Newbie with range question…

[Lola RW]

I understand the charging 80%, hilltop reserve and the general range for my 2018 Bolt EV, though I don’t understand how the MAX and MIN amounts on my dash mean, and how they are helpful? Are they helpful for you and if yes, how so?

 

[xgashole]

As they say, your range may vary. It depends on how fast you drive and whether you drive in L, which recharges the battery when you let the car de-accelerate. One word of caution; if you use L to brake the car consistently without stepping on the brake pedal, corrosion can build up on the brake linings from disuse. This has happened to me in my 2019 Bolt which now needs new brake pads and shoes after 50K mi..

 

[Lola RW]

Interesting- so shifting to L recharges better/more than simply coasting with foot off either pedal?

 

[BillM]

Even just a little stepping on the brake pedal while driving in L is enough to keep the brake rotors clean. I have a 2017 Bolt which still has the original bake pads. You can observe the rotors through the slots in the wheels, and if they look more or less shiny when you look at them as you get out after parking the car, the brakes are probably getting enough use. The rotors will get a very slight patina after the car sits for a while, but that pretty much goes away the first time you apply the brakes. I back up when I park in my garage and the brakes get some use because the Bolt is programmed to creep backward a little with your foot off the accelerator in reverse gear. That seems to be enough to keep the brakes clean.

The L mode could be the default when putting the Bolt into gear. A lot more energy is recovered in L and it isn’t that difficult to figure out one pedal driving. It seems like Chevy wanted to make driving the Bolt feel as much like driving a gas powered car as possible so it is programmed to coast by default. One of the things I like about the Bolt is that I can let other people drive the Bolt without diving them a lesson first. If it were a Tesla model 3, I’d probably have to go through 10 or 15 minutes of explanation of how stuff worked before they could drive off.

As far as the bar graph on the left side of the driver information screen goes, Chevy doesn’t say how they come up with the numbers. The numbers appear to be best and worst case estimates of how far you can go based on how much change is left, the temperature, and the Bolt’s long term efficiency. The line in the middle appears to be based on a short term average of how efficient the Bolt has been since you started driving this time. When you first start, the guess is about half way between the top and bottom and then it is adjusted as you drive.

 

[Lola RW]

Even just a little stepping on the brake pedal while driving in L is enough to keep the brake rotors clean. I have a 2017 Bolt which still has the original bake pads. You can observe the rotors through the slots in the wheels, and if they look more or less shiny when you look at them as you get out after parking the car, the brakes are probably getting enough use. The rotors will get a very slight patina after the car sits for a while, but that pretty much goes away the first time you apply the brakes. I back up when I park in my garage and the brakes get some use because the Bolt is programmed to creep backward a little with your foot off the accelerator in reverse gear. That seems to be enough to keep the brakes clean.

The L mode could be the default when putting the Bolt into gear. A lot more energy is recovered in L and it isn’t that difficult to figure out one pedal driving. It seems like Chevy wanted to make driving the Bolt feel as much like driving a gas powered car as possible so it is programmed to coast by default. One of the things I like about the Bolt is that I can let other people drive the Bolt without diving them a lesson first. If it were a Tesla model 3, I’d probably have to go through 10 or 15 minutes of explanation of how stuff worked before they could drive off.

As far as the bar graph on the left side of the driver information screen goes, Chevy doesn’t say how they come up with the numbers. The numbers appear to be best and worst case estimates of how far you can go based on how much change is left, the temperature, and the Bolt’s long term efficiency. The line in the middle appears to be based on a short term average of how efficient the Bolt has been since you started driving this time. When you first start, the guess is about half way between the top and bottom and then it is adjusted as you drive.

Super helpful, thanks!

 

[MartinL]

We only drive in L, never in D, just for the noticeably improved range, particularly in town.

 

[Lola RW]

We only drive in L, never in D, just for the noticeably improved range, particularly in town.

I tried driving in L yesterday around town and it felt like trying to drive straight up a brick wall! I could get used to it though with time,I suspect. I did notice higher re-charge numbers coming across.