Most of those are the older Level 2 chargers that use the same 240v electrical circuit as the associated store. The newer fast charging stations, like Electrify America, use dedicated high voltage circuits and all that I have seen have been placed well away from the host store.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Who has or is planning to get an electric car / EV Talk
- Thread starter PracticalMac
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
And I think you're taking a longer break than most. When I drive long distances, unless it's a scheduled stop for a real sit down dinner (like on a multi-state road trip) we stop for the amount of time it takes to fill the tank + bathroom. Someone else has to wait in line for food while the gas is pumping to reduce the amount of time not moving at 70+mph.
Because in reality, we're driving to get somewhere, not to wait around mid trip.
Same. On a longer road trip, we are mission minded, for sure. Stops are well short of ten minutes, and we'll go four hours or more between them. Sit down meals are at the end of the day for us. As I age, though, I'm enjoying hammering along like that less and less...
As you age you’ll need pit stops. Just did a 3 hour journey. About my limit without a comfort break!
Probably also matters where you're going vs where you're going through. Living in California, most of the traveling bit is boring and bleak.
When I was traveling through the east coast and new mexico however, the drive time was just as enjoyable as the destination.
Not much marketing from what I saw with the Silverado EV, which Ford had a lot of promo’s well before the Lightning announcement/debut. I think it looks sharp. It sounds like production won’t start until early 2023 and deliveries will range throughout the year depending on the model, which a lot can change between now and then with ordering & production.
Personally myself, I still really want the Lightning, even though I’m probably not going to receive my model until 2023-ish. But if I had to make a secondary choice, it would still be the Cybertruck (Which I plan on preordering when the time arrives), then followed with the Silverado EV as a possible reserve if something goes awry with the other two.
But still, we’re starting to finally see the likes of manufactures introduce the EV truck segment, and hopefully when these production shortages pan out, things will escalate for those who have placed reserves/orders.
More info here on the Silverado EV:
www.chevrolet.com
Personally myself, I still really want the Lightning, even though I’m probably not going to receive my model until 2023-ish. But if I had to make a secondary choice, it would still be the Cybertruck (Which I plan on preordering when the time arrives), then followed with the Silverado EV as a possible reserve if something goes awry with the other two.
But still, we’re starting to finally see the likes of manufactures introduce the EV truck segment, and hopefully when these production shortages pan out, things will escalate for those who have placed reserves/orders.
More info here on the Silverado EV:
The First-Ever Silverado EV | Electric Truck | Chevrolet
The first-ever all-electric 2024 Chevy Silverado EV is built with 440 miles of estimated range, towing capabilities, and packed with innovative technology.
Last edited:
I'm trying to be fair to the comparison. Lets say you are doing a solo trip (which most of the time, my long road trips are), and you are going through a congested area like the Eastern or Western corridor in the US. This is where you would be more likely to find EV chargers.
Assume waiting 5-10 or so minutes for a pump, 5-10 minutes to fill, then another 10 or so minutes to park, use the bathroom and get food. So 20-30 isn't all that crazy. If you are traveling with someone else, yes, you can overlap some of the time for waiting for food, but you would still have to account for pump wait, filling, parking, and your bathroom use.
One of my last stops on the way back from FL last weekend at a Pilot (Flying J) there was a 15-20 minute wait in line for Subway (the only fast food at that stop). I ended up avoiding it, and grabbing a prepackaged turkey wrap from the convenient side of the Pilot. This Subway wait, would provide another 15-20 minutes of charging time.
I am not against EV, I am just looking for a way to say it can replace someone's only vehicle. For me, this would require the ability to charge on road trips, in about the same amount of time it takes for an ICE vehicle to (stop, use the restroom, wait in line and get food).
My wife knows how serious I am about not stopping unless it is absolutely needed... On our last trip, she got and wore adult diapers, just incase (never ended up needing them).
You sound like a friend of mine. He has a conversion van, and on long trips he keeps a small camping potty in the back for those who can't go until the gas tank runs dry without needing a stop.
LOL. My wife just knows me. Mainly it is, she will wait until the last minute, and then urgently need to go. The highway system doesn't work that way, it could be 30-40 miles to the next gas/food/rest area.
I refuse to leave the major highway, and blindly drive miles to find a bathroom (many times they aren't available for general use). Occupants have to wait until the next exit with posted gas/food signs, or an actual rest area.
So just back from a trip to London. As I was getting back late I stopped for food (didn’t bother stopping in the way down). Anyway I did indeed notice the Tesla charging stations are away from the main building now. Much better to avoid congestion etc.
Going down again next week. My colleague wants to stop at a different hotel as it has a charger for his i-pace. Funny. I’d sooner stop at the one twice as close.
Going down again next week. My colleague wants to stop at a different hotel as it has a charger for his i-pace. Funny. I’d sooner stop at the one twice as close.
I'm planning on an Electric car in 3-6 years. When 500+ miles per charge is more prevalent and when charging stations are as well.
I think if I were to buy an electric car right now, my choice would probably be the Volkswagen ID.4 AWD. Not the fastest thing out there, but at least the vehicle will be reasonably well built (that's a huge problem with Tesla cars).
So you’re indicating that Tesla’s in their current form, are not reasonably well-built? Also, I don’t know what you mean by ‘huge problem with Tesla cars’, which I assume you’re referencing the build quality. What examples can you provide that would be ‘huge’ problems currently as it is?
