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

[Tagbert]

i own a BMW 2 litre twin turbo diesel.
it has very low pollution levels and is most inexpensive to run.
a 50 litre tank yields around 950 kms.
drive into the servo, fill up, then back on the road within 5 minutes or so.
charging an EV takes a tad longer, so i’m told.
one hears it idling yet there is almost no exhaust smell.
some car companies have got it right.
i’ll be driving it for many more years to come and even a friend with a tesla 3 has yet to convince me to go EV despite his best efforts.

There aren't any gas stations along my daily route so I would need to drive 15 minutes out of the way and then do a very fast 5 minute fill up. Why would I do that when my EV is fully charged every morning.

Don't worry about it now, you may no be in the market for a car for a while yet, but if you get a chance, test drive an EV and see how you feel about it afterward. They tend to make most ICEVs feel slow and clunky after you have spent time in an EV.

 

[halledise]

i think it comes down to which flag you choose to stand with - ICE or EV.
i recall trolley buses in the UK from my childhood, but they were only viable in the cities.
they got rid of them for diesel powered ones.
probably gone back to a modern electric version by now - or gas.
melbourne is known for its iconic trams - like san francisco - which run on overhead lines for electrified power that you mention.
however, out in the country and the bush it simply ain’t practical because of the distances involved.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Fairbanks, Alaska EV Charging Stations | PlugShare

Looking for EV Charging Stations in Fairbanks? PlugShare's map has with 8 total EV Charging Stations in Fairbanks, Alaska.

www.plugshare.com

Yes, there are some charging stations, but most people park their automobiles outdoors, specially apartment dwellers. The parking lots have 115 VAC outlets, but both electricity and fuel are quite expensive. Renting an apartment that does not have a garage, while still expensive in Fairbanks, is a lot cheaper than one with a garage. Over in the military installations, members with families can rent military houses that have garages. Military members without dependents of family members live in the barracks and park their vehicles at the parking lot.

About the charging stations shown in the map: The one at the Hot Springs Resort is located somewhere from 50 to 60 miles from Fairbanks. The one that is closer to the center of the city is the Golden Valley Electric (GVEA, a local electric company). The Northern Moose RV park campground is several miles from Fairbanks, First one has to drive through Fox (a very small town located a few miles from Fairbanks), then drive on the Elliott Elliott Highway a few more miles on a very slippery road; and there is a good chance that no campgrounds are used during the winter. The only one I would rely on is the GVEA one, since it should be at this company's parking lot. And the ones at the Chena Hot Springs Resort.

Another poster mentioned an EV with nuclear mini reactor. Now this would be perfect, since a battery would not be needed to supply power to the electric motors, and also that one could drive for several years since nuclear energy is incredibly dense compared to electricity and fuel. ~just kidding

However electric propulsion for ships is a great idea, as long as there are electric generators onboard, just like the nuclear submarines. Hybrid engines are being used for electrical propulsion. In they case the engine and generators produce the electricity to power the motors.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

i think it comes down to which flag you choose to stand with - ICE or EV.
i recall trolley buses in the UK from my childhood, but they were only viable in the cities.
they got rid of them for diesel powered ones.
probably gone back to a modern electric version by now - or gas.
melbourne is known for its iconic trams - like san francisco - which run on overhead lines for electrified power that you mention.
however, out in the country and the bush it simply ain’t practical because of the distances involved.

Trolley buses were got rid of in UK cities do that routes could be extended in a more cost effective way and ugly overhead cabling could be removed. There has been talk in Cardiff for years now about bringing them back in the city centre.

 

[4sallypat]

Since Dieselgate the number of diesel cars being sold has plummeted.

Yes and did you hear about the Cummins dieselgate 2.0 ?

Plus diesel fuel prices have flipped in the US - used to be cheaper than gas, now it's opposite.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Yes and did you hear about the Cummins dieselgate 2.0 ?

Plus diesel fuel prices have flipped in the US - used to be cheaper than gas, now it's opposite.

Hasn't diesel been more expensive than regular for a while? (in the US)

It's how they pass on taxes without having people lose their minds. Since in the US diesel is typically for service vehicles and the costs get pass along to the consumer without blaming fuel prices... (i.e. bread goes up, people are mad at grocery costs, but it could have been diesel that actually was the reason).

 

[halledise]

Yes and did you hear about the Cummins dieselgate 2.0 ?

