Zero E-Michigan

The Volt waits while the Tesla charges. Image source: Karl Bloss In mid-August our 2015 Chevy Volt discussed in  last month's essay on plug-in hybrids  displayed an "Engine Maintenance" warning.   The message (see below) informs the driver that the car has used so little gasoline that it needs to burn some, presumably to keep the fluids in the internal combustion engine (ICE) moving, seals lubricated, etc.  From June through mid-August, the car was driven about 1,500 miles of local-only trips fueled primarily by electricity and only 0.4 gallons of gas.   The on-screen message startled my daughter who was still getting used to the car.  After some time on Volt forums, I learned that this message is sort of a badge of honor among Volt drivers because it means you're using so little gas. Low gasoline usage maintenance screen Image source: Karl Bloss Time to Burn Some Gas The end of university summer vacation necessitated a return trip to Kansas ...

EV Road Trip Plan - Day 2 Litchfield, IL into Michigan Day 2 Route: Litchfield, IL to Benton Harbor, MI Assuming Day 1 has gone as according to the plan laid out in the prior blog entry , I should be in Litchfield, IL on the morning of Day 2 with a full charge courtesy of  Victory Lane Ford  and/or Level 1 (120 V) charging from whatever hotel I select. Day 2 will trace along Interstate 55 and Historic Route 66 into the Chicago outskirts.  Thanks to several EVGo DC Quick Chargers (DCQC), I anticipate zipping along the southern edge of Lake Michigan rather quickly. And I'm Off On a normal road trip, I tend to check out of the hotel, refill my coffee cup and hop on the highway.  In this case, range and speed efficiency is everything.  Therefore, I'll stick to back roads where I can travel 45-50 MPH. Interstate Highway and Adjacent Access Road (arrow) Access Roads Along many Interstate highways including I-70 and I-55, there are often acce...

EV Road Trip Plan - Day 1 Meet the LEAF Before I get started with planning and routes, meet the noble steed that will be ferrying me through the amber waves of grain: A 2016 Nissan LEAF.  The SV and SL trims of that model year received the slightly larger 30 kWh battery, and the 6 kWh capacity gain over the 2015 and earlier models  makes a made a significant difference in range and driving patterns. 2016 LEAF SV with 30 kWh battery The 2016 LEAF has a 6.6 KW onboard AC charger with the standard J1772 port found on all North American plug-in vehicles.  I also opted for the CHAdeMO DC Quick Charge (DCQC) port alongside the J1772.    The US EPA estimates 107 miles of range under normal driving conditions, but this doesn't include pure 65-70 MPH highway use.  Furthermore, the LEAF Spy software currently reads 90% battery state of health (SOH%), thus I can expect 60-90 miles of range depending on conditions.  For PlugShare Trip Planner pu...

Road Trips For Short-Range Electric Vehicles A Parade of LEAFs in downtown Reykjavik Iceland's 900-mile Ring Road connects most of the inhabitants and tourists along the perimeter of the geologically active island.  While electric vehicles (EVs) are not yet available for visiting tourists, the frequency of EV sightings was astounding.  The gentle whirr of the Nissan LEAFs Vehicle Sounds for Pedestrians ( VSP ) was as common as the unmistakable diesel compression combustion sound from passing buses.   DC quick chargers (orange) along Iceland's Ring Road Iceland has very few resources, but in addition to an abundance of sheep, the island nation boasts nearly unlimited geothermal heat that is also the primary source of the island's carbon-free power source.  The government even sweetened the deal for EV drivers by blanketing the Ring Road with free DC quick chargers with spacing so that even short-range EVs can circumnavigate the island.  ...