87 Miles In 30 Minutes

Wow, it's been forever and a day since my last blog post! Turns out the blog update frequency tanks once the object you've been obsessively blogging about ends up in your possession! So after almost 2 months over ownership and 2,000 miles on the road, I've also managed to use CCS DCFC fast charging stations several times (once out of necessity, the other times purely for testing purposes). The Bolt is outfitted with a SAE Combo Charging System (CCS) charging port, so it can only fast charge at locations with CCS plugs. It cannot use CHAdeMO plugs that Japanese vehicles such as the Leaf can use. While CHAdeMO stations vastly outnumbered CCS-compatible stations a few years ago, the gap is closing as the number of CCS fast charging stations is increasing every day. Most new non-Tesla DC fast charging stations have both CHAdeMO and CCS plugs. In my area (Howard County, MD) there is a fairly decent CCS-compatible fast charging network. There are over 60 CCS stations within 100 miles of where I live, so I can pretty much drive anywhere in Maryland without having to worry about range.

Hell, the Bolt's 238 (more like 190-200 miles in sub-freezing temperatures) mile EPA range is usually more than enough for my family without even factoring in fast charging capability! Not too shabby a network! While there are several companies that offer fast charging stations, the main 2 in my area (and pretty much across the country) are Chargepoint and EVgo. Both currently have fast charging stations that advertise 50 kW charging rates. As we will see a little later, 50 kW advertised does not equal 50 kW observed in real-life charging. 14.95/month and 10 cents/min while fast charging. Again, these are Maryland rates, so if you live in another region the pricing will vary. While GM has been coy with the 2017 Bolt's exact fast charging capabilities, it has stated that the Bolt can achieve "about 90 miles in 30 minutes", presumably based off the official 238 EPA-rated range. There is some fine print stating charging performance is dependent on factors such as ambient temperatures.

125 amps. 46 kW has been the fastest rate I have observed. I DO believe the Bolt can charge faster than 50 kW if hooked up to a fast charging station rated higher than 50 kW/125 amps. Too bad none exist yet that are available to the public. The Bolt's battery is pretty sensitive to temperatures when it comes to fast charging. The Bolt tapers the max charge rate fairly early compared to say the Spark EV. 46 kW/125 amp charge rates at a 125A station. 0-50% SOC window is where you will see the Bolt charge at the advertised "about 90 miles in about 30 minutes" rates, assuming the HV battery is up to temperature. In the spring/summer/fall, battery temps shouldn't be an issue, but in winter areas that routinely see sub-freezing temperatures, this is something to be aware of. The most I ever saw in a 30 minute session was 21.84 kWh charged at a 125A EVgo station. 87 miles in 30 minutes. Slight throttling was experienced. 2 minute gap due to restarting the charge session. 125amp CCS station is online, I am eager to see just how much power the Bolt can suck in! If amperage exceeds 131A, a guy I know owes me 100 bucks.

In the sections that follow, our expert provides her own perceptions about how the Volkswagen Golf GTI measures up in each of the 10 categories that comprise the 2018 APEAL Study. The current Golf debuted back in 2015, but Volkswagen designed it with an upscale appearance, the smooth, simple and sleek styling cues creating a mild but timeless look that remains fresh today. The Rabbit Edition is basically an appearance package, with gloss black trim for the 18-inch wheels, side mirror caps, and rear spoiler. The fun continued with the GTI’s delightfully quirky Titan Black Clark Plaid cloth upholstery, which is included with S and Rabbit Edition trim. It’s distinctive and perfectly matches the GTI’s personality; it’s playful but not overbearing. Comparatively, the dashboard is fairly basic in terms of appearance, with little in the way of ornamentation, but the materials are of high quality and appear to be assembled with care. In a car such as the GTI, it’s critical to have a good set of seat bolsters to keep you in place while exploring the handling limits.

Although rudimentary and hand-cranked, the front passenger’s seat included a height adjustment, which can’t be said of many vehicles far more expensive than the GTI. Also, as with any compact car, adult rear passengers will be squeezed in tight, with limited legroom and shoulder space. The GTI Rabbit Edition’s manual climate control system is simple and easy to use, with three large knobs for temperature, fan speed, and mode. Secondary settings are located above them, marked with small icons. Higher trim levels include a dual-zone automatic climate control system along with front seat heaters. Volkswagen also reserves the latest in infotainment technology for higher trim levels of the GTI. My fairly basic Rabbit Edition test car made do without a larger 8-inch display, satellite radio, navigation, or Car-Net Safety & Security services. It did include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, though, which might be all people really need.