My My new ride

[Grant Lamontagne]

After much deliberation, I have done the unthinkable and put a deposit down on an electric car.   

I will miss my Jeep, but I am now awaiting the fine folks at GMC to assemble and deliver my new 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, expected sometime in July.  After almost ten years in my current Jeep (picked it up at the end of January, 2013) I am trading it in because it has become too costly to feed.  It is hard to wrap my brain around the concept that buying a new car is going to be cheaper than using the car that is already paid off.   

To make myself feel better about the number one concern regarding electric cars I have done what all nerds to do relax... and after that I made a spreadsheet and did some math. 

First off, I found out the charge rate with a level 1 charger (120V extension cord) was roughly 6 kms (4 miles) per hour of charge.  Not ideal, but perfectly functional:

Essentially, starting with the rated 400 km range on Monday morning, and approximately 120 kms of travel per day at work, I would end my workday with 280 kms left of range.  If I plug it in at 4pm and charge it until I leave at 6am the next morning I will have regained roughly 84 kms of range.  Tuesday will have me finishing out at 208 kms (given the same numbers) and so on until I finish Friday with roughly 136 kms of range left.

The bottom line is, I should be able to run all week without having to go to a Level 2 Charging Station.

BUT, included in the cost of the vehicle is the installation of a Level 2 Charging station at my house, which will completely charge the vehicle in 3 hours, so I could theoretically only charge it once or twice a week at home and not worry about it the rest of the time.

Anyways, I am trying to remain positive about it- the next bit f math I will have to do will be to convert the kilometers to electro doodads and work out the cost per kilometer, which from all I have read (I don't really understand electricity very well) should be somewhere around 10% of the cost of gas- and that figure came when gas was significantly cheaper than it is now.   

You may all commence with making fun of my manhood (or lack thereof) for driving a glorified golf cart.

 

Def

[SteveC]

Congrats and god luck !   

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks.  It will be a big change from my Jeep.

Def

[Aloha]

So will you avatar reflect this change as well 


In all seriousness, congrats.  We are nearing 7 US dollars for a gallon of 87 octane.  Its pretty crazy when I spend 80 and it doesn't fill my tank.  The Ford Lightening is looking really good about now. 

[Sea Monster]

Electric cars, or hybrid battery/powerplant (not necessarily ICE....) are happening, and everyone will be on board eventually.

Hopefully the cost of your entry ticket isn't too steep (Locally getting into an E-vehicle is still prohibitively expensive for most punters).

Hopefully you live in an area where the grid is partially or wholly powered by "green" energy as well, so in addition to helping the hip pocket, getting around on grid power is better for the sky too....

[nate j]

Anyways, I am trying to remain positive about it- the next bit f math I will have to do will be to convert the kilometers to electro doodads and work out the cost per kilometer, which from all I have read (I don't really understand electricity very well) should be somewhere around 10% of the cost of gas- and that figure came when gas was significantly cheaper than it is now.

This part should actually be pretty straightforward:

Chevy rates the Bolt EUV at 398 km range at full charge (65 kWh).

So 65/398 = 0.163 kWh/km

Multiply 0.163 kWh/km by your current cost of electricity ($/kWh) to get your $/km spent on electricity (theoretically, though of course YMMV).


For the cost of gas, most are probably more familiar, but for the sake of completeness:

Assume x km/L.  Divide your cost of gas ($/L) by x to get $/km spent on gas.

Oh, and congratulations on your new purchase!

[Syncop8r]

After much deliberation, I have done the unthinkable and put a deposit down on an electric car.   

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Electric cars, or hybrid battery/powerplant (not necessarily ICE....) are happening, and everyone will be on board eventually.

Hopefully the cost of your entry ticket isn't too steep (Locally getting into an E-vehicle is still prohibitively expensive for most punters).

Hopefully you live in an area where the grid is partially or wholly powered by "green" energy as well, so in addition to helping the hip pocket, getting around on grid power is better for the sky too....

Nope.  We have some hydro and wind here, but we are mostly powered by natural gas and coal.

I'm not buying an electric car to be green and hug polar bears, I am buying one because it is significantly cheaper to operate.

The car isn't cheap, but the Chevy Bolt is one of, if not the cheapest electric cars around here.  That having been said, I am buying a car someone else had ordered and then backed out of (otherwise I'd be waiting until at least the fall to get it) and so I am getting pretty much the maximum spec on it.

Still, what I am paying is less than most EV's out there- slightly higher than base price, but lower than any other mid level spec car, so no complaints.

It annoys me that it will be cheaper to buy a whole new car than to keep driving the one I already own that is paid for.   

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

 

Mine isn't actually built yet (anticipated build date is the 27 ish) so not much in the way of pictures at the moment.....

But here is a stock pic of the same car in the color I am inheriting it in.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

So will you avatar reflect this change as well 


In all seriousness, congrats.  We are nearing 7 US dollars for a gallon of 87 octane.  Its pretty crazy when I spend 80 and it doesn't fill my tank.  The Ford Lightening is looking really good about now.

I'd be biting the bullet and getting the Lightning now instead of the Bolt, but there are none available around here.  The Bolt is something to keep my costs down over the next 2-3 years until I can take a swing at a Lightning.

And yeah, I have been thinking about the avatar anyway- the dogs in the Jeep aren't exactly accurate either.   

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

This part should actually be pretty straightforward:

Chevy rates the Bolt EUV at 398 km range at full charge (65 kWh).

