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

[russell_314]

That's true and its a real problem, especially when I am determined to pump diesel into an unleaded car.

Seriously though, the EV thing is very different because all chargers are universal and having one type of port is fundemental. Having different types in the same country is a nightmare.

Well at least in the USA as of 2023, the Tesla/NACS connector has become the standard.

Unfortunately, auto manufacturers are a bit slow to adopt things so even new vehicles released in 2025 are being sold with outdated charging ports. Instead of doing the lazy thing, shipping an adapter with it manufacturers should equip the vehicle with the proper connection. If I’m paying $60,000+ for a vehicle this shouldn’t be even a consideration.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Doesn't matter if you plug in your Model 3 into a Supercharger that can output 500 kW, it's only going to accept 250 kW. It's limited by what the battery and electrical architecture can handle.

GM's EV's are slower than Tesla when it comes to L3 charging, but they have a 19 kW AC charger.

Correct, but we are talking about the adoption of a standard. So, if the J3400 can or can't handle kW is the point vs CCS2. My understanding is, there is no advantage to either standard plug, it's the equipment (vehicle on-board charger/Phase for AC, chemistry/Cabinet for DC).

But to your point, most US homes are not capable of handling 100 amp charging. So, why continue to build an on-board charger capable of it?

 

[diamond.g]

Typical Tesla move.

" No one uses the lumbar in the passenger seat so we will remove it"

heh, yeah they do those cost cutting measures then blame the end users a lot. (the mobile EVSE is no longer included)

 

[quagmire]

That sounds like a certain fruit company that’s very popular here 😂

True, but at least Apple did eventually get beaten into submission to give us ports, SD card, HDMI, etc back when they redesign the MBP's with the M1 Pro Apple silicon.

Along with USB-C ports on iPhone and accessories( thanks to the EU), etc.

Tesla hasn't given back passenger lumbar to my knowledge and is doubling down on vision based features with the removal of USS and radar.

 

[jz0309]

Yeah I guess Tesla found that getting a 100A breaker for a EVSE was too costly for most folk, so they limited all the newer vehicles to 60A.

That covers more than 90% of users/users cases so that is totally fine, in NA

 

[sjsharksfan12]

On the other hand if you haven’t drove more than 100 miles in one direction in the past decade and you have this long trip scenario in your head, I’d say that’s more of a worrying about nothing problem. I’ve talked to so many people and they questioned me about long trips. I’ll ask them when’s the last time they drove more than 100 miles. The usual answer is well maybe 10 to 15 years. Not all of them because some people do make frequent trips to visit family and friends.

Every year I make about 3 or 4 trips to Reno NV, which is about 4 hours from my house. That's why getting a hybrid SUV AWD is something I'm looking at, especially over the mountains (Snow during the winter months).

 

[jz0309]

That's true and its a real problem, especially when I am determined to pump diesel into an unleaded car.

Seriously though, the EV thing is very different because all chargers are universal and having one type of port is fundemental. Having different types in the same country is a nightmare.

Well, not having the same port is not ideal, but I’m living that life and I certainly do not consider it a nightmare, you just need to be prepared.
Back in the 90s when dial-up was common, traveling through Europe with every country having their own phone plug was not ideal either, but you just got a travel kit and were prepared…

 

[JT2002TJ]

True, but at least Apple did eventually get beaten into submission to give us ports, SD card, HDMI, etc back when they redesign the MBP's with the M1 Pro Apple silicon.

Along with USB-C ports on iPhone and accessories( thanks to the EU), etc.

Tesla hasn't given back passenger lumbar to my knowledge and is doubling down on vision based features with the removal of USS and radar.

I wonder if they looked at the data to see how many owners have even adjusted their lumbar and made a risk vs reward analysis. It might be easy to just say it is bad to remove something, but if majority of their customers aren't using it?

