635-Mile Chevy Bolt EV Road Trip BEFORE Electrify America: Crossing the Mendocino Range

From News Coulomb.

This video is from the archives. I didn’t have time to edit and publish it at the time, but in retrospect, it is possibly one of the most important road trips I’ve taken in my 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. It also serves as an important historical reference, marking the start of a new period in EV travel as a result of Electrify America building out the first national, publicly accessible fast charging network with 150+ kW charging.

While the Bolt EV performed admirably, it was still extremely limited by the public charging available at the time, and it maxed out the capabilities of every charger I used on this trip. While there’s no way to avoid the additional 5 to 6 hours of travel added by driving through the Mendocino National Forest, the entire trip today would likely be 1 to 2 hours faster in the Bolt EV if using today’s modernized charging equipment.

PlugShare links for charging sites used during this trip:
– EVgo, Walmart, Santa Rosa: No longer online/listed.
– EVgo, Gilroy Premium Outlets: https://www.plugshare.com/location/409963
– EVgo, Nob Hill Foods, Salinas: https://www.plugshare.com/location/68135
– EVgo, Marigold Center, San Luis Obispo: https://www.plugshare.com/location/76752
– EVgo, Trader Joe’s, Ventura: https://www.plugshare.com/location/45453