There were issues early on long before the Model 3, but generally, I think for the people that I do know around me that own the M3, are very happy with the purchase. If anything, maybe a few minor quirks, but pretty much every vehicle seems to have a tendency flaw to some degree or another. Tesla seems to really have tightened down on quality control.
Anyways, I’m not trying to pick on you, but it’s annoying when people don’t elaborate with such shortsighted statements like the bolded, and then just seemingly leave it at that.
Last edited:
The funny part is that teslas might have questionable visual quality such as panel gaps, while the VW has the biggest pile of garbage of an infotainment system in any EV. While I’d prefer good quality all around, I’d rather have something that isn’t a hassle to use everyday.
I have the VW infotainment in my golf (pre CarPlay). It’s not that bad tbh. But I had CarPlay in my rental last week and it’s great. It’s certainly one of my keywords when looking at cars online!
Has anyone other than BMW added EV CarPlay integration? Having the sat Nav know when and where to stop and get electrons is a big reducer of range anxiety.
Lately I’ve been attracted to EVs and their Pros despite the cons… I’m interested in either a Model Y or BMWs EV 3 series
My problem with EVs is the cost… it’s very frustrating that only people who make close and above six figures can afford one… especially during this economic inflation period. Yet the government will effectively force poor people to buy them… no one wants a $700+ car note
The other aspect I dislike about going EV is the Government rendering V6 and V8 ICE engines extinct via “DO AS I Say” regulation but other than that…. I drive 60-70 miles a day to work round trip and maintaining ICE engines likes oil changes, etc is getting old
I dig the looks of the new Silverado EV but as a blue collar American… I can’t afford any of the cool stuff because it’s “reserved” for essentially higher income people… it’s P-ing me off actually
With the model 3 being the exception… I like “cool looking” cars and trucks and being forced to buy something boring and mundane is a no go for me
My problem with EVs is the cost… it’s very frustrating that only people who make close and above six figures can afford one… especially during this economic inflation period. Yet the government will effectively force poor people to buy them… no one wants a $700+ car note
The other aspect I dislike about going EV is the Government rendering V6 and V8 ICE engines extinct via “DO AS I Say” regulation but other than that…. I drive 60-70 miles a day to work round trip and maintaining ICE engines likes oil changes, etc is getting old
I dig the looks of the new Silverado EV but as a blue collar American… I can’t afford any of the cool stuff because it’s “reserved” for essentially higher income people… it’s P-ing me off actually
With the model 3 being the exception… I like “cool looking” cars and trucks and being forced to buy something boring and mundane is a no go for me
I hate that Apple will only provide charger directions for cars where the manufacturer has connected the car properties to CarPlay. It would still be useful even if the driver needs to be aware of the car’s current range. We can handle it.
Don’t be too worried about the current price of EVs. The tech is new and still pretty expensive but prices are coming down. There are cheaper EVs than Tesla and BMW but not a lot, yet, thought you may pay extra for “cool looking”. Over the next few years you will start to see lower end models launched. Tesla is planning on a model 2. GM is talking about a $30K EV Equinox. Others will be announced soon, too. The other option in the short term is an off-lease or used EV.
When mobile phones first came out, they had a lot of limitations and the prices were very high. They were seen a status devices and only those with above average income could afford them. Over time, those prices came down and soon anyone could afford one. Long term, EVs are likely to become same price or even cheaper than ICE vehicles due to having fewer discrete parts and simpler manufacturing.
The main problem right now is the covid-related supply problems that make all cars go for a premium price. As Covid fades and manufacturers work out the supply chain issues, those prices should return to more normal levels.
Although, I agree nobody wants a $700 car note (I also suspect if your payment is that high, then 1.You either didn’t put enough money down, 2. You have insufficient credit that forces a higher APR or 3. You’re in a position where you can’t afford a car that you financed with no money down). There’s plenty of factors where somebody shouldn’t have to have a car payment that high.
However, A Tesla M3 long range starts at like $46,000. I really don’t think that’s unreasonable and completely out of reach with a consumer that has a steady- income, and I assume they’ll trade a vehicle into lower the price of that vehicle as well. I guess my point is, the Model Y is more expensive that you’re considering, but not all EV’s are priced out of range, when there’s plenty of factors of how people will make it affordable depending on their livelihood.
My biggest frustration isn’t really just the cost of these vehicles, but they are out of reality due to all these production delays, long ship times, no guarantees with delivery, etc.. I was a little late to the game pre-ordering a Ford Lightning, and I’m likely not even to see my model until late 2023. I’m to a point where I’m not very patient, and do I try to find a different EV in the meantime? So it’s frustrating not only that the market is unstable, but some of these future EV’s aren’t even close to being ready for the mass consumer.
Last edited:
I agree mostly with what you said, however; I don’t agree that another option is used EV’s [Rather it be from a lease or privately owned]. I’m perfectly fine buying a used vehicle with low mileage, like sports cars for example. But I won’t consider a used EV for many reasons. However, have you looked at the price of used EV’s, like a Tesla M3 for example? They literally are almost the same price as a brand new Tesla. A consumer would be making a serious mistake by purchasing a used Tesla when they literally are almost the cost of a brand new one. The entire auto market, almost every used vehicle is priced considerably higher, with a minimum it seems like a $3000 inflation or higher in my area.
But I like your smart phone analogy you made above. It’s like these folding displays that we’re seeing from the likes of like Samsung and Huwaei, they’re extremely expensive for a very niche market, but as that technology matures, so will the prices.
ALL car prices are out of whack right now as supply can’t meet demand due to production issues. User car prices in particular are crazy. I would wait another year or so to buy any car if you can wait.