real world EVs review

[gulfcoastguy]

I would say we need an exponential growth of on-the-highway reliable EV charging stations to spur a similar exponential growth of EV sales in Continental USA.

The horse needs to go in front of the cart.

The horse just got shot in the current federal spending bill. The federal NEVI program got canceled, federal tax credits no matter if the EV is US made are gone, the federal grants and loan guarantees for building US battery plants are gone, and a $250 a year EV road tax was added.

 

[El Dobro]

NEVI wasn't any great shakes to begin with. The Federal EV Charger Program May Die. It Was Just Starting To Pay Off

Despite NEVI, charging stations are still being built. You have Travel Centers of America putting up BP Pulse stations, Pilot/Flying J Centers are installing EVGo stations, as mentioned before, Walmart is getting into the act and you have IONNA, which consists of eight auto manufacturers, is putting up charging stations and lounges around the country. You also have the Tesla network. And, like at least 80% if EV owners, you can charge at home.

 

[gulfcoastguy]

Pilot and Travel Centers were planning on using NEVI money. Have been “coming soon” for 2 years in my state but no actual construction. We will see if Ionna will build in Flyover Country or not. At the new Buck-ees today I found a Tesla monopoly. Technically when ever you buy an adapter you can use it also and fund Elmo.

 

[gearheadgrrrl]

Most all of the new chargers are government funded, once that funding disappears new installations will be rare. The installed base of chargers will slowly disappear as they fail and are not repaired. Much as happened in the early days of wireless internet access, whole fleets of chargers may be abandoned in place as their network dies.

 

[tikal]

And, like at least 80% if EV owners, you can charge at home.

Excellent for the average person commuting in the city. You leave home with a "full tank" and you come home, on the same day, before "the fuel light comes".

Now you want to take your new VW Buzz to go from New Orleans, LA to El Paso, TX or from Albuquerque to Helena, Montana, with you+family+luggage, going 75 MPH, spending around 15 minutes recharging to 80% every 300 miles or so = No Go!

If I want to buy today a new vehicle, for the above, that is both good for the environment and my sanity, it would be a hybrid minivan without any doubt.

 

[turbobrick240]

I don't know, a fifteen minute break every 4 hours or so doesn't sound all that horrible.

 

[El Dobro]

Most all of the new chargers are government funded, once that funding disappears new installations will be rare. The installed base of chargers will slowly disappear as they fail and are not repaired. Much as happened in the early days of wireless internet access, whole fleets of chargers may be abandoned in place as their network dies.

There were a lot of charging stations popping up before government intervention. There was Tesla, EVGo. Chargepoint, Volta and Electrify America, to name some around here. Even car dealers have them. The government was involved with EA though, but in a different way. VW had to put the stations up because of penance due to the diesel emissions scandal. Theirs are the worst for reliability. Although, if there's an issue, they tend to turn the other stations on for free charging.

There's also a link I posted above showing how NEVI worked out.

 

[gearheadgrrrl]

Correction: There were a lot of charging stations popping up DUE TO government intervention. Without billions in taxpayer funded subsidies EVs would still be a failed experiment from early in automotive history.

 

[tikal]

The point I was trying to make with the statement above (post # 3815) is that, with the current battery technology and on-the-highway charging stations infrastructure, if you wanted to buy a VW Buzz to do enjoyable multi-day road trip(s) with the family and luggage, going highway speeds, is not doable for the average family in North America.

 

[El Dobro]

The point I was trying to make with the statement above (post # 3815) is that, with the current battery technology and on-the-highway charging stations infrastructure, if you wanted to buy a VW Buzz to do enjoyable multi-day road trip(s) with the family and luggage, going highway speeds, is not doable for the average family in North America.

Personally, I would just rent what I need for how long needed, then just turn it back in when done. I wouldn't buy a pick-up truck for the day I might need one to pick up a bed load of sod, I would rent then return.

 

[J_dude]

You could rent a screwdriver when you need one too, why bother owning one? Own nothing, be happy!

 

[El Dobro]

You could rent a screwdriver when you need one too, why bother owning one? Own nothing, be happy!

If you live in NYC, why bother owning a car.

 

[pkhoury]

If you live in NYC, why bother owning a car.

My baby brother sold his when he moved to NYC for law school. Said it's absolutely pointless there, but that's an outlier to the rest of the US.

 

[kjclow]

My baby brother sold his when he moved to NYC for law school. Said it's absolutely pointless there, but that's an outlier to the rest of the US.

My cousin did the same. Got tired of having to get up around 4 am just to switch the car from one side of the street to the other.

 

[kjclow]

Personally, I would just rent what I need for how long needed, then just turn it back in when done. I wouldn't buy a pick-up truck for the day I might need one to pick up a bed load of sod, I would rent then return.

We've owned a pickup of one type or the other for about 35 out of our 43 years. Maybe it's an Iowa thing. Right now, I usually have my tailgater on so I can throw the bikes over whenever we want to head out for a ride. I'll get several loads of mulch a year and add in all the other garden stuff (dirt, rock, tiles,...). Don't have to think about where and when I'll pick up a rental and return it. There have been times when the load of dirt sat in the truck for several days.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I've never owned a truck, have never wished I had one. I'm happy to have stuff delivered. And honestly, anything that's too big to fit in IBW is probably too heavy for me to get out of a truck on my own anyway.

 

[turbobrick240]

Just drove 65 miles with 4 40"x80" solar panels in the back of my golf. They hung out the back about a foot but were secure on a 2x4 frame I tossed together. The guy I bought them from was surprised I showed up in a little hatchback.

 

[oilhammer]

I need my trucks to rescue all the neglected broken cars I save, since many of them cannot make it home on their own. Although when I had my tow dolly, I did drag plenty home with the Golf. But the truck/trailer is sometimes easier.

I also scooped a load of topsoil in the F250's bed last weekend, after moving a Ford 8N for a friend. I don't drive them often, but when I do, they are great. Paid for and cheap to own.

 

[El Dobro]

Looks like charging stations are still going up.

 

[jmodge]

Just used the K5 to bring home 4 1/2 yards of composted yard waste in the dump trailer from the city of Greenville.
Few annual miles, but I don’t see myself ever getting rid of it. Especially because I can live in it or sleep on the road when pulling an orphaned car home.
It will take me to the U.P. This month to the St Ignace Car Show week where I may or may not see an EV. But there will be about 900 mostly thirsty pieces of mostly Classic American Iron.