Bolt owner Auguste Lockwood loves all the efficiency calculations he can do while watching all the metrics displayed on his dash.
Auguste Lockwood said charging stations require the user to download apps. His wife Suraya has them all pre-loaded on her phone, however, if someone does not have a Smart Phone it would limit their ability to use some EV Charging Stations.
Under the hood of a Bolt is a series of four boxes containing the charger, the main controller that puts the electricity to the wheels and internal computer. "You can change major components by unplugging it, undo the four bolts that holds it all in and swap it out," Auguste Lockwood said. "With an [internal combustion engine] car with 100,000 miles it is not going to look like this under the hood."
Lockwood's Electric Volkswagen Van: To get the reliability he craved from electric tools, Lockwood converted a Volkswagen van to all electric eight years ago. He used a 48-volt DC elevator (forklift) motor, the transfer case from a Suzuki Samurai and the front axle out of a 1987 Ford Bronco. It also has a two-speed transfer case so he can make 200 horsepower available for a drive shaft to a trailer or a PTO. He has one simple industrial computer in it. "It is fantastic for raw power and just does a really good job of twisting that rotor. My van is just brutal," Lockwood said. "It just has gobs of power but it does not regenerate and it is not nearly as efficient as my car. Everybody thinks EVs are complicated but my favorite saying is, 'There are more moving parts and more computers in the exhaust system in a modern diesel truck than there is in the entire drive train in my vehicle.'"
Editor's Note: Since the installation of the new Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station at the Seeley Lake Foundation Building, the Pathfinder interviewed two local residents to better understand the advantages and disadvantages to owning an EV from their experience.
SEELEY LAKE – When Seeley Lake resident Auguste Lockwood heard about General Motors new electric vehicle (EV) named the Bolt, he purposefully drove it so he could say he hated it. After 10 minutes of driving it, Lockwood was sold.
"[It had] good performance, it's comfortable, it's got good zip... I loved this car," Lockwood said. "There is literally no internal combustion car in the world that would compare. The only question is would I drive it once to see."
Also living in Seeley Lake, Bekah Cahoon's husband David has been researching EVs for a long time before they purchased a Tesla Model 3 for their family in June.
"When gas prices skyrocketed, having to drive 20 miles one way [to work] with a Durango was really stacking up," Cahoon said. "I told David I needed to get a commuter car...It is really a handy vehicle to have."
While there are still a lot of skeptics, EV purchases continue to increase. However Lockwood, a self-proclaimed EV enthusiast, and Cahoon, a new Tesla owner, both have different reasons not to abandon internal combustion engines completely.
"In my [ideal world] it is best to have an efficient EV and a 400-horsepower crew cab truck," Lockwood said. "Between them if I need to haul 2,000 pounds to Idaho, I use the big truck. If I need to go to Missoula, I use the EV. All the money that you save from not having to buy fuel [or do maintenance] goes into your Harley, pickup truck, 4X4, side-by-side or whatever your toys are."
Lockwood used electric power tools at work and loved their reliability and power.
"I just want a Makita that I can go to work with," Lockwood said. "I love good engineering and I love efficiency."
After purchasing the Bolt in 2017, Lockwood spent $600 on the components to build a Clipper Creek level 2 portable charger. It is rated at 7.7 kilowatts and plugs into a standard 50-amp dryer outlet. The Lockwoods plug in whenever they get home and can take it with them.
The Lockwoods pay eight cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) at home to charge. According to SaveOnEnergy's September report, this is slightly more than half what the average American pays for residential electricity. After several months, their electric bill increased an average of $20 per month. If they charged externally, which Lockwood said they rarely do, he spent less than $10 for 20 to 30 kWh.
"I always start driving full. It is so relaxing to never have to think about having to get fuel," Lockwood said. "It just boggles my mind that everybody doesn't drive electric."
Cahoon's requirement for a new commuter car was the car payment plus the fuel needed to be less than the $600 per month she was paying in gasoline for their Durango that got 17-18 miles per gallon. This car was not meant to be a vehicle that could fit her family of six, instead it was meant to be more economical.
When the Cahoons learned Seeley Lake was getting an EV Charging Station, it was the right time. David predicted the prices of Teslas would continue to rise with the increase in demand.
"The Tesla was still at a price range that made the math work," Cahoon said. "We were obviously saving a lot of money not having to pay for gas."
In addition to the car payment, Cahoon charges at a supercharger made for Tesla EVs in Missoula once a week. She said the most she would pay was $40 a week. While they can charge their Tesla at home, it is a trickle charger that takes 24 hours for a full charge.
Now instead of filling up the Durango twice a week, Cahoon estimates she fills up twice a month. However, it is nice to have a larger vehicle that the entire family can travel together.
"The first month was challenging because I felt really stressed out about where I'm going to charge it, how often I need to charge," Cahoon said. "It is more of a habit now. I know when, I know where, I know how so I'm not stressed out about it as much as I was before."
