A Year In: Choptank Electric’s Chevy Bolt

    Last August, Choptank Electric unveiled the purchase of a 2018 Chevy Bolt. This was done in order to understand the projected loads of electric vehicles (EVs) on our system, and to understand how purchasing EVs is affecting our members throughout the shore. 
    The Chevy Bolt offers an EPA-estimated 238 miles of range on a single charge, which makes it perfect for driving distances throughout the Eastern Shore. When compared to the Chevrolet Cruze, which gets an average 35 MPG and costs $41.00 for a fill up at the pump, powering an EV costs the equivalent of about $1.28 a gallon for gas.
    “Our employees really enjoy driving the car! Simply push a button, and their rides are super quiet,” said Thomas Tyndall, Member Services Administrator. “With the help of charging station apps like ChargePoint, and with Choptank Electric investing in the installation of EV charging stations, our employees can drive with confidence in the Chevy Bolt.” The Co-op installed its first EV charging station in St. Michaels in October of 2014, followed by the charging station at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Cambridge in December of last year.
    The Chevy Bolt is charged by plugging into an available 240-volt/32-amp charging unit. At the end of the day, the vehicle is plugged in and  is ready to go by the next morning even if it was fully depleted.
    Members considering an EV purchase are encouraged to visit our Electric Vehicle calculator on our Energy Efficiency webpage at www.choptankelectric.coop, on the Energy Resource Center section. This helpful tool provides monthly fuel costs stats for almost every EV on the market!  
    At the year mark, we have found the all-electric vehicle to be cost-effective and a valuable educational tool for the Co-op.