Who has or is planning to get an electric car / EV Talk

[JT2002TJ]

How much distance does 30 min get you?



OK that sounds reasonable, but I don’t think the infrastructure is there to support a lot of EVs on the road. I’m used to this kind of station full of petro pumps. I’m not sure how many charge stations are here if any, maybe a couple.

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I used a Tesla supercharger for the first time. I left the car at an airport parking lot so I wanted to get it to 90% before I parked it. I forgot to do “navigate to superchlarger” so it wasn’t primed to take max charging rates. I got 48 kw charging out of a 250 charger. I did 10% in 13 minutes for a cost of $4. This was a more expensive charger, since it was in a prime location and a mile from an airport.

If I had told the car to navigate to a supercharger it would have warmed the batteries to take a much faster charge (maybe 150 kw). So maybe 3-5 minutes for 10%.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

We have a short company lease on a Kia Niro until our Q4 is ready. It’s a solid enough car with fairly good range, although it is depressingly bland and cheap feeling inside. Lots of hard and cheap ABS plastics. The charging cap is funny, it’s like the disposable packaging from a toy. Bear in mind this car is £37k new!

 

[Apple fanboy]

We have a short company lease on a Kia Niro until our Q4 is ready. It’s a solid enough car with fairly good range, although it is depressingly bland and cheap feeling inside. Lots of hard and cheap ABS plastics. The charging cap is funny, it’s like the disposable packaging from a toy. Bear in mind this car is £37k new!

Drove my wife’s Kia yesterday (ICE picanto). It feels very cheap inside. But I guess they do better spec ones these days? Is this the base model?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Drove my wife’s Kia yesterday (ICE picanto). It feels very cheap inside. But I guess they do better spec ones these days? Is this the base model?

I would imagine this is the base spec yes judging by the interior. There are some in the range that are £40k which have slightly nicer plastics on the interior I believe. Still, a hell of a lot of money for a Kia in my opinion and this is an EV aimed at the average family. I hope they depreciate fast for futures sake.

It does sound quite cool as it pulls off though and it has Apple CarPlay, but then that’s become a standard these days.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I would imagine this is the base spec yes judging by the interior. There are some in the range that are £40k which have slightly nicer plastics on the interior I believe. Still, a hell of a lot of money for a Kia in my opinion and this is an EV aimed at the average family. I hope they depreciate fast for futures sake.

It does sound quite cool as it pulls off though and it has Apple CarPlay, but then that’s become a standard these days.

Unless you drive a Tesla! 😜

 

[Surfsalot]

The way power pricing is going in Australia, up 30% again on 1/7 and similar in the last year, solar (which we have) FIT has dropped from 21c kw to 7-11c so you get hardly any credit, use it in the day or lose it, the inflated cost of a good electric vehicle over fuel cars, chuck in the extra insurance cost, I just don’t see it viable for a ev for a very long time. That doesn’t even include the hassle of charging on trips, nothing to do 600 plus km’s in a day here.
It’s 500 km’s to my Dads house, 4.5 hours and I don’t stop in my Nissan Navara diesel.
Can almost make it home without filling up.
600 clicks to Sydney.

 

[pshufd]

The next-gen batteries are likely to go on the road by 2026 and Toyota promises a cruising range of over 620 miles on a single, full charge. The idea is to expand the lineup of Toyota EVs by letting buyers have a better driving range and lower costs and on paper, it sounds great. Toyota plans to offer two next-gen battery types in 2026 and 2027, including performance and popularized versions. The performance version of the battery is likely to use the same battery chemistry as Toyota’s bZ4X electric SUV but with 458 miles of driving range instead of the current 382 miles (both CLTC figures). That said, the current EPA driving range is only 252 miles.

How Toyota’s Revolutionary Next-Gen Solid State Battery EVs Promise 900 Miles Of Range

Toyota might be late to the EV game, but a 900+ Mile EV with breakthrough solid-state battery technology can give it an edge over every electric car.

www.hotcars.com

Toyota getting into the market may increase more widespread adoption. I will certainly take a look.

