![]() Related Interested in buying an EV? Here’s where to start and what to look forĪccording to Shad Balch at Chevrolet Communications, the Bolt battery’s ideal temperature is around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. This includes avoiding use of the heater or air conditioner whenever possible, going easy on the accelerator, and using regenerative braking to slow down. Since everything in an electric vehicle runs off the battery, minimizing battery use can help extend the range. However, these numbers are just estimates, and will be affected by how and where you drive. For those able to splurge on, for example, a newer Tesla Model S, that number jumps significantly, to up to 390 miles. The Bolt can get an estimated 259 miles out of a full charge, which is on the higher end of the more affordable segment. Here are some tips for making the trip as enjoyable as possible. If there’s one thing I learned during my trip, it’s that the key to a successful EV road trip is planning, planning, and more planning. Photo: Sanna Boman 5 tips for getting the most out of an EV road trip It became clear that even though electric vehicles may be the way of the future, the future-including its necessary infrastructure-isn’t here quite yet. What surprised me most about my EV road trip was how much time I ended up spending thinking about my next charge, looking for charging stations, and-if I found one-waiting around for the car to charge. Related How to car camp in an EV: Tips from a Tesla Model Y owner Even on my motorcycle, which gets about 200 miles out of a full tank, I generally feel confident that I will encounter plenty of easy-to-spot gas stations well before I’m at any risk of running out of gas. in a gas powered vehicle, I typically don’t spend much time thinking about or looking up gas stations along my route in advance. And on one occasion, the only available charger was unable to communicate with my vehicle, for reasons still unknown to me. In a few places, all chargers were already being used by other drivers, adding extra time while waiting for them to finish. As soon as I ventured away from larger cities, I was limited to Level 2 chargers, which can take up to 8 hours for a full charge. The main issue, I quickly learned, was finding fast chargers in remote places or small towns. While my first charging experience turned out both worse and better than expected-the process took longer than it should have due to the charger issues, but I didn’t have to pay for the charge-the rest of the trip was less eventful. “Pull in over here and I’ll charge you up.” Photo: Sanna BomanĪfter doing as I was told, the man attached the charging plug to my car and pressed some buttons on the charger, and a few moments later my dashboard display lit up with a progress bar, stating I was 55 minutes away from an 80 percent charge. “Do you need to charge?” one of the men asked me. I’m typically always prepared to switch to a plan B-but I don’t normally have to do it within the first few hours of leaving my house.Īfter sitting in the car for a few minutes pondering my next move, a work truck pulled in next to me and a group of men in bright orange vests jumped out. Related 8 state park systems with EV charging stationsĪs any avid roadtripper knows, road trips are a lot more enjoyable if you’re able to roll with the punches. By a wide margin, California is the state with the most EV chargers in the U.S., so armed with the PlugShare app, Chevy’s m圜hevrolet app, and Google Maps on my phone, I figured that locating charging stations would be the least of my issues. I hit the road intent on making my way up the California coast from my home in San Diego, with a loose timeline and half-baked itinerary. Related What RVers should know about California’s gas-powered vehicle ban A new experienceĪs someone whose primary vehicle is a motorcycle, the Bolt is basically the opposite of everything I’m used to: It’s quiet, comfortable, and very easy to drive. I’ll readily admit that not having to worry about regular oil changes and part replacements sounds like a dream-and a full charge at a charging station is much cheaper than a full tank of gas.īut can you take a longer road trip in an EV? Chevrolet was kind enough to loan me a 2021 Bolt for a week so I could find out for myself. And the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $7.5 billion to EV charging infrastructure, with the goal of 500,000 new chargers by 2030.įor those living in a city with easy access to charging stations, commuting in an EV can be a great way to save money on gas and maintenance. California has approved regulation that will ban the sales of new gasoline cars by 2035, with other states expected to follow suit. There’s no question that electric vehicles, or EVs, are the way of the future.
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