Mobile charger. I do use mine once in a while. So far 2x in over 2 years. It was for 110v charging when I left my wife's TM3 plugged in for 2 weeks while on vacation. The Wall Connector was left plugged into my TMY. I'm torn between the include vs not include. We have to remember there was a significant cost drop from when the TM3/Y were first released vs the last 2 years. If the cost decrease was associated with reducing the production vehicle cost, it makes sense.

 

[quagmire]

I wonder if they looked at the data to see how many owners have even adjusted their lumbar and made a risk vs reward analysis. It might be easy to just say it is bad to remove something, but if majority of their customers aren't using it?

Mobile charger. I do use mine once in a while. So far 2x in over 2 years. It was for 110v charging when I left my wife's TM3 plugged in for 2 weeks while on vacation. The Wall Connector was left plugged into my TMY. I'm torn between the include vs not include. We have to remember there was a significant cost drop from when the TM3/Y were first released vs the last 2 years. If the cost decrease was associated with reducing the production vehicle cost, it makes sense.

That's what they claim. Not sure what their data said, how was it collected, or their analysis on it. But that is what they determined when they removed it. But given both radar and passenger lumbar were removed at the height of the supply chain issues, I suspect that was the cause more than anything.

The mobile charger was a maximize profit again during peak EV craze where Tesla kept increasing the price of their cars until they had to cut the prices to stay under the price caps of the EV credit. They didn't remove it lower the cost of the car. I am surprised they haven't started to throw it back in as a way to incentivize sales again with the current market.

 

[diamond.g]

Every year I make about 3 or 4 trips to Reno NV, which is about 4 hours from my house. That's why getting a hybrid SUV AWD is something I'm looking at, especially over the mountains (Snow during the winter months).

Rav 4 Hybrid is a good choice. If you are willing to plug in the prime is ideal for local traffic.

 

[russell_314]

That's what they claim. Not sure what their data said, how was it collected, or their analysis on it. But that is what they determined when they removed it. But given both radar and passenger lumbar were removed at the height of the supply chain issues, I suspect that was the cause more than anything.

The mobile charger was a maximize profit again during peak EV craze where Tesla kept increasing the price of their cars until they had to cut the prices to stay under the price caps of the EV credit. They didn't remove it lower the cost of the car. I am surprised they haven't started to throw it back in as a way to incentivize sales again with the current market.

When did they remove the lumbar adjustment and on what vehicles? My 2023 Model 3 has it.

 

[quagmire]

When did they remove the lumbar adjustment and on what vehicles? My 2023 Model 3 has it.

May 2021. My 2021 Model 3 was among the first to have Tesla vision with the radar removed and passenger lumbar removed. Driver side has lumbar.

If they did put it back in, that is good.

 

[diamond.g]

May 2021. My 2021 Model 3 was among the first to have Tesla vision with the radar removed and passenger lumbar removed. Driver side has lumbar.

If they did put it back in, that is good.

It's still missing for the passenger.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Every year I make about 3 or 4 trips to Reno NV, which is about 4 hours from my house. That's why getting a hybrid SUV AWD is something I'm looking at, especially over the mountains (Snow during the winter months).

On those 4 hour trips do you usually drive straight through? I usually stop after 2 hours whatever I drive. That’s my limit before I need a comfort break. Charging takes no longer than a wee and picking up a coffee.

 

[russell_314]

May 2021. My 2021 Model 3 was among the first to have Tesla vision with the radar removed and passenger lumbar removed. Driver side has lumbar.

If they did put it back in, that is good.

I don’t know about passenger side. I will have to look. I know it has driver side.

The radar removal was going to happen because the new FSD relies on vision only. This is one of the things where I’m going to admit I don’t know what I’m talking about. Was removal of the radar a good or bad thing, I am going to say I don’t know. What I do know is Tesla has the best ADAS system available in any car sold to the public. Many other cars have radar and other tech technologies. I know it’s easy for people to say they should do something different but it’s like telling the best football player in the league he’s doing it wrong.

