Articles about Chevy’s Bolt
We’re now on our second Chevy Bolt and as a result I’ve written a lot about the Bolt. In addition there has been a number of news stories about the Bolt and GM’s on and off again plans to produce the car in the future. I am assembling the articles here for my friends, colleagues, and family members who drive a Bolt.
Battery Degradation Comparison Chevy Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf
By
Paul Gipe
We are approaching the two-year anniversary of leasing a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV. This is a good time to take stock of any degradation in the Bolt’s traction battery capacity and how that compares with a 2015 Nissan Leaf we leased previously.
When it doesn’t go Right–Plan B Charging of a Chevy Bolt EV
By
Paul Gipe
Experienced EV drivers always have a Plan B for charging on the road, and for good reason. Charging network reliability, especially for non-Tesla EVs, can be spotty at best even in “green” California. We found this out–again–on a recent 500-mile round trip to the coast.
I am Sold: Android Auto & Google Maps are an Essential Tool for the Bolt
By
Paul Gipe
I am a slow learner, but I’ve come around to Sean Nelson’s view that Android Auto is an indispensable tool for the Chevy Bolt EV. Nelson drives a Bolt in Canada’s British Columbia province. And he uses Google Maps and Android Auto all the time.
Familiarity brings Confidence–300-Mile Day Trip in an EV on a Whim
By
Paul Gipe
My wife Nancy’s friend Virginia was visiting. Virginia has a relative she hadn’t seen in many years on California’s central coast in Arroyo Grande. We have a friend in adjoining Grover Beach. The two coastal towns are about 150 miles from Bakersfield. Nancy asked if we could make a day-trip to the coast in our 2017 Chevy Bolt. “Sure,” I said and I jumped at the chance to test the Bolt on a spontaneous day trip outside its 238-mile range.
How to Use Android Auto on the Chevy Bolt
By
Paul Gipe
I haven’t had trouble using Android Auto, but others have. Here are some simple instructions that seem to work for me.
Is “A Better Routeplanner” Better? A Review for the Bolt
By
Paul Gipe
There are four route planners I’ve used for planning trips in our Chevy Bolt. I’ve reported on my experience with EV Trip Planner, Green Race, and Chevy’s own Energy Assist App. The first two are found on the web, the latter is available only as a smart phone app. The fourth is boldly titled A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) and it too is available with a web interface. They all work to a degree. The question is–for us non-Tesla drivers–what works best.