Plus diesel fuel prices have flipped in the US - used to be cheaper than gas, now it's opposite.

same here in australia.
though currently Diesel is Aus$1.90 p/litre whereas premium petrol (U98) is around Aus$2.05 p/L

 

[Apple fanboy]

same here in australia.
though currently Diesel is Aus$1.90 p/litre whereas premium petrol (U98) is around Aus$2.05 p/L

Just looked up ours as I do t use too much of it.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Hasn't diesel been more expensive than regular for a while? (in the US)

It's how they pass on taxes without having people lose their minds. Since in the US diesel is typically for service vehicles and the costs get pass along to the consumer without blaming fuel prices... (i.e. bread goes up, people are mad at grocery costs, but it could have been diesel that actually was the reason).

As far as I remember diesel fuel for automobiles and heating (in the US) has always been more expensive than gasoline. But since diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines, a tank-full can provide longer drive distances than the same tank-full of gasoline. Diesel fuel for automobiles is taxed at a higher rate than gasoline, while heating fuel for home use is not taxed as much as diesel fuel at the pump.

In Alaska diesel and heating fuel are the same (Number 1) in some areas. This fuels burns cleaner than Number 2 diesel fuel. But in other areas Number 2 heating fuel can be used only for heating, while Number 1, which is cleaner and more expensive, is used for automobiles.

 

[halledise]

Since Dieselgate the number of diesel cars being sold has plummeted.

i think manufacturers’ decisions to move more towards unleaded fuel propelled engines and also electric motors has a fair bit to do with it.
‘dieselgate’, so called, was largely a VW issue in europe which affected most of the other brands that conglomerate owns as well as their own.
diesel still rules the heavy transport industry however, despite mr. musk’s endeavours with his long haul big boy

 

[halledise]

Just looked up ours as I do t use too much of it.
View attachment 2333136

i’m assuming you’re citing the lowest grade of unleaded or E10?

 

[Apple fanboy]

As far as I remember diesel fuel for automobiles and heating (in the US) has always been more expensive than gasoline. But since diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines, a tank-full can provide longer drive distances than the same tank-full of gasoline. Diesel fuel for automobiles is taxed at a higher rate than gasoline, while heating fuel for home use is not taxed as much as diesel fuel at the pump.

Diesel and heating fuel are the same (Number 1), but in other areas Number 2 heating fuel can be used only for heating, while Number 1 is used for automobiles.

We have red diesel here for heating and other commercial uses. It isn’t takes as heavily so is significantly cheaper.
It’s not supposed to be used for driving and you will be prosecuted if found to be using it.

 

[Apple fanboy]

i’m assuming you’re citing the lowest grade of unleaded or E10?

No idea. Sorry it was just a quick google. I don’t buy it since I went EV 20 months ago.

 

[JT2002TJ]

As far as I remember diesel fuel for automobiles and heating (in the US) has always been more expensive than gasoline. But since diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines, a tank-full can provide longer drive distances than the same tank-full of gasoline. Diesel fuel for automobiles is taxed at a higher rate than gasoline, while heating fuel for home use is not taxed as much as diesel fuel at the pump.

Diesel and heating fuel are the same (Number 1). This fuels burns cleaner than Number 2 diesel fuel. But in other areas Number 2 heating fuel can be used only for heating, while Number 1, which is cleaner and more expensive, is used for automobiles.

On a state level, maybe (state taxes on fuel), but it was always the other way around before.

Here's what I can quickly find:

As per the U.S. Energy Information Administration, until 2004, gasoline was more expensive per gallon than diesel. But after that year, diesel prices in the United States have always been more than the unleaded fuel.

Why is Diesel More Expensive? - Reeder Distributors Inc.

Diesel fuel, often used in commercial vehicles, was not always costlier than the unleaded fuel used in passenger vehicles. Gasoline is a more refined petroleum product than diesel; thus, the production cost of diesel reflects a reduced level of refinement. But why is diesel more expensive...

reederdistributors.com

Farm fuel in the US is red, when I lived in Texas, I had buddies with family farms that used it. They talked about being stopped and dipped (dip tested to see if they were using farm fuel). It's really about taxes, home and farm fuel are not taxed for road use.

 

[halledise]

On a state level, maybe (state taxes on fuel), but it was always the other way around before.

Here's what I can quickly find:

Why is Diesel More Expensive? - Reeder Distributors Inc.

Diesel fuel, often used in commercial vehicles, was not always costlier than the unleaded fuel used in passenger vehicles. Gasoline is a more refined petroleum product than diesel; thus, the production cost of diesel reflects a reduced level of refinement. But why is diesel more expensive...

reederdistributors.com

Farm fuel in the US is red, when I lived in Texas, I had buddies with family farms that used it. They talked about being stopped and dipped (dip tested to see if they were using farm fuel). It's really about taxes, home and farm fuel are not taxed for road use.

it used to be colour coded here in australia too but now i believe it’s all the same colour - clear-ish.
federal gov’t give per litre rebates to approved users

 

[AlaskaMoose]

We have red diesel here for heating and other commercial uses. It isn’t takes as heavily so is significantly cheaper.
It’s not supposed to be used for driving and you will be prosecuted if found to be using it.