After five years, Lockwood has put 112,000 miles on his Bolt. The only maintenance he has done outside of his batteries being replaced at no cost due to a recall, was add windshield washer fluid and replace his windshield wipers and tires. He estimated $2,000 total cost in five years. His battery is composed of five battery modules that cost $5,000 each to replace, should he need to replace a module.
After 100,000 miles he said the performance and everything is precisely the same as when they purchased it. He expects to get 300,000 miles out of his Bolt before having to replace anything major. In addition to cost savings and little maintenance, there are several features that Lockwood appreciates.
Lockwood said driving his Bolt feels like "driving a very torquey V8." He has a sport button that allows for full throttle acceleration to get into tight spots in traffic.
"There is no tire screeching, there is no engine noise and no one really notices," Lockwood said. "It is a lot of fun. Also I have the confidence of that immediate [power] if you see a gap you never have to wait for the turbo lag. That power is always right there."
Cahoon agrees that her Tesla is fun to drive because it is fast and passes really well.
"It is very smooth, the display is really nice because you see everything," Cahoon said.
Lockwood's interior camera allows for a 360 degree so the driver never has to turn his head around. It also has level four autonomous driving capabilities. While Lockwood prefers to not use that feature, he appreciates the semi-autonomous driving.
"It has a gentle assist so the car just likes to be in the middle of the road," Lockwood said adding he drives smoother with the feature engaged. "It knows where it is in the world. It will tell us what the speed limit signs are. It is a smart little car."
Cahoon also appreciates her auto-steer function.
"Because the technology is so good, sometimes it responds faster than I do," Cahoon said.
The Bolt also has one-pedal driving, a feature that uses kinetic energy to slow down and stop the vehicle when the accelerator pedal is not engaged. Lockwood said he goes for weeks without touching the brakes, except in an emergency situation.
When Lockwood removes his foot from the accelerator, the Bolt's AC motor is recharging the battery, called regeneration or "regen." Lockwood said going down a mountain pass, he gains range as the battery recharges.
Lockwood said being aware of how he drives has helped increase efficiency. The gauges on his dashboard allow him to immediately see his use, regen and he can quickly calculate any inefficiencies.
While Lockwood said stop and go is incredibly efficient, the hardest thing an electric vehicle can do is push itself down the highway at 80 miles per hour due to the air resistance.
Anything that increases the wind resistance has a big impact on range, Lockwood said. Adding a roof rack or getting new tires reduced Lockwoods' range by 30-40 miles and towing a trailer is very inefficient for EVs.
"Electric vehicles are so efficient that any inefficiencies are major," Lockwood said.
Cold can also affect efficiency. Lockwood said he loses about 30% of his range in below-zero weather, however, because the EV is plugged in, everything is kept warm
The Lockwoods enjoy traveling. To plan their route, they use an app called Plug Share. It shows EV owners all the stations across the US, distance, changing capabilities and more. Once they know where they are going to stop, they research what there is to do in the community while they are charging.
"This is how modern road trips are done," Lockwood said. "It is really interesting because it takes you to different places that you wouldn't normally visit. It makes the whole trip way more interesting. It is cheap and it is fun."
Since they own a Tesla, Cahoon said traveling requires more planning, especially with her children. While she knows that route to Boise, there is no charger in Grangeville, the halfway point.
"The biggest thing with electric cars is you really have to change your lifestyle a little bit and plan better. You can't just go to a gas station," Cahoon said. "Going to Boise I know where I can pull over [if my kids need anything]. I love a good road trip but when I'm with my kids that is when I feel less comfortable."
Instead of using the PlugShare App, their Tesla will map a route when they enter their destination. It tells her the amount of charge remaining and how long to charge.
"Even though the Tesla has a really good mapping system and takes you right there, I don't know that I would want to drive to Boise yet," Cahoon said. "I think I would still want to take a gas-powered car because it is familiar and I feel more secure."
Cahoon said she can charge at Tesla Supercharge stations or stations that accept Tesla's adaptor. On one trip when she forgot her adapter, she ended up having to go to a hotel that had a destination charger. They charged $50 just to use it and it took four hours to charge.
"That wasn't great planning," Cahoon said. "But you can't just go to Walmart and buy another adaptor."
Cahoon said there is also a "weird stigma" that she has received since she now owns an electric car. While she can't pinpoint why, since it is still so new, "but it makes a lot of sense for us."
"When I drive my car, all I'm doing is providing jobs for guys in Thompson Falls," Lockwood said. "The more I drive, the more jobs there are in Thompson Falls or wherever the electricity is coming from."
Lockwood would like to meet with anyone interested in discussing EVs. He added there are several Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and other incentive programs available to help make the transition to electric. He can be reached at 406-677-5555 or email augsu@blackfoot.net.
"I think there are a lot of people on the fence but have just heard a lot of misinformation," Lockwood said. "A funny argument that I find is 'I can't afford to save money. I spend a hell of a lot less and I love that I don't have any surprises with [my Bolt]."
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