Chevy Bolt Loan - Perry Solheim

Driving the Bolt was fun, fun, fun with major passing speed and acceleration. Charging was not as easy as I expected. Using a regular outlet is not a feasible option for regular charging. Tesla charge stations are NOT universal, so plan accordingly. Mountain driving is not considered in the remaining mileage estimates the car calculates. If driving in mountains cross-country, careful planning for charging is required. I will definitely consider purchasing an EV, but not a Tesla. I don’t appreciate the proprietary charging stations. The GCEA EV test drive experience is a great program. Everyone should try it out. I am 6’5” 280 lbs and didn’t expect to be comfortable in such a small car but it is really big inside, plenty of leg room and fantastic visibility. If/when I buy an all-electric, I will install a charging station at home.

DC FAST CHARGERS

GCEA had the opportunity to install DC fast charging stations in Crested Butte and Lake City, with financial support from the town of Crested Butte, the town of Lake City, Hinsdale County, power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Lake City DIRT (Downtown Improvement and Revitalization, Inc.), the Lake City Chamber of Commerce and grant funds from the Charge Ahead Colorado Program through the Colorado Energy Office.

Each station provides up to 62.5 kilowatts of charging power to help you get back on the road faster. The DCFC in Crested Butte is located at the Fire Hall on Maroon Avenue, and the DCFC in Lake City is located on County Road 20 at the Ice Wall Park. Each station can charge one vehicle at a time, and the cost to charge is $0.20/kWh plus $0.25/minute.

Chevy Bolt Loan - Jen Hawley

My first reaction to the Bolt was “man, this has some get up and go!!” I’ve never driven a car that was so responsive and quiet!! Such a blast!! It was such a joy to drive and it felt good that I wasn’t adding to our already polluted environment! It was so fun zipping around town! I’m more inclined to want to purchase an electric car now. I’m still nervous to have it as our main car because of winter. We don’t have a garage and road trips would make me nervous too. I could see us purchasing an electric company car in the next few years for everyday errands and short trips. My 12-year-old was really impressed. She’s already saving up for a Tesla. Thank you GCEA! We so enjoyed our week!!!

Chevy Bolt Loan - Michael Bacani

I was pleasantly surprised by the power of the Bolt. I always assumed an electric car would struggle driving up the mountain to my home, but it did better than my gas powered car. Driving the Bolt for the week completely changed my perceptions of electric vehicles. They have a lot of pep, smooth acceleration, and are as comfortable as driving a traditional car. I was pleasantly surprised at the convenience of charging the car. There are charging stations right next to a couple of my son’s activities, so could charge while waiting for him if needed. Charging at home was a breeze as well. The mileage on one charge is so great, that I could have made it through most of the week without charging it, however, I wanted to test out charging it at home and away. My wife and I are both much more likely to purchase an electric vehicle now. In fact, we have begun researching SUV EV’s.

Chevy Bolt Loan - Suzanne Hadley

I Loved the great acceleration! It was a nice, smooth ride. And we got to try it out in the snow - and it did well with the front-wheel drive and snow tires. It was very comfortable and had more bells & whistles than I thought it would. I did realize that we will need to figure out a regular charging routine if we buy an electric vehicle. Think I would get a dedicated outlet for it installed in my garage. The snow did build up in the wheel wells - they are a little tight - so one would need to clear those out regularly in the winter, but that happens with a lot of gasoline models also. I was already considering an EV the next time we buy a car but now I am DEFINITELY considering it and probably will buy an EV next.

The only negative about EV's right now for our family is that I feel like we will always need something bigger for long road trips, camping, and sports trips where we are bringing other kids and their gear with us. A roof rack would work sometimes, but I feel like in Crested Butte an EV is a great car in a 2+ car household. It could be the best car for every day, less cargo intensive trips. I understand that Tesla is coming out with an electric truck - that could be a big hit here.

THANK YOU so much for letting me test-drive the Bolt. I really enjoyed driving it and the timing was perfect.

Chevy Bolt Loan - Janna Hansen

So many things were going through my mind including how different it felt from a gas powered car. It feels so much more technologically advanced and is incredibly quiet and smooth. Somehow it feels more peaceful to drive. I just keep scheming about how we can buy one when it’s time to replace our Subaru! We live up high in CB South and the roads are icy and snow packed all winter. The Bolt handled the roads better than our Subaru with studded snow tires. The low center of gravity, weight, and power distribution to the wheels makes EVs great winter driving cars.

Janna Hansen

Chevy Bolt Loan - Andi Goodnough

I am Wow-d that the car was charged by electricity, and how cutting edge this is. Also hopeful for our future and the reality of the wave of the future. My family felt like we could really go to the EV place when we consider future car purchasing.
We are more likely to consider purchasing an electric vehicle now than we were before!! Lastly, very informative and resources at my figure tips (well Alliy at my finger tips)- offering helpful hints to create ease for travel. I could really feel her excitement about EV and she has a true talent in sharing it. I even saw the local police demoing a Tesla and to share excitement at a charging station was fun. I also had less guilt about starting up this car. It even got a true test when I went to my workout class at 5:45 in negative 20 degree weather. This is experience was fun and being somewhat of a bill board was entertaining also.

Andi Goodnough

Chevy Bolt Loan - John Carter

I had the loaner EV for a week in January to purposely test the winter driving performance. While some range is sacrificed for heat and maintaining battery temperature, I found the range sufficient for all my daily driving needs.

Driving an EV requires you to create a few different habits and be mindful in different ways than when driving an ICE automobile. (i.e. where to park so you can charge while running errands, not running the heat as high to conserve the battery, anticipating range needed for the days driving). These are all things that would become second nature with more EV experience. One of the coolest aspects, IMO, is the regenerative braking. The EV captures energy when you brake or coast down hill. This is wasted energy in an ICE auto! Another nice feature is that one does not need to wait for the engine to warm up, cabin heat is instant. In fact, you can warm the car up while it is plugged in still sitting in the garage, consequently conserving the battery.

My first reaction of the car was Whoa! The electric torque is impressive, snappy! There is no delay in acceleration.

Like many people, I had some unfounded fears about driving an EV. (Won't the battery just die, leaving me stranded on the side of the road!) It is a funny thing, but we don’t worry about this in our ICE autos. Sure it happens, but we understand the inner workings and know how to handle situations involving “car trouble”. Much of this is because of our comfort with ICE autos and the infrastructure in place. As EV charging stations, EV mechanics and EV roadside assistance become ubiquitous within our cities and towns this fear will subside in many.

An EV such as the Bolt did not meet all of my driving needs during the week. It stayed in the garage after an 8” snowstorm. Nothing to do with the EV aspect, but because of the low ground clearance and front wheel drive. I would definitely purchase an EV as a second car; it would meet ninety percent of my driving needs. As soon as there is a viable electric truck on the market, it would be my first choice when purchasing a new truck.

Thanks GCEA!


John Carter

Chevy Bolt Loan - Rebecca Gorrell

I really enjoyed how quiet it was, and how peppy! Also, this particular model had great windows/visibility, and I loved that. One thing I love knowing is that I’m not participating (or at least so much) in all the damage fossil fuels are doing to our world. Couple EV's with renewable energy sources, and we could make some headway on leaving our planet inhabitable for our grandchildren! I do think that EV's are pretty early on the development curve, and I look forward to seeing the improvements in battery life and fueling stations in the next few years. Given our cold climate, and how long my drives frequently are, the battery life (especially as compromised by cold temps) will keep me out of the market for a Bolt for now, but I'm much more enthusiastic about looking into plug-in hybrids now, after experiencing the Bolt. Using this car for a week has helped me to imagine myself as a driver of a primary-electric car, and I'm thankful for the experience.

This is a terrific program! Thanks so much. I enjoyed bopping around town advertising for it.

Rebecca Gorrell

Chevy Bolt Loan - Mike & Mary Larson

We loved the Chevy Bolt! It was a great experience. We were immediately surprised with the power and zip it had. We tested it in the winter purposefully because we wanted to see how it did in the cold weather. The cold wasn’t an issue, and we don’t have a garage, so it was left outside at night in negative temperatures. We are definitely interested in purchasing an electric vehicle in the future.

Mike & Mary Larson, owners of Mikey’s Pizza in Crested Butte

Tesla gets Wrapped

January 2020 – Tesla Model 3 gets a wrap and personalized plates.

Gunnison Night of Lights

December 2019 – GCEA EV’s showcased at the Gunnison Night of Lights. Won 1st place for best display!

EV Charging Station in Sargents

September 2019 – GCEA installed a non-networked Level 2 charging station at the Tomichi Trading Post in Sargents. This station offers free charging.

Chevy Bolt Loan - Bob Wojitko

Good city car, daily commute, heated steering wheel! A+++ I would be more likely to purchase an electric vehicle if we lived in a city.

The trunk space was small!

Bob Wojitko

Chevy Bolt Loan - Michael & Mary Baim

Chevy Bolt Loan - Rob Quint

1. The bolt was updated and certainly had more range.
2. Incredible acceleration and good range.
3. I prefer electric for economy and performance. My vehicle for range.
4. I would buy an EV as a second vehicle. I'm not ready for another vehicle at this time.

Rob Quint

Chevy Bolt Loan - Jason Briggs

First time driving an EV I thought: Is it on? Put it in drive and it started moving, so I guess so. Then I put the pedal down and thought...woah!! This little thing scoots! After driving it for a week I see what all the fuss is about. Earlier model EVs I always thought were ugly but they actually look pretty good nowadays. Not having to go to a gas pump all week felt amazing! I'm definitely more likely to purchase an EV after having lived with one for a week. It would be a great car for around here. The only issue I have is that I take lots of long road trips where charging would be a hassle I think. But the BOLT would be perfect for staying around CO I think. I'm sure battery technology will only improve and so will the range with EV's. I'd be really interested if someone came out with a van/cargo van EV.

Jason Briggs

Gunnison Car Show

August 2019 – GCEA participated in the Gunnison Car Show with the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3

Chevy Bolt Loan - Frank Kugel

I want to thank you and GCEA for the opportunity to use the Chevrolet Bolt for a week. The Bolt was a pleasant surprise, offering impressive acceleration and considerable range between charges. The car was quiet and had a comfortable ride and good handling. I would definitely consider an electric vehicle when purchasing my next car. Thanks again to GCEA for offering this benefit to its customers.

Frank Kugel

Members take Tesla for a spin

July 2019 – GCEA members take test drives in the Tesla

Pitkin EV Charging Station

June 2019 – GCEA installed a Level 2 ChargePoint charging station at the Silver Plume General Store in Pitkin. This station will offer free charging sessions until 2021 when on-peak rates will apply.

80th Annual Meeting Debut

June 2019 – Tesla Model 3 makes its debut at the 80th GCEA Annual Meeting

Chevy Bolt in Loaner Program

June 2019 – Chevy Bolt moved from the GCEA fleet to become the new EV test drive program vehicle for members to borrow.

EV Station Upgrade at headquarters

October 2018 – GCEA installed an upgraded Level 2 ChargePoint charging station at the headquarters in Gunnison. This station offers free charging during business hours Monday thru Friday and reduced rates other times.

Tesla Model 3

June 2019 – GCEA purchased a Tesla Model 3

GCEA's EV Blog

Special EV Rebate

Greetings and Happy Holidays from Touchstone Energy! Take advantage of this great holiday deal featuring the Nissan Leaf!

EV Charging Across the Valley

November 2018 – GCEA installed Level 2 ChargePoint charging stations at the Elk Creek Marina near Blue Mesa, in Almont behind the Almont Resort, and a second station in Crested Butte off of 1st and Elk Ave. This station will offer free charging until 2021.

Gas Butler

Start each day with a full tank!

For more information on GCEA's EV Program visit www.gcea.coop or call 970-641-3520.

Touchstone Energy

Yesterday, we visited @GunnisonREA in Gunnison, Colorado. We learned about their #ElectricVehicle program and saw some of their beautiful territory. #CoopStrong

EV Charger Rebate

Attention EV owners! GCEA offers electric vehicle charger rebates! visit gcea.coop or call 970-641-3520 to learn more!

Lake City Charging Station

October 2016 – GCEA installed a Level 2 SemaConnect charging station in Lake City on 3rd Street near the bank. This station will offer free charging sessions until a networked station can be installed.

First EV Charging Station

November 2015 – GCEA installed a Level 2 SemaConnect charging station by the tennis courts on 6th and Elk Ave in Crested Butte. This was the first EV charging station to be installed by a Colorado electric cooperative. This station was later swapped out in 2019 for a ChargePoint Level 2 station. This station offered free charging sessions until January 2019.