The same rules apply in the US. In Alaska, Number 1 diesel fuel is sold at the gas stations for automobile use. It is also more expensive, too. But in Fairbanks there are some areas where the air is more polluted than other areas. For this reason there is a rule for the use Number 1 diesel fuel for heating. And yes, I imagine that some people could buy the same fuel and use it for their vehicles

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Just looked up ours as I do t use too much of it.
View attachment 2333136

That’s a couple of weeks out of date I think as diesel is £1.46 a litre around my way today. I need to fill up over the weekend but avoid supermarket fuel whenever possible.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That’s a couple of weeks out of date I think as diesel is £1.46 a litre around my way today. I need to fill up over the weekend but avoid supermarket fuel whenever possible.

I don’t miss those trips. No garages on my commute or near home. Much more convenient to have your car charging whilst you are at work or home doing something else.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I don’t miss those trips. No garages on my commute or near home. Much more convenient to have your car charging whilst you are at work or home doing something else.

It’s not so bad for me, there are 6 within 3 miles of where I live, the one I use is about 2 minutes away. I’d rather be charging overnight or at work though, but more for the cost than the convenience.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

same here in australia.
though currently Diesel is Aus$1.90 p/litre whereas premium petrol (U98) is around Aus$2.05 p/L

I filled up yesterday in the Netherlands with super unleaded for €2.24, yup with a 100L tank that is not funny at €224. In comparison my wife’s EV charges at 9 cents per KWh. To go the same distance is €7.02.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

i’m assuming you’re citing the lowest grade of unleaded or E10?

Yes unleaded at that price is E10. I notice a big difference in available power and general smoothness when I use that. I only use E5 if I can help it, as most people with more powerful engines do. Or in old terms I’d like to stay at 98 or higher RON levels.

 

[Audentia]

I am assuming that there won't be any roads to drive any kind of vehicle in most of the Alaska wilderness. Automobiles are usually driven in and around the cities and between cities or towns. In the future there will be more EV's in the interior of Alaska than there are now. Still, there are some EVs in this area, but not as much as the cities with milder weather (Anchorage, Juneau, and so on). There have been efforts to Electrify Alaska, but lest say that one wants to drive an EV between anchorage and Fairbanks at subzero temperatures during the winter, driving an EV has to be planned with extreme care since there are very few charging stations. The distance from Anchorage to Fairbanks is (approx.) 360 miles. Long distance driving is very common in Alaska, regardless. Also Alaska has the largest number of small aircraft in the US per-capita. During the summer's salmon fishing season (King, coho, and other salmon), I travel from 600 to 800 miles or more (round trips) to both Valdez, or my favorite the Copper River. The Copper River salmon is priced by chefs around the world.

Some of the small towns that don't have road access have small airports. Food, and all types of supplies (fuel, groceries, mail, etc.) are delivered wby aircraft from the Stores in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and by ship (coastal areas) during the summer. Some tourists drive their petrol motorhomes from Europe to Fairbanks through Canada. A lot of European motorcyclists can be seen traveling through Fairbanks. Some drive the Dalton Highway. Yes the same road used by an EV rally that has been conducted in recent summers.

Amazing!

Road Rally Sends EVs to the Arctic Coast - Alaska Business Magazine

The northernmost drivable point in the United States is the end of the road for an all-electric rally that starts in Fairbanks on Friday.

www.akbizmag.com

huh thats interesting! I didn't know about this ev rally.
and interesting about alaska life! my brother loves to fish in Oregon and has caught some pretty big stuff there, not sure how it compares to Alaska, never really been my thing, only did small river trout fishing.

all sounds like good candidates for EV planes and drones once the infrastructure is there maybe some day. But yeah, any kind of long distance sub zero travel would want plenty of planning I can see that, and I can see EVs not being a top choice for that right now.

 

[diamond.g]

Yes unleaded at that price is E10. I notice a big difference in available power and general smoothness when I use that. I only use E5 if I can help it, as most people with more powerful engines do. Or in old terms I’d like to stay at 98 or higher RON levels.

I always thought folks making BIG power use E85?

 

[profcutter]

In regards to the original topic, yes, I would definitely consider an ID.2, but the chances of it coming stateside are almost none. I don’t need an SUV, but I need good range and driving dynamics that compare with my GTI.

 

[culo77]

In regards to the original topic, yes, I would definitely consider an ID.2, but the chances of it coming stateside are almost none. I don’t need an SUV, but I need good range and driving dynamics that compare with my GTI.

or that Honda E, wish we got those 2 in the US.

as another person pointed out the we are getting the Volvo EX30. which might be my next EV