Electric Cars

[outofyourmind]

Also, is it 4 wheel drive ?? and does it have traction control

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Back in the day as a summer student I drove in a warehouse. They had large (4 tonne) and really large (6 tonne) fork/grab lifts that were propane powered.

But for loading trucks and rail cars with paper rolls they had 2 tonne electric units.

You would ease out your clutch on the big ones but just press "the gas" on the wee one.

It was only required to drive 50 feet or so so it didn't have legs.

But it was Usain Bolt off the line.

 

[Deep Dish Pizza Goat]

I think the Bolts are funny tbh. Tiny little tin can cars made sense when they were a Prius/Yaris and the goal was a small car to maximize MPG for MORE miles per fill up(500-600 usually).

Now the bolt is an ugly little tin can EV that gets average-to-LESS range than the average current EV. You’re not hauling, you’ve got no cargo space, the speed is pretty mediocre for something so small. Seems the only reason to buy a Bolt is to race to say you’re an early adopter/beta tester.

 

[ill]

Right. but you don't have a gas pump at your house. After the GM discount the car was almost exactly $27,000. I think you'd find that price comparable to most gasoline compact SUV's in the class. My wife almost exclusively uses her car as a commuter vehicle, so the use case for us is perfect. I still have my larger gas SUV to drive up north, longer trips, ect. Her commute is around 80 miles total, she'll never have to visit a gas pump again.

Yes, the technology will improve. And I think it will improve to the point where when I buy another car in 7~ish years to replace my SUV, electric tech will be at a point where we can completely ditch gas. But you are right, it's not for everyone right now.

if I could wake up every morning to a full tank on my car, I would be pretty happy.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I think the Bolts are funny tbh. Tiny little tin can cars made sense when they were a Prius/Yaris and the goal was a small car to maximize MPG for MORE miles per fill up(500-600 usually).

Now the bolt is an ugly little tin can EV that gets average-to-LESS range than the average current EV. You’re not hauling, you’ve got no cargo space, the speed is pretty mediocre for something so small. Seems the only reason to buy a Bolt is to race to say you’re an early adopter/beta tester.

Two versions of the bolt now. The standard Bolt EV is the one that's been around longest and is stumpy looking (I think that's what you're describing). We never would have purchased one of those. My wife got the EUV, which the first model year was 2021 I think? Looks like a Chevy Trax or the small trailblazer. Here's the side by side:




As a compact SUV it's got about as much space as her trax had. As for range, based on what I've seen about 250-300 is the average range for EV's right now, and the new bolts fall right within that. The Teslas and some upper level EV's have longer ranges but most do not.

Here's a great list:

You'll note the Bolts fall pretty much right smack dab in the middle. The major difference now that GM cut the bolt price to $26k, there's absolutely no car that compares in terms of price vs. range.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

This has to be the hardest thing to adjust to.




Also weird, but what about road noise??
Is it worse because there's no engine to drown it out ?




I figured that.

Good Info

Road noise is fine. Again, kind of sounds like an airplane hum with bumps. Also forgot to mention yesterday that the regenerative breaking is great. You can use the car and almost never touch the brake pedal with the 1 pedal driving. It basically instantly starts slowing itself as soon as your foot comes off the pedal. Almost like you downshifted but way less harsh. And progressively gets slower until you come to a stop.

The Bolt isn't all wheel drive yet, only front wheel. But it does have traction control.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

if I could wake up every morning to a full tank on my car, I would be pretty happy.

For the first couple days it's been really great for her. Especially because she's one of "those people", we'll call them, who don't get gas until the gas light has been on for a suspicious amount of time. I swore I was going to have to run gas out to her one day, but it never happened. I think her Trax (that we need to sell still) is parked on our street with the gas light on. I think people are overlooking the convivence of just having a full "tank" when you wake up, for the perceived inconvenience of charging on longer trips.

 

[ill]

For the first couple days it's been really great for her. Especially because she's one of "those people", we'll call them, who don't get gas until the gas light has been on for a suspicious amount of time. I swore I was going to have to run gas out to her one day, but it never happened. I think her Trax (that we need to sell still) is parked on our street with the gas light on. I think people are overlooking the convivence of just having a full "tank" when you wake up, for the perceived inconvenience of charging on longer trips.

people are very focused on the whole "well what if I am driving cross country" issue and not that if you are doing daily driving routine, you should never ever run low on battery unless you are an absolute idiot.