That neighbor with the makeshift Ford Mustang EV and the piece of wood with a hole in it to let out the cord? He put in a holster in the wood at chest-height so the wire goes through a hole near the bottom and is held on the wood further up. I guess that's a ghetto-charger.

One of my other neighbors had a Tesla in his parking lot for two weeks - I guess he had a guest staying over. I never saw it charging so I assume the guest charged it an a charging station.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Other than my motorcycle, we are now an all EV household.

Took delivery of my 2021 Tesla MY with 7 seats, FSD and AB. They did have to resolve some issues with trim and give it an average cleaning. But because of the wait for my wife, my 20 month old and me, the manager threw in a homelink module and install. That was very nice of them…

It still needs a deep cleaning, and they are going to warranty a couple things that need to be ordered (coating on window buttons is coming off on 3 doors).

Once again, I am very happy with my Tesla experience, and happy with my purchase.

 

[ericwn]

Other than my motorcycle, we are now an all EV household.

Took delivery of my 2021 Tesla MY with 7 seats, FSD and AB. They did have to resolve some issues with trim and give it an average cleaning. But because of the wait for my wife, my 20 month old and me, the manager threw in a homelink module and install. That was very nice of them…

It still needs a deep cleaning, and they are going to warranty a couple things that need to be ordered (coating on window buttons is coming off on 3 doors).

Once again, I am very happy with my Tesla experience, and happy with my purchase.

Love the colour!

 

[4sallypat]

14 months after initial order in 2022, finally received my Ford Mustang Mach E.

Had to endure a VIN change when my order was derailed in Springfield, OH and was totalled in transit.

Ford was very quick to replace and expedite shipment from Mexico to California in 3 weeks.

Space white w/ gray & white interior - perfect for the hot desert Southwestern US:

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[Michael Scrip]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1671141789439492097

 

[JT2002TJ]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1671141789439492097

I heard it was coming... I am in a love hate relationship with automakers switching to NACS. Good, is there will eventually be 3rd party charging options and more locations. Bad, there will be much more vehicles using them.

I do like the NACS over J1772 and CCS. It's much smaller and easier to use.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Can't wait to see more Tesla adapter 3rd party charging stations. I really hope they start popping up all over. My local J1772 station (city owned) got vandalized over several months ago and it still hasn't been repaired - but it is only 6.2kW.

14 months after initial order in 2022, finally received my Ford Mustang Mach E.

Had to endure a VIN change when my order was derailed in Springfield, OH and was totalled in transit.

Ford was very quick to replace and expedite shipment from Mexico to California in 3 weeks.

Space white w/ gray & white interior - perfect for the hot desert Southwestern US:

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I'll keep an eye out for you at the Ontario supercharger. Hope you like it better than the pickup!

 

[4sallypat]

Can't wait to see more Tesla adapter 3rd party charging stations. I really hope they start popping up all over. My local J1772 station (city owned) got vandalized over several months ago and it still hasn't been repaired - but it is only 6.2kW.


I'll keep an eye out for you at the Ontario supercharger. Hope you like it better than the pickup!

Thanks!

I love the Mach E !

Reminds me of my youthful years driving BMW E series....

 

[Mellofello808]

I am going to need to get a new commuter car, now that my company has phased out company cars.

I am considering the model Y, but it doesn't tick every box for me.

Even though we have more EVs on the market, it seems like there still is very limited choice in what is actually available.

Will probably just end up going with a hybrid for now. Adding home charging will be an addition 15k due to needing to update my panel, and go to 200amp service. Then while I'm in there might as well get some powerwalls, and modernize my solar setup which is another 30k before rebates.

Once I do it, then I will be set for the future, but 60k car, and 40k worth of upgrades to my house seems a lot harder than just buying a efficient gas car.

 

[JT2002TJ]

I am going to need to get a new commuter car, now that my company has phased out company cars.

I am considering the model Y, but it doesn't tick every box for me.

Even though we have more EVs on the market, it seems like there still is very limited choice in what is actually available.

Will probably just end up going with a hybrid for now. Adding home charging will be an addition 15k due to needing to update my panel, and go to 200amp service. Then while I'm in there might as well get some powerwalls, and modernize my solar setup which is another 30k before rebates.

