I’m enjoying our Chevrolet Bolt EV. It’s an unassuming electric vehicle that is roomier than it looks, holds everything we need, well appointed in features, and fun to drive.
The other day, while on a trip to the post office, I encountered a couple who had a flat tire in the parking lot. They had the car already up on a jack but were standing around on their phones. I asked if they needed help, and they said yes. They asked if they could borrow my lug wrench as the one they had was too large for the lug bolts on their wheel.
I said sure, and upon opening up the spare tire well in the back of the Bolt, I was surprised to find that there was no jack. No spare. No lug wrench. This car didn’t come with a spare?!
Anyway, I drove home, grabbed a lug wrench, and brought it back to them. They finished the job and went on their way.
After getting home I hit up Google and learned that Chevrolet Bolts, VW ID.4, Teslas, Ford’s Mach-E, and most other EVs don’t come with spares, not even as an option. I did not know this. So now Monte and I are doing some research on what we want to do about it.
We can buy a spare – either a temporary donut spare – or a full sized spare. But a fully inflated one doesn’t fit in the wheel well in the back of the car, so it would have to sit in the cargo space in the back. What is cleverly disguised as the wheel well for a spare tire is actually the place that they install high-end stereo systems if someone ordered the car with one. It is neither round nor big enough for even a donut spare. We could probably fit an under-inflated spare down there, but would need to be able to inflate it to 50 PSI when needed.
We can buy a jack – but one needs to be very careful about where to place a jack under an EV, given that that is where the batteries are.
We can buy a small, portable air compressor, which we probably will do at a minimum.
I have learned that spray-type fix-a-flats are not desirable to use, as they will foul the Tire Pressure Monitor gadgets that are inside each of the tires.
So why is this becoming the new norm? I have to assume it’s a combination of cost savings, weight savings for maximum efficiency/range, space saving, eco-friendly (for those who say it keeps rubber tires out of the landfill). But I suspect it is also related to the target demographic of EV owners, many of whom have probably never changed a tire in their lives.
If I think back to the many times I had a flat tire and changed it, it was due to running over a nail, or something else that led to a slow leak, for which I guess an air compressor would be a temporary fix. I’ve never had a total blowout. So, maybe an air compressor is all we need for now. Perhaps a spare in the boot for longer trips. Our Chevy Bolt EV has self-sealing Michelin Energy Saver All Season tires, which is even more re-assuring.
Anyhow, I’m sure my dad would have something to say about this, were he still around. 🙂
According to Consumer Reports, over a third of all new cars (gas or electric or hybrid) have no spare. It’s a thing. Needless to say, I was pleased to see a spare, jack, and lug wrench when I finally looked in the back of the Subaru.
If you are shopping for an EV and a spare tire is a deal breaker for you, check out this article I found that outlines a dozen or so EVs that come with a spare in the base package or as an option.
And make sure your roadside assistance plan and/or auto insurance covers towing your EV, properly (which generally means putting it on a flatbed tow truck).
Cheers!
Sheila365 