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

[jz0309]

I'll probably get some disagreement, but I don't think this car (and ones like it) should exist.

A 205kWh battery and over 9 THOUSAND pounds.

Escalade IQL

View attachment 2524864

And there’s also this:

Gravity | Lucid Motors

With extraordinary design, performance, range, convenience, and utility, Lucid Gravity is the future of sustainable mobility, reimagining the electric SUV.

lucidmotors.com

We sure have choices in the $100k+ category ;(

 

[JT2002TJ]

I would argue that it hasn't been feasible on the cost side until now and moving forward (for EVs).

I do know that my town is stuffed FULL of Bolt EVs.

There are folks who want affordable small EVs that aren't just preowned ones, especially in some alternatives form factors.

(I personally only buy preowned, but I'm not everyone)

Weren't bolts in the $30k - $45k price range? Also, as I understand it, it was hard to find the lower trim levels, so most were in the high $30k price range. So again, the TM3 is already here...

 

[turbineseaplane]

Weren't bolts in the $30k - $45k price range?

When new, the high end was way up ther, yes -- that was 8 years ago

The costs then were WILDLY different and way higher.

It'll be interesting to see the 2026 Bolt offering and what that comes in at, for sure.

Again, why are we arguing? 😂

Do you simply not want less expensive new EVs to exist, even if they are indeed feasible?
This feels so weird to be arguing about.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Weren't bolts in the $30k - $45k price range? Also, as I understand it, it was hard to find the lower trim levels, so most were in the high $30k price range. So again, the TM3 is already here...

That's why I and a lot of people I know are grabbing up the Tesla Model 3s. Crazy high interest rates / monthly payments, and any other EV is crazy expensive.

 

[jz0309]

I would argue that it hasn't been feasible on the cost side until now and moving forward (for EVs).

I do know that my town is stuffed FULL of Bolt EVs.

There are folks who want affordable small EVs that aren't just preowned ones, especially in some alternatives form factors.

(I personally only buy preowned, but I'm not everyone)

This 100%.
While a base equinox apparently can be had for about $20k after rebated, it’s a big vehicle.
People want choices, we do not really have them at the “low end”.

 

[JT2002TJ]

When new, yes -- that was 8 years ago

The costs then were WILDLY different and way higher.

It'll be interesting to see the 2026 Bolt offering and what that comes in at, for sure.

Again, why are we arguing?
Do you simply not want less expensive new EVs to exist, even if they are indeed feasible?

This feels so weird to be arguing about.

It will be interesting. Wasn't the last year of the Bolt 2023 in that price range?

I do want them to exist. I just think it is unrealistic to think that we will get them. People say they want them, but in the end, would you spend $5k less for a Bolt vs TM3 (politics aside)?

Not meant to be an argument, but a conversation...

 

[turbineseaplane]

Wasn't the last year of the Bolt 2023 in that price range?

Probably -- Chevy loves to play the games with MSRP + tax credits
(I love my Bolt EV and basically hate GM -- I'm conflicted)

I do want them to exist. I just think it is unrealistic to think that I will get them. People say they want them, but in the end, would you spend $5k less for a Bolt vs TM3 (politics aside)?

I guess all I would say is that Telsa is the one who announced the $30k entry level model, just back in April.

They must think there is something there?

I have no dog in the fight, as I'm not personally a Tesla person.
I very much want them to compete at the entry level though, as it's good for everyone.

 

[JT2002TJ]

I guess all I would say is that Telsa is the one who announced the $30k entry level model, just back in April.

They must think there is something there?

I have no dog in the fight, as I'm not personally a Tesla person.
I very much want them to compete at the entry level though, as it's good for everyone.

We shall see if they actually do it. My personal believe is, they wont ever. I believe they will just reduce the battery size of the TM3, and reduce costs with internal components. Right now, you can only get a LR RWD, I can see them bring back the SR RWD, or even something like a Commuter Range RWD.

My personal opinion.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Our 2018 M3 has a range of 250 miles fully charged (larger wheels and older). The 2024 M3 has a range of 352 miles fully charged. In a daily commute my wife barely uses 17% of her range. Me? 8%.

I think a lot of people could get by with smaller packs.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That's why I and a lot of people I know are grabbing up the Tesla Model 3s. Crazy high interest rates / monthly payments, and any other EV is crazy expensive.

In the US maybe. In Europe plenty of other (better) options. Tesla’s sales have been poor every month this year.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Our 2018 M3 has a range of 250 miles fully charged (larger wheels and older). The 2024 M3 has a range of 352 miles fully charged. In a daily commute my wife barely uses 17% of her range. Me? 8%.

I think a lot of people could get by with smaller packs.

Bingo! So many people need don’t need even 100 miles range. Yet they are obsessed with 300-400 plus EV’s.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Bingo! So many people need don’t need even 100 miles range. Yet they are obsessed with 300-400 plus EV’s.

"What if one needs to drive coast to coast without stopping on a single charge?"