I have criticisms of Tesla vehicles, but the ADAS system is not one of them.

 

[quagmire]

I don’t know about passenger side. I will have to look. I know it has driver side.

The radar removal was going to happen because the new FSD relies on vision only. This is one of the things where I’m going to admit I don’t know what I’m talking about. Was removal of the radar a good or bad thing, I am going to say I don’t know. What I do know is Tesla has the best ADAS system available in any car sold to the public. Many other cars have radar and other tech technologies. I know it’s easy for people to say they should do something different but it’s like telling the best football player in the league he’s doing it wrong.

I have criticisms of Tesla vehicles, but the ADAS system is not one of them.

The removal was at the height of the supply chain issues which Tesla navigated fairly well. The radar was said to be apart of the issues all OEM's had issue acquiring supply of. Tesla's solution was Tesla Vision. I don't think it was the plan all along.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

On those 4 hour trips do you usually drive straight through? I usually stop after 2 hours whatever I drive. That’s my limit before I need a comfort break. Charging takes no longer than a wee and picking up a coffee.

I stop quite a bit. My brother has an Electric Truck and he even said he couldn't make it on a full charge. I don't know about it taking as long as a wee and picking up coffee, but if you say so. You also have to find a charging station as well.

 

[russell_314]

The removal was at the height of the supply chain issues which Tesla navigated fairly well. The radar was said to be apart of the issues all OEM's had issue acquiring supply of. Tesla's solution was Tesla Vision. I don't think it was the plan all along.

I’m sure supply chain issues had something to do with it but before the 🦠 mayhem, Elon advocated for a vision only system and said LiDAR was a fool’s errand. I’m not sure how far back this was the goal, but it was at least before that.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I stop quite a bit. My brother has an Electric Truck and he even said he couldn't make it on a full charge. I don't know about it taking as long as a wee and picking up coffee, but if you say so. You also have to find a charging station as well.

Not an issue in the UK. Charging is pretty quick on a modern EV. Of course depends on the size of your battery as well.
But I charge no more than 6-8 times a year. The rest is done at work. For free. Love it. Three years in.

 

[russell_314]

I stop quite a bit. My brother has an Electric Truck and he even said he couldn't make it on a full charge. I don't know about it taking as long as a wee and picking up coffee, but if you say so. You also have to find a charging station as well.

Most modern electric vehicles have route planning built in. You don’t have to find a charger like you have to find a gas station. You put in your destination then it shows you the route and where you’re going to stop to charge. Stop are usually around 15 to 20 minutes.

For people that like to just drive straight through, then you’re going to get more satisfaction from a gasoline vehicle. More range plus shorter stops. Even when I drove a gasoline vehicle, I would stop to get gas at the pumps then park by the store to get a drink and snacks. For my driving style I like to stop so it’s perfect.


Of course, if you’re considering an EV, do your research before you buy. Nissan just released their EV SUV and it doesn’t even have route planning. If you press the fuel button on the nav screen, it will give you directions to a gas station. You can use an app to do route planning, but it’s not something you should have to do. If something happens to your phone on a road trip, you’re going to be SOL.

IMO in the USA, Tesla is the best when it comes to EV’s, so that is going to be your first choice. If Tesla isn’t your thing, there are other brands like Ford and Kia that are almost as good. Just make sure the one you pick has access to the Tesla charging network. If you must avoid the Tesla charging network, it will make road trips a bit more difficult.

 

[richard13]

I stop quite a bit. My brother has an Electric Truck and he even said he couldn't make it on a full charge. I don't know about it taking as long as a wee and picking up coffee, but if you say so. You also have to find a charging station as well.

It's been a while since I've been to Reno so I can't vouch for that area. But I will say that I bought a Tesla Model 3 last year and took two trips. One from FL to north GA, one from FL to NY, NJ, PA. At first I didn't know what to think but I was quickly put at ease because chargers were all along the route.

