Thinking of buying an electric car

davek · Feb 15, 2020

Specifically, a Chevy Bolt.
My daily commute/drive is 70 to 100 miles day.
I have a 240v outlet in the garage already so a charger would be easy to install.
Seems like I'm and ideal candidate for a car like the Bolt. It seems kind of expensive but charging the car seem a lot less expensive than buying gasoline.
Hybrids have always concerned me because they seem to have really complex drive trains. The Bolt has no gasoline at all and over 200 miles of range - less whne it's cold but still in the comfort zone for my daily 70-100 miles.
Do any of you have experience with any electric car and in particular the Bolt?

dlbleak · Feb 15, 2020

The Volt is a nice car. Almost luxurious in the electric car world. The Nissan Leaf is a good commuter option too. @Okvet03 has both, maybe he’ll chime in.

DavidMcmillan · Feb 15, 2020

I have been thinking of one also. I am concerned though about battery life. Any Real-life experiences?

davek · Feb 15, 2020

I believe GM gives an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty on the Bolt battery pack.
With a 200+ mile range new even if the battery pack degrades 50% it will still serve my purpose.
There is also a new Mini electric, but with a 110 mile range new a 30% degradation would give me range anxiety every day. On the other hand, being a new model, with the $7500 tax credit and a lower MSRP, factoring in a battery pack replacement after 2 years might make it viable.

Okie4570 · Feb 15, 2020

Looks like the earlier model Leafs are cheap, but the replacement battery is over $5k

dlbleak · Feb 15, 2020

Okie4570 said:
Looks like the earlier model Leafs are cheap, but the replacement battery is over $5k

The early models had an 80 mile battery. The later ones had a 200 mile range. But yes, the early ones are cheap.

swampratt · Feb 22, 2020

I like math lets see how this plays out.
36,500 miles a year driven times 2.25 a gallon for fuel. (gasoline) 30 MPG vehicle.
1216.6 gallons of fuel a year. $2737.50 in fuel cost change the oil every 3,000 miles at $30.

$365 a year for oil changes. $3102.50 for driving a 30 MPG vehicle a year.
My car averaged 33.5MPG and was driven 70,000 miles a year and another was getting 38 MPG and then the hot rod was getting 15-18 MPG it was driven 70,000 a year for 2 years.

This was back years ago gas was cheaper.

So you are looking at basically 9000 bucks to go 100,000 miles in a gasoline car.
No idea what the fuel cost will be on the electric car but that needs factored in.

It was a negative for me to upgrade from a 30+ MPG car and those cars can be had for pretty cheap back then Used of course.
But I had them already. and they worked fine..Liability insurance on them and Full coverage needs to be considered into the math .. unless you buy it outright.
I never made payments on any car. Never had full coverage on one either.

Best MPG car we ever had was an early civic that got 53 MPG.

davek · Feb 22, 2020

That brings up something I hadn't really thought about - insurance. I wonder what insurance rates are for a car with an incredibly expensive battery pack?

Okie4570 · Feb 22, 2020

davek said:
That brings up something I hadn't really thought about - insurance. I wonder what insurance rates are for a car with an incredibly expensive battery pack?

Articles I see on web state that the rates are just a little higher. Seems like every article is out of California though.

Uncle TK · Feb 22, 2020

Range of 200 Miles (From Post 1) does not mean that the car can go 200 miles with out charging. (Selling Hype)
Cold weather reduce the range - Any grade going up hills reduces the range - heating the seats reduces the range

Thinking of buying an electric car

davek

Sharpshooter

dlbleak

Sharpshooter

DavidMcmillan

Sharpshooter

davek

Sharpshooter

Okie4570

Sharpshooter

dlbleak

Sharpshooter

swampratt

Sharpshooter

davek

Sharpshooter

Okie4570

Sharpshooter

Uncle TK

Sharpshooter

Similar threads

Latest posts

Thinking of buying an electric car

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!