Once I do it, then I will be set for the future, but 60k car, and 40k worth of upgrades to my house seems a lot harder than just buying a efficient gas car.

When I was looking to replace my 325i, I looked at the prices of ICE and Hybrids, they were all in the same price range as the TM3's. So, I made the jump. I liked it so much, that I sold my truck and traded in my older model A4 to get a TMY. So we are full EV now. If you are ok with a mid-size car, the M3 is a good cheaper option. There are also good options for used TMY's (I just wanted the warranty, so I spent more buying direct from Tesla).

Not trying to sell you a Tesla, but right now, I wouldn't buy anything but a Tesla in the US. I would hate to get a Ford/GM/Rivian with a J1772/CCS port and have to use an adapter to be able to use the NACS cables, just to find out newer models come with the NACS port. I know Rivian said an adapter will work, but I'm still not sure how it will all work. I wonder if people will have to use the Charge my non-Tesla function in the Tesla app, vs in the future, perhaps the vehicles will communicate with the chargers for seamless billing. One of the biggest benefits to a Tesla when using Tesla's supercharging network is being able to pull up, hit the button on the charging handle to open the port, plug in and walk away without having to enter billing info into an app.

As to your electrical panel, that is something you basically HAVE to do. I had a rental that I couldn't change insurance policies as none of the companies around me would insure houses with < 200 amp service. Just like houses with older roofs. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to change policies, you may find that you are forced into a ton of projects at high contractor rates because you don't have time to shop around and fit into their timelines. I didn't need to switch at the time, but I was just looking to see market prices. When I was getting quotes, the two things that disqualified me from all the companies I was contacting were the age of the roof and the electrical panel. So, I immediately worked towards addressing both.

 

[4sallypat]

I am going to need to get a new commuter car, now that my company has phased out company cars.

I am considering the model Y, but it doesn't tick every box for me.

Even though we have more EVs on the market, it seems like there still is very limited choice in what is actually available.

Will probably just end up going with a hybrid for now. Adding home charging will be an addition 15k due to needing to update my panel, and go to 200amp service. Then while I'm in there might as well get some powerwalls, and modernize my solar setup which is another 30k before rebates.

Once I do it, then I will be set for the future, but 60k car, and 40k worth of upgrades to my house seems a lot harder than just buying a efficient gas car.

I looked at the MY and was not impressed due to the suspension.
Drove my relative's MY for a day and drove like a floaty nauseating ride - my wife said she got car sick in it.

I also test drove the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 - very planted and solid drive but the finance terms were terrible due to no tax credit (unless you leased).

Had the Ford F150 Lightning and after a year, traded her in for the Mustang Mach E. Love how it rides like my youthful years in many BMWs of the 1990s - 2000.
Drives like a sports car, handles well in power turns, solid feel of the pavement, and still offer a very easy on the wallet EV drive.

If you get a hybrid (PHEV), you don't need an upgraded power panel - 120v L1 will do nicely.

If you do get an EV, then 240V L2 is a must.
$399 48A L2 hardwired to dual 60A breakers:

 

[Mellofello808]

I wouldn't mind commuting in a MY, but ideally my next car will handle all of my needs. The MY isn't big enough for my hobbies, so I would still need to keep my 4runner around.

I suppose I could try to find a used model X, but the design of them didn't look good when they were new, and really hasn't aged well.

As to my electric panel, I had it replaced within the past 10 years, it isn't old, just maxed out. As far as I know there are no insurance requirements to go up to 200 amp, as that is very rare here in Hawaii, and you need to special request it from the power company.

Think my consensus right now is to wait. If all the electric work wasn't needed, I could think about it, but that is a bitter pill to swallow just to charge my car.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I wouldn't mind commuting in a MY, but ideally my next car will handle all of my needs. The MY isn't big enough for my hobbies, so I would still need to keep my 4runner around.

I suppose I could try to find a used model X, but the design of them didn't look good when they were new, and really hasn't aged well.

As to my electric panel, I had it replaced within the past 10 years, it isn't old, just maxed out. As far as I know there are no insurance requirements to go up to 200 amp, as that is very rare here in Hawaii, and you need to special request it from the power company.

