The Electric Vehicle Thread

[Ronstar]

Was it a convertible with the top down?

No - it surprised me that the old guy could get out so easily with the top on.

 

[NW-Bound]

Was it a convertible with the top down? I can get out of one of those too very easily. Hardtop, not so much.

Either way would be hard for me. And I am not 80.

Nope. Only SUV for me, and not even a sedan with a low seat.

Well, I can drive these cars, but don't enjoy the other sportiness of them to make it worthwhile. I stopped caring about speed long ago, and these days, comfort is what I value most. I am not even 70, but more mellow than a 90.

 

[audreyh1]

Thanks for the info! And the link! The map link indicates superchargers exist densely enough to fit our needs - just have plan stops accordingly.

Have you ever had to wait at a charging station because someone else was using it? Or multiple cars in line waiting to charge?

No, never. The car navigation shows you status of chargers ahead, so you can can see if there is a wait ahead. Generally California is where there can be supercharger waits, and that’s generally on holiday weekends.

 

[audreyh1]

While mulling this over, I ran some financial numbers. A Tesla makes no financial sense for us compared to an ICE car. But buying a Corvette 20 years ago only to drive it on nice days 8 months a year made less financial sense.

So I'm going to get an EV someday just because I want one. And the convenience of home charging.

Our decision was based on other life priorities and was not a financial one, and particularly influenced by “we’re not getting any younger”. Bottom line we could afford what we wanted. It was past time for DH’s dream car (and I’m his driver).

 

[REWahoo]

...I'm going to get an EV someday just because I want one. And the convenience of home charging.

Our decision was based on other life priorities and was not a financial one, and particularly influenced by “we’re not getting any younger”.

Sums up nicely my justification for getting in line to buy an EV.

 

[braumeister]

I certainly agree, and expect to have a BEV eventually. For now, my PHEV makes my happy, but charging opportunities are definitely increasing.

I stopped in at LL Bean in Freeport while driving through Maine last week, and noticed that they had a small lot with eight Tesla Superchargers, and eight regular Level 2 charger. Most of the Level 2 were occupied (I was one of them) but only one of the superchargers had a car at it while I was there.

 

[ls99]

For another dat point, A drive from Columbus Ohio to Wash DC in Bolt. A trip report by one Kevin Williams shown in The Drive.

https://www.thedrive.com/guides-and...-bolt-euv-but-the-charging-network-didnt-help
"But, where would I charge? Outside of a lone Electrify America station in Cambridge, Ohio (about 30 miles from Columbus), my most familiar route via the I-70/I-79 corridor is a complete charging dead zone. There are zero DC fast charging options for the cities of Washington, PA, Wheeling, WV, or Morgantown, WV. "
"Nothing Went to Plan
I left Columbus at around 7 a.m., reaching the Southwest Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, at around 10 a.m. My calculations told me that a full recharge via DC fast charging should take about an hour and a half, including the post 80% charging speed slowdown that most electric cars do while DC fast charging to protect the battery."

" I left home at 7 a.m. and arrived at my first DC fast charging stop at 10:30 a.m. Charging issues added more than two hours to my journey. I didn’t leave the Pittsburgh area until after 2 p.m. Eventually, I did make it to Washington D.C., at 6:45 p.m., 11 hours and 30 minutes after I left my home in Ohio. More than four hours on top of a normally seven-hour drive. "

 

[REWahoo]

For another dat point, A drive from Columbus Ohio to Wash DC in Bolt.

The Bolt is not a good road trip car but that obviously doesn't discourage some adventurous folks from giving it a shot. The problem isn't range (~250 miles), it is the speed, or rather the lack of it, when recharging.

I have a deposit on a Bolt (the EUV version) and don't ever plan on taking it on a road trip. We have a Highlander hybrid which is perfect for that role. The Bolt will be our daily driver/errand/appointment/shopping vehicle, and I plan to charge it only at home

 

[explanade]

Also why did that writer want to charge to 100%?

If you charge for 4 hours, I think some chargers will charge you a higher rate.

 

[Zathras]

I view this article as a opinion looking for a story to fit it.
While a Bolt isn’t a great trip car, it is far easier than the article indicates.

 

[ls99]

I view this article as a opinion looking for a story to fit it.
While a Bolt isn’t a great trip car, it is far easier than the article indicates.

Perhaps a dialog with the writer/driver of the article would be more useful.

 

[Zathras]

Perhaps a dialog with the writer/driver of the article would be more useful.

Unlikely, hit pieces like this are fairly common.
Years ago, a ‘reporter’ took a trip on the east coast in a Tesla.
He wrote about how long charging took (he also charged to 100%) and how he ran out of charge and needed to be towed.
Turns out he drove around in a parking lot until he ran out of range.

This is why I recommend people put more weight behind 1st hand experiences of neighbors/friends than articles in the media.

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

Unlikely, hit pieces like this are fairly common.
Years ago, a ‘reporter’ took a trip on the east coast in a Tesla.
He wrote about how long charging took (he also charged to 100%) and how he ran out of charge and needed to be towed.
Turns out he drove around in a parking lot until he ran out of range.

This is why I recommend people put more weight behind 1st hand experiences of neighbors/friends than articles in the media.

People could read Audreyh1's posts and see how charging is done.

Or any of the other posters who actually have an EV and know.

But it's so much more fun to post negative articles because they fit the posters outlook on the subject.

 

[travelover]

People could read Audreyh1's posts and see how charging is done.

Or any of the other posters who actually have an EV and know.

But it's so much more fun to post negative articles because they fit the posters outlook on the subject.

