“When I read that Chevrolet was coming out with a fully electric vehicle offering a 240-mile range, my interest was piqued,” he says. While his daily work commute is just 20 miles round trip, Randy wanted a vehicle that could manage the journey from his home in Topeka, Kansas to Kansas City and its airport. The Bolt met that need — and his budget.
After the federal tax credit, his cost was approximately $35,000. Driving an average of 900 miles a month, the cost of electricity to power his Bolt has hovered around $14 monthly, a fraction of the equivalent $90 gas costs. Because he rarely needs to use the brakes —letting up on the “gas” pedal instead — he expects to avoid replacement for a long time. “I don’t like spending time in service centers, so it’s nice the only thing that’s needed during the first 150,000 miles is rotating the tires,” he says.
Randy appreciates the cargo space the hatchback offers, the quiet ride and the car’s handling and quickness. His EV also offers electronics on par with well-outfitted luxury cars, including 360-degree cameras, lane change alerts
With a short daily commute, Randy didn’t feel the need to install a 200-volt charger at home. Instead, he simply plugs into a standard household outlet, which adds up to 60 miles to his range each night. “If I need to plug in during the day, there’s a Clean Charge Network charger just 30 yards from my work.”
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