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

[Falhófnir]

investing topic! I had an Audi Etron for a while, decent range ~220 miles. Car was. beautiful much nicer looking than a Tesla IMO. HOWEVER! planning for a trip, a nightmare! I call it electric charging anxiety... where I live there are a lot, but not enough, then when you go to use them they are being used! you could barely go on a few hour trip before having to charge, making sure not to haul 4 passinengers or use the heater because that would take even more battery! LOL! why!? The best day was getting rid of this thing and getting an Auid Hybrid, much better! Can go anywhere!!!

I agree range and charging availability is a showstopper for many scenarios/ areas. Either high-range models need to more than double how far they can go on a charge (not gonna happen unless maybe Al-ion batteries are closer than they seem), Hydrogen needs to come from behind to save the day, or hybrids are going to have to continue way past a lot of government deadlines for ICE vehicle sales.

 

[xraydoc]

Check out the supercharger network: https://www.tesla.com/supercharger

We have taken road trips to FL and Texas with no issues at all. There are a ton of videos on Youtube about guys doing cross country trips
Here's one:

Tesla definitely. Non-Tesla, however, and it’s a very different story.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

This is an industry that I am watching with interest but at this time there are no EV's with the performance I desire that are also affordable and I also like the look of. It will probbaly a situation where I use a diesel for as long as i can before the UK governement push us towards electric in 2030. A lot of money needs to be spent on the infrastructure too before then. A very interesting industry indeed and I enjoy hearing others experiences .

 

[LordVic]

This is an industry that I am watching with interest but at this time there are no EV's with the performance I desire that are also affordable and I also like the look of. It will probbaly a situation where I use a diesel for as long as i can before the UK governement push us towards electric in 2030. A lot of money needs to be spent on the infrastructure too before then. A very interesting industry indeed and I enjoy hearing others experiences .

same situation. I have cash available for a new car. I really want to go electric.

I don't like the Tesla 3's interior (to the point I FEEL unsafe with it)

But as of this year, there's not a lot of "sporty" sedan options that really are going to grab attention. the list of EV's available here in Canada is tiny (and the government cancelled rebates too).

The current crop are either SUV/XUV's (I don't want.) or compact hatchbacks. I just want a sports sedan EV that's luxury.

Tesla's it, and as I said, I don't feel safe with their interiors.

 

[Apple fanboy]

same situation. I have cash available for a new car. I really want to go electric.

I don't like the Tesla 3's interior (to the point I FEEL unsafe with it)

But as of this year, there's not a lot of "sporty" sedan options that really are going to grab attention. the list of EV's available here in Canada is tiny (and the government cancelled rebates too).

The current crop are either SUV/XUV's (I don't want.) or compact hatchbacks. I just want a sports sedan EV that's luxury.

Tesla's it, and as I said, I don't feel safe with their interiors.

With you on that. Give me knobs and switches. Not a giant iPad glued to the dash!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

same situation. I have cash available for a new car. I really want to go electric.

I don't like the Tesla 3's interior (to the point I FEEL unsafe with it)

But as of this year, there's not a lot of "sporty" sedan options that really are going to grab attention. the list of EV's available here in Canada is tiny (and the government cancelled rebates too).

The current crop are either SUV/XUV's (I don't want.) or compact hatchbacks. I just want a sports sedan EV that's luxury.

Tesla's it, and as I said, I don't feel safe with their interiors.

Yeah I don’t like the look of any of the Tesla’s if I’m honest. A lot of money for a car that is rather bland inside and out in my view. A 6 year old model 3 are still £25k here for example too. All the cheaper models by Hyundai, Nissan and Renault are just awful in terms of mile range and aesthetics. I quite like the look of the Audi’s but I’d need a second mortgage for one of those lol. As I say it’s an industry I watch with interest but the technology and infrastructure need to come on leaps and bounds before electric is a mainstream solution. We also need another 3 nuclear power stations too.

 

[44267547]

The interiors of Tesla’s I have grown fond of over the years. The simplicity and overall blandness somewhat defines the appeal of a cleaner look to me. I also like lots of tech, so an iPad like display would suit me perfectly and I quickly would adapt to using touch devices with the U.I.

I already have a referral for an electrician to have the line installed for the Charger ($700 total cost). So I’m preparing now by the end of this year, or 2022 to hit the buy button for either a Model 3 or Cybertruck. My wife likes the Mach-E, but she likes the Model 3 over all of them. I might lean towards the Cybertruck tri-motor. But, I really need to see the Cybertruck first in terms of height, and overall how it would park in the garage. The Model 3 on the other hand is a sedan that I would like regardless, and I might opt for red again. (Which is another $2k option.) The Cybertruck only is available in a brushed stainless steel, which is fine, but you lose the color preference.

 

[PracticalMac]

Please provide source(s) you can link for ‘industry experts’ indicating the Mach-E is “the worst of current EV cars on the market in the US.” I mean, I’ve heard negative things about the software programming through various comments, but I haven’t heard anything about the worst EV. I also think it’s a bit premature given that the Mach-E has only been available for like six months maybe, and the GT isn’t even available yet. Remember, Tesla was in this exact same predicament when they first launched, with quality control issues with panel gaps, misaligned pillars, uneven Dashboard. And now Tesla has turned things around, when everybody else said they would fail and now their stock is healthy. Like I said, every manufacture has issues with first production model, it’s more of a beta vehicle in some respects, but it’s really all about a maturation process year-after-year.

Yes, Tesla did have issues at the beginning, but then again they had nothing to compare to (not counting go-carts and EV1 which was still primitive and more of an experiment).
They were inventing a lot of new stuff to make it work.

I watched another Munro video, and after weeks on a complete tare-down he concluded the Mach-E was the second best of all EV's.
But a very distant second best.
The work I do forces me to think optimal designs (I am not in auto industry), and looking at the spaghetti in a Mach-E is a nightmare.

And it appears service centers are not ready to service it

Ford Dealer Could Not Fix These Mach-E Issues, According To Owner

This was the third time Ford took the same car in for repairs, but the dealership they went to said the issues were unfixable.

insideevs.com

Not that other EV's are going smoothly (granted Tesla also had bumps).
These automakers saw the writing, had years to shift gears, and the results are embarrassing.

That is bad news.
Good news is most car makers are committed, these early bumps will be quickly ironed out.
I bet 2022 will see quality dramatically improve.

 

[oldmacs]

In my country it's more environmentally friendly to have a Hybrid over a fully electric vehicle at the moment due to our coal based electricity generation. Maybe one day in the future.

 

[oldmacs]

With you on that. Give me knobs and switches. Not a giant iPad glued to the dash!

Agreed with this. Knobs and dials for AC + volume etc are essential.

 

[oldmacs]

Hybrids to me (someone mentioned "the best of both worