Car and Driver - USA (2020-01)

THE RUNDOWN

With cruise control set a nickel

below the posted speed limit, the

Bolt does a remarkable job regen-

erating energ y. In nine miles of

downhill coasting, we get back

an indicated 30 miles of range.

Regeneration is an EV’s (and our

anxiety’s) best friend, but regen

isn’t even money. In perfect condi-

tions, which these are not, the Bolt

is capable of recouping energ y at

70 kilowatts, a little less than half

the maximum discharge of 160 kilo-

watts. So the deck may be stacked

against us.

The next stretch is a fabulously

twisty section of CA-190 through

Panamint Springs. This road is an

absolute riot in, say, an Alfa Romeo

Giulia Quadrifoglio. While not as

much fun in a Bolt, at least the road

V` _RYNaVcRYf ½Na NYY aUR dNf a\ 9\[R

Pine, 50 miles away.

With no rescue plan, and imag-

ining Quiroga comfortably situ-

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deep-breathing exercises before

ORTV[[V[T aUR ¼[NY N[Q `aRR]R`a

rise. Ahead lies Whitney Portal.

At 8374 feet above sea level, it’s the

gateway to Mount Whitney, the

highest point in the lower 48. Driv-

ing past massive pines, steep granite

walls, and iced-over waterfalls is a

say? Nope. The aerodynamic pen-
alty could take its toll on the range
and leave us oh so high and dry.
About 51 miles in, we arrive at the
¼`aZNW_PYVZO[RNaURa\d[\S
Stovepipe Wells. Over 17 miles, we
rise gradually to Towne Pass at 4956
feet. Driving an EV to maximize its
charge has us seeing speed limits in a
new way. Usually, we consider them
a starting point for negotiations, but
when hypermiling, the speed limit is
a reminder that most ever yone else
on the road will be going a lot faster.
We creep along at RV speeds.
The Bolt’s 200 horsepower and
266 pound-feet of torque are great
when there’s somewhere to plug in,
ObaaURRμYYOR[\½\_V[TaURNPPRY-
erator to experience the punchiness
of the Bolt’s 6.7-second run to 60
mph. No, instead of having fun,
we’re concentrating on maintain-
ing momentum and precise control
\S aUNa ]RQNY . U\R P\ZR \ß a\
better feel the articulation. Also,
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The sweat returns when the display in the instru-
ment cluster shows that the indicated range is falling
faster than the odometer is accumulating miles. After
20 miles uphill, 84 miles of range have vanished. The
only thing tempering our anxiety is the knowledge that
there’s a steep, 9 percent grade on the other side of town.
What goes up must come down.

0

2K

4K

6 K

8 K

Length: 1 34 miles

279 ft below

sea level

Stovepipe Wells

Towne Pass

N

Lone Pine

Panamint Springs

Whitney Portal

elevation

Badwater

CALIFORNIA

At Death’s Door

Take note, EPA: Driving an

EV up a mountain and back is

a great way to test range.

From top: A new grille

is the Bolt’s major

exterior update. As the

battery depletes,

Beard sweats. In the

desert, you can’t

remember your name.

78 JANUARY 2019 ~ CARAND DRIVER