Friends are ditching their gasser for an EV (Leaf? Volt?) Update: Bolt!

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

We did an eco-driving session today, and honestly, he didn't need it. (He actually beat my score, and graciously tried to soothe my bruised ego by blaming the heat pump for running more during my lap!)

One thing I was able to show him that he didn't know was how to shift to neutral for long glides. He wasn't aware that he had to hold the shifter in the detent for a second or 2 for N to activate.

I'd say it's probably harder to ecodrive an EV. The biggest controllable factors of efficiency are speed and cabin heat use.

I just watched an hour video on the Chevy Bolt Motor/transaxle. The one takeaway I learned is that shifting to N disables the electric oil pump that keeps the top mounted sump full of transmission/cooling fluid. I'm not sure if other EVs are built similarly, and I'm not sure if it matters much, but it's possible the gears don't get adequate protection while coasting. I might stop that habit in the Prius.

Skip to minute 9 through 10 to see an explanation of the lubrication system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APhRPSdmdmk

[oil pan 4]

As far as I can tell the first gen leaf uses no such transaxle lube system.
It appears to be splash oiled via gear rotation.

[ME_Andy]

Of course. It fits with the Nissan pattern of doing everything as cheaply as possible.

[NeilBlanchard]

On the older Leaf, if you shift into R (above 7MPH!) it goes into neutral right away. This is easier than holding it in N for 2 seconds.

If you are going less than 7MPH, if you shift into R - it will go into REVERSE!

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I'd say it's probably harder to ecodrive an EV. The biggest controllable factors of efficiency are speed and cabin heat

In EV mode I’ve found EVs to be the most easily hypermiled vehicles

And yeah speed, climate control, acceleration and gentle coasting all boost efficiency, no special techniques, no scangage nothing special required.

In winter is where things can get more complex

But otherwise Easy peasy

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

In EV mode I’ve found EVs to be the most easily hypermiled vehicles

And yeah speed, climate control, acceleration and gentle coasting all boost efficiency, no special techniques, no scangage nothing special required.

In winter is where things can get more complex

But otherwise Easy peasy

What I meant was, there's less left on the table to be gained from the regular tricks. Using the brakes doesn't throw away as much energy as an ICE. The EV motor hardly cares how quickly you accelerate from an efficiency standpoint. There's no pulse and glide. In that sense, it's easier to ecodrive an EV, but in the sense that the driver has fewer tricks to improve efficiency, it's more difficult.

The only practical thing I could do to extend the range in the Prius was to drive slower. Heater use was out of the question since that instantly fires up the ICE.

[MetroMPG]

So I now know 3 people who have bought Bolts in the past couple of years.

(Remember this tale from one ... Running a Chevrolet Bolt completely out of charge - funny story )

I just found out yesterday that one of them doesn't even have a level 2 (240v) charger at their place. They've been charging it on the standard 120V garage plug since they got it. And it's NOT the guy who ran his out of charge this summer!





^ The very car. First Bolt I got a chance to drive.



You would be forgiven for thinking that it might be easy to get away with a wall plug if you don't drive very much. But they've put 66,000 km (41k mi) on the car in just over 2 years. That's more driving than the average car.

One of the benefits of a big battery -- lots of buffer if you don't replace 100% of the previous trip kilometers before your next trip.

They've had a mostly trouble-free ownership experience: biggest issue was the rear wiper motor quit. Zero drivetrain problems.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

You would be forgiven for thinking that it might be easy to get away with a wall plug if you don't drive very much. But they've put 66,000 km (41k mi) on the car in just over 2 years. That's more driving than the average car.

One of the benefits of a big battery -- lots of buffer if you don't replace 100% of the previous trip kilometers before your next trip.

They've had a mostly trouble-free ownership experience: biggest issue was the rear wiper motor quit. Zero drivetrain problems.

Wow, I estimate that's an average of 14 kWh per day. Do you know if they are using the stock EVSE? I think it has a max output of 12A, so that/s 1.4 kW, or 10 hours of charging per day.

Might even be more like 16 kWh per day considering Canada's colder climate and lower efficiency.

[ldjessee00]

We only charge at home in a 110 socket in our garage for our Leaf... We do have to make sure no one uses the microwave while it is plugged in because they put the microwave and the garage on the same circuit. (facepalm)

Never assume buying the model home for a division is going to mean it is built better than all the others... even one from the late 60s.

I have considered putting in a NEMA 14/50 in the garage, but that would require some major electrical work in my house. It would not quite involve rewiring the whole house... but most of it.

[redpoint5]

The electrical panel in my garage is full, and already has many half width breakers (dual breakers?). Since the dryer is NG, I'll probably repurpose that circuit to an EVSE when I get an EV. I can either run new wiring and a 50 amp breaker, or just live with the existing 30 amp circuit.