Well, sure, but posting the "ya, but" comments is entertaining.

 

[audreyh1]

EV manufacturers that only build cars, and don’t build a charging infrastructure to support those cars (via partnerships or whatever), are going to frustrate some of their customers. We based our brand decision on the charging network as well as the car.

Using for local only (and regional within range) driving and charging at home is a perfectly reasonable way to use an EV.

 

[explanade]

Supposedly Tesla will support CCS plugs at their Super Charger stations later this year.

https://electrek.co/2022/07/07/tesla-preparing-open-superchargers-non-tesla-evs-us-year/

 

[audreyh1]

The rumor is that they are planning to build this into their V4 even faster DC chargers which have not been deployed yet.

Meanwhile a large number of V3 (level 3) fast DC charger sites have been deployed this year, are under construction, or have permits and will be under construction soon. which is good because I am not to anxious to share, ha ha.

Tesla owners would also like Tesla to supply a CCS adapter in the US so we can use some other brands of fast chargers. There is one available from Tesla in South Korea and some folks have managed to order them shipped to the US where they work for newer model Teslas.

 

[explanade]

Probably high pricing as a message to say "should have bought a Tesla."

 

[audreyh1]

Who knows how they might configure it. Probably would cost more for non-Tesla. Also, could be that only some of the chargers have the CCS connector option.

One cool thing about Tesla chargers is that when I plug in the cable, the charger knows whose car it is and the associated account and the amount is automatically billed. No software, no credit cards. It’s all set up ahead of time and seamless. All you do is plug in.

For other brand cars they are going to have to figure out a billing system. Users will probably have to set up a Tesla account, and then identify themselves at a charger, probably using a version of the Tesla phone ap.

 

[ken830]

Well, I can drive these cars, but don't enjoy the other sportiness of them to make it worthwhile. I stopped caring about speed long ago, and these days, comfort is what I value most. I am not even 70, but more mellow than a 90.

Unlike ICE vehicles, where you always have to make trade-offs between performance, comfort, fuel-efficiency, ownership costs, passenger & cargo space, practicality, just get an EV.

If you want a comfortable car, then get an EV... They are extremely quiet with smooth acceleration.

If you want a sporty performance car, then get an EV... they are extremely quick and torquey with very low center of gravity.

If you want a lot of space for passengers and cargo, then get an EV... the small drivetrain means lots of passenger and cargo room for it's class... even a frunk.

If you want reliable low-maintenance and low cost-of-ownership point-a-to-point-b vehicle, then get an EV... they just keep running with essentially no maintenance required except tires.

If you want convenience, then get an EV... charges in your garage while you sleep.

And being an EV makes all of these desirable properties possible in the same vehicle.

 

[NW-Bound]

Unlike ICE vehicles, where you always have to make trade-offs between performance, comfort, fuel-efficiency, ownership costs, passenger & cargo space, practicality, just get an EV.

If you want a comfortable car, then get an EV... They are extremely quiet with smooth acceleration.

If you want a sporty performance car, then get an EV... they are extremely quick and torquey with very low center of gravity.

If you want a lot of space for passengers and cargo, then get an EV... the small drivetrain means lots of passenger and cargo room for it's class... even a frunk.

If you want reliable low-maintenance and low cost-of-ownership point-a-to-point-b vehicle, then get an EV... they just keep running with essentially no maintenance required except tires.

If you want convenience, then get an EV... charges in your garage while you sleep.

And being an EV makes all of these desirable properties possible in the same vehicle.

OK. I will get an EV when my 2020 ICE car quits.

Maybe by that time, the car will even drive itself and save me the trouble. "Hey car, take me to my doctor".

 

[Koolau]

OK. I will get an EV when my 2020 ICE car quits.

Maybe by that time, the car will even drive itself and save me the trouble. "Hey car, take me to my doctor".

Hey, hey, my 2000 Buick just hit 100,000 miles. I'm guessing it will last longer than I do barring being T-boned (probably by a Tesla). But seriously, I would consider a Tesla (maybe the high-mile-battery versions) if I wanted to return to the mainland and travel. Apparently it is comfortable, reliable and has a good charging network in areas I'd be most interested traveling - namely west of the Mississippi. YMMV

 

[Car-Guy]

OK. I will get an EV when my 2020 ICE car quits.

Maybe by that time, the car will even drive itself and save me the trouble. "Hey car, take me to my doctor".

First thought is, the car needs to understand "which" doctor you want to go see today. Or maybe you can link your personal calendar to the cars computer and it will just know. And if it does, maybe it could toot it's horn when its time to go or send you a text, etc.

 

[Koolau]

First thought is, the car needs to understand "which" doctor you want to go see today. Or maybe you can link your personal calendar to the cars computer and it will just know.

What a great point! I've lost count of the number of docs I've seen in the past 5 years. Must be over 20. YMMV

 

[NW-Bound]

First thought is, the car needs to understand "which" doctor you want to go see today. Or maybe you can link your personal calendar to the cars computer and it will just know. And if it does, maybe it could toot it's horn when its time to go or send you a text, etc.

The technology is already there, if the car maker is as nosy as Google.

I sent an email to an inn in a rural town in Italy, asking if their restaurant will be open on the day I planned to spend the night.

The proprietor had not responded, and by the 4th day, when I opened the mail, I saw that Google noticed the lack of reply, and sent me a nudge: "Sent 4 days ago. Follow up?".

Yep, Google reads my mail and knows all about what I did, where I have been, and what I intend to do in the future. If the smartcar does not know about my doctor appointment, Google will tell it.