So...even though the car didn't get to charge fully, today the battery source 43 miles. AC wasn't necessary. The car is so much fun to drive. I enjoyed every minute of my commute to and from work. We went out to dinner with my adult son and family. The 9 year old thought it was so cool. My son wishes he could have a great car like this one. The multi generational consensus, it's a great car.
The need to charge for the greatest mileage and lack of spontaneity for driving won't work for me, but I like that it's an American car with ingenuity not found in the other hybrids. I like its looks, its feel, its comfort, its proximity unlock and the info available which allowed me to drive as efficiently as possible.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Work, home, dentist, meeting
It still takes about 2 min to manage the disconnect. The hook and loop still wants to stick to itself, to me, to the hatch until properly stowed. Mileage average is now about 67mpg as a combination of battery and gasoline. It went back up during the drive into work, but switched to gas at 35 miles and continued gas on the way home. I quickly calculated that the process of charging was not going to yield enough inexpensive miles to be worth the effort of cable management, so I went to the the dentist and meeting without additional battery charge. At that point it struck me that spontaneity is its weak point. If the charging cycle is in process, it takes approx 2 min to disconnect before you can run up to the store and have to reconnect to have the charge for the next potential activity.
The meeting was in Tampa, just after rush hour. I was pleasantly surprised at how efficient it remained in traffic. I took one person home. She commented, as Lee had, how comfortable the car was, how quiet the operation was and how easily she could see when I changed lanes or backed out of the driveway. The mileage was back down to 65.
Again, home late, incomplete charge.
The meeting was in Tampa, just after rush hour. I was pleasantly surprised at how efficient it remained in traffic. I took one person home. She commented, as Lee had, how comfortable the car was, how quiet the operation was and how easily she could see when I changed lanes or backed out of the driveway. The mileage was back down to 65.
Again, home late, incomplete charge.
Work, then church
This morning, the car wasn't able to get a full charge. It switched to gas to power the gen, on the way to work at 34 miles. It is so much fun to drive. It's comfortable, the 'climate' easy to control to comfort. I accidentally turned on the seat warmer, it's really warm :)
That night, I used the interstate and Howard Frankland to get to rehearsal. I never felt out of place, no lack of power, no excessive road noise. Once again, everyone in the parking lot was so impressed with the looks and the mileage. The white car the doesn't look like a grandma mobile. Sporty appearance, cool, kinda retro, were the descriptions, I heard.
It was 10 when I arrived at home, so once again, not enough time for a full charge.
That night, I used the interstate and Howard Frankland to get to rehearsal. I never felt out of place, no lack of power, no excessive road noise. Once again, everyone in the parking lot was so impressed with the looks and the mileage. The white car the doesn't look like a grandma mobile. Sporty appearance, cool, kinda retro, were the descriptions, I heard.
It was 10 when I arrived at home, so once again, not enough time for a full charge.
my 1st round trip
I've included the charging sequence in the 2nd day. When we arrived at home, I opened the hatch, removed the charging cable, opened the outlet cover and easily connected both. The hook and loop wanted to stick to my clothing, that was the only downside to that operation.
When it was time to leave for work, I remembered that unlocking the door was required, just after Lee disconnected the car. Fortunately, I was fast and the alarm sound was very brief. The next door neighbor was very interested and seemed really impressed with the appearance and the silence of the car. That day, the battery powered the car for the trip to work. I didn't require air conditioning or ancillary service, radio only.
It was a after work activity so it switched to gasoline to power the gen 1 mile after leaving work. 42 miles. I didn't notice any change in noise level, or power. The engine continued in the same responsive way that I had earlier in the morning and the night before. When I arrived at chorus, everyone wanted to see everything. Mileage still appeared very high, especially next to my friends with the Toy Pr...She seemed green with envy. Back seat seating is a little more airplane like, than mid size cars, but was more comfortable than the other compacts.
I arrived at home about 11p. It took about 2 min to set up for charging.
When it was time to leave for work, I remembered that unlocking the door was required, just after Lee disconnected the car. Fortunately, I was fast and the alarm sound was very brief. The next door neighbor was very interested and seemed really impressed with the appearance and the silence of the car. That day, the battery powered the car for the trip to work. I didn't require air conditioning or ancillary service, radio only.
It was a after work activity so it switched to gasoline to power the gen 1 mile after leaving work. 42 miles. I didn't notice any change in noise level, or power. The engine continued in the same responsive way that I had earlier in the morning and the night before. When I arrived at chorus, everyone wanted to see everything. Mileage still appeared very high, especially next to my friends with the Toy Pr...She seemed green with envy. Back seat seating is a little more airplane like, than mid size cars, but was more comfortable than the other compacts.
I arrived at home about 11p. It took about 2 min to set up for charging.
the 1st day
Because my 1st day was a return trip, I was able to complete the trip on battery only. I enjoyed the displays, every piece of information available. Pairing my blue tooth phone and adding my call list for true hands free calling was possible while driving without written instructions. Voice prompts were clear. The navigation system was both easy and accurate. I immediately fell in love with the comfort of the seat, the fit of the arm rest, the visibility both with mirrors and the proximity detection/back up camera. I felt very "at home."
That evening, I picked up my husband to take him to dinner. Lee's a big guy. We moved the seat back, he jumped in, plenty of leg room to move the seat forward. He remarked that the seating was comfortable and was impressed with the information available. Backing out of the very dark parking lot was a snap with the camera and sensors. Because the car had not been driven in the way I would be driving, the avg MPG at that point was "250+" I wouldn't see that number again for the rest of the week.
That evening, I picked up my husband to take him to dinner. Lee's a big guy. We moved the seat back, he jumped in, plenty of leg room to move the seat forward. He remarked that the seating was comfortable and was impressed with the information available. Backing out of the very dark parking lot was a snap with the camera and sensors. Because the car had not been driven in the way I would be driving, the avg MPG at that point was "250+" I wouldn't see that number again for the rest of the week.
It all started...
It all started when a friend was allowed to use a Chevrolet Volt. I was intrigued. I spend way too much time in a car and it seemed like a car with better mileage should be in the running for my commute. I'm fairly impulsive, but I can do a review of the literature with the best of them. Most of the literature was doom and gloom...Differences between gas only v electric + gas were lacking evidence that could defray the cost difference in any long distance circumstance. That is, if you travel many miles the 40 miles with an average cost of 15cents a kWh would mean that a charging the battery would reduce the cost of that 40 miles by 1/3 to 1/2. The gasoline portion of the trip would use premium fuel increasing the cost by an average of 15 cents per gallon over gasoline only engines, assuming regular gas. The fill up strategy would require approximately weekly trips to fill the 9 gal tank.
I wanted a car that felt safe, was comfortable to sit in and drive for 3 hrs a day.
I was undaunted and wanted to make this work in my circumstance approx 90 mi a day average including my after work activities.
I wanted a car that felt safe, was comfortable to sit in and drive for 3 hrs a day.
I was undaunted and wanted to make this work in my circumstance approx 90 mi a day average including my after work activities.
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