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Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

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Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#71

Post by sowbug »

coolspot wrote: post #25
hedora wrote: post #20

We just managed to sell another flagship GM vehicle, and the software was so bad, it was nearly a deal-breaker. (Most years of this model had software bugs that were so bad, they could literally kill you — for example, the exhaust system could overheat, and burn the car down). Also, basic electro-mechanical things, like seat belts and the FM radio started to die after 3-4 years. This is with light use in CA. Even whe…

Elon, you are using wrong account.

Do you mean the same Elon who offers to license Tesla's patents for free[1] and who is regularly quoted as actively welcoming competition in the EV space?[2]

1 https://www.tesla.com/blog/all-our-patent-are-belong-you

2 http://bgr.com/2017/09/25/tesla-vs-mercedes-elon-musk-not-im..., https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/27/tesla-ceo-...

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#72

Post by einarvollset »

tehwebguy wrote: post #56
rdl wrote: post #48

I wonder if it makes more sense to lease vs. buy now (since self driving, electric, etc. technology is progressing quickly) -- it seems like lease discount/money factor isn't going down as quickly as it should with these cars. (I've never bought a new car, and never leased as a car, but probably will get a new EV as my next -- an S, 3, or Bolt.) Owning is great if you keep the car for 8-12 years like I've done, but I…

FYI leases on these just went from like $300+ / mo with a substantial down payment to sub $150 / mo with effective 0 down in California with incentives.

Link?

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#73

Post by nixgeek »

mach5 wrote: post #16
samcheng wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be careful, Tesla drivers discovered that never using the brake, particularly in areas that use salt on the roads, results in expensive corrosion. Automotive brakes haven't been designed with one-pedal driving in mind... https://cleantechnica.com/2016/05/24/8500-new-tesla-model-s-... Recommendation: consciously use the brakes in a firm deceleration once a week.

to say i don't use the brakes is a little bit of a misnomer, as i use them at stoplights in order to activate the rear brake lights for other drivers. two more bits of trivia: the brake lights activate during regen for more than .2g of deceleration, and the brake rotor metal is formulated not to rust.

I'm pretty sure taking your foot entirely off the gas pedal when in "L" mode actually activates the brake lights.

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#74

Post by CalChris »

If you buy an EV, you should be happy with its range when you buy it. Like laptops and cellphones, that will degrade as all batteries do. But also like laptops and cellphones, when you replace that battery down the road, it is unlikely you'll get an upgrade. You'll get the same range.

At least that was the case with my 2013 Leaf with its 85 mile range. I had it in mind that when it came for a new battery I'd get maybe a 10% upgrade. While the new batteries mechanically fit, they are somehow incompatible. FWIW, my 2013 is pretty good as Leafs go. Down one bar.

But if the range is 150 miles or better, I don't think that matters as much. I think buying used EVs in the future will be a thing. Just not the 2013 Leaf.

Other than that, I'm sold on EVs. I'd never buy a hybrid or gas car again.

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#75

Post by dasil003 »

djrogers wrote: post #70
dasil003 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a credit yes, but it's not a refundable credit. Which means you need to owe at least that amount of tax. So for 2016 that means a single person has to earn at least $46,900 to get the full benefit (assuming no other non-refundable credits). The median US personal income for 2016 was about $31,100, so I think it's fair to say the majority of Americans can not take full advantage, although I agree with your last s…

I’m guessing the logic was that someone making less than $50k wouldn’t be buying a $30k vehicle...

Hence my last clause.

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#76

Post by greglindahl »

satya71 wrote: post #31
arrrg wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What I never really thought is that that‘s still a pretty dumb was to subsidize any kind of purchase. It massivly advantages the rich(er). Why do it that way?

It's a set amount money set aside to jump-start the market. The subsidies will end when the fund runs out and pure (if there is such a thing) market forces take over. Fossil fuels are subsidized permanently, however.

"pure market forces" won't take over until the negative externality of pollution is properly priced.

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#77

Post by MrRadar »

Pxtl wrote: post #57
whalesalad wrote: post #15

Note that this is the Bolt not the Volt. Even as a petrol head who owns a V8 and a Subaru STI, I really like what GM has done with this vehicle. Really really great review from Doug DeMuro here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ogGZXmepY Doug has a great style - really digs deep into all the quirks and oddities of the cars he reviews.

Calling their new full-electric the Bolt after they already had the Volt was the dumbest product naming marketing fowlup since the Wii-U.

It's even worse in Europe. There the Volt is called the Ampera and the Bolt is called the Ampera-E... even though it's a completely unrelated design.

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#78

Post by grigjd3 »

usaphp wrote: post #5
ukulele wrote: post #3

At $35k+ with 240 miles of range, it's starting to get close but realistically not quite there yet for "mass market" adoption. I hope I'm wrong but this will likely be a minor seller. Also re: the $7500 federal tax rebate, most people can't take full advantage because they don't owe that much and it doesn't carry over past the first year. Still a good program but not a magic wand solution.

> $7500 federal tax rebate, most people can't take full advantage because they don't owe that much I am pretty sure most of those who can afford to purchase a 35k+ car are making at least 40k / year and owe that much in federal taxes, unless I am not calculating something right

On 40k with the standard deduction and claiming yourself, you pay just under 4k in federal taxes.

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#79

Post by greglindahl »

reidacdc wrote: post #64
greglindahl wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Almost all of the US has parking minimums for apartment complexes. My apartment complex installed a charger after I pointed out how many existing residents had EVs.

That helps with the marketplace in general, of course, but it doesn't do me any good, my building was built in the 1920s. No garage at all.

The earliest apartment buildings in California that have garages date from the 1920s! You might want to check if your city has a program for creating on-street chargers.

Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle

#80

Post by ianai »

greglindahl wrote: post #67
CaliforniaKarl wrote: post #42

The question I have to ask: Has anyone here gotten an EV and successfully gotten a charger setup going in an apartment garage? For where I live, I'd say we have 100-150 parking spaces, all underground. There are two spaces that have chargers, which are first-come-first-served, I don't count them. So, the idea would be to get my own charger. I already have a safe place to put it: There is a wide-but-not-deep storage u…

Yes, I live in Palo Alto (near you) and I convinced my apartment complex to install an EV charger: 2 chargers, and conduit for 4 more. I'm mystified why you aren't counting the 2 chargers that your apartment complex does provide. For all I know we live at the same place. I'm happy, you're unhappy. Given the large battery in a Bolt, do you really need to charge every day?!

“Happy you’re unhappy”.

2 charging spaces that are first come first serve are probably impossible to use.

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