- John J. American

 

[jz0309]

Weren't bolts in the $30k - $45k price range? Also, as I understand it, it was hard to find the lower trim levels, so most were in the high $30k price range. So again, the TM3 is already here...

Back 3 or so years ago when the Bolt sold at sticker (yes, in the 30s) the Model 3 was going for 45k+. Pandemic effect...

 

[jz0309]

Our 2018 M3 has a range of 250 miles fully charged (larger wheels and older). The 2024 M3 has a range of 352 miles fully charged. In a daily commute my wife barely uses 17% of her range. Me? 8%.

I think a lot of people could get by with smaller packs.

Yes, they could...
But then there is the range anxiety that is being promoted by big oil...

 

[SaxPlayer]

I haven't read any of the comments in this thread because I know what I'll get...

I've owned an EV as my only car for 2 and half years and I love it. I'd never go back to dirty, smelly, cancer-inducing petrol, diesel or hybrid but how well it works for you will depend where in the world you live. I'm in the UK and the charging infrastructure is excellent here, even if the price of charging at a rapid is a tad on the high side. Charging at home, however, is unbelievably cheap and I now don't notice running my car - it's almost as if I'm doing it for free.

Everyone talks about the climate emergency when they talk about EVs and this is definitely a good reason to get one, however putting that on one side for a moment (if we can), EVs are nicer to driver, have far fewer components to go wrong, are cheap to maintain, don't spew toxic fumes out the back that actually make people sick and are generally just far better technology.

Ignore the fools who bang on about petrol/diesel/hybrid. A hundred years ago these would've been the people shouting at car owners because they were afraid of what they were going to do with their horse.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Back 3 or so years ago when the Bolt sold at sticker (yes, in the 30s) the Model 3 was going for 45k+. Pandemic effect...

Yeah, there definitely was a COVID effect on prices. I bought 2 LR off lease Teslas in 2023, which both cost more than brand new Performance models today.

If the Bolt was going below MSRP, pre-pandemic, my opinion is that demand was low. I've only seen below sticker prices for vehicles that aren't in demand at dealerships. But it could be my limited experience.

I think we all say we want these options, but in the end, people (at least in the US) do not show up to buy these vehicles. It seems people prefer to buy used higher value vehicles vs. new lower value vehicles. I am 100% in that crowd.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I haven't read any of the comments in this thread because I know what I'll get...

I've owned an EV as my only car for 2 and half years and I love it. I'd never go back to dirty, smelly, cancer-inducing petrol, diesel or hybrid but how well it works for you will depend where in the world you live. I'm in the UK and the charging infrastructure is excellent here, even if the price of charging at a rapid is a tad on the high side. Charging at home, however, is unbelievably cheap and I now don't notice running my car - it's almost as if I'm doing it for free.

Everyone talks about the climate emergency when they talk about EVs and this is definitely a good reason to get one, however putting that on one side for a moment (if we can), EVs are nicer to driver, have far fewer components to go wrong, are cheap to maintain, don't spew toxic fumes out the back that actually make people sick and are generally just far better technology.

Ignore the fools who bang on about petrol/diesel/hybrid. A hundred years ago these would've been the people shouting at car owners because they were afraid of what they were going to do with their horse.

I couldn’t agree more with most of this. Been an EV driver 3+ years myself. I’m never going back to petrol.
What do you drive?

 

[jz0309]

Yeah, there definitely was a COVID effect on prices. I bought 2 LR off lease Teslas in 2023, which both cost more than brand new Performance models today.

If the Bolt was going below MSRP, pre-pandemic, my opinion is that demand was low. I've only seen below sticker prices for vehicles that aren't in demand at dealerships. But it could be my limited experience.

I think we all say we want these options, but in the end, people (at least in the US) do not show up to buy these vehicles. It seems people prefer to buy used higher value vehicles vs. new lower value vehicles. I am 100% in that crowd.

there is a market for that, but I'm not seeing it in California, it seems to me that a lot of "used or pre-owned" vehicles from CA end up in the rest of the US ...
leases on EVs over the past year or 2 have been incredibly affordable and people jump on that ...

 

[diamond.g]

Yeah, there definitely was a COVID effect on prices. I bought 2 LR off lease Teslas in 2023, which both cost more than brand new Performance models today.

If the Bolt was going below MSRP, pre-pandemic, my opinion is that demand was low. I've only seen below sticker prices for vehicles that aren't in demand at dealerships. But it could be my limited experience.

I think we all say we want these options, but in the end, people (at least in the US) do not show up to buy these vehicles. It seems people prefer to buy used higher value vehicles vs. new lower value vehicles. I am 100% in that crowd.

Demand for the Bolt was low due to no one trusting the battery. Once the prices fell into the high teens low 20's then sales picked back up.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I live in San Jose area (California) - NorCal so I'm probably not a good representative of normal but ... there are new Tesla Model Ys all over - on every street. The Tesla show rooms are packed despite the protesters outside.

I needed a car last year that wasn't a $700-$1200 car payment. They all had interest north of 8%. Tesla was the only vehicle company that offered me a 1.9% interest and payments under $600. (I know several coworkers who bought Teslas because of this).

