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

[The-Real-Deal82]

Right now, the electric vehicle market is a bit sparse in the USA. We are in an early transition phase. Unless something changes drastically, I’d say it’s going to be at least ten years before there is progress.. I’m only speaking of the USA because that’s where I live and know about. I know other countries are way ahead of us when it comes to this. If you live in another country, your situation might be different.

The market is pretty good in the UK in terms of choice and we probably have a lot more choice than in the USA due to plenty of German options. Not sure the private market is that big and I get the impression most of the EV’s on our roads are leased or company vehicles. I think the general perception of them is still quite negative overall, despite EV’s being a very common sight on our roads. I don’t think the market will ever go completely to EV’s and dare I say it probably couldn’t, due to previously discussed limitations. However I think a healthy percentage will continue and with the likes of BMW abandoning the technology to pursue hydrogen, we should have a good range of environmentally friendly vehicles over the next decade to suit various tastes and needs.

I am quite happy with the amount who have EV’s now in a selfish sort of way. I can turn up at busy multi-storey car parks and usually find dedicated wide EV spaces. Charging stations around the country are usually quiet and energy tariffs are quite cheap at the moment for EV charging. That will all change if they get too popular.

 

[Mega ST]

We bought a new (small) car this month after not having one for a while taking trains and public transportation and renting a car if needed.

Both of us ended up suggesting buying an ICE car and this is what we did. Reason: No permanent place to charge, inner city rental apartment with different parking spaces all the time (if lucky to find one) and remote destinations to drive to without chargers.

We are very happy with our decision getting like over 700 km range out of a full tank of fuel.
Sharing the ride in a small, light weight ICE consuming less than 5 liters/100 km car feels like being at least as environmentally responsible as people driving 2 ton plus E-SUVs and feeling "green".

 

[Apple fanboy]

We bought a new (small) car this month after not having one for a while taking trains and public transportation and renting a car if needed.

Both of us ended up suggesting buying an ICE car and this is what we did. Reason: No permanent place to charge, inner city rental apartment with different parking spaces all the time (if lucky to find one) and remote destinations to drive to without chargers.

We are very happy with our decision getting like over 700 km range out of a full tank of fuel.
Sharing the ride in a small, light weight ICE consuming less than 5 liters/100 km car feels like being at least as environmentally responsible as people driving 2 ton plus E-SUVs and feeling "green".

We don’t all drive 2 ton EV’s. Mine is light and efficient thanks.
Enjoy your choice. If I couldn’t charge at home and at work I might feel the same. But I’ve never bought a house which didn’t have its own dedicated parking spot or drive. Even when I lived in London.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

We bought a new (small) car this month after not having one for a while taking trains and public transportation and renting a car if needed.

Both of us ended up suggesting buying an ICE car and this is what we did. Reason: No permanent place to charge, inner city rental apartment with different parking spaces all the time (if lucky to find one) and remote destinations to drive to without chargers.

We are very happy with our decision getting like over 700 km range out of a full tank of fuel.
Sharing the ride in a small, light weight ICE consuming less than 5 liters/100 km car feels like being at least as environmentally responsible as people driving 2 ton plus E-SUVs and feeling "green".

Our E-SUV is 2.6 tonnes but we haven’t got it to be or feel green. I’d be a hypocrite if I said we opted for an EV because of the environment.

 

[I7guy]

[…]However I think a healthy percentage will continue and with the likes of BMW abandoning the technology to pursue hydrogen, we should have a good range of environmentally friendly vehicles over the next decade to suit various tastes and needs.

[…]

Think hydrogen is the worse of the environmental friendly options. The only saving grace might be if the engine could be made zero emission at the tail pipe.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Our E-SUV is 2.6 tonnes but we haven’t got it to be or feel green. I’d be a hypocrite if I said we opted for an EV because of the environment.

It was certainly a factor for me, but not the only one.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Think hydrogen is the worse of the environmental friendly options. The only saving grace might be if the engine could be made zero emission at the tail pipe.

If reducing the fuel in the car is the only issue, yes. But if it’s not good producing the fuel then you aren’t helping massively.
Of course that’s what the ICE brigade often forget. Their fuel isn’t green to produce, ship and use.

