Recent content by sparkyps

If you own the car and are selling it to the dealer (or trading it in) the dealer offers you a price for the car as is, no expectation that you will cough up anything that wasn't in the car at the time the dealer checked it out. That includes jackes, floor mats, spare tires, owner manuals, and...

Prices have gone up since some GM incentives expired on Jun 3 but a number of California dealers have been advertising LT's for $26k and sometimes less. Some are a not really interested in selling you a Bolt at their advertised price, Win Chevrolet has fine print claiming they add a $1999...

They are going to have to discount the residuals a lot more than $3k - $7k to get me to buy a used Bolt. New ones are now widely advertised at $14k off MSRP before federal tax credit so roughly $22k with a few options after current tax credit. At that price I think it is pretty competitive...

You will overpay if your lease payments for 3 years are $17k and you put down $2500, you would give the federal tax credit away. There are dealers advertising $199/mo and $3k down on 10k mile leases right now.

It isn't the dealer's car to sell to you, it is the leasing company's car. You don't buy it then it goes to auction, dealer could help you buy it but the deal is between you and the leasing company, they might pay the dealer to do some paperwork but otherwise the dealer doesn't even need to be...

Why buy at lease end (my residual is $25k+) when you can buy a brand new one for under $30k and get the full tax credit right now? I'm looking at buying one right now even though my lease isn't up for a year. Under $20k with California rebate and it will keep me from going over my 45k lease...

Yes, braking for no good reason wastes energy I've done tests of regenerative braking, it is very efficient. I drive up an approx 20 mile hill, about a 4000' elevation increase and then drive back down, pretty steady speed both directions. My Bolt regenerative brakes pretty much the entire...

Momentum isn't preserved with coasting. Momentum is usually preserved with a positive power inputs. With an EV there is a continuous range of power inputs to the motor, ranging from the max positive power input through the maximum negative power input (max regenerative braking). Zero power...

Regenerative braking efficiency is the product of the electric motor efficiency and the charging efficiency. The motor is > 90% efficient and so is the charging. While I'm not aware of any specific specs for the Bolt there are plenty for the Telsa that specify charging efficiency at 92% max...

Coasting is 0% efficient Try this test, speed up to 30mph, coast to a stop. Measure energy recovered by coasting. Answer is 0 Now speed up to 30mph and regen brake to a stop. Measure energy recovered by Regen braking. Answer > 0 Regen braking is about 80% efficient at turning kinetic and...

If the dealer is pushing it, it isn't worth it.

I have zero interest in the added complexity of a "coast mode" I rarely use the brake pedal and can accelerate, coast and slow down exactly like I want to using just the rightmost pedal and have instant responsiveness (faster/slower) without any complexities like switching in/out of a coast...

I made it a point to get a DCFC in my Bolt. I don't think oddball situations such as your wife being 270 miles away with your gas car are justification for getting a DCFC. Is it a reason to get a gasser because you might get home after driving 230 miles and get a call from your wife and your...

A fast charge station in Barstow is great. Just hope nobody else is using it or it is down. Telsa has LOTS of Superchargers along the route to Vegas and they still back up at busy times, including 12 in Barstow. They are putting in a LOT more. Just count the number of Supercharger locations...

I'd call Avis If she called and told me I need to bring 40 sheets of plywood I'd call a different rental company as opposed to regretting not buying a pickup truck.