I absolutely LOVE our EVs. Politics aside - I love that they're made in USA. I went to the Fremont factory to pick my car up - made in the USA by USA employees. We've had good luck with our Teslas and we're really happy with them. I'm for any EV as I believe competition is a good thing.

We rent since that's all we can afford here in NorCal (land of the rich) and every morning I have to close my window as people start up their pickups and SUVs in the garage below us - making the air unbreathable for a few hours as people go to work. There's this minivan that wouldn't pass a smog check if you bribed them - it puts out so much exhaust you can smell it 15+ mins after it leaves.

But I'm biased. I have had a love for batteries since I was a kid saving up lawn mowing money to buy AA batteries for my flashlights at Radio Shack lol.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I am going to assume you are talking about paid L3/L4 chargers here in the US, if that is the case, they are paying to get the juice, that is their right to be there. It is also the right of the charger company to charge idle/high volume fees. If I need to go to 100% and am willing to pay a higher fee to get there, no one should be pissed off, I'm paying for it. But the minute my charging is complete, if people are waiting, it is on me to unplug and get out the way ASAP (should be immediate).

I hate when people finish pumping (ICE)/charging and sit there in their car to set the GPS or find their favorite tunes... Get out of the spot and fiddle at the side of the road/parking lot.

No, I'm referring to free L2 chargers. If people want to pay to charge past 90%, so be it. Rapid chargers are most used on road trips, and for all I know, they need that extra charge for their next leg. (I've done many towing road trips where I needed 90-95% to make it to the next charger; although more are being added regularly so that's becoming less necessary over the years.) But if you're at a free L2 station, charging "just because I can" when you don't *NEED* it, and there are people with low-range EVs who actually do need the charge (and paid L2 stations are dying out in favor of DC rapid charging - and guess what, many older EVs don't have DC charging at all! So just going to the Electrify America a couple miles away isn't an option.)

 

[JT2002TJ]

No, I'm referring to free L2 chargers. If people want to pay to charge past 90%, so be it. Rapid chargers are most used on road trips, and for all I know, they need that extra charge for their next leg. (I've done many towing road trips where I needed 90-95% to make it to the next charger; although more are being added regularly so that's becoming less necessary over the years.) But if you're at a free L2 station, charging "just because I can" when you don't *NEED* it, and there are people with low-range EVs who actually do need the charge (and paid L2 stations are dying out in favor of DC rapid charging - and guess what, many older EVs don't have DC charging at all! So just going to the Electrify America a couple miles away isn't an option.)

There are plenty of paid L2 chargers around me. They have lots of options.

I’ve never seen a non-DC capable EV at that particular free L2 charger. I have seen plenty of L2 only hybrids though (4xe Jeeps).

 

[diamond.g]

No, I'm referring to free L2 chargers. If people want to pay to charge past 90%, so be it. Rapid chargers are most used on road trips, and for all I know, they need that extra charge for their next leg. (I've done many towing road trips where I needed 90-95% to make it to the next charger; although more are being added regularly so that's becoming less necessary over the years.) But if you're at a free L2 station, charging "just because I can" when you don't *NEED* it, and there are people with low-range EVs who actually do need the charge (and paid L2 stations are dying out in favor of DC rapid charging - and guess what, many older EVs don't have DC charging at all! So just going to the Electrify America a couple miles away isn't an option.)

I think destination charging is a great idea to be honest. When I am out of town and we are going out to eat or run errands I would be more likely to patronage establishments that have L2 charging (even if it is for a modest fee) as that helps me not have to worry about fast charging nearly as much.

 

[JohnnyGo]

Our 2018 M3 has a range of 250 miles fully charged (larger wheels and older). The 2024 M3 has a range of 352 miles fully charged. In a daily commute my wife barely uses 17% of her range. Me? 8%.

I think a lot of people could get by with smaller packs.

So true.

In reality, most people would be happy with a plug-in hybrid, as long as they have a home charger and only commute back and forth from work every day (usually around 30-40 miles round trip).

The fixation with range is only due to insisting all vehicles have to be "road trip" ready and perform like combustion engine cars for a 4-5 hour weekend trip. EVs are good at 65-70 mph but suffer range loss at higher speeds (80 mph) and higher temperatures (above 80F). A range of 300 miles can become 250-260 miles in these conditions.

But battery technology is improving and new vehicles will have higher ranges (300-400 miles) and, more importantly, faster charging (15 minutes for 10-80% recharge).

The OP is right though. Most EVs should be sold with two distinct battery packs: a smaller, "regular" range, and a larger "extended" range version. To each their own !

 

[Apple fanboy]

My car can drive for 2-3 hours depending on time of year and traffic. At that point I’m always ready for a stop (if not before). By the time you have had a comfort break, stretched your legs and and bought a coffee the car is most likely done. And that’s on a relatively slow charging car.

All this in the future it will be better I think is BS. For most people (especially those with home charging) EV’s are already more convenient that ICE.