A New Record

As I approach the 3 month mark on my Volt ownership, I have to pause and reflect on all that has changed in my life - and the lives of those I love and live with.

Once you purchase a device that is intended to reduce your carbon footprint, you cannot help but start thinking of all the other nooks and crannies of your life where changes can be made... positive changes that will help and benefit you, your family, and your environment. The Volt is such a device. In fact, it's a very large device so the change is significant.

I've been enjoying my Netflix subscription to the maximum and in particular the documentaries that are available for streaming. I wake up in the morning 30-60 minutes before the rest of my family and this is, for me, prime docu-viewing time. One of the films I recently watched is Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a 57 minute 2013 film that took me to a midway Atoll and the horrors of over 50 years of plastic proliferation. Midway is the canary in the coal mine. We can only hope that society makes changes before it's too late but presently, few changes seem to be in sight.

In the days ahead, I am going to initiate a blog addressing our family's plastic reduction journey. And in the near distant future, we may be making a move to solar power for our home. Big changes lay ahead for your favorite Macons.

Back to the world of EVs...

I hit my all-time high yesterday in terms of miles per kWh. My screen showed 18.6 miles on 3.2 kWh, which is a high for me of 5.81 m/kWh. However, the light turned green as I was pulling out my phone to take a photo and I was compelled to move slightly, so this shot shows a lower m/Kwh of 5.67. You will all just have to trust that I would not have pulled out my phone for an average (for me) effficiency of 5.67. I also would only brag about an achievement I reached genuinely. 

I think I can beat this, however. I have heard tales of people topping 6.0 miles/kWh and I'm so close I can taste it. I'm not sure what else I can do in the dead of summer. I get my best efficiency in the mornings before the air temp tops 90 degrees. As you can see in the photo above, it was already 88 degrees outside and it was not yet 9am. Even thought I drive with the windows open (often minimally clothed - and more than one person has born witness to the sight of me struggling into a pair of leggings under my dress, because even though my Volt may be 88 degrees inside, my office is probably 65 degrees inside. So the dichotomy is severe, but I have adapted to the best of my abilities by dressing in layers and performing fits of an acrobatic nature in the front seat of a compact electric sedan.

I honestly don't think I look overly sweaty whilst driving in extreme temps. Here I am, yesterday, driving home from work in true 100 degree heat (not in the sun, not a heat index, and note that I'm wearing a short sleeve chunky-neck sweater).

Okay, my sleeves were rolled up as high as I could get them. But still.

Our faculty reported back to work yesterday, and already the charging stations are packed.

It's going to be a fun year!