2019 Chevy BOLT

[aerohead]

Using Cd 0.312, an estimated Af 28.5 sq-ft ( SIEMENS Solid Edge CAD ), 3,880- lb test weight, and 200-hp, compared to observed power consumption:
1) BOLT's drag-limited top speed = 149-mph.
2) BOLT's energy consumption @ 149-mph = 989.13 Watt-Hours/ mile.
3) BOLT's EPA range at 149-mph = 65.7-miles.
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According to MOTORTREND, August 2017, page-97, the 2017 BMW 530i, with turbo-4 cylinder, 19" wheels, and EPA 4,186-lb test weight, consumes the same amount of energy ( 990 Wh/mi ) at 70-mph, as the BOLT does at 149-mph.
This has to do with the 'brake thermal efficiency' ( BTE ) of the BMW's ICE engine, compared to the ' brake thermal efficiency-equivalency' ( BTE-e ) of the BOLT's electric motor.

[aerohead]

Tomorrow, I've got an appointment at U-HAUL to get a receiver hitch installed. It's a real 'splurge' for me, but rains every few days leaves my place in a continuous mud pit. I'm not willing to throw my back out trying to do the contortions necessary for the install.
Their paperwork shows a 2" receiver, but I think it will turn out to be the 1-1/4".
Once I know, I can scratch my head about the all-aluminum cargo carrier at Harbor Freight Tools. I get a 15% member discount there.
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Adding 28" of tail will get the car 'double-ended', and with skirts, belly cleanup, addition of diffuser, and wheel covers, I've got a shot at Cd 0.1993, according to the physics.
According to 'other's' research, this would generate about 25% range improvement at 65-mph, which is where I want to operate the car.
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I'm supposed to be ignoring the car, and focusing on Spirit, but I'll probably dabble a bit.

[redpoint5]

Don't let them install anything but a 2". I don't even know why the smaller one is an option, because a 2" does everything the smaller one does, plus more.

I recently removed the 2" receiver from the company Mazda CX-5 that I installed a few years ago. Just 4 bolts holding it on. The Mazda was hauled off to auction and now I drive a personal vehicle for work, which is what I always should have done.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Don't let them install anything but a 2". I don't even know why the smaller one is an option, because a 2" does everything the smaller one does, plus more.

I recently removed the 2" receiver from the company Mazda CX-5 that I installed a few years ago. Just 4 bolts holding it on. The Mazda was hauled off to auction and now I drive a personal vehicle for work, which is what I always should have done.

That's what they installed, so no adaptors required, and the cargo carrier will just 'plug in.'
The wheel arch surrounds had to be 'half' removed in order to remove the rear fascia, then the aluminum 'bumper'. And fascia had to be trimmed in order for the hitch to 'penetrate.'
It keeps 'storming', continues to remain wet, but I've made a little progress by letting ' the other guy' get involved.
On the second try, the 'local' Chevrolet dealer got me the correct front license plate bracket, which included all the attachment hardware and instructions. I had all the tools and correct drill size. It took about 15-minutes to clean, locate, drill, pop-rivet, attach, and add the two new plates, plus inspection sticker.

[aerohead]

I'm still sorting out the capabilities of the used BOLT, with the 'recall', 66-kWh pack.
Since I'm retired, I have some discretion available to me, as to 'when' I commute. By avoiding 'rush-hour' driving, and traffic, and by staying on secondary roads, and using AC judiciously, I'm currently experiencing 5-mi/Kwh, 330-miles range ( as per EPA's 100%-to-0% SOC testing metric ).
With 1.9581-gallons-e, and 330-miles range, that's 168.5-mpg-e, in mixed commuting.
This does not included charging efficiency, as the EPA does not factor it into their methodology.
CoServ, electric cooperative is my electric provider. I'm on their solar plan. They're part of Texas' largest 'Lapetas' solar farm, between Midland and Monahans, north of the interstate, and technically, I'm driving on solar energy, the whole point of having the BEV.
I haven't bought gasoline since April 22, and Spirit's been parked since the 23rd.
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I've managed to 'replace' the low-water crossing in my driveway with a 'flat-topped' culvert, which will protect my future underbody aero mods.
When I finish the community park and trail maintenance, I'll attack the concrete floor project for the 'shed.'
Then 'Spirit's' repairs and mods.
Then A2 Wind Tunnel ( maybe Aerodyne also for comparison ).
Then I can 'begin' on the BOLT.
'George Soros' has been very generous to me, and it may help 'accelerate' progress.

[JSH]

5 miles / kWh sounds about right - that is what I was getting in the summer when I first got my Bolt and was being a bit careful on efficiency. That was also with the stock Michelin Energy Saver tires.

Swapping to Michelin Pilot Sport high performance tires and not caring to much about efficiency or HVAC use I'm down to 4.0 to 4.2 miles / kWh and 250 miles of range. At 2 cents per mile I'm happy.

I was a bit surprised about how much the tires cut range and efficiency. From putting performance all-seasons on my TDI, 05 Prius, 09 Prius, and Spark EV I was expecting a drop of about 10% from the garbage stock LRR all-seasons. On the Bolt the drop has been 17%. Don't know if that is due to the Bolt or the Pilot Sports.

However the extra grip is well worth the extra cost to charge the Bolt. They already saved my bacon once when a car suddenly pulled out directly in front of me from a side street and I have to brake and swerve to miss him by inches.

[aerohead]

I drove from home to, as far as Morgan Freeman's 'Ground Zero Blues Club', in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on the King Biscuit 50th- Anniversary International Blues Festival trip.
I ran the Bolt from 55-mph, to 75-mph, with the AC on, to experience the differences in range as the road load varied.
No pretense of 'scientific' data collection, as the trip was pure hedonism.
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi, two-lane state highways, and Interstate-40, and 49.
The baseline numbers will help inform me in a couple of years, when I do something about the Chevy's shape.
For the trip, the car averaged 4.375-miles/kWh.
Cd 0.312 is not 'speed friendly.'

[Piotrsko]

The continental all seasons tires I have on the Golf did about the same fuel reduction per mile. However since they were fiddling with reformulated diesel, it is hard to get a number better than the 20% The Lie-O-meter reported.

On the other hand they are like driving on rails, pretty decent even on couple day old snow.