[bro1999]

So officially (as official as this record can be), the record time for an EV crossing the entire state of Maryland (Oakland to Ocean City) is 6 hours, 41 minutes. It was done by a Tesla Model S 70D owner observing the posted speed limits. FWIW Google maps says the drive should take 5 hours, 23 minutes with no traffic. If you figure a sane person would take a 30 minute break for lunch during the trip, a regular gas car should take about 6 hours to travel across the state.

I’ve decided that I’m going to attempt to break the current record in June (I will be a bachelor for about 2 weeks in June so I’ll have extra time). I figure I should be able to break the 6:41 mark without much issue, as even with a 30 minute stop for a quick charge (if necessary) I should be able to still make the trip in about 6 hours….definitely less than 6:41.

The real question is if I can make the trip on a single charge. The elevation profile of the trip is in my favor (goes from 2,900 feet in Western MD to sea level in Ocean City), and the last 1/3 of the trip are mostly on roads that have 55 mph or less speed limits.

Should be interesting to say the least.

 

[Taser54]

321 miles? You are going to need a charge if you are driving the speed limit.

 

[bro1999]

321 miles? You are going to need a charge if you are driving the speed limit.

There are CCS stations located 204, 227, and 260 miles away from the starting point, so that won't be an issue.
Napkin math says I would need to average 5.4 miles/kWh to make it all the way to Ocean City on 1 charge. I guess it all depends on how much a 2,900 foot elevation drop aides in milking the range number.

 

[trm2]

There are CCS stations located 204, 227, and 260 miles away from the starting point, so that won't be an issue.
Napkin math says I would need to average 5.4 miles/kWh to make it all the way to Ocean City on 1 charge. I guess it all depends on how much a 2,900 foot elevation drop aides in milking the range number.

What about charging in Ocean City? Last time I was there, there weren't any charging stations - well, or electric cars, it was the late 80s/early 90s. lol.

 

[bro1999]

What about charging in Ocean City? Last time I was there, there weren't any charging stations - well, or electric cars, it was the late 80s/early 90s. lol.

There's a CCS station smack dab in the middle of OC, so no issue there either.

 

[16513]

I'll bet you could make it on one charge, but not in 6 hours. Pick the record you want to best: charge-free or low time. Go for it.

 

[Dakster]

I'll bet you could make it on one charge, but not in 6 hours. Pick the record you want to best: charge-free or low time. Go for it.

Ditto... And pump the tires way up. Maybe ask Ari_C for some hypermililng advice.

 

[Ziv]

Reminds me of roadtrips from Frostburg to OC way back in the day. That is a long drive, adding the western bit makes it even more of a haul. Are you going to use 50 through Virginia and across 14th St bridge or I68/70/97? If I were going for fastest time, I would consider the northern interstate route. If I were going for a try at making it without recharging, maybe the 50 route? Not sure of the distances involved. And the 50 route would have a LOT of stop and start.
I think the Interstate route would be more fun and a lot quicker. And this coming from a guy that usually likes to roadtrip on backroads.

 

[theo1000]

Also track the temperature and wind direction... ...lighten up the car, fold mirrors in, etc... ...if I recall you had a fender bender, get that turbulence creator fixed..

Will be rooting for you.... or should I say routing for you, ..I know, I know could not help it...

 

[bro1999]

Reminds me of roadtrips from Frostburg to OC way back in the day. That is a long drive, adding the western bit makes it even more of a haul. Are you going to use 50 through Virginia and across 14th St bridge or I68/70/97? If I were going for fastest time, I would consider the northern interstate route. If I were going for a try at making it without recharging, maybe the 50 route? Not sure of the distances involved. And the 50 route would have a LOT of stop and start.
I think the Interstate route would be more fun and a lot quicker. And this coming from a guy that usually likes to roadtrip on backroads.

Looks like the most direct trip would be 70 to 50. Lots of stop and go would only help as far as range stretching goes.
I plugged in a Model S 60D into evtripplanner.com, as the 60D has the closest MPGe rating to the Bolt's highway rating. It says a 60D would use 69.7 kWh of energy to cover 321 miles. Bolt's highway MPGe is about 3% better than the 60D, so that would theoretically bring the energy used figure down to 67.7.