I bought a CCS adapter just in case I couldn't find a Tesla Supercharger. I only needed it once when I got to where I was going in GA (rural area) but they had two locations with ChargePoint chargers and CCS connections.

 

[JT2002TJ]

That's what they claim. Not sure what their data said, how was it collected, or their analysis on it. But that is what they determined when they removed it. But given both radar and passenger lumbar were removed at the height of the supply chain issues, I suspect that was the cause more than anything.

They have data on everything. What buttons are pressed and how often. They can tell you what your seating position is vs. other drivers (based off of profiles). Every control runs through their computer.

I have no doubt that they looked at it and determined it was not used enough to keep it. I have passenger lumbar in my 2019 TM3 (never pressed the button), and don't have it in my 2021 TMY (obviously never pressed a non-existent button).

Radar was removed not for supply chain issues, but to solve the issue with phantom braking (as it is my understanding). Which as an avid user of FSDs, so far, it is better post removal (not saying it couldn't have improved with it, just that the system is significantly better since).

The mobile charger was a maximize profit again during peak EV craze where Tesla kept increasing the price of their cars until they had to cut the prices to stay under the price caps of the EV credit. They didn't remove it lower the cost of the car. I am surprised they haven't started to throw it back in as a way to incentivize sales again with the current market.

I'm not sure I am understanding this part. My sister bought her 2019 TM3 in 2019 it was more than the selling price new in 2022 when I bought my TM3, I don't remember the prices going up (Did they go up in 2020-2021?). I only remember the prices going down, with the largest cross vehicle drop in 2022. When I mean not going up, I am not talking about the up slight up and downs. But I could be wrong.

 

[vi2867]

I want to, I am close to retirement, but I hope I can still have time to purchase an EV. (definitely NOT a Tesla)...

 

[russell_314]

I want to, I am close to retirement, but I hope I can still have time to purchase an EV. (definitely NOT a Tesla)...

I’d say the Mustang Mach-E is a good choice if you don’t want a truck or big SUV. If you’re only driving locally something the Nissan Leaf is a good choice. I know Kia makes a few SUVs, but knowing their issues with gasoline powered cars I’m not sure if I would trust them 100%. I know the Dodge charger EV just came out but I’ve heard it has issues. Also it would be local only like the Nissan Leaf because I don’t believe it has route planning.

Go look around and take some test drives.

 

[quagmire]

They have data on everything. What buttons are pressed and how often. They can tell you what your seating position is vs. other drivers (based off of profiles). Every control runs through their computer.

I have no doubt that they looked at it and determined it was not used enough to keep it. I have passenger lumbar in my 2019 TM3 (never pressed the button), and don't have it in my 2021 TMY (obviously never pressed a non-existent button).

Radar was removed not for supply chain issues, but to solve the issue with phantom braking (as it is my understanding). Which as an avid user of FSDs, so far, it is better post removal (not saying it couldn't have improved with it, just that the system is significantly better since).



I'm not sure I am understanding this part. My sister bought her 2019 TM3 in 2019 it was more than the selling price new in 2022 when I bought my TM3, I don't remember the prices going up (Did they go up in 2020-2021?). I only remember the prices going down, with the largest cross vehicle drop in 2022. When I mean not going up, I am not talking about the up slight up and downs. But I could be wrong.

My vision only TM3 phantom brakes all the time still. I have found ways to mitigate it, has gotten better with software updates( was horrible at beginning), but it still panics over nothing.

The Model 3 and Y went up in price like crazy. The Model Y LR hit ~$64,000 before finally come back down once the tax credits passed and Tesla needed to get it below the $55,000 cap of the EV incentives. My mom bought a 2022 Y at $57,000.

I could have flipped my Model 3 LR that I got for $47K for $57K and bought new at the time in 2022 for $51K-$54K if I remember its peak correctly. I was considering a Y and it was $50K in 2021 when I was looking. I got in just before Tesla began jacking up their prices every few weeks.