[777ER]

Hi folks

First of all thank you for the hospitality in this forum.

A bit of my background:I'm not against oil.My personal believe it's the most precious resource in our Planet.If you start to look around you 90% of what you see are oil derivate products.My though is that it's a sceme to use it for mobility or electricity production because we have many alternative way to produce/utilize it.
Since 2005,back home,I've installed 6 kw photovoltaic panels and totally converted my house for electric use.
Lost my job moved abroad I finally have the chance to utilize modern technology for mobility.
Indeed I'm totally aware the global economy is oil based.

I've just made a downpayment for my 2017 Bolt entry level(the only one imported in the UAE).
Honestly speaking about EV cars today Bolt would be my 4th choice if I could choose.Never the less I thing it's a nice EV.
The one I've bought isn't new:registred Nov 2018 and 320km on ODO(to me means brand new).
Bought from Chevrolet dealer in Dubai and payed 28K$ including VAT and level 2 charger so I think pretty good deal compare to Bolt's regular price here 45K$.
I'm going to use the car in a pretty hard environment(during summer you easily arrive up to 122F as per outside temperature)so I'll up date you regarding how the Bolt will work in this condition.At the same time I hope to find in this forum answers to questions that for sure will arise with the regular use of my Bolt because here I won't get many or at all(during the test drive I was explaining to the seller how the regenerating paddle was working as example).

Thank you again.
Francesco

 

[Packard V8]

Welcome, Francesco. Bolts love warm weather; much better in 122-degrees F than -22 degrees F.

I'm sure you're already aware, being able to leave the car ON with AC operating, lock it and make a quick stop and then come back to a cool, quiet car is also a bonus in very hot climes.

jack vines

 

[DaV8or]

Hi folks

First of all thank you for the hospitality in this forum.

A bit of my background:I'm not against oil.My personal believe it's the most precious resource in our Planet.If you start to look around you 90% of what you see are oil derivate products.My though is that it's a sceme to use it for mobility or electricity production because we have many alternative way to produce/utilize it.
Since 2005,back home,I've installed 6 kw photovoltaic panels and totally converted my house for electric use.
Lost my job moved abroad I finally have the chance to utilize modern technology for mobility.
Indeed I'm totally aware the global economy is oil based.

I've just made a downpayment for my 2017 Bolt entry level(the only one imported in the UAE).
Honestly speaking about EV cars today Bolt would be my 4th choice if I could choose.Never the less I thing it's a nice EV.
The one I've bought isn't new:registred Nov 2018 and 320km on ODO(to me means brand new).
Bought from Chevrolet dealer in Dubai and payed 28K$ including VAT and level 2 charger so I think pretty good deal compare to Bolt's regular price here 45K$.
I'm going to use the car in a pretty hard environment(during summer you easily arrive up to 122F as per outside temperature)so I'll up date you regarding how the Bolt will work in this condition.At the same time I hope to find in this forum answers to questions that for sure will arise with the regular use of my Bolt because here I won't get many or at all(during the test drive I was explaining to the seller how the regenerating paddle was working as example).

Thank you again.
Francesco

Welcome Francesco! I agree that oil should be preserved and utilized for the things we really need it for. Just curious, what were the 3 choices you would have preferred instead of the Bolt?

 

[777ER]

Yes Jack I'm pretty sure will work fine.
Regarding AC I don't understand why there isn't any vent on the rear.I've three children and I hope won't be a problem.

As far I've understood you can download a Chevrolet app and you can control AC from remote so you should able to get into the car with a pretty comfortable temperature,

Thank you

Francesco

 

[777ER]

Welcome Francesco! I agree that oil should be preserved and utilized for the things we really need it for. Just curious, what were the 3 choices you would have preferred instead of the Bolt?

Ciao my choices are:
1-Tesla any
2-Kia eNiro
3-Hyundai Kona

 

[Bolt2019]

Ciao my choices are:
1-Tesla any
2-Kia eNiro
3-Hyundai Kona

For me: Tesla...too expensive...too up-start, non-traditional, car manufacturer. But kudo's to them for disrupting the market and all those early adopters for making that happen to force traditional manufacturers to catch up.
Kia: the longer range one wasn't available at the time of my purchase
Kona: I didn't like the screen sticking up. I much prefer the screen in the dash like the Bolt and Tesla (maybe others). I didn't like that it's built on to an ICEV platform...not purpose built as an EV. Even just looking in the back seat area I could see that it was cramped. Unlike the Bolt with plenty of room. I also have a historic perspective of cheap with that Hyundai name. Remember the Pony? Yes they've made great strides since then and have done very well in the market.


So for me, the Bolt slid right into a sweet spot. I had been looking at it since it came out. Then this year my country taxpayers helped me pull the trigger.

 

[GJETSON]

Regarding AC I don't understand why there isn't any vent on the rear.I've three children and I hope won't be a problem.

If you get your head down under the front seats from the rear, there are AC/heat tubes pointing at the feet of rear seat passengers. Since we never have rear seat passengers, I taped those over long ago.

 

[777ER]

If you get your head down under the front seats from the rear, there are AC/heat tubes pointing at the feet of rear seat passengers. Since we never have rear seat passengers, I taped those over long ago.

I didn't know it
Much appreciated to know.

 

[bro1999]

Surprised Tesla isn't offered in the UAE, as it has its share or Uber rich folk.
Anyways congrats on the Bolt!

 

[777ER]

Surprised Tesla isn't offered in the UAE, as it has its share or Uber rich folk.
Anyways congrats on the Bolt!

Here Tesla has a show room in Dubai.It's far the best selling EV in UAE.Only in the street where I leave there're 3/4 S and X.The supercharged network it's quite extensive.

 

[GregBrew]

Hi folks

First of all thank you for the hospitality in this forum.

A bit of my background:I'm not against oil.My personal believe it's the most precious resource in our Planet.If you start to look around you 90% of what you see are oil derivate products.My though is that it's a sceme to use it for mobility or electricity production because we have many alternative way to produce/utilize it.
Since 2005,back home,I've installed 6 kw photovoltaic panels and totally converted my house for electric use.
Lost my job moved abroad I finally have the chance to utilize modern technology for mobility.
Indeed I'm totally aware the global economy is oil based.

I've just made a downpayment for my 2017 Bolt entry level(the only one imported in the UAE).
Honestly speaking about EV cars today Bolt would be my 4th choice if I could choose.Never the less I thing it's a nice EV.
The one I've bought isn't new:registred Nov 2018 and 320km on ODO(to me means brand new).
Bought from Chevrolet dealer in Dubai and payed 28K$ including VAT and level 2 charger so I think pretty good deal compare to Bolt's regular price here 45K$.
I'm going to use the car in a pretty hard environment(during summer you easily arrive up to 122F as per outside temperature)so I'll up date you regarding how the Bolt will work in this condition.At the same time I hope to find in this forum answers to questions that for sure will arise with the regular use of my Bolt because here I won't get many or at all(during the test drive I was explaining to the seller how the regenerating paddle was working as example).

Thank you again.
Francesco

Unless you need the maximum range often, I'd leave it in Hilltop Reserve, and have it plugged in as much as possible. Heat is the enemy for battery longevity, and the Bolt will condition the batteries more aggressively when plugged in.

 

[777ER]

Unless you need the maximum range often, I'd leave it in Hilltop Reserve, and have it plugged in as much as possible. Heat is the enemy for battery longevity, and the Bolt will condition the batteries more aggressively when plugged in.

Thanks Greg for the nice advice.I wanted from the begging never try to full fill the battery trying to preserve it as much as I can so using hilltop mode all the time.Abu Dhabi and Dubai are quite large city and having children to move back and forward from school and after school activities you easily drive more than 150 km per day.On my search Ive also understood that Bolt's battery pack,becaouse of his architecture,so far its the more expensive on EV vehicles.So I'll try to be extremely careful.
Thanks

 

[777ER]

Litle note:
Abu Dhabi Police department bought 10 Bolt.
At the tender for EV cars bid to win where made by Chevy and Renault with Zoe.I know for sure Renault didn't make offering cars at 37,5K$.
Regarding Zoe I've never considered as possible buy because the system they use to cool down battery pack:air conditioning.