 

[WC7]

1. I think they all have Apple CarPlay except Tesla.
2. So given how hybrids are the most likely to catch fire, followed by ICE vehicle then the safest are EV’s I assume you will never use any car?
3. Not ever likely to happen. An EV that is the same Spec as an ICE car would never be cheaper to buy. But when you factor in the lower running costs they can be cheaper to run/own.

I thought they said Chevy/GM EVs won't support CarPlay?? Confused. And, the Teslas I did realize are in a different reality. So, I was looking at down the list of other brands, VW, Audi, Fiat. The lithium fires are really scary even though frequency lower. I thought the far fewer parts in TVs would make them cheaper when the batteries go down in price? Maybe not the EV competition yet? Yes, maybe cheaper to own/run ... except if you have a fender bender?? Heard they are expensive to repair.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I thought they said Chevy/GM EVs won't support CarPlay?? Confused. And, the Teslas I did realize are in a different reality. So, I was looking at down the list of other brands, VW, Audi, Fiat. The lithium fires are really scary even though frequency lower. I thought the far fewer parts in TVs would make them cheaper when the batteries go down in price? Maybe not the EV competition yet? Yes, maybe cheaper to own/run ... except if you have a fender bender?? Heard they are expensive to repair.

No more expensive to repaired than an ICE vehicle. If the crash is so bad that the battery is affected then it’s a write off anyway. That’s why the battery is in the middle (well that and improved handling).
No sure about Chevy as I’d never consider an American car.

I’d not worry about lithium fires. Petrol fires are pretty scary too. Very unlikely to ever see one. But if there is one you can be sure it will be VERY well publicised. Meanwhile on my 7 hour journey today I lost count of how many ICE cars I saw broken down.

 

[diamond.g]

As far as I know there are only three EV makers that don’t support CarPlay. GM, Tesla and Rivian.

(Note I don’t know if the Chinese EV makers support CarPlay).

 

[jz0309]

As far as I know there are only three EV makers that don’t support CarPlay. GM, Tesla and Rivian.

(Note I don’t know if the Chinese EV makers support CarPlay).

I'm pretty sure that is correct, as of 8/31/24 . And also note, this is for GM Blazer, Equinox and whatever future releases, eg Hummer, lyric, Sierra still are being sold with CarPlay ...

 

[WC7]

No more expensive to repaired than an ICE vehicle. If the crash is so bad that the battery is affected then it’s a write off anyway. That’s why the battery is in the middle (well that and improved handling).
No sure about Chevy as I’d never consider an American car.

I’d not worry about lithium fires. Petrol fires are pretty scary too. Very unlikely to ever see one. But if there is one you can be sure it will be VERY well publicised. Meanwhile on my 7 hour journey today I lost count of how many ICE cars I saw broken down.

I've read somewhere that you shouldn't put EVs in a garage. I see them parked outside garages everywhere here in Reno. This Fiat 500e that I walk by is always outside under a shade tree (few shade trees in Reno). I guess I could move further up the mountain to Tahoe ... but then there are the bears.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I've read somewhere that you shouldn't put EVs in a garage. I see them parked outside garages everywhere here in Reno. This Fiat 500e that I walk by is always outside under a shade tree (few shade trees in Reno). I guess I could move further up the mountain to Tahoe ... but then there are the bears.

Never read that. For what reason? Sounds like more fake news to me.

 

[jz0309]

I've read somewhere that you shouldn't put EVs in a garage. I see them parked outside garages everywhere here in Reno. This Fiat 500e that I walk by is always outside under a shade tree (few shade trees in Reno). I guess I could move further up the mountain to Tahoe ... but then there are the bears.

Well, if you read it on the internet it must be true /s
mine is parked in the garage every day I’m home and is just fine…

 

[quagmire]

Never read that. For what reason? Sounds like more fake news to me.

Fear mongering with how the EV will just burst into flames at any moment.

 

[adrianlondon]

I don't own a car, but I have friends that own EVs and they park their cars in underground garages.

So far, not one has burst into flames or even given off a tiny spark. So boring.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I've read somewhere that you shouldn't put EVs in a garage. I see them parked outside garages everywhere here in Reno. This Fiat 500e that I walk by is always outside under a shade tree (few shade trees in Reno). I guess I could move further up the mountain to Tahoe ... but then there are the bears.

Why shouldn’t you put an EV in a garage?