So 65/398 = 0.163 kWh/km

Multiply 0.163 kWh/km by your current cost of electricity ($/kWh) to get your $/km spent on electricity (theoretically, though of course YMMV).


For the cost of gas, most are probably more familiar, but for the sake of completeness:

Assume x km/L.  Divide your cost of gas ($/L) by x to get $/km spent on gas.

Oh, and congratulations on your new purchase!

Thanks for the formula!

Currently I am doing well to be at 14.5L/100km which works out to just over 16 mpg.  Not ideal at the current gas prices.  Currently gas is just over $2/L here, which means I am looking at roughly $30 to drive to the next city about 100kms away.

The online estimates say that the same trip will cost about $3, or about 10% of the cost of gas.  That's pretty damned significant when you think about it, considering I am currently spending around $1200/mth in fuel, just for the privilege of going to and from work. 

Def

[Aloha]

I honestly was just fooling around about the avatar.  I'd keep it. 

I've watched several videos now on the Lightening and its looking really good.  It can get really pricy so keeping it as simple as possible would be important. 

[Vidar]

We got an electric car earlier this year. Quite happy with that choice so far.

[GearedForwards]

Congrats!

And there's nothing unmanly about driving an electric car, your manhood is more than your jeep 

Does this convert your fuel stipend into a pay rise 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I honestly was just fooling around about the avatar.  I'd keep it. 

I've watched several videos now on the Lightening and its looking really good.  It can get really pricy so keeping it as simple as possible would be important.

I am very interested in the one they are aiming at tradespeople, but that may only be available as part of a fleet purchase, and I don't see me being in a position to buy a fleet!   

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

We got an electric car earlier this year. Quite happy with that choice so far.

My biggest concern is sitting in it in the winter.  I am hoping that I don't drain the battery too much with the heater running.

I am seriously considering getting a propane heater for inside the car.   

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Congrats!

And there's nothing unmanly about driving an electric car, your manhood is more than your jeep 

Does this convert your fuel stipend into a pay rise 

That is the hope.  I'd rather put some of that money in my pocket rather than continue paying out.

Def

[powernoodle]

You need a big, magnetic image of an MT on the side of your new Bolt.  Maybe a Leatherman Charge. 

I am seriously pondering the purchase of a Toyota Sienna hybrid AWD to replace my 2009 Chevy Suburban.  That's halfway between petrol and EV - a little bit of both really.  I am way past the point of trying to establish my societal standing based on what I drive.  And I love minivans.  Especially all wheel drive versions.

Chevy Bolt:  https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/bolt-euv

Toyota Sienna:  https://www.toyota.com/sienna/

[Grant Lamontagne]

Oh crap no, I can't put Leatherman on the side- we have enough rust issues here without tempting the Fates!   

I had seriously considered a hybrid as well, but it seems like there are twice as many systems to have problems with and they charge you for both.

I also enjoy minivans.... 

Def

[enki_ck]

My biggest concern is sitting in it in the winter.  I am hoping that I don't drain the battery too much with the heater running.

I am seriously considering getting a propane heater for inside the car.   

Def

We got an electric car earlier this year. Quite happy with that choice so far.

My first thought was not the inside heating, but how the battery will work in Canadian winter. Vidar might have some data on that. Batteries and extremely low temperatures aren't a good mix.

https://www.greencars.com/post/how-cold-weather-affects-electric-cars

[dks]

You got Soft

[pfrsantos]

Mine isn't actually built yet (anticipated build date is the 27 ish) so not much in the way of pictures at the moment.....

But here is a stock pic of the same car in the color I am inheriting it in.

Def

Are you geting it from Ikea?...

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

My first thought was not the inside heating, but how the battery will work in Canadian winter. Vidar might have some data on that. Batteries and extremely low temperatures aren't a good mix.

https://www.greencars.com/post/how-cold-weather-affects-electric-cars

Yes, this has also been a big concern, but if I charge it nightly, even cut in half (400kms total, or 200 in winter?) I should have enough power to get to/from work.

The question is whether that leaves me enough power to run heat during the day or not.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

You got Soft

Tough words coming from someone living in paradise! 

Seriously, if I have to I'll get my immersion suit out and I won't have to use heat, but I'd really rather be comfortable.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Are you geting it from Ikea?...

 

No, they are building it, not me. 

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Everyone is sending me this kind of stuff now, and yeah, I agree.

I'm going to carry my own damn generator. 

Def

[GearedForwards]

I wonder if you could mount a solar panel to feed into the charging system 

[Alan K.]

I am very interested in the one they are aiming at tradespeople, but that may only be available as part of a fleet purchase, and I don't see me being in a position to buy a fleet!   

Def

Group buy?

[Grant Lamontagne]

[89quote author=GearedForwards link=topic=89451.msg2349512#msg2349512 date=1655996549]
I wonder if you could mount a solar panel to feed into the charging system 
[/quote]
Y
I doubt very much the solar panel would generate enough power to make much of a difference.  If 120V will only gain 6kms/hr of range, I think the solar panel may be outmatched.

There is a car called an Aptera, which is able to recharge approximately 40 miles per day through its panels if kept in the hot California sun- but that car is much more streamlined and almost completely covered in solar panels to achieve that.

Still, I'd love to see the math on this.  I don't know enough about electricity to figure it out without some effort.

Plus putting a solar panel on the top would negate the panoramic sunroof on the one I am getting! 

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Group buy?

If I can convince Ford to go along with it, and if we have enough takers here, I'm game!

Def