Uncool Electric Car - Doug DeMuro reviews the Bolt.

[darcane]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ogGZXmepY

[redpoint5]

One of the more competent reviews of a car that I've seen.

Don't know why people like slow electric seats over fast manual ones. Doug even showed that the seat can go full forward and full backward 5 times in 2 seconds, whereas an electric would have made it about half an inch in that same time period.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

One of the more competent reviews of a car that I've seen.

Don't know why people like slow electric seats over fast manual ones. Doug even showed that the seat can go full forward and full backward 5 times in 2 seconds, whereas an electric would have made it about half an inch in that same time period.

I don't either, my latest car purchase was ultimately decided on electric seats. I wanted a specific coupe, but the only way to get in and out of the back seat was to operate the slow electric seat. Having to do that every time my young son rode in the car made it incredibly impractical, so I ended up with a sedan instead.

That said, it IS an expected feature for any modern car that is more than just basic transportation. So, it's a little odd that it's missing.

I'm still really surprised the Bolt isn't selling better. It seems like a lot of EV for the money.

[oil pan 4]

We have had low gas prices for so long not a lot of people are interested in them.
If gas prices were around 3.25 to 3.80 a gallon there would be a waiting list.

[Stubby79]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

We have had low gas prices for so long not a lot of people are interested in them.
If gas prices were around 3.25 to 3.80 a gallon there would be a waiting list.

$3.80 US a gallon is what gas costs here on average, year round. AFAIK, people still aren't lining up to buy EVs.

It's nice not caring what the price of gas is today.

[dwtaylorpdx]

Despite all the improvements, Leaf/Fit-ev/etc... There are too many horror stories circulating, many justified, about batteries dying prematurely and OEM's not wanting to cover them. That scares the non technical away for the product.

My Fit EV is known to lose over 50% of its range with temperature drop, IN theory it won't bother me because I only need 20 miles round trip to commute, but I could see that being a deal breaker, I've had several former owners walk up and talk to me and the range drop was always the first gripe. At < 32 some were seeing 15 mile range..

I'm considering a engine block heater in the battery loop for winter, What honda don't know....

[sendler]

That's why they made the Bolt and the Tesla with large batteries. And advanced thermal control of battery temp so they last forever. Even with the use of lots of cabin heat on cold days they still have plenty of range. And the batteries never get too hot or too cold.

[JSH]

Loss of range in winter is mostly due to early compliance car EVs using electric resistance heaters. My Spark EV uses about 1/3 of the battery to supply a modest amount of heat. On the other had running the A/C in the summer only consumes about 5% of the battery on the same commute. The Bolt and all modern EVs use a heat pump for HVAC which is MUCH more efficent than resistance heating. Problem solved.

[vskid3]

Originally Posted by JSH

The Bolt and all modern EVs use a heat pump for HVAC which is MUCH more efficent than resistance heating. Problem solved.

The Bolt actually uses a resistive heater, as does the i3 REx (gas tank goes where the heat pump fits on the regular i3). Not sure about others.

Preheating while plugged in helps save the battery for driving. I'm curious to see how my Volt does in the cold. I should be able to still do most of my warm weather EV trips on battery alone in the cold if I can keep the ICE from turning on to provide heat. The biggest difference is I'll probably want to plug in whenever I'm at home instead of just at night like I currently do, to keep the battery topped off and warm.

[Christopher Jordan]

[QUOTE=darcane;549454 I wanted a specific coupe, but the only way to get in and out of the back seat was to operate the slow electric seat.
I'm still really surprised the Bolt isn't selling better. It seems like a lot of EV for the money.[/QUOTE]

Chevy is so stuck on 4-doors. Volt, Spark, Bolt... blah! To interest old "muscle car" drivers, commuters who don't like crowds, younger sports car enthusiasts: same old/same old- Mustang, Camaro, Corvette, Challenger, Demon, etc.. I don't know why a 2-door Bolt or any Chevy is not available.

I want and need a big door so I am stuck with a minivan. Maybe Toyota Prius formed the EV business.