[TopJimmy5150]

The commissioner (wife) and I took our new Bolt to Lancaster PA (approx 70 miles from our house). Weather was mid 30s, very windy with wind chill in the teens..felt really cold. Started out at around 77% full (stupid 115 outlet!)

I tried to keep the heat off but the commissioner would have none of that. The compromise was to cycle the heat on and off. I also had to constantly either cycle the heat or crack a window to keep the windows fog free.

First stop was my daughter's apartment in the city. Her parking garage has two level 2 chargers, one of which was occupied by a Prius Prime. I plugged in and we walked around the downtown and had lunch. Had to quickly install the Chargepoint app and set up an account. Charging was free. Parking was $4.

Drove to the Rockvale outlets, which I think may be in the process of being closed because it was a mere shell of what it used to be. Many of the buildings are gone. Retailpocalypse, I guess. Then spend a couple of house at the Tanger outlets down the road on RT30. Found 4 free Chargepoint charger there (don't mind if I do!). There was a Tesla Model S there charging when I arrived and another Model 3 when I left. Tanger outlets were doing fine and the place was a zoo. The level 2 charger parking was pretty sweet.

Arrive back home around 8pm mildly poorer and with only around 50m of range left. Plugged it in and it will probably take days to get to 100%...luckily my place of work has level 2 clipper creek chargers that will bring the charge back up to full while I'm working.

 

[The Other Tom]

Nice report. Thanks for posting. "Retailpocalypse"...never heard that word before but I get it.

 

[Bolt2019]

Arrive back home around 8pm mildly poorer and with only around 50m of range left. Plugged it in and it will probably take days to get to 100%...luckily my place of work has level 2 clipper creek chargers that will bring the charge back up to full while I'm working.

"days". I imagine your tongue might be in your cheek but just for all readers.. 0 to 100 would be about 48 hours on the OEM EVSE. Technically that's a plural day I guess.

 

[surgeonFWW]

"Arrived back home around 8 pm mildly poorer and with only around 50 miles of range left."

As experience is gained that word "only" will disappear from your trip descriptions. As long as your destination is home or other familiar charging spot, you will become comfortable arriving with a 10% SoC. This minimum may be 20-24 miles in the summer and 14-17 miles in the winter. But 50 miles remaining will cause you no anxiety whatsoever. The four "T"s (temperature {outside}, technique {speed}, terrain {net uphill climb?}, and temperature {inside heat & A/C use} impact range. Speed is a controllable factor and has MUCH more impact on range than inside climate control. You will learn to make this your controlled variable. You will learn to calculate your "buffer" (estimated range indicating minus miles-to-go remaining) every 15-20 minutes. If trending down, make a rough calculation to see if range will meet minimum prior to arrival. If not, continue to drive just as you are. If your buffer 'approaches' your personal minimum, slow down enough to keep it steadily above the minimum and arrive with that good buffer remaining "in the tank"! Cruise control will become your second best friend (after 'the commissioner').

 

[GetOffYourGas]

"days". I imagine your tongue might be in your cheek but just for all readers.. 0 to 100 would be about 48 hours on the OEM EVSE. Technically that's a plural day I guess.

In my experience, at 12A takes about 60 hours (2 1/2 days), and at 8A, it takes about 80 hours (3 1/3 days). 60 hours of 12A is a lot of stress (heat!) on your circuit. The OP could well be charging at 8A (and I wouldn't blame him).

 

[ZoomZoom]

You drove 140 miles, took some L2 charging along the way and got home with 50 miles on the GOM? Temps in the low 30's or upper 30's? I'm with the commissioner on the heat issue. I just don't grasp yet, the notion of buying a $30k car that comes with a heater and not using it as one normally would use a heater in their ICE, to be comfortable.

 

[TopJimmy5150]

You drove 140 miles, took some L2 charging along the way and got home with 50 miles on the GOM? Temps in the low 30's or upper 30's? I'm with the commissioner on the heat issue. I just don't grasp yet, the notion of buying a $30k car that comes with a heater and not using it as one normally would use a heater in their ICE, to be comfortable.

I guess the bean counter side of me takes hold and won't let go. I rarely used heat in any car in the effort to maximize MPG, and I am always warm and bundle up on cold days. I'm getting used to the car and I need to let that go...electrons are plentiful and inexpensive around here.

 

[p7wang]

Would be better if you could get the store to validate parking (like in big cities) then make your charging and parking free.

 

[Fivedoor]

I guess the bean counter side of me takes hold and won't let go. I rarely used heat in any car in the effort to maximize MPG, and I am always warm and bundle up on cold days. I'm getting used to the car and I need to let that go...electrons are plentiful and inexpensive around here.

An ICE car uses waste heat from the engine to heat the cabin, not using cabin heat in an ICE car will not improve your mpg.