As we've pretty much figured the Bolt's usable capacity is right around 60 kWh, I would need to find a way to shave 7.7 kWh. I think that is in the realm of possibility, especially if the last 100 miles or so are are reduced speeds, and the Bolt is much more efficient than a 60D at city speeds.

 

[DonC]

I don't think I'd try to make it on one charge but it will be an adventure. It's unfortunate there isn't a charging station closer to the end. Likely there are some AC chargers though, so your chances of being stranded are likely low. I'd definitely wait for a tailwind!

 

[EldRick]

I keep reading people who think that stop-and-go traffic somehow makes the Bolt more efficient.
In fact, it makes it less efficient, because you first accelerate and then lose much of that energy to braking and regen, and you do this every few hundred feet.
The only reason this appears to be true is because stop-and-go traffic does not have the losses caused by aerodynamic resistance at higher speed, thus the overall estimate on the GoM is higher than if you did the same miles at highway speeds.

 

[Off Oil]

I keep reading people who think that stop-and-go traffic somehow makes the Bolt more efficient.
In fact, it makes it less efficient, because you first accelerate and then lose much of that energy to braking and regen, and you do this every few hundred feet.
The only reason this appears to be true is because stop-and-go traffic does not have the losses caused by aerodynamic resistance at higher speed, thus the overall estimate on the GoM is higher than if you did the same miles at highway speeds.

Exactly. You would be able to maximize range at lower but steady speeds, say 45mph.

 

[bro1999]

Exactly. You would be able to maximize range at lower but steady speeds, say 45mph.

I think stop and go (or slow and go) would still be more efficient than traveling at 65 mph. But yeah, steady speeds around 25-30 mph would probably be best for stretching range as far as possible. I think the guy who holds the records for 81 miles traveled in a Volt on battery averaged around 20 mph.

 

[DonC]

I keep reading people who think that stop-and-go traffic somehow makes the Bolt more efficient.
In fact, it makes it less efficient, because you first accelerate and then lose much of that energy to braking and regen, and you do this every few hundred feet.

Exactly. You would be able to maximize range at lower but steady speeds, say 45mph.

All I can tell you is I get more range on the freeway with stop and go than when it's free flowing. No doubt a steady 30 MPH would be better but that's not a choice.

 

[dancefreak]

While the highest point may be nearly 2900ft, you have to remember that there's a lot of up as well through the hills for a third of your overall journey until you get to Frederick which is only a couple hundred feet above sea level. Averaging out I have to think that would at least somewhat reduce the gains you'd get versus going straight down 2900 ft.

 

[bro1999]

So if the weather pans out, I will be making my cross-state trip next weekend...either Sat or Sun.

To make it from my house in Central MD to Western MD, then all the way across to Ocean City before returning home, I'll have to cover over 600 miles. That's probably about 11-12 hours of driving minimum.

I'll need to recharge full once I get to Mchenry, and that means accessing an Inn's sole L2 charging station (also has 2 Tesla destination stations). I sent an email to them about what I'm planning, so hopefully I get the green light to use their station.

Doing some napkin math, I don't think I'll be able to make it to OC traveling the speed limits. I believe going 5-10 mph below the speed limit till I hit the Eastern Shore should do the trick though.

 

[Lanny]

Oakland Train Station and Ocean City Inlet Parking Lot were the beginning and end of the "Electric Road Trip Across Maryland" filmed for PBS and said to be the first all-electric crossing of Maryland.

The video below shows where the clock started and stopped on the 6:41 crossing on November 11, 2015.

Godspeed!

 

[Bacardi]

Does the Bolt limit speed when you get to really low range? Was reading the Hyundai EV limits the speed limit to 10MPH for the last 3%...

 

[Ladogaboy]

Does the Bolt limit speed when you get to really low range? Was reading the Hyundai EV limits the speed limit to 10MPH for the last 3%...

I guess it depends what you consider really low. A few of us have gone to less than 5 miles of estimated range remaining, and there was no super limp mode. When you hit ~10% SOC, the propulsion is reduced and Sport Mode is unavailable. I haven't been able to confirm what the maximum power available is at that point, but it is enough to maintain freeway speeds. It appears that it might be limited to about 60 kW.