Had my Leaf for a year and I am still enjoying it (even if working-from-home has meant that I've only used it half as much as intended. E-pedal (1 pedal control) and Propilot (Nissan's adaptive cruise control) make driving so much easier. I've also found that I've changed my driving habits, I'm far less likely to be lead-footed and I've realised that I don't need to be in such a hurry. Stopping off for a recharge allows me to have a leg-stretch, coffee, and a catch up with life. I arrive fresher and more relaxed than if I'd hammered the distance in one go in an ICE vehicle.
Electric Vehicles
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TurkeysGhost
Penultimate Amazing
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Yeah, not really seeing how trickle charge is really reasonable unless you have a very short commute and can top up each night.
Installing a 220V outlet isn't that big of a deal usually. For a commuter vehicle, never having to stop at a gas station sounds pretty nice.
Mrs Don's 13 year old Skoda Fabia is starting to play up a bit.
We may get to experience EV ownership earlier than we were expecting if she decides to replace it.
It will be a second car/runabout so a range of 150km will be more than plenty and we're in the happy position of being able to install a charging point on the wall of our garage/workshop.
I'll still have my IC car for long journeys.
We may get to experience EV ownership earlier than we were expecting if she decides to replace it.
It will be a second car/runabout so a range of 150km will be more than plenty and we're in the happy position of being able to install a charging point on the wall of our garage/workshop.
I'll still have my IC car for long journeys.
Shalamar
Dark Lord of the JREF
It’s one of the reasons why the Wife and I chose a Tesla. Range and the massive and growing supercharge network.
Yeah that's great I'll go down to my vault and chip off enough from my gold bricks to buy a Telsa.
I'm budgeting a replacement for a base Dodge Dart with close to 200,000 miles on it. I'm at 1/5th of a Tesla as far as budgeting goes.
I'm maybe still doing a used Chevy Volt at best if I want to go electric/hybrid/solar/wind/hamster wheel powered.
I'm budgeting a replacement for a base Dodge Dart with close to 200,000 miles on it. I'm at 1/5th of a Tesla as far as budgeting goes.
I'm maybe still doing a used Chevy Volt at best if I want to go electric/hybrid/solar/wind/hamster wheel powered.
TurkeysGhost
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By all accounts, the build quality of Tesla really blows too. Your better off with the Volt.
I'm hoping that by the time I'm looking at a replacement for my Corolla (100k miles now), electric vehicles have become an everyman's car and not just another out of reach option in the luxury market.
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Disbelief
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I leased a Volt for 3 years, and really liked it. My short commute meant I had to fill the tank every 3 or 4 months, so that was nice. As I stated before, I do work for GM.
Shalamar
Dark Lord of the JREF
Teslas have been hit or miss on the fit and finish department, but seems to be getting better. Ours was great. No issues.
They are expensive, but Tesla is looking at doing a much less expensive vehicle.. at some point. There are also various incentives based on your state.
Could also wait and see if the Biden Administration is going to bring back a federal credit for EVs.
I hate that. I so hate that. The whole thing. This whole narrative that tax incentives are the same thing as making things more affordable. It's not.
And they always try to sell EV's like this. "Well it costs a bajillion dollars but after tax credit it's only .38 cents."
That's not how finances work, especially for poor people. The car costs what I have to pony up to buy/finance it at the time I'm buying it. Period. Money I save on it after the fact doesn't make it cheaper to buy now.
It's the same thing with the whole "Oh but you'll save XXXX on gas over a 10 year period..." yeah and that's great. You know what it doesn't do? Make the actual car I'm buying at this moment any cheaper at this moment. It's not like I can somehow access the next 10 years of gas savings money now.
If I can't afford a Tesla now (which I can't) the amount of money it would save a hypothetical richer version of me in gas and taxes isn't doing me any good.
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Filippo Lippi
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The one market I see PHEVs sticking around in is for trucks and off-road vehicles, like Jeeps or Broncos.
I read a review of the 4Xe Jeep and it seemed like a great Jeep for the weekend warrior with a desk job. Enough electric for a light commute, enough range with gas for road trips, and enough grunt for good off-roading in either electric mode or gas mode. ETA: At least one comment claimed to have reduced his number of vehicles due to the flexibility of the 4Xe. Sounds plausible.
Likewise, my next truck will likely be a PHEV so that I can avoid the pump unless we are going on a trip or towing or hauling something. Ford has shown that there is added capability by tapping into that huge battery with an inverter and I'm sold. About $2k extra for a much more powerful vehicle with a generator built in and plug in convenience for most of my day-to-day usage.
For the work horses it is really hard to beat the density of gasoline when you are traveling to the middle of Montana or Wyoming, or deep into the mountains of Colorado.
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The problem is having two completely different drivetrains that operate very differently are (often times) going to leave you with a compromised vehicle.
Yes currently right now in our current technological/infrastructure state a range extended electric vehicle or hybrid is a lot more practical for most people than the new hotness of a purely electric vehicle.
But we're still at the problem of a hybrids being expensive.
Yes currently right now in our current technological/infrastructure state a range extended electric vehicle or hybrid is a lot more practical for most people than the new hotness of a purely electric vehicle.
But we're still at the problem of a hybrids being expensive.
Yes, must of us are familiar with the Boots Theory.
Nonetheless, without Tesla there would be little desire for electric cars in the US. I hope they are just the tip of the spear.
I don't see a compromised vehicle in PHEVs, I see the drive trains complimenting each other. The gas giving more range and the electric adding in torque across the board.
They are not cheap, but for the two vehicles I mentioned the added cost was not excessive as compared to other options. I think upgrading to leather seats is more than the hybrid option on the F-150, or at least they are about the same cost. And I'd much rather have that 30Amp plug in the back than leather seats.
Well true, which is I'm sort done with the... certain groups let's say just itching at the chance to turn on Musk.
At the end of the day without Tesla, the odds are good that electric car acceptance would be nowhere near where it is now. It's a net good overall.
Shalamar
Dark Lord of the JREF
Not all are tax credits. Some states offer grants for down payments. In Washington, you can apply to get the sales tax on the vehicle back (up to a certain value of vehicle).
Here's a good video that gives an example on how one might be able to get $25000 off of a Tesla Model 3.
Yes, it is a real pain to stand beside the car for hours while it charges. Oh, wait ...
Seriously, never having to stop at a gas station is a real plus. (One I didn't think of before purchasing my EV.) I just plug my car in when I get home and unplug it before I leave again.
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Shalamar
Dark Lord of the JREF
I have a full 'tank' every morning. It's awesome.
Though in a couple weeks, the wife and I are doing a Yellowstone road trip. We'll see if we still like the car after that.
(and it won't take 37 hours at each Supercharger to top off!)
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