run many, many times. Even making a round trip to account for elevation and wind, you'll see a wide variation in efficiency (due to temperatures). I typically see 3.6 to 3.8 mi/kWh while driving 70-75 mph along that route.

 

[Sean Nelson]

...you know it's getting harder and harder to find places where you can put air in your tires. The dealers will only inflate to the recommended pressure. Same with tire retailers.

I just use a bicycle-style tire pump and pressure gauge.

 

[Paul Gipe]

I just use a bicycle-style tire pump and pressure gauge.

Sean,


Useful tip.



BTW. That was a good tip about charging that jump-start battery. Mine was down to 6%! Wouldn't have helped much if I had needed it.


Paul

 

[raitchison]

I just use a bicycle-style tire pump and pressure gauge.

That might be a bit tedious, but what could work would be a 12v air compressor, many of these have built in pressure gauges and even automatic shut offs (which is good because they are usually very slow).

Here is one example
Here is a cheaper one without automatic shut-off

 

[Sean Nelson]

I just use a bicycle-style tire pump and pressure gauge.

That might be a bit tedious, but what could work would be a 12v air compressor, many of these have built in pressure gauges and even automatic shut offs (which is good because they are usually very slow).

The bike pump works great for adjusting the tire pressures as the seasons change - it's quick and easy. For anything more serious, I have the 12V air pump that came with my Canadian Bolt sitting in the styrofoam insert below the lower cargo floor.

 

[GJETSON]

The bike pump works great for adjusting the tire pressures as the seasons change - it's quick and easy. For anything more serious, I have the 12V air pump that came with my Canadian Bolt sitting in the styrofoam insert below the lower cargo floor.

Yup. A bicycle pump works great for altering tire pressure by 5-10 psi. It will get all of your tires to the same pressure. Like all gauges, it may not be accurate, but it will be consistent. For serious inflation, I use my big shop compressor.

 

[Paul Gipe]

I did what many have done. I did a range test, and came up pretty close to 56 kWh usable.

https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=75381&p=1383507&hilit=Chevy+Bolt#p1383416

Our total capacity on Torque Pro, using Telek's formula, came out to 57.7 kWh the first time I checked it on 06-017-18. After charging and checking again it has read 58.0 every day. Neither number comes close to 60 kWh. Although I have seen other's screen shots showing about 60 kWh usable, and Torque Pro numbers for total kWh of over 60 kWh.

Warren,


Thanks for the link to that well written blog post. Didn't know about the endless sphere.


Did you get your "solar gardens" power? I've done quite a bit of work on a related concept. Solar gardens is what's caught on here in the US.


A colleague of mine works at App State in Boone. He put up that NPS 100 machine there.


Paul