How often do you let yourself unplug? For me, it’s not often enough, that’s for sure. So when I got a chance to drive the Chevy all-electric Bolt EV and find a way to recharge my batteries, I was all in.
As you’ll see, unplugging was the right way for me to do a re-set and come back with more energy, and the Bolt EV was just a terrific car to drive.
Disconnect to Reconnect
Like most Moms, I pay attention to my family, my work, my community in real life, my online community, and what’s happening in the world around me on a daily basis, and all that connectedness can ironically leave me feeling disconnected from myself.
Chevy gave me the task of finding a way to reconnect with myself and my spirit by disconnecting from the trappings of my life, if only for a little while. So I chose a day of quiet and relaxation, spending time away from screens, and focusing on my physical and spiritual health.
I spent the day away from my family and my to-do list. I took some time to take care of myself and to check in with myself. I took the Chevy Bolt EV for a beautiful drive down the coast and spent the day at a spa retreat.
My sore muscles were soothed, my skin was rejuvenated, and I gave myself permission to write and read, and to just be quiet, in a beautiful space. It was refreshing to be surrounded by beauty and comfort, and to not feel rushed.
I have never really been much of a journal-keeper, but I really felt the need to write. I reminded myself of my goals and dreams for the year, and re-committed to achieving them.
When I finally got back in the Bolt EV to head home, I was refreshed and rested, ready to plug back into my life with joy.
The Bolt EV Premier
I loved driving the Bolt EV Premier. I couldn’t stop talking about how cute it was, first of all, and it was a pleasure to drive. It’s loaded with tech that I found delightful, even though it’s a small car it was plenty roomy inside and I sat up nice and tall in the seat, and it was really zippy!
I am an ideal electric car owner; most of my driving consists of short errands – picking up kids, shopping at the grocery store – usually no more than 2-3 miles at a time. Other than taking the Bolt EV down PCH for my get-away day, I only drove the car around town, in traffic, and even that was pleasurable.
The Bolt EV is said to have a range of 238 miles on a full charge, and it’s gets the equivalent of 119 MPG. Pretty awesome. Other than being nervous about it, I probably didn’t even have to charge the car’s battery all week.
The camera system in the Bolt EV is terrific. The back-up camera is great, of course, but there are cameras all around the car, and somehow they can even see down from above. (Magic?) There’s even a camera in the rear-view mirror, perfect for when my tall family members are sitting in the back seat!
I have a new handbag, too big to fit on the middle console, so I left it in the back seat, and the Bolt was kind enough to remind me it was there! And did I mention it has it’s own wi-fi hotspot?
I took advantage of the OnStar navigation system, the Sirius XM radio (the 70s on 7 – where have you been all my life?), and the Apple Car Play system that connected to my phone without having to plug in, allowing me to make hands-free calls and texts.
Of course, the Bolt EV needs to be plugged in to recharge its batteries, and I was able to do that at home and when I found a ChargePoint station.
I loved driving the Chevy Bolt EV, especially knowing that I wasn’t burning fossil fuel, but mostly because it was comfortable and fun to drive. I am grateful to Chevy for giving me the opportunity to borrow the car, and to unplug from my life for a lovely day of recharging my batteries.
Sarah Auerswald is the co-Founder of MomsLA.com. She was loaned a Chevy Bolt EV for a week and given a day to unplug at a spa retreat by Chevy. All opinions expressed here are her own. The Chevy Bolt EV Premier model has a sticker price of $43,000 as shown.