EV Articles by Paul Gipe
I’ve pulled together all my articles on EVs and driving electric under one heading–as much for my own benefit as for the benefit of readers.
Setting a Charging Schedule for the Chevy Bolt EV
By
Paul Gipe
I was talking to a Chevy Bolt newby and in the course of the conversation I found that they knew another Bolt driver who charged off-peak using a cheap 120-volt timer you can get at any big box store because of the lower electricity rates. This rang several alarm bells.
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.
Update on Sierra Nevada East Side Non-Tesla DCFC Stations
By
Paul Gipe
As noted previously, there are no public non-Tesla EV charging stations on the East Side of the Sierra Nevada from Mojave, California to Gardnerville, Nevada on US 395–a distance of more than 300 miles.
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.
