Range / hypermiling modifications?
-
Hey Guest, welcome to ChevyBolt.org. We encourage you to register to engage in conversations about your Bolt.
81 - 100 of 120 Posts
Joined
·
67 Posts
I guess if you don't really have anything useful to add.......
Now I see why you have 4,324 posts. It's too bad that this message board doesn't have a "block" button.
Now I see why you have 4,324 posts. It's too bad that this message board doesn't have a "block" button.
Joined
·
6,642 Posts
Just trying to add some perspective. No reason to get all snotty about it. ✌
Joined
·
4,590 Posts
In the real world, no one is going to have anything meaningful to add to OPs query as to "Range / Hypermiling Modifications. Read through the eighty-three posts for confirmation. Picking the flyshite out of the pepper is a favorite passtime of this and other EV fora.
The reason is, hypermiling is a last-century ICE concept which has no actual technical application to EVs. Some here and there grew up with it and won't give up on it, but the designers and engineers have done the work and all we can do is use best practices driving and speeds.
jack vines
The reason is, hypermiling is a last-century ICE concept which has no actual technical application to EVs. Some here and there grew up with it and won't give up on it, but the designers and engineers have done the work and all we can do is use best practices driving and speeds.
jack vines
Joined
·
67 Posts
I disagree Jack. We can do more. Engineering a product for the masses leaves a lot on the table in the form of compromises. I've read all 84 replies in this thread and others here like it. Aero improvements make a big difference at highway speeds on long trips. Our big ugly mirrors are low hanging fruit that I'd rather not ignore. I get enjoyment out of ecomodding. For others without any fabrication or modification skills, "it's all a waste of time."
I don’t know, I would say that he had the most useful thing to add.
Sometimes it’s better to consider the practical aspect. Mister JJ is giving you a much more useful approach to efficiency than aerodynamics.
Joined
·
4,590 Posts
Agree completely. That's why we need the EV1 and not the Bolt for long trips at high speeds.
Go for it and enjoy the effort. FWIW, I've been fabricating and modifying every sort of machinery for the past sixty years. My experience says you can't polish a turd. When one begins with an upright box with a Cd of .33, impovements are picking flyshite out of the pepper. Less bad is still pretty bad. Remove the big ugly mirrors and then give me the percentage range increase at 70 MPH which has been documented. Not saying it won't be there, just saying it wouldn't be worth my time and money.
jack vines
Joined
·
67 Posts
Did you read post #80 in this thread? Here, I'll paste a copy of it for you.
"Has anyone ever done a mirror delete modification on a Bolt EV? I'm not interested in the legality of it so no need to inform me about that. And yes, I've read the unhelpful replies in this long thread telling us to simply drive slower. Driving slower doesn't improve the car in any way."
As you can see, I was very specific that I was not looking for the usual unhelpful advice to slow down or drive less. I was asking if anyone actually did anything to lower the drag from their mirrors, not receive the usual do-nothing lip service that is so easy to provide electronically. Unfortunately, there are far more people providing hot air, than actual efforts and modification experience.
No one is stopping you from removing your mirrors if you seriously think it will make a difference, so why don’t you just do it and report back? Anyone “providing hot air” is trying to save you time. But that’s ok, show us how wrong we are 🙂
Joined
·
67 Posts
Oh I will indeed. Unlike you guys, I have actual hands-on experience in ecomodding and custom fabrication. I just thought there might be other talented people here as well.
Talent or Hot Air, you decide!
So do you have a guess on how much payback you will get with those rear view mirrors removed from the Box that is the Bolt?
These Mods are supposed to have a Pay Back, correct? Will you be buying replacement video rear view mirrors?
You're already driving just about the cheapest $ / mile car around. Why pinch another 20 cents per week?
I have been a penny pincher for a long time!
(All bought used except for the Metro which I got for $5300 OTD due to multiple rebates!)
'89 Base Geo Metro (58 mpg-hiwy, drove this un-airconditioned turd for 13 yrs and 240k miles!)
'01 Honda Insight (71 mpg-hiwy,, before the EPA cut ratings to make people happy)
'98 ? VW TDI (49 mpg-hiwy. running some WVO in the summer months. Good riddance.)🤭
'10 Prius ( 51 mpg, Level 5 with the Advanced Tech Package. Decent LKA, ACC and self-parking!)
The aero mods I would consider on the Bolt are:
-Aero wheel covers (baby moons, screwed on to the alloys with small drilled and tapped holes at the rim)
-Rear fender skirts. (thin clear Lexan, velcro'd in place?)
-Front tire-fender gap brush filler (like some city buses use)
-I'm not convinced about front flexible air dam and side rocker panel skirts.
-Maybe flexible tire trailing edge aero devices. (velcro'd so when they do get a hit they just pop off)
Compared to these mods, I doubt deleting the outside rear view mirrors would have a noticeable effect.
And factoring Pay Back is always part of the process.
Are video outside rear view mirrors legal? I know there is Fed talk about it.
