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Rob E.
2019 Chevrolet Bolt
Peterborough, NH
“I realized there was an action I could take, perhaps only a first step, but nonetheless an important step, to reduce my reliance on fossil fuels and eliminate CO2 and CO emissions while driving.
What’s your #1 tip or piece of advice for new or prospective EV owners?
Make sure you understand your driving habits and needs to see if they match an EV’s capabilities. Download the app, Plugshare to pre-investigate whether charging stations are available in your typical or planned trips. (https://company.plugshare.com). The range is quite adequate for a 2 – 2.5 hour drive in one direction. Be mindful of the length of time to ‘refill.’ A 7-minute task to refuel an ICE car becomes a 25 – 60 minute re-charge at a Level 3 charging station–a perfect opportunity for stretching your legs, enjoying lunch or a cup of coffee, or exploring a local historical site-marker. Get used to letting the range go towards empty. The tendency in a gasoline fueled car is to see it go below 90 miles range and think, ‘I’d better refill.” With an EV, you’ll need to be comfortable planning a trip where you may arrive at your destination with about 11% charge (approx. 20 – 35 miles). And make sure there’s a charger there!
Read on to learn about Rob’s EV story – including buying, driving, owning, & charging his EV!
buying an ev
What main factors & considerations went into your decision to buy an EV?
I was inspired by Greta Thurnberg’s climate activism. Her conviction to her commitments to raise awareness to climate change led her to a courageous sea-crossing of the Atlantic in order to speak at the United Nations climate change summit in the fall of 2019. If you think this was an easy jaunt — please see the documentary “I Am Greta” available on Hulu. Here’s a trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDdEWkA15Rg. I realized there was an action I could take–perhaps only a first step, but nonetheless an important step–to reduce my reliance on fossil fuels and eliminate CO2 and CO emissions while driving.
What factors sold you on buying an EV? Why did you pick the specific make & model of EV that you did?
In the summer of 2019 while visiting high school friends, I had the opportunity to ride in an all-electric vehicle and was impressed with its appearance and performance similar to a ‘regular car.’ My friend said he had been shopping for a car and saw this at a dealership. As he inquired and learned more about it, he realized it was not ‘out of reach,’ and it would fit his needs. As any EV owner will tell you, one of the concerns about an EV is the range you get–how many miles before you need to re-charge. I realized most of my trips are local errands of 4 – 12 miles–with a need to get to the airport and back for business trips. With a range of 240 miles, the Chevrolet Bolt easily takes me to MHT and back 2 to 3 times before needing a recharge. I also have used it for round-trips to Lebanon, NH, and Boston; and a few longer trips (e.g. Hartford, CT) that required finding public chargers in the destination locations. With the GM rebates and federal tax incentives available for EV purchases and the installation of a charger, the financial picture became comparable to a traditional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) automobile.
driving & owning an ev
What is your favorite aspect of the EV driving experience?
The quietness of the vehicle, and the smooth ride, render driving an EV an immediately pleasurable experience–along with the knowledge that driving is not creating CO2/CO emissions. A monthly statement from GM confirms the ecological economies of EV driving: one example monthly report: 619 miles driven; 27 gallons of fuel not used; 522 lbs. CO2 emissions avoided.
In a few sentences, summarize your favorite EV memory or anecdote.
The dealership I purchased from was extremely helpful in acquiring the car with my specified winterized options; and was patient as I timed the purchase with the installation of a home charger.
What surprised you about owning an EV?
There is a surprising amount of storage space in the Bolt. Very little maintenance required–tire rotations, wiper blades and windshield washing fluid is about it. The instant energy and smooth transmission: electric motors generate a constant torque at any RPM, so acceleration pick-up is instantaneous and smooth. The ability to use the regenerative energy of the rolling wheels to provide charge to the battery. An 18 mile drive to Keene will reduce the range by only 5 miles from the starting range in Peterborough. The regenerative function also provides a slowing effect (and illuminates the brake lights to alert following cars the same as if you used the brake pedal). With care, you can learn ‘one-pedal-driving,’ where acceleration and deceleration are both achieved using only the accelerator pedal. This driving method works for all but emergency stops. I’m sure this will also extend the life-span of the brakes. There is a growing community of EV owners who extend help to each other identifying charging stations, including their access and reliability. These are shared through a number of EV apps available from the manufacturer and from charging-station companies. The ability to start the car in the garage for a pre-drive warm up (includes the passenger cabin and conditions the battery). If the car is still plugged into the charger, the preconditioning doesn’t reduce the full charge status.
What is the main downside or challenge of driving or owning an EV compared to an ICE vehicle? What tricks have you developed to adapt to that challenge?
Yes, indeed, the achievable range from a full charge diminishes in cold weather. A full-charge in the summer is about 250 miles; in winter 180 miles. I pay a bit more attention to the weather now that vehicle use is tied to the availability of electricity from the grid. (My home is not situated for installation of solar panels for more electrical independence.) I ensure I’m charged up before potential home power outage.
Charging an EV
Where do you charge your EV? Do you have an at-home charger?
Most of my charging is done with a Level 2 charger, which I installed at home. With this, I can recharge the vehicle in about ten hours, which works well for an overnight charge. A Level 2 charge requires a 240V feed–the same as an electric dryer or range–but you’ll need this available where you park your car. In my case, it involved adding a circuit breaker and extending wiring to a 240V plug in the garage. There are many brands and models of chargers available. On-line research will identify indoor and outdoor (weatherproof) chargers. Some plug in to a receptacle, some require direct wiring to the 240V feed. I selected a plug-in with a 10-foot cable from the wall-mounted charger to the car plug. The cost for the charger and for an electrician to install the new 240V plug were recoverable in 2019 as tax credits. I have also made use of Level 2 chargers in the wider world while doing errands, and once found a Level 3 charger (80% recharge in 20 minutes) at a large shopping mall.
What are a few of your favorite charging resources you use?
Download this useful independent charging app: https://company.plugshare.com as part of your research. PlugShare will list charging stations run by electric utility companies, as well as independent (and sometimes free) stations at malls, dealerships, hotels, etc. Your automobile manufacturer likely has an app that works with your car, providing remote lock/unlock, preconditioning, and trip-planning. Two companies provide chargers to non-Tesla users in the region: EVgo (https://www.evgo.com) and ChargePoint (https://chargepoint.com). You’ll want to add these apps and open accounts to be able to use their charge stations. Costs are much lower than gasoline. Note: Tesla has its own charging plugs which are incompatible with non-Tesla cars–although Tesla offers an adapter so its cars can use non-Tesla chargers.