Keith

 

[Jcray]

Nice write-up. Had my first dose of range anxiety this past weekend and its made me rethink ponying up for a 240v charger. Such a large commitment when renting a home though, or at all. :/

 

[surgeonFWW]

Nice write-up. Had my first dose of range anxiety this past weekend and its made me rethink ponying up for a 240v charger. Such a large commitment when renting a home though, or at all. :/

It is not the "renting", it's whether you have a garage and is the service entrance (breaker) box in the garage. If so, adding a suitable outlet near the box is an inexpensive (~$50) diy project. You can afford to leave it when you move Then, buy a plugged 240 VAC charger (good 30 amp chargers are <$500, 40 amp ones a little more). Then you can take your EVSE with you whenever you move. {IF you buy one with a NEMA 14-50 plug, make it light enough in weight to be portable. This opens MANY (thousands) of charging spots when traveling. (Every RV park and all KoA Kampgrounds have NEMA 14-50 outlets!)}

 

[GJETSON]

An ICE car uses waste heat from the engine to heat the cabin, not using cabin heat in an ICE car will not improve your mpg.

Keith

Exactly! I drove my 1993 Nissan Sentra E (didn't have AC) for 380K miles. Pants rolled up, in flip-flops, for commuting in summer. But the heat was on Max all winter, since 70 cents of every dollar of gas had already paid for it.

 

[Jcray]

It is not the "renting", it's whether you have a garage and is the service entrance (breaker) box in the garage. If so, adding a suitable outlet near the box is an inexpensive (~$50) diy project. You can afford to leave it when you move Then, buy a plugged 240 VAC charger (good 30 amp chargers are <$500, 40 amp ones a little more). Then you can take your EVSE with you whenever you move. {IF you buy one with a NEMA 14-50 plug, make it light enough in weight to be portable. This opens MANY (thousands) of charging spots when traveling. (Every RV park and all KoA Kampgrounds have NEMA 14-50 outlets!)}

Yeah, makes sense. I’m not very handy so quotes I’ve gotten on updating the outlet range from $500 to $800 so making that kind of investment on the outlet for a place I don’t own doesn’t appeal to me. The charger, yeah, I’d plan on taking that with me. It’s the outlet updating that sucks from the estimates I’ve gotten. :/

 

[TopJimmy5150]

I will probably continue charging at home with 110 as long as work has chargers. If they start to become unavailable or I change jobs, I will have to change to something better at home, but for now it's fine.

 

[kendallg]

You drove 140 miles, took some L2 charging along the way and got home with 50 miles on the GOM? Temps in the low 30's or upper 30's? I'm with the commissioner on the heat issue. I just don't grasp yet, the notion of buying a $30k car that comes with a heater and not using it as one normally would use a heater in their ICE, to be comfortable.

I'm with you, but numerous EV drivers will talk to you about wearing layers, gloves, etc...when driving your car in order to avoid using the heater... I, myself, very rarely use the heater in my Bolt and the same goes for the AC when summer rolls around. I just don't like how much it affects the range by such a significant margin. That said I live in SoCal so the temperature deltas aren't that awful. At 49F, this morning, I was able to use the seat and steering wheel heaters and was plenty comfortable.

Focusing back to your point, no someone paying $30K for a car should not be wearing a parka, beanie and gloves to stay warm when driving in the winter because using the heater is too impactful on range. That's an area where EVs need to make significant improvements.

 

[ZoomZoom]

I'm with you, but numerous EV drivers will talk to you about wearing layers, gloves, etc...when driving your car in order to avoid using the heater... I, myself, very rarely use the heater in my Bolt and the same goes for the AC when summer rolls around. I just don't like how much it affects the range by such a significant margin. That said I live in SoCal so the temperature deltas aren't that awful. At 49F, this morning, I was able to use the seat and steering wheel heaters and was plenty comfortable.

Focusing back to your point, no someone paying $30K for a car should not be wearing a parka, beanie and gloves to stay warm when driving in the winter because using the heater is too impactful on range. That's an area where EVs need to make significant improvements.

I've layered a bit more and actually did the glove approach where prior in my life I never wore gloves while driving. I even put a blanket over my legs on a trip and used hand warmers. I'm still not really comfortable that I'm at 'that' place now that 'this' is the solution to be a viable long distance vehicle. I get flamed because my opinion states that it's a commuter car, but in cold climate weather it's not fun to freeze. But to reiterate, I'm ok adapting to wearing thicker layers but when it's 15 degrees out, or -10, that heat is running.

 

[surgeonFWW]

Yeah, makes sense. I’m not very handy so quotes I’ve gotten on updating the outlet range from $500 to $800 so making that kind of investment on the outlet for a place I don’t own doesn’t appeal to me. The charger, yeah, I’d plan on taking that with me. It’s the outlet updating that sucks from the estimates I’ve gotten. :/

Yes, that is highway robbery unless the 'run' is complex or long. Shop around for a low estimate. My breaker box had an empty double space for the 40 amp breaker. My 'run' was 2 feet, and I had to remove only one 16" x 10" panel of drywall and drill holes, in the two studs. I attached (screwed) the (double-wide) NEMA 6-50 outlet box to the far side of the second stud. I cut this drywall hole just big enough to fit the box. 24" of 10/2wG cable, two (breaker box, outlet box) cable clamps, and I was in business. Good luck.