If continued battery-cost savings are passed on to purchasers, fast charging blooms, rules tighten, and EV tax credits emerge that provide preference for EVs over PHEVs, then the Bolt wins; if not...
A professor at UC Merced had a Chevy Bolt for a while. It was a nice car. He recently traded it for a VW (ID.4 ?), which was a definite step up in both comfort and style - that distinctive German esthetic. Having been a passenger in both, if the VW is affordable to you, I would recommend that, or at least look at it before making a decision. All-EV does mean that long-distance travel isn't as convenient as with a hybrid (rent a car for that?), but for commuting and local travel, it beats anything needing gas. Plus, it would be great to provide power during a grid blackout to protect food in fridges and freezers, run lights and devices, all without needing a noisy, outside, gas generator.
I've owned two Chevy Volts and now am on my second Chevy Bolt. I LOVE them all! Even my husband and our son, both gear heads, love the handling and acceleration of the Bolt. It's so zippy and the charge lasts 300 miles! I go all the way from LA to Palm Desert, drive around then stop at Kohl's or somewhere convenient with a super charger and shop for 40 minutes and am fully charged for the ride home. You won't regret it!
> Lorraine Evanoff: I've owned two Chevy Volts and now am on my second Chevy Bolt. I LOVE them all! Even my husband and our son, both gear heads, love the handling and acceleration of the Bolt. It's so zippy and the charge lasts 300 miles! I go all the way from LA to Palm Desert, drive around then stop at Kohl's or somewhere convenient with a super charger and shop for 40 minutes and am fully charged for the ride home. You won't regret it!
I own a 2019 Bolt. It's been fine, but GM is not particularly good at supplying parts or at making the car user friendly (the interface with my phone just is not good). I drove the Kia Niro for a month while my Bolt was in the shop, and I would recommend that instead if you choose electric.
The Ultium rollout may have spooked GM out of being any more than a spectator/late adopter in the battery race. Ford's success with the Mach-E leads me to suspect they may be more of a factor, though not by much. The Germans, Japanese, and Chinese are all hinting at 2027 production cars with solid-state batteries.
Unless the rules and tax credits mimic the cost advantages for EV generated by the not-yet legislated tax on net CO2 emissions -- which I doubt will be the case in CA -- the socially responsible thing will be to go with the PHEV. Characteristics of the grid where the vehicle will be used and how energy is priced should also be taken into account.
I have a model of gradually increasing maintenance cost on our 18 yr-old Honda that does not yet indicate time to purchase a new vehicle. Unless the car outlasts me, I suspect the change will be to a PHEV.
We kept our Subaru running for 21 years, before it gave up the ghost with unfindable slow water, oil, and steering-fluid plus a cracking bearing, so much so that when we tried to give it away all of the potential recipients' mechanics said: "no, no, no". In spie of my firm belief that PHEV are the sweet spot, we replaced it with the EV MicroBus costing 1/3 more, and are now very happy with it. The degree to which the front swings right or left when you back it up with the wheel turned to the max is still a surprise, however.
But we have not yet attempted our Yosemite trip with it:
> Thomas L. Hutcheson: Unless the rules and tax credits mimic the cost advantages for EV generated by the not-yet legislated tax on net CO2 emissions -- which I doubt will be the case in CA -- the socially responsible thing will be to go with the PHEV. Characteristics of the grid where the vehicle will be used and how energy is priced should also be taken into account.
>I have a model of gradually increasing maintenance cost on our 18 yr-old Honda that does not yet indicate time to purchase a new vehicle. Unless the car outlasts me, I suspect the change will be to a PHEV.
I have been surprised that "chaos monkey" Trump was so pro-ICE and fossil fuels. As I read this, I had an idea.
Is it conceivable that he is that way because rare earths are crucial to electric vehicles? Maybe he anticipated a supply issue due to tariffs and export restrictions on chips? If one doesn't want an EV, one won't be bothered by not being able to afford one.
A professor at UC Merced had a Chevy Bolt for a while. It was a nice car. He recently traded it for a VW (ID.4 ?), which was a definite step up in both comfort and style - that distinctive German esthetic. Having been a passenger in both, if the VW is affordable to you, I would recommend that, or at least look at it before making a decision. All-EV does mean that long-distance travel isn't as convenient as with a hybrid (rent a car for that?), but for commuting and local travel, it beats anything needing gas. Plus, it would be great to provide power during a grid blackout to protect food in fridges and freezers, run lights and devices, all without needing a noisy, outside, gas generator.
