Electric Vehicles - Models Discussion

[joesxm3]

Such a nice color. Congrats. Welcome to the cult. Please report your reactions once you have a little time to get used to it.

 

[joesxm3]

My cousin told me that Amazon is using electric Rivian vans. He sons girlfriend is getting trained this week. I am pretty sure I saw one on my street today. It seemed pretty large. Maybe larger than the typical Amazon ICE van.

 

[Midpack]

My cousin told me that Amazon is using electric Rivian vans. He sons girlfriend is getting trained this week. I am pretty sure I saw one on my street today. It seemed pretty large. Maybe larger than the typical Amazon ICE van.

I see them every day, they’ve been using them for a few years. Amazon has committed to buying 10,000 by 2030.

 

[Saintor]

Quicksilver is a C$2600 on Canadians Model 3. I was looking for it, but in person, it didn't have the special effect I thought.

 

[Texas Proud]

Heard one of the Amazon vans driving up to a neighbor... really quiet...

 

[ken830]

Heard one of the Amazon vans driving up to a neighbor... really quiet...

One of the best characteristics of an EV... and then the Feds forced EVs to make stupid sounds. Only EVs & Hybrids have a minimum sound requirement... Not gas cars.. Gas cars could be as quiet as they want. Corruption or stupidity? you pick.

 

[audreyh1]

Interestingly when driving forward slow we barely make any sound at all. The Mach E from down the street is kind of loud.

 

[ken830]

My 2012, 2013, and 2018 EVs are all silent. My 2022 makes weird sounds.

 

[homestead]

Interestingly when driving forward slow we barely make any sound at all. The Mach E from down the street is kind of loud.

My Mach-E doesn't seem audible to me going slowly forward but then I am inside the car with the windows up. I can however barely hear it when backing up.

 

[Texas Proud]

OK... I have a question for the people with self driving...

The other day I was taking my sister to the Dr... driving on the freeway doing about 70....

All of a sudden I see a desk chair in the middle of my lane... I had noticed some cars moving up there but it did not seem that bad until the one in front moved...

How would a self driving car handle an office chair... it was not a small one either...

 

[audreyh1]

Even without self driving the Tesla has collision avoidance features.

With self driving probably more so as it is already tracking all the other vehicles close around it and their speed.

So I’m guessing it would slow and attempt to go around.

 

[Midpack]

If Tesla vision sees an object in time, it will steer around it or stop. While using FSD V12 my MY drives around trash cans, traffic cones, a mower in the street and all sorts of other unexpected objects. That said, I can’t vouch for it being 100%, though in 5 months mine has never hit anything or even had to brake hard or swerve. I assume there’s a lower size threshold Tesla vision just won’t see, but I don’t know how small. IME it would see a desk chair.

But a couple weeks ago while using FSD going 70 mph, a coiled garden hose appeared in front of me with almost no warning - the car ahead had driven over it and launched it a foot or so off the ground so I had a split second to react. I took over and steered around it - but for all I know FSD would’ve avoided it. Someone else can test the limits on their car…

I do know FSD doesn’t “see” potholes, so I always take over if I see one.

 

[audreyh1]

Right, I’m so ready to take over if something unusual occurs. It’s just automatic. But I’ve had the car skillfully avoid even small things in the road. One of them was a plastic bag being blown across the lane, ha ha.

Crazy hay bale (square) on the interstate. I saw some car bunched up ahead but driving a bit strangely so I was watching. One of them appeared to knock a big square hay bale onto the shoulder. I just took over without thinking even though the car would have been fine as the obstacle had been pushed out of my lane.

 

[ken830]

How would a self driving car handle an office chair... it was not a small one either...

It would likely try to avoid or minimize impact. Beyond that, it's impossible for anyone to say definitively.

If the question were about how humans would handle the situation, you'd get the same answer.

 

[Texas Proud]

Thanks for the responses... it sounds like they anticipate these things...

It brings up another thought... what about the 18 wheeler blown out tires sections... they are low but your car does not react well to being hit... has anybody encountered this?

 

[joesxm3]

My model Y slowed down for a chipmunk running across the road.

 

[audreyh1]

Mine has slowed seeing if the dog was going to cross the road in front. The dog stopped in the opposite lane, so my car moved on.

 

[Texas Proud]

Mine has slowed seeing if the dog was going to cross the road in front. The dog stopped in the opposite lane, so my car moved on.

I can see that it would recognize a dog or even squirrel as they are moving ... a big tire section on the road is not... might be confused with a pot hole..

 

[explanade]

How does Tesla Vision deal with reduced visibility from weather. Or fog?

 

[audreyh1]

How does Tesla Vision deal with reduced visibility from weather. Or fog?

It’s seriously warns the driver about reduced visibility and you pretty much have to take over or listen to frequent alarms. If you slow way down it might handle it.

 

[explanade]

Anyone looking to buy or lease an EV before Jan 20?

$7500 tax credit is expected to go away on or not too long after that date.


Some EV models have pretty attractive terms.

What’s holding me back is an old electrical system which may not be ready to add a 40 or 45 amp circuit.

Electricians looking at photos of my panels, both a main and a sub, claim that I’d have to replace one or both or else it’s a fire hazard because of Federal Pacific Stab Lock panels and circuit breakers.

Without even adding an EV charger circuit, I would have to spend mid to high 4 figures to replace the panels and circuit breakers.

This work wouldn’t even increase the power to my home. They say I only have 100 amps and to upgrade to 200 amps would be 5-figures more!

But I checked with the city permit dept. and they say no I don’t have to replace the panels or get a permit 8nspection unless I increase the power to the home.

So I may or may not find a licensed electrician in these parts willing to install a charger without spending big first to replace the panels.

This is Silicon Valley so these electricians may be looking for a big payday.

I wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to replacing the panels maybe up to a couple of thousand but not if it’s $4-10k.

At that point, it would make more financial sense to lease an ICE or hybrid, which generally have much higher lease costs because they don’t have the tax credit or other incentives.

Well a few manufacturers have aggressive incentives now, like Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 as well as Honda Prologue.

 

[homestead]

Electricians looking at photos of my panels, both a main and a sub, claim that I’d have to replace one or both or else it’s a fire hazard because of Federal Pacific Stab Lock panels and circuit breakers.

My daughter's house had a Federal Pacific panel they had a friend replace the panel with a 200 amp Square D panel. They didn't change the incoming 100amp line. Not sure if he was a licensed electrician but he only charged them about $1200 total. I have seen pictures of the Federal Pacific panel fire problems, not good.

 

[RetMD21]

I like the idea of a smart panel in lieu of a service upgrade. OTOH they aren't cheap. On the other other hand at least in Michigan there is a federal subsidy that could save $4,000. https://www.energy.gov/scep/article...,sealing, and mechanical ventilation products.

 

[Ronstar]

I rode in an EV for the first time a few days ago - an Uber Tesla Model 3. From our hotel in Las Vegas to the airport. Comfortable ride even in the back seat. Very quiet. Uber lady lives in a LV condo and charges every other day at home. Uber lady loves her car. I was pleasantly surprised by the ride quality.

 

[DayDreaming]

How does Tesla Vision deal with reduced visibility from weather. Or fog?

It’s seriously warns the driver about reduced visibility and you pretty much have to take over or listen to frequent alarms. If you slow way down it might handle it.

I've seen it limit the auto-pilot speed to something below the speed limit in heavy rain.