Skokie IL to Lawrence KS and back road trip report

[SageBrush]

^^ I didn't know the LEAF could rapid-gate at those temperatures.

You averaged ~ 35 mph. I think that was around the average speed I have read about in other warm weather but long LEAF trips. I suppose it makes sense --- what you gain in charging speed, you lose in increased consumption.

Thanks for the nice, descriptive report. Too bad the performance is so lacklustre.

I put your trip into ABRP using a Tesla Model Y LR, and I'm pretty sure, current local driving conditions**. It came back as 9 hours of driving and 1 hour of charging to travel 572 miles.

** 83% SoC use to travel 187 miles for the first leg

[DougWantsALeaf]

Yeah, this trip was miserable. 38 mph by my calculation and specific end points...but pretty horrible none the less

With the light wheels and eco tires my average was about 46-47mph...which feels better mentally because we could drive 70-75mph vs. 65 and have many fewer stops.

One surprise was that the pack cooling was pretty similar to the more efficient car/tires. I thought the additional power load would keep the battery from cooling. The bottom of the pack cooled very well, and was generally in the mid to upper 80s by the next stop. If the top of the pack even cooled a bit faster, it would improve the 3rd and successive charges.

I think I could touch 50mph avg. if it was just my son and myself as we could run with lower margins in the pack than when I have my wife in the car. A few new Iowa stations have appeared allowing for better charge spacing. I would need clean charging stops and ideal temps/weather though. A perfect run of sorts. But that is approaching theoretical on what a Plus could do.

A small chance we could caravan the Leafs this summer to move her home, but guessing my idea will get shot down.

[SageBrush]

but guessing my idea will get shot down.

Just be sure you are a good distance from your wife when you broach the topic. I expect flying furniture.

By the way, I took our Bolt out for a 150 mile trip yesterday in 37F, wet road conditions. Most of the driving was 63 - 65 mph highway. Pre-heating the car resulted in 5% of total energy going to cabin heating (no heated steering or heated seats). Better than anticipated. But overall consumption was a mediocre 3.5 miles/kWh.

Such is winter

[DougWantsALeaf]

Sage

Thanks for the report. We are not currently needing a car, but if we did, I would certainly look at the EUV/Bolt given the superb pricing and range.


How do you feel the ride quality/comfort is with the Bolt vs. Leaf? When we test drove the Bolt in early 2018, we didn't feel like it was as nice. I have heard it has improved though.

[SageBrush]

How do you feel the ride quality/comfort is with the Bolt vs. Leaf? When we test drove the Bolt in early 2018, we didn't feel like it was as nice. I have heard it has improved though.

This is a huge ymmv.

I never took the LEAF on trips over an hour so I have no basis for comparison.
Regarding the Bolt, I like the seats when I sit down but e.g. after the 150 mile drive my butt was getting numb. My back is in poor shape so this is not the seats per se, but MY posture in the seat. My wife said she was OK.

My most fervent advice to you is to ignore what anybody else says. Some people will be fine, some will complain bitterly. You have to find out for yourself.

One thing I have learned to not appreciate is the steering on new CC2 tyres. It is a little wobbly for my preferences, and all the more obvious compared to a Tesla. Once again though, my wife has no complaints. I don't mean to suggest that the car will not stay in its lane, but rather that it takes some attention. This is not a car that 'drives on rails.'

Just as the LEAF is a 'value' car with trade-offs, so is the Bolt. I pigeon hole it as an OK car, a darn good EV for daily driving tasks, and an outstanding value. My wife thinks it is the best car ever. But that is because she judges cars in 3 ways: Is it a high-riding hatchback, can she park it, and was it relatively inexpensive. I think a long trip would average 45 kW charging so long as you can stay away from high SoC charges. That would imply interval hops of about 100 - 130 miles once you deplete the start-of-day charge.

[DougWantsALeaf]

Thanks Sage.

That kind of confirms my thoughts that the Bolt would be an incremental improvement for my longer treks.

A Bolt that could charge at 80KW+ would be very attractive. I find it curious that GM limits the charging rate so much 5+ years on with the car.