 

[WC7]

I think some insurance companies said that: keep them out of the garage ... here in US. Don't know if that is being said any longer ... maybe not?? I think the reason was that fire companies let lithium fires 'burnout' so if it ignites the home they don't want to be held liable for the car plus the home loss.

 

[I7guy]

I've read somewhere that you shouldn't put EVs in a garage. I see them parked outside garages everywhere here in Reno. This Fiat 500e that I walk by is always outside under a shade tree (few shade trees in Reno). I guess I could move further up the mountain to Tahoe ... but then there are the bears.

It’s true, EVs do catch fire. But so do ICE cars. And houses burn down from gas leaks, electrical fires, cooking fires. My TM3 is always in the garage charging.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Ridiculous. ICE cars are much more likely to burn that an EV (that’s a fact that has been discussed on here and elsewhere many times.
A petrol fire is just as likely to take out the house.

These fake stories get reported over and over. It’s so obvious who benefits from pushing this false news. It’s sad how many gullible people get taken in by the BS.

There are many reasons not to buy an EV. Fire is not one of them. If you worry about EV fires, then you’d never buy an ICE car as they are much more dangerous.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Although there is less chance of them catching fire than ICE cars, they require a lot more resources to put them out and it’s something the fire brigades are investing heavily into tackling at the moment. A couple of Scandinavian ferry companies have banned EV’s from travelling with them due to fears even though the risk is minimal.

 

[JT2002TJ]

There was a specific plug-in Hybrid (Chrysler Pacifica) that had problems and the manufacturer reported to park outside. I think this is where the story came from. I also thought I remember reading somewhere that there was an issue with early Chevy EVs, but could be wrong.

That said, my TMY is charged and parked inside my garage. My TM3 is parked and charged in the driveway.

Stellantis says 24K hybrid minivans should be parked outside over increased fire risk

Certain Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivans from the 2017 through 2021 model years have been recalled over the issue.

www.mlive.com

 

[Tagbert]

There was a specific plug-in Hybrid (Chrysler Pacifica) that had problems and the manufacturer reported to park outside. I think this is where the story came from. I also thought I remember reading somewhere that there was an issue with early Chevy EVs, but could be wrong.

That said, my TMY is charged and parked inside my garage. My TM3 is parked and charged in the driveway.

Stellantis says 24K hybrid minivans should be parked outside over increased fire risk

Certain Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivans from the 2017 through 2021 model years have been recalled over the issue.

www.mlive.com

that is also probably where we got the assertion that plug-in hybrids are more fire prone than ICE, Hybrid, or EVs. One model from a company known for having unreliable cars. that “fact” keeps getting repeated in forum post recently a lot.

 

[halledise]

resale value of Teslas is very poor here in Australia.
many owners are trading in for hybrid cars - either plug-in type or recharge as you drive
best of both worlds … and not tied to charging anxiety.
we had a Honda Insight back in the day - awesome little car.
very low fuel consumption and even tho 1-speed CVT, it had paddles either side of steering wheel which gave you 7 gears like a semi-automatic.
the only thing that let it down was the semi-comfortable seats.
a most advanced car for its time …

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Although there is less chance of them catching fire than ICE cars, they require a lot more resources to put them out and it’s something the fire brigades are investing heavily into tackling at the moment. A couple of Scandinavian ferry companies have banned EV’s from travelling with them due to fears even though the risk is minimal.

The international marine shipping rules for transporting EVs are a lot more strict than for transporting ICE automobiles. This is not necessary because a vehicle being electric or not, but because of the battery. Even in the Alaska US waters we have had lithium-battery fires in ships transporting batteries. The rules for transporting and shipping batteries are more strict for the same reasons. A simple example as follows: I live in Alaska, and quite a lot of companies in the States South of the Canadian border (we call them "Lower-48 States) do not ship the individual lithium battery packs to consumers in Alaska. I can buy (online) most instruments, laptops, cameras, and so on, however. But the only way I can buy a battery pack is at the local stores where I pay a higher price than in Amazon and other stores. I need to buy two cylindrical-shaped battery packs for a couple of metal detectors I have, but so far none are found at the Alaska stores.

By the way, my comments above have nothing to do with EV versus ICE vehicular fires. Fire departments around the world, insurance companies, the marine, land, and air transport industries...all have the safety instructions relating to the transport of chemicals, flammable materials, EV's, ICE automobiles, and so on. Anybody in this forum can easily search for and read all the safety instructions I have referred to.