Think my consensus right now is to wait. If all the electric work wasn't needed, I could think about it, but that is a bitter pill to swallow just to charge my car.

It all depends on your lifestyle, I know plenty of people who use the 'granny charger' options all the time and it works for them. In order words just plug it into a normal socket. Sure it is not as fast as it could be, but there are no additional costs and if your mileage isn't very high it can work for many.

Also electrical works is naturally very individual and varies for everyone. We wanted a tethered charger, but it wasn't a hassle. Just paid the electrician to do the work, created an extra spur of the mains with its own fuse box, and ran the cable and installed the smart charger to our outside wall. Was around £1,000. Not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things.

 

[diamond.g]

I wouldn't mind commuting in a MY, but ideally my next car will handle all of my needs. The MY isn't big enough for my hobbies, so I would still need to keep my 4runner around.

I suppose I could try to find a used model X, but the design of them didn't look good when they were new, and really hasn't aged well.

As to my electric panel, I had it replaced within the past 10 years, it isn't old, just maxed out. As far as I know there are no insurance requirements to go up to 200 amp, as that is very rare here in Hawaii, and you need to special request it from the power company.

Think my consensus right now is to wait. If all the electric work wasn't needed, I could think about it, but that is a bitter pill to swallow just to charge my car.

What about the Rivian R1S?

 

[Mellofello808]

What about the Rivian R1S?

I would love a R1S, but they are a bit out of my budget. Last time I looked it was pretty easy to hit 90k for one.

I could swing it, but I have better things to spend the money on.

 

[JT2002TJ]

I wouldn't mind commuting in a MY, but ideally my next car will handle all of my needs. The MY isn't big enough for my hobbies, so I would still need to keep my 4runner around.

I suppose I could try to find a used model X, but the design of them didn't look good when they were new, and really hasn't aged well.

As to my electric panel, I had it replaced within the past 10 years, it isn't old, just maxed out. As far as I know there are no insurance requirements to go up to 200 amp, as that is very rare here in Hawaii, and you need to special request it from the power company.

Think my consensus right now is to wait. If all the electric work wasn't needed, I could think about it, but that is a bitter pill to swallow just to charge my car.

Sorry, didn't realize you were in Hawaii. You probably do not drive all that far on a daily basis, you probably could even get away with 110 L1 charging... I use about 30% on my commute 26 miles each way and 9 hours of parking using overheat protection and sentry mode. It takes me 2.5 hours to recoup the 30% at 220V 40 amp (50 Amp breaker).

 

[JT2002TJ]

I looked at the MY and was not impressed due to the suspension.
Drove my relative's MY for a day and drove like a floaty nauseating ride - my wife said she got car sick in it.

What year MY did you drive? There was a suspension refresh to address the harshness of the ride in the MY. Also, what wheel and tire package did it have?

I have a 2021 (pre-refresh'ed suspension) with the 20" wheels. It has a notably harsher ride that my 2019 TM3 on 18 Aero wheels. Not enough that it would deter me from my TMY. It makes it feel more sporty, as it rides like a sportscar even thought it is an SUV.

A refreshed TMY with 19" or smaller wheels will have a very smooth ride.

 

[JT2002TJ]

I would love a R1S, but they are a bit out of my budget. Last time I looked it was pretty easy to hit 90k for one.

I could swing it, but I have better things to spend the money on.

If you are worried about charging, a Rivian may also not be a good option because of the battery size... It takes a long time to charge.

When it comes to efficiency and range, Tesla is still king.

But if I remember correctly, Hawaii has high gas prices, I would be seriously considering going EV over Hybrid, just to not have to spend money on gas. If you are eventually planning on going EV, might as well make the shift now. And with a lot of the US based EV vehicles either thinking about or already committed to switching to NACS, I would look for a Tesla wall charger, then if I got a vehicle with J1771/CCS, I would get an adapter. I have a feeling the US standard will end up being NACS, so your next car would likely use NACS.

 

[danny_w]

I have been following EVs with interest for quite some time (years) but still don’t think they are quite there for me yet; I just bought a new Mazda CX-5 and will keep watching the EV market with an eye toward my next purchase.