But then, as you say, this is all Hot Air and Arm Chair engineering,,
until you get your Bolt into a wind tunnel for some accurate testing!
But that is expensive Hot Air and we should keep pay back in mind...
You forgot covering the Bolt in a layer of clay and making golf ball dimples throughout the surfaceTalent or Hot Air, you decide!
So do you have a guess on how much payback you will get with those rear view mirrors removed from
the Box that is the Bolt?
These Mods are supposed to have a Pay Back, correct? Will you be buying replacement video rear view mirrors?
You're already driving just about the cheapest $ / mile car around. Why pinch another 20 cents per week?
I have been a penny pincher for a long time!
(All bought used except for the Metro which I got for $5300 OTD due to multiple rebates!)
'89 Base Geo Metro (58 mpg-hiwy, drove this un-airconditioned turd for 13 yrs and 240k miles!)
'01 Honda Insight (71 mpg-hiwy,, before the EPA cut ratings to make people happy)
'98 ? VW TDI (49 mpg-hiwy. running some WVO in the summer months. Good riddance.)🤭
'10 Prius ( 51 mpg, Level 5 with the Advanced Tech Package. Decent LKA, ACC and self-parking!)
The aero mods I would consider on the Bolt are:
-Aero wheel covers (baby moons, screwed on to the alloys with small drilled and tapped holes at the rim)
-Rear fender skirts. (thin clear Lexan, velcro'd in place?)
-Front tire-fender gap brush filler (like some city buses use)
-I'm not convinced about front flexible air dam and side rocker panel skirts.
-Maybe flexible tire trailing edge aero devices. (velcro'd so when they do get a hit they just pop off)
Compared to these mods, I doubt deleting the outside rear view mirrors would have a noticeable effect.
And factoring Pay Back is always part of the process.
Are video outside rear view mirrors legal? I know there is Fed talk about it.
But then, as you say, this is all Hot Air and Arm Chair engineering,,
until you get your Bolt into a wind tunnel for some accurate testing!
But that is expensive Hot Air and we should keep pay back in mind...
MythBusters Episode 127: Dirty vs. Clean Car
The MythBusters test to see if a dirty car gets better gas mileage than a clean one due to golf ball-like dimples. They also see whether a hangover is worse after just beer or after beer and liquor.
mythresults.com
That is 'Plausible', they claimed.You forgot covering the Bolt in a layer of clay and making golf ball dimples throughout the surface
I park outside, so maybe the next Midwest golf ball size hail storm will do this aero mod for me!
I know I wouldn't spend a dime to make those 'functional' dings go away. I'll use that insurance check for more fun things!
Seriously, if this was a thing, way aren't cars built like that? Or airplanes?
Joined
·
67 Posts
Are you guys going to post any photos of the aero mods you have done to your Bolt EVs, or just keep babbling on and on with no actual content?
Joined
·
6,642 Posts
Just babbling.
You?
(I thought you "have actual hands-on experience in ecomodding and custom fabrication." )
The other day, I made an 8 ft. long aero tail cone for my Bolt out of balsa wood, packing tape and saran wrap.
I was getting double the mi/kWh on a test drive!!
But when I got home it was gone..... probably just more trash on the side of the road somewhere.
It was beautiful!
It had a way to reach the hatch release and the whole contraption would raise with the hatch, so you didn't lose that functionality. The tail lights shone through.
Sorry, I should have taken a picture before the test drive.
Oh, and it increased the top speed to 125 mph!
It would have saved my a bundle on those expensive electrons and I only had a Buck-and-a-Half in materials!
I found a picture of my old Gen 3 Prius with that split foam pipe insulation blocking the lower grill for winter time use. It definitely lowered the Cd (I think).
I can post that,,, but,,,, you first!!
And 17” motorcycle tires. The rounded profile is perfect for the lowest rolling resistance!Just babbling.
You?
(I thought you "have actual hands-on experience in ecomodding and custom fabrication." )
The other day, I made an 8 ft. long aero tail cone for my Bolt out of balsa wood, packing tape and saran wrap the other day.
I was getting double the mi/kWh on a test drive!!
But when I got home it was gone..... probably just more trash on the side of the road somewhere.
It was beautiful!
It had a way to reach the hatch release and the whole contraption would raise with the hatch, so you didn't lose that functionality. The tail lights shone through.
Sorry, I should have taken a picture before the test drive.
Oh, and it increased the top speed to 125 mph!
It would have saved my a bundle on those expensive electrons and I only had a Buck-and-a-Half in materials!
I found a picture of my old Gen 3 Prius with that split foam pipe insulation blocking the lower grill for winter time use. It definitely lowered the Cd (I think).
I can post that,,, but,,,, you first!!
Joined
·
67 Posts
You guys have added nothing and made a big joke out of this thread and yourselves.
Joined
·
67 Posts
Not if someone is looking for actual aero improvements. People don't come to this thread looking for lip service counseling, on why they shouldn't bother.
81 - 100 of 120 Posts