I've owned two Chevy Volts and now am on my second Chevy Bolt. I LOVE them all! Even my husband and our son, both gear heads, love the handling and acceleration of the Bolt. It's so zippy and the charge lasts 300 miles! I go all the way from LA to Palm Desert, drive around then stop at Kohl's or somewhere convenient with a super charger and shop for 40 minutes and am fully charged for the ride home. You won't regret it!
Thx v. much... - B.
> Lorraine Evanoff: I've owned two Chevy Volts and now am on my second Chevy Bolt. I LOVE them all! Even my husband and our son, both gear heads, love the handling and acceleration of the Bolt. It's so zippy and the charge lasts 300 miles! I go all the way from LA to Palm Desert, drive around then stop at Kohl's or somewhere convenient with a super charger and shop for 40 minutes and am fully charged for the ride home. You won't regret it!
I own a 2019 Bolt. It's been fine, but GM is not particularly good at supplying parts or at making the car user friendly (the interface with my phone just is not good). I drove the Kia Niro for a month while my Bolt was in the shop, and I would recommend that instead if you choose electric.
The Ultium rollout may have spooked GM out of being any more than a spectator/late adopter in the battery race. Ford's success with the Mach-E leads me to suspect they may be more of a factor, though not by much. The Germans, Japanese, and Chinese are all hinting at 2027 production cars with solid-state batteries.
On the charging front, here's an article from grid battery maker EOS (which seems to be having an AI-data-center-related moment after 17 years of promise) about using the relative glut of abandoned strip mall and box store space to house grid storage and charging stations. https://www.eose.com/gigawatt-gardens-reimaging-power-plants-for-the-21st-century/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNXlB5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHoEuYSZZMk08ghWxjj8JYZIZdSj7srwn5utVhFbyT-KzwQB1IyCa71jwL9HS_aem_CUF9cMLk2A6tL9H1BeMk1g
Synergies, I tells ya!
Unless the rules and tax credits mimic the cost advantages for EV generated by the not-yet legislated tax on net CO2 emissions -- which I doubt will be the case in CA -- the socially responsible thing will be to go with the PHEV. Characteristics of the grid where the vehicle will be used and how energy is priced should also be taken into account.
I have a model of gradually increasing maintenance cost on our 18 yr-old Honda that does not yet indicate time to purchase a new vehicle. Unless the car outlasts me, I suspect the change will be to a PHEV.
We kept our Subaru running for 21 years, before it gave up the ghost with unfindable slow water, oil, and steering-fluid plus a cracking bearing, so much so that when we tried to give it away all of the potential recipients' mechanics said: "no, no, no". In spie of my firm belief that PHEV are the sweet spot, we replaced it with the EV MicroBus costing 1/3 more, and are now very happy with it. The degree to which the front swings right or left when you back it up with the wheel turned to the max is still a surprise, however.
But we have not yet attempted our Yosemite trip with it:
> Thomas L. Hutcheson: Unless the rules and tax credits mimic the cost advantages for EV generated by the not-yet legislated tax on net CO2 emissions -- which I doubt will be the case in CA -- the socially responsible thing will be to go with the PHEV. Characteristics of the grid where the vehicle will be used and how energy is priced should also be taken into account.
>I have a model of gradually increasing maintenance cost on our 18 yr-old Honda that does not yet indicate time to purchase a new vehicle. Unless the car outlasts me, I suspect the change will be to a PHEV.
You had the advantage of being younger when you bought the Subaru. :) We have a Subaru In Colombia which will certainly survive us.
How does a Berkeley Prius keep its catalytic converter?
I thought you got an ID Buzz - how’s that been treating you?
I have been surprised that "chaos monkey" Trump was so pro-ICE and fossil fuels. As I read this, I had an idea.
Is it conceivable that he is that way because rare earths are crucial to electric vehicles? Maybe he anticipated a supply issue due to tariffs and export restrictions on chips? If one doesn't want an EV, one won't be bothered by not being able to afford one.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I wonder.