The convenience factor for that alone is huge. It would be like topping off your tank every time you left your house and paying next to nothing to do so.

 

[NU_WTF?]

people are very focused on the whole "well what if I am driving cross country" issue and not that if you are doing daily driving routine, you should never ever run low on battery unless you are an absolute idiot. The convenience factor for that alone is huge.

Buy a 500 gallon storage tank for gasoline, then you don't have to go to a gas station but once a year, you can even fill up nightly if you want

 

[ill]

Buy a 500 gallon storage tank for gasoline, then you don't have to go to a gas station but once a year, you can even fill up nightly if you want

a wall outlet seems so much more reasonable than that.

 

[NU_WTF?]

a wall outlet seems so much more reasonable than that.

Why?

 

[Deep Dish Pizza Goat]

Two versions of the bolt now. The standard Bolt EV is the one that's been around longest and is stumpy looking (I think that's what you're describing). We never would have purchased one of those. My wife got the EUV, which the first model year was 2021 I think? Looks like a Chevy Trax or the small trailblazer. Here's the side by side:


View attachment 84879
View attachment 84880
As a compact SUV it's got about as much space as her trax had. As for range, based on what I've seen about 250-300 is the average range for EV's right now, and the new bolts fall right within that. The Teslas and some upper level EV's have longer ranges but most do not.

Here's a great list:

You'll note the Bolts fall pretty much right smack dab in the middle. The major difference now that GM cut the bolt price to $26k, there's absolutely no car that compares in terms of price vs. range.

It's the one I was thinking about when I said "tin can".

The cost is definitely the only + on the Bolt from what I can gather.

That Kona and Niro range are low from what I've seen. Both get 30+ more than the Bolt, same with the VW.

It probably works well as a "daily commuter", but I imagine if you're going to get groceries, you're going to bust out your gas car, eh?

 

[ill]

Why?

a wall outlet takes up a lot less space, don't have to get it refilled...and it is literally as easy as plugging it into your car.

and a tank of gasoline next to my house? Why do I want that eyesore?

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Why?

Well, for one, filling a 500 gallon tank would cost about $2000 up front. Not to mention probably cost just that to buy the tank.

 

[NU_WTF?]

a wall outlet takes up a lot less space, don't have to get it refilled...and it is literally as easy as plugging it into your car.

and a tank of gasoline next to my house? Why do I want that eyesore?

You can bury the tank, build its own shed or whatever to keep it out of sight.


A pump can be as easy as plugging it in the car too..

500 gallons wouldn't need frequent refills and I'm sure you can have it delivered so there's no extra effort on your part

 

[ill]

Well, for one, filling a 500 gallon tank would cost about $2000 up front. Not to mention probably cost just that to buy the tank.

I can't tell if he is serious with this comparison or not...

it's pretty easy to weigh the pros and cons of a plug for an electric car vs a 500 gallon gas tank installed on my property...

 

[Deep Dish Pizza Goat]

Well, for one, filling a 500 gallon tank would cost about $2000 up front. Not to mention probably cost just that to buy the tank.

And you had to hire an electrician and file with the city to get your charger installed, right?

 

[ill]

You can bury the tank, build its own shed or whatever to keep it out of sight.


A pump can be as easy as plugging it in the car too..

500 gallons wouldn't need frequent refills and I'm sure you can have it delivered so there's no extra effort on your part

but why add something else to your house?

you already get electricity and the install for that isn't at all difficult.

are you being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn?

 

[ill]

And you had to hire an electrician and file with the state to get your charger installed, right?

oh God forbid...

I doubt you have to file anything with the state for that

I bet your wife could get you a nice deal on that installation like she did with that fence a few years back

 

[NU_WTF?]

I can't tell if he is serious with this comparison or not...

it's pretty easy to weigh the pros and cons of a plug for an electric car vs a 500 gallon gas tank installed on my property...

If the power goes out you have energy ready top off the vehicle with a 500 gallon tank.

So many pros to a gas tank installation