Hi Folks,
New here, looks like a nice forum.
Seems like there’s a bunch of folks new to EV’s, FWIW thought I’d give you some thoughts to consider as you get the Silverado.
First, Congratulation's! The Silverado looks like a winner, and the fact that I am coming back to GM says a lots, especially considering that I wanted to go with another manufacturer, not because GM or the Bolt has been a problem, quite the opposite, but just because it’s the best of the best IMO. GM has the best engineering, and being an engineer I’m attracted to that.
Anyhow on to my thoughts, if you find it useful
New here, looks like a nice forum.
Seems like there’s a bunch of folks new to EV’s, FWIW thought I’d give you some thoughts to consider as you get the Silverado.
First, Congratulation's! The Silverado looks like a winner, and the fact that I am coming back to GM says a lots, especially considering that I wanted to go with another manufacturer, not because GM or the Bolt has been a problem, quite the opposite, but just because it’s the best of the best IMO. GM has the best engineering, and being an engineer I’m attracted to that.
Anyhow on to my thoughts, if you find it useful
- Don’t worry about home charging, 6 kW will be just fine unless you have some really unusual circumstances. If you’re putting in new lines then sure, go ahead and do a 20 kW, but I wouldn’t bother with more than 30kW, just too expensive and not needed.
- For gadgets, at the point with the existing (massive) fast charging infrastructure, all you need I’d suggest is the following
- A Tesla-J1772 (whatever the number is) adapter. It’s just a dumb adapter and works great, plenty of choices
- A J1772. Extension cord. You WILL have times when you can’t get a stretch properly, especially now that the port is inconveniently in the back (I might need to reroute one of my EVSE’s). Unfortunately however you can’t use a fast charger extension cord, so if you don’t want to bother that is fine too
- Don’t bother with all the other power adapters unless you are doing something weird.
- The provided EVSE that comes with it will probably be just adequate, and you'll rarely use it.
- If you’re into OBD-II then Car Scanner (iOS and Android I think?) is the one to get
- Download ABRP and Plug Share
- Set up accounts on
- Electrify America (the one you’ll use the most)
- EVGo (#2)
- Charge Point
- On optioning, don’t obsess about the extended range battery. Or differently, don’t feel bad about getting the standard range! Assuming you don’t tow, if you tow get extended range. But if it’s a choice between another feature you want, like the roof, and the battery, the battery is like buying extra RAM that you don’t really need. There’s so much infrastructure that 400 miles is kind of ridiculous, most of the time you won’t be using most of that.
- Take care of your baby! These cars last longer than you think, if you take care of it you’ll be surprised at how they keep going, and going and going with no repairs or other dinosaur nonsense.
- Combining points 6 & 7, carefully consider all your options. If you keep the car a good many years, you may be glad you get what you really wanted (we got the absolutely top spec Bolt which was the right choice)