View Single Post
Old 07-25-2023, 06:36 PM   #83 (permalink)
redpoint5
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,817

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - CBR600 - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - Dodge/Cummins - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)

Model Y - '24 Tesla Y LR AWD

Pacifica Hybrid - '21 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
90 day: 43.3 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,327
Thanked 4,480 Times in 3,445 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSH View Post
Some updates on life with a 2017 Bolt.
GM's HVAC design engineer need to be fired:
The Bolt's HVAC is even stupider than I thought. I had the OBD scanner hooked up to record some DC charge curves so I decided to monitor what the AC does on my way home from work. With the A/C set to more than 70F the car RUNS THE HEATER to get that magical auto temp instead of just dialing back on the AC compressor speed to reduce cooling or cycle the A/C on and off as required. No doubt that works fine with an ICE vehicle where the heat is a waste product but running the electric heater in an EV at the same time as the A/C is just plain stupid
Curious how certain you are that it was the cabin heaters coming on, as I have not heard this mentioned before, and that's kind of a big deal.

I know the battery heater is likely to turn on if battery temp is below about 70 degrees. Could it have been that?

The other silly thing about the Bolt is it uses resistive heating elements for hot air, but still utilizes a liquid heat exchanger (heater core). Instead of just warming the air directly and getting instant heat, they added complexity. Heater cores are the bane of HVAC, just ask Xist.
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote