Thanks, I agree!

@@EVResource I know that when I got it, turning off traction control is the only thing that got me to my fast charger. I mean I didn't know how different things like hills and climate control affected it, and while my stop was 40 miles away and I had 60 miles of projected range on the battery, we (being my dad and I in case something went wrong) were doing everything we could to save every little bit of power, because when Google maps says the charger is 10 mi away and the car says you have 9 mi of range with the efficiency estimator trending downward, you get desperate. Almost immediately after we turned traction control off, I mean like within 30 seconds, the little efficiency dot things started moving up, and we were actually able to make it to our stop with I think three miles of range left. Since then, I mean it's just muscle memory at this point, whenever I get in I turn traction control and the auto lights off. Hopefully this can help you out. Also, I don't have any like hard numbers, but I recently got some LED headlights and taillights and the car seems to absolutely love them. I mean, I think it was like $30 for just basic LED headlights, it took maybe 5 minutes to change both of them out, and I didn't need to do any leveling or anything. And for tail lights, I just went to O'Reilly's, and they had them for like $15. It is a little finicky getting the taillight housings off, just because one of the tabs is metal whereas the other is plastic, but once you take the two screws off, it takes a little work, but they just pop off. Regardless of efficiency though, at least with the headlights, I'm able to see so much better that the increased safety from that purchase makes it all worth it. Another thing, you don't need to run the defogger if you just drive with the windows cracked or with a mask on. Lately, I've come to like the mask way to go, because it helps me keep warmth in as well. Also, as far as like driving style, I don't know how you drive, but I've come to find if you give yourself a good 25-30% more of distance to stop, and you pull it into L instead of using the brakes, you don't have to use the brakes very much at all, and it maximizes the amount of regen you're able to do. Hopefully this helps, and if you have any tips, I would be very willing to hear them.

@@EVResource also, what do you use that gives you all of that information on your tablet? I'm guessing it's some kind of OBD2 device?

Glad you liked it!

Awesome! Just make sure you know your car and know what charging is available on your route. Also, bring along a mobile 120V EVSE just in case you run into a situation where you need a charge but can’t get to a DCFC. It’s a good backup because there are regular electrical outlets everywhere.

It’s still one of my favorite road trips!

I can't wait to go on another trip sometime (hopefully soon!)

One of the best road trips I've ever taken.

What’s the lift the cable trick ?

@@smhshyla After you plug in, lift up on the cable to make sure the top of the plug goes the whole way in until the car starts to charge. You may feel it lock in place.

For sure! Most people drive less than 50 miles a day. This is easily handled by nearly every EV!

@@EVResource it is actually our 4th ev, my first was a Volt that I rarely used the gas part.. then a Model S.. for long trips, free supercharging.. awesome.. I sold it for crazy money during the panedmic and got a Model Y.. my wife wanted an ev but didn't like the looks of the i3 or the spark, so when we test drove the Mini, she loved it.. and it still had the $7500 tax break when we got it.. yay.. love it.. honestly, I love driving it maybe more than the Tesla

Cool!!

I live in Phoenix lol

@@EVResource I would be down!

It may not be a car designed for road trips, but as the infrastructure gets built out, it's definitely possible!

Hey David! I’m using a generic Android tablet with TorquePro. I downloaded the PIDs for the Bolt EV because they are compatible. For more info, check allev.info/boltpids/

@@EVResource Thank you, Sir. My 2016 doesn't have the DC Fast Charge, so i tend to have a little anxiety over range. Some day I hope to figure out a way to add it, and maybe a bigger battery of some sort (after the warranty, of course!)

In the 3.5 years I’ve had this car, the ONLY money I’ve spent on it has been front tires. It’s amazing.

For sure! Most 200mi EVs aren’t a good Midwestern option (my parents live in KS so I get it)! We have a lot of work to do out that way.

Lol. A range extender definitely would have made a difference!

Yeah, one of the best reasons to go EV is the minimal maintenance or repairs. You’re looking at some great options!

I’m paying $.12/kWh here at home and I thought that was cheap. Would love to have much less!

@@EVResource I do not know how it is where you live, but in Ohio energy supply is decoupled from energy transmission so you can choose who your supplier is for Electric and Natural Gas but still receive transmission from the company who owns the lines; all of the current rates are on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio website. For example, at my parents' house the transmission goes through Duke Energy, but for electric right now my father chooses AEP and for Natural Gas sticks with Duke

Yeah, I’m in VA under Dominion Energy.

I hope you find a solution that works! The Spark EV is a great choice, but there are so many options these days!

Lol, maybe some day.

@@EVResource What type are you recommending to charge a spark.like that?

I wouldn’t recommend a generator honestly. The best advice I’d give is know your car, and be familiar with the charging stations around you. We could have made better decisions, honestly.

Yeah, there are many other EVs that have a greater range than this one!

A newer leaf is the cheapest bet. After that it would be a Mini Cooper EV (although they are hard to find), Chevy Bolt, VW ID4, Ford Electric f150, BMW I4, Any tesla, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Nitro. There are probably more but without getting insanely expensive and fancy those are what come to mind.

Yes, that’s called a range extender, and many EVs have one! The Spark EV just doesn’t have any room for that, which is ok.

@@EVResource 2015 Spark EV owner here... I would suggest that the Walmart chargers be placed as far from the door as necessary. If they are "good " spots, we'll be "ICED" by someone who just cares about themselves. Having the chargers in less desirable spots makes it more likely that only EV drivers needing a charge will park there. That's my $0.02!

Completely agree

Me too ! Do you have one ?

@@EVResource well, for one thing gas is only like $1.90 right now, and the RAV gets about 35mpg highway. With per-minute DCFC billing and the Bolt being capped at like 50kw/h charging... it doesn't make for a very good long-distance vehicle in the midwest.

It’s crazy but fast charging near me is either the same as Level 2 or less. But I’m also very lucky that there’s a few free fast chargers nearby

Yeah, this car is definitely dependent on charging infrastructure if you don’t have that.

Very courageous trip made in the winter! A short range EV is funny to use as long as it is during a vacation trip. Otherwise in case the travellers are on restricted time schedule then it is needed a proper highway EV. To me it occurs that outside California and some other densely populated by fast EV chargers areas, the best case scenario is covered by a long range PHEV. The latter does go electric in town the way you use your Spark but on occasional trips you had in this video it is safer to use gasoline especially in the winter. Honda Clarity PHEV should have the same EV range as your used Spark. The difference is made by CCS charger present in your Spark while the PHEV makes sense to charge home overnight. In North America there are only two PHEVs equipped with fast charging Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and BMW i3 with REX. Nice video!

Yeah, the situation with gas prices now... yikes!

@@EVResource apparently there was a story ran that it was 8 bucks a gallon in certain areas in CA. Ya I rather chare a electric care over and over again for premium fast charging cost than pay that any damn day.

@@EVResource just pulled the trigger on a 2016 chevy spark ev with only 15k miles on it. Great deal was like 25 percent off current market value for the shape it's in and has the quick charge package. So excited for it to be delivered in about a week. It's time to start in the future of driving. Bye bye gas. Can't say it was nice knowing you. 4 bucks a gallon pffffffff.

Nobody should buy this car FOR long trips. But that doesn’t mean the car can’t do it.

I would stay far away from the Spark EV at this point. You will almost definitely have problems getting replacement parts for it. And, the cost of replacement parts after the warranty period ends isn’t worth putting into these cars. You’re better off getting an EV that has much better aftermarket support.