2022 Bolt EUV Initial impressions

That Equinox with its size and utility might be a big success.

Saw a Bolt at our grocery Monday - I think it is a a great looking car.

 

From GM, I wouldn't plan on a lost-cost model being either high-volume or efficient. GM will have squeezed in lots of capacity and will deliver very fast DC charging though.

From Toyota, I would expect next year's focus to be getting increased hybrid volume and new plug-in hybrids, while quietly refining 4X operation in preparation for both smaller & larger models.

Looking more broadly at big legacy, it's quite clear there's time. Notice how GM, Ford and Stellantis really don't have any means of addressing a rapid souring of the traditional market? VW actually does, but their current struggle software will likely slow their pace; there is a big of low-hanging-fruit at play as well. Replacing a second vehicle and appealing to naysayers is quite a bit more difficult.

Looking at the market, there is time too. Infrastructure is lacking in both quantity & quality. We desperately need DC stations to help address range anxiety. But the bigger and more complex issue is access to ordinary level-2 charging. We will be stuck with a level-1 paradigm for years to come and Toyota is positioning to capitalize on that. Having a variety of PHEV already well proven able to take advantage of double-density batteries would enable a smooth transition to plug-ins.

In other words, the shift to BEV won't really follow S-Curve growth since there are more elements at play. We're dealing with a complex product involving far more than just the technology itself. Without even dragging the topics of climate, raw materials and politics into the discussion, it should be easy to see the challenges we still face.

 

Just two observations:
1. "bigger, more complex,, access to L2 charging" ???
As far as I know, most L2 charging is done at home.
Who heads out looking for L2 charging away from home? Maybe Prime owners?
DCFC is what EV owners need when 'Out and About'.
(Sure you can find L2's at retail places....And if they're Free, I'll sip some electrons for my short visit, but most EV owners have no need for L2 away from home, especially if it's more expensive than at home.)

2. WTH is the L1 paradigm? And ,,,, Who cares about L1 charging at all?
And how would one car maker "positioning to capitalize on that"?
L1 charging is what I do with my phone, at home....

 

That "at home" is the problem. Getting L2 is proving expensive & cumbersome, for some who actually seek it. For ordinary consumers who don't have a clue, they simply won't have it available for years to come. I hear those comments at EV events. People ask questions about what they need for setup and how their own power provider works, those with homes. Those in apartments & condos are at the mercy of management. That's why being stuck with L1 is a reality for many. Accepting that is something enthusiasts really struggle with. They evade the topic of how to overnight charge multiple vehicles too.

 

Getting L2 is easy. Plug into an available 240V outlet with your cheap amazon L2, or the one that came with your EV, Bob's Your Uncle.
If your house doesn't have an available outlet, have one installed, easy peasy.
Some EV manufactures have a program to pay for that installation, (GM)!

Use a 20A, 30A, 40A or 60A, circuit depending on your needs and what your EV can take.
I'm on a 20A with my El'Cheapo 16A EVSE. Coming up on 5 years, mounted outside, No Problem Found.
My EV can take 32A but I don't need that with our usage.

Yes, if you live in an apartment you're SOL.

Do you own an EV now? How "expensive & cumbersome" was it to start charging L2 at home for you?
I really don't understand where you're coming from on this subject.... It is the future, by the way....

 

Besides costs, the option of installing L2 in many homes is hindered because they are rented. BTDT So, just like apartments there are huge and often very expensive hurdles to overcome.

• As of 2019, 78.7 million out of a total 122.9 million households own their homes.
• 44.2 million households rent their homes.

https://ipropertymanagement.com/research/renters-vs-homeowners-statistics

Also, let this one sink in:

• Excluding home equity, household wealth among homeowners is 1,469% higher than it is among renters.

 

Good Point.
So how do we help with EV adoption in the future so renters can plug in ?

Please not "just keep burning gas"....

 

Try talking to someone who owns a house with a service-box on the opposite side of their house from the garage or the garage is detached.

Read the fine print. It is limited, I believe it is a maximum of $1,000. Running a new line across the foundation or across the yard along with a new box will cost a lot more than that, especially with enough capacity for multiple vehicles.

 

Good question(s).

Money. Or rather said, an economic incentive for this (behavior) to happen. That can come in various ways. I solved it by getting a PHEV that could easily charge by L1 its entire life and a HEV. Government incentives. Renters demanding that amenity. Property managers seeing L2 as a incentive/profit center. Etc.,

But ultimately putting the massive financial load/burden from this NEEDED clean transition onto the consumer, more importantly, the middle and lower classes instead of the government is insane.

https://thehill.com/business/3836902-survey-nearly-two-thirds-of-americans-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/


Edit: Jerry, sorry for the high jack, I forgot what thread I was on. No more off topic from me.

 

It's not an uncomfortable car. I think a lot of bad press came from the first generation EV where it had narrow seats. The seats are better now. I use it for an hour commute and it's comfortable enough. I have the Premier so it has leather heated and cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, 360 degree camera, video rear view mirror. Rides a little higher than the Prime so it's easier to get in and out of. Prime handles better. EUV is faster compared to the < 23s.

 

Level 2 AC charging is not an absolute need for a BEV though. Level 1 could be enough to cover many people's daily driving needs. How many people aren't considering a BEV because they believe they have to install a charger for it?

 

For me a PHEV owner a Level 2 charger is a must. I would also tell anyone who is buying a PHEV or BEV that they should consider a Level 2 charger a must to maximize the utility of their vehicle.

You can of course use a Level 1 charger and many do - for most people this will severely limit the utility of your vehicle to meet your needs.

As an example our PHEV reaches full charge on 2.5 hours of charging on Level 2 - 8 to 10 hours on Level 1. With 3 drivers and multiple trips each day it would never fully charge and be depleted quickly with a level 1. With a level 2 charger it is always ready to go and would rarely ever need to run on gas.

An individual who was a single driver and never went very far, may get away with a Level 1 charger but if your electric mileage is that small and the vehicle is so rarely used a cheaper gas vehicle arguably would better meet your needs - an expensive BEV is an extravagance at that point.

Another point is a Level 1 charger at maximum rate does require a dedicated outlet or it will pop the breaker when most any other current draw on that circuit takes place. Many homes without a robust electric system and a charger that doesn't allow you to throttle down the charging rate may find they have an issue with their available home wiring to charge the vehicle on a Level 1 charger. Level 1 charging is not efficient and most vehicle manufacturers recommend that you use only Level 2 charging and use Level 1 in rare incidences when Level 2 isn't available. The two manufacturers I am familiar with spell this out in black bold print in their manuals.

If you are buying a BEV or PHEV check out your home wiring and the charging rate of the vehicle or you may experience buyers regret and soon regret your purchase.

Two well thought out modestly priced vehicles the Chevy Bolt and the Nissan Leaf do somewhat mitigate this dynamic due to their commonsense price and car charging dynamics - but if you are a normal driver with normal driving patterns you will appreciate a Level 2 charging system to get the most out of your vehicles.

Like Jerry I too and a retired Electrician/Engineer and was able to run my own Level 2 Charging circuit. Actually before buying our PHEV I checked our panel for an available spare circuit and evaluated the wiring run and Level 2 charger placement as well as the cost of the Level 2 charger. I then figured out the price of our electric charging of the car plus the addition of the circuit and then was able to do a proper return on investment for the purchase of a PHEV and it turned out we would begin saving money after a couple of years for the remaining life of the vehicle.

Permitting, hiring an electrician, upgrading your panel (a very expensive proposition) then paying for your electricity can be cost prohibitive for electric vehicles and you would do well to evaluate this before you pull the trigger on a PHEV or BEV so as not to be a very disappointed customer.

 

Our large upright freezer was on the same 15-amp circuit. I charged that way for 2 years. It worked fine. That's not the ideal, but it wasn't popping the breaker or even got warm.

 

While I do agree with the utility of the L2 EVSE for either PHEV or BEV, my own use case of PHEV ownership for the last 6 years has proved that it is not a requirement to own and drive PHEV, and I suspect that would be also true for a BEV. Nor, installing and using the L2 EVSE would be economical.

In our case, solely using an L1 EVSE connected to an outlet that is shared by other appliances to charge a PHEV with 40-50 miles of EV range for two drivers is working fine. Yes, it takes ~12 hours to charge fully from 0% on L1 EVSE but we rarely do multiple trips totaling over 50 miles in a single day, so a nightly charge would work fine. In fact, since our current need for most daily trips does not require the full EV range distance, I have limited the target charge to 85% on the charge schedule at home. I charge to full 100% only when we have a plan to drive out of town.

As long as an EV (be that BEV or PHEV) is used only for around-town daily trips and commuting, I don't feel any need to upgrade our electrical panel and install a dedicated 240v outlet in our garage for the cost north of $10k. That being said, if I am going to undertake major upgrading and renovation of our home, then the electrical upgrade for futureproofing would certainly be considered as a part of the project. I am hoping the IRA programs will soon start and make those electrical upgrades more affordable for us.

 

1. I would tell them "You have to Pay to Play. Pay for a few more feet of wire run. You'll be glad you did!
If you want to start using clean renewable energy and saving money on driving a car, it has to be an EV".

2. Yes, You'll pay more to run thick wires for 2 EV's that are parked in a detached garage far from the house.

Do you want to enter the Clean Energy Future? Or just keep burning that stinky stuff?

I'm sure you know about the '80% continuous duty' rule. Hopefully you had your EV charging at the safe 8A setting. 12A on a 15A circuit is the max and having a freezer share that circuit is ,,,, YIKES !! It worked 'fine for 2 yrs', but yikes...Did you measure the heat of the wires in the wall?

That seems off. I hope you're getting multiple quotes.

Another thing: Just because an EV is capable of 32A or even the newer 48A, it doesn't mean you need to charge that quickly.
As I said, I'm fine with 16A EVSE on a 20A circuit. This Old House has a 100Amp Main.

 

Interesting! I wonder where the temp sensor (s) is in the EVSE?
In the plug itself is common, in which case a simple IR temp reader should confirm that. Replacing the outlet is the first step.
When it has been charging for a few hours you could shut it down and try to tell if there is more heat on the sockets or pins at that connection. If nothing is hot at the connector, then what?
It's great that a safety feature is built into your EVSE. What is 'CCID'? Does the EVSE have a display?

 

Freezer draw isn't continuous, other than the tiny fan. High is brief. EVSE draw isn't a full 12 amps anyway.