[Jamie]

I’m test driving a 2020 Premiere, love it. Still feeling a little anxious dropping this kind of cash on ”Newer Tech”.

My daily commute is 95% Interstate, 100 miles round-trip.

Would love to hear any feedback from folks who have a similar commute or more.

1 - Do you feel safe in this vehicle on the interstate?

2 - What are your charging setup and practices?

3 - Do you have any kind of regrets for this purchase? (Getting a bigger ICE vehicle or a different EV.)

4 - Any major or minor repair issues?

5 - Do you feel that the Bolt has brought value to you?

Thanks! Really appreciate it!

Jamie

 

[sarringhaus]

I’m test driving a 2020 Premiere, love it. Still feeling a little anxious dropping this kind of cash on ”Newer Tech”.

My daily commute is 95% Interstate, 100 miles round-trip.

Would love to hear any feedback from folks who have a similar commute or more.

1 - Do you feel safe in this vehicle on the interstate?

2 - What are your charging setup and practices?

3 - Do you have any kind of regrets for this purchase? (Getting a bigger ICE vehicle or a different EV.)

4 - Any major or minor repair issues?

5 - Do you feel that the Bolt has brought value to you?

Thanks! Really appreciate it!

Jamie

1. I feel very safe in my Bolt. I have a 2018 Premier. The forward collision alert has saved me at least once. Also, with one pedal driving, one you take your foot off the accelerator, you are already starting to slow aggressively, and then you can add the brakes on top of that.
2. I have a level two charger 240V 16 A EVSE. It charges me full after my 90 mi or so commute each day. I have it set to charge after midnight, but be done by 5 am, based on TOU electric rate and need to leave for work.. I am not sure how long it actually takes to charge, but it is less than 5 hours.
3. Have not regretted it once. Super fun to drive and I love not stopping to buy gas.
4. No major repair issues that were quality issues. I had to replace a hub bearing after hitting a curb hard (popped two tires too) and had to have some wiring replaced for mice chewing around under tho hood.
5. yes!

 

[Verkehr]

I think Bolt's aerodynamics are poor if all you plan to use it for is a 100 mile interstate commute. There are other affordable EVs with less range that can handle a 100 mile commute in temperate weather and use less energy in the process. However, none of these offer as much range as Bolt if you plan to use it for other things.

1. Yes, it is surprisingly well planted at speed
2. Charge only during super-off-peak in a garage with level 2
3. I'm starting to wish I waited for Tesla Model Y
4. only 2k miles, but nothing wrong yet
5. Yes, definitely a value vs all competitors

 

[GJETSON]

My daily commute is 95% Interstate, 100 miles round-trip.

Don't commute anymore...retired. But just for fun, first week of January, I did a lunch run to Wrights Dairy Rite Diner in Staunton, Virginia. I wanted to check the battery capacity of our 2017. I left with the cabin preconditioned, at "hilltop charge", about 89%. This was 126 miles round trip, all interstate except for a couple miles at either end, 46 F- 52 F temps, over the Blue Ridge Mountains, illuminated signs saying, "reduce speed-high winds." Ran 5% over the limit, in cruise control, the entire way, with the heat set to 72 F. About two thirds of the way back, I had so much charge left I switched to 10% over the limit, and Hi/90 F heat. Got home with 8.6% remaining, per Torque Pro.

44.2 kWh used
2.848 mi/kWh.
90% driving 10% heat

Best car we have owned in five an a half decades, and a half million miles of driving. Goes like stink, rock solid in high winds at high speed, 30+K trouble free miles.

 

[Packard V8]

Best car we have owned in five an a half decades, and a half million miles of driving. Goes like stink, rock solid in high winds at high speed, 30+K trouble free miles.

Agree completely. My stats are similar.

Since the initial cost is currently at a more reasonable entry point, I cannot think of any reason anyone in your situation wouldn't be commuting in a Bolt on Monday

jack vines

 

[discodanman45]

1 - I feel safe when it isn't raining. The Bolt is a heavy car and it is ok to drive. I won't take the car out in the rain though in the highway. I think it is a combination of the narrow wheel base, sitting high, and the tires. I feel like I am hydroplaning all the time in rainy conditions.

2 - level 2 charging usually at night when I get home. I have a 130 mile commute.

3 - only regret is the tiny uncomfortable seats. Wish I waited for a model 3 or anything with normal seats.

4 - 67,000 miles and I just had to replace tires. Nothing else besides cabin air filters and windshield wiper fluid.

5 - I feel like I got my money out of it so far. Going to keep it until the Cybertruck comes out.

 

[RichCapeCod]

I’m test driving a 2020 Premiere, love it. Still feeling a little anxious dropping this kind of cash on ”Newer Tech”.

My daily commute is 95% Interstate, 100 miles round-trip.
..........
Jamie

Jamie, where do you live? Very cold winters might have some negative impact on your range, but, seriously, if you put in enough electricity to reach the 80% mark, you ought to be fine in virtually any climate (at least in the lower 48 states).

I've only gone on two "long" rides with my Bolt (2019 Premier. 200 miles and around 500 miles respectively, mild temps.). Piece of cake. You should try it a few times. I think you'll see that such a commute is a non-issue with your Bolt.

Rich

 

[Terry Hancock]

I have posted before, that I have taken my wife to chemo therapy, many times, all this last year. It involves a 164 mile round trip, all on super highway. From Socorro, NM to Albuquerque, NM and back. The 2018 Bolt has never let us down on this very serious usage. Smoothly, from the 4400 ft Rio Grande basin at Socorro to the 5300 ft Albuquerque altitude...and back. Two people in the car. A little slower going UP, on purpose. Here in NM, I only use the steering wheel and seat heaters, even if below 30 outside. I do plugged in preconditioning with max heat for an entire half hour prior to a 20 degree start. In all cases the run is Cadillac smooth, dependable, and my return to Socorro is usually at 80 mph. Still, I arrive home with 30 or more miles in the tank. I really do not understand any questions about the Bolt doing a simple commute of any similar distance...or much less distances.

 

[Jamie]

OK. You guys are making me feel REALLY comfortable with this decision.

What outlet do you recommend for level 2 charging? NEMA 6-50 or 14-50?

What kind of charger? I’m looking at a Chargepoint.

Many thanks!!! I really appreciate everyone’s feedback.

Jamie

 

[ArizonaJon]

Select you EVSE and then install the outlet it requires. Remember to only use 80% of the rating of the wire and breaker with the EVSE. The Bolt has great built in controls for when to charge based on utility rates or time of departure. So unless you want the data, buying a cheaper dumb EVSE may be you best option.

 

[davioh2001]

I’m test driving a 2020 Premiere, love it. Still feeling a little anxious dropping this kind of cash on ”Newer Tech”.

I don'the have a long commute but wanted to interject that at this point the bolt is not really "Newer Tech". At this point the platform and electronics have been around for close to 5 years already! I have spent $3 in 2 years for a rear wiper blade. The rest of the stuff - window tinting - dashboard cover - weather tech mats I don't count. Yeah I spent it but did not have to in order to keep it running.

 

[p7wang]

OK. You guys are making me feel REALLY comfortable with this decision.

What outlet do you recommend for level 2 charging? NEMA 6-50 or 14-50?

What kind of charger? I’m looking at a Chargepoint.

Many thanks!!! I really appreciate everyone’s feedback.

Jamie

Although NAME 6-50 is slimmer, I would definitely recommend NEMA 14-50 because that's what you see at RV parks. At home, most people leave it plugged in instead of plugging and unplugging it in daily.

 

[zzzing]

Chargepoint is nice, good graphs and record keeping. Mine is hard wired, but most folks do the 14-50.

 

[ricardocabesa]

I’m test driving a 2020 Premiere, love it. Still feeling a little anxious dropping this kind of cash on ”Newer Tech”.

My daily commute is 95% Interstate, 100 miles round-trip.

Would love to hear any feedback from folks who have a similar commute or more.

1 - Do you feel safe in this vehicle on the interstate?

2 - What are your charging setup and practices?

3 - Do you have any kind of regrets for this purchase? (Getting a bigger ICE vehicle or a different EV.)

4 - Any major or minor repair issues?

5 - Do you feel that the Bolt has brought value to you?

Thanks! Really appreciate it!

Jamie

You're a fool if you wait until Tuesday to purchase. Huge rebates on offer now and they may or may not be offered in the near future. Go to the long thread about purchasing and verify what I'm saying. I have owned mine for 54 hours and got on the interstate a mile from the dealer and drove 157 miles home. The car handles just fine and the lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring work great. Check the out the door prices that were quoted in the thread. You won't find a better deal on an EV from any manufacturer through Monday. Or wait and pay more. The dealer had 1 and it was in stock for 17 days. It was manufactured in Dec. 2019.

 

[p7wang]

The 2020 Bolts are flying off the lot here locally. One dealer had 4 2020 Premiers and they sold quick when the $8500 rebate + dealer discount went into effect. Right now, just 1 LT on the lot at one dealer and 2 Premier In-Transit at another.

 

[Slaa]

Yes, EV life is GREAT. Bolt, Niro, and Kona are wonderful values. Drive all 3, and find some great deals.

 

[Fivedoor]

As of Today, we are in a new month... the deals that were on offer yesterday may have evaporated... or (remote possibility) they may be discounted even more on Monday... keep this in mind when you go to the dealership.

Keith

 

[micantony]

I think the website’s say the rebate’s go through feb 3.
And do we really think they will discontinue them? they haven’t lowered them in months, only gone up,up and then up some more. but it is a risk to wait. Really good rebates if you are sure you’re buying.

 

[Packard V8]

1 - I feel safe when it isn't raining. The Bolt is a heavy car and it is ok to drive. I won't take the car out in the rain though in the highway. I think it is a combination of the narrow wheel base, sitting high, and the tires. I feel like I am hydroplaning all the time in rainy conditions.

No one can contradict how your Bolt feels to you. One point which should be discussed is tread depth. Anytime a tire is worn to half tread depth or less, it becomes essentially a dry road tire. It's much less safe in the rain and dangerous in snow.

However, my feeling is completely different than yours. The Bolt is a heavy car on relatively narrow tires. Many cars of less weight have much wider tires and are more likely to aquaplane; most don't seem to me as planted as does the Bolt. With relatively full tread depth, I drive our Bolt through the rain and feel completely planted and safe. In the winter, with new snow tires, we mush through slush and snow up here in the frozen ass-end of nowhere with confidence.

jack vines

 

[ricardocabesa]

As of Today, we are in a new month... the deals that were on offer yesterday may have evaporated... or (remote possibility) they may be discounted even more on Monday... keep this in mind when you go to the dealership.

Keith

Please stop misleading folks with guesses. I posted a few replies earlier that the rebates were valid through Monday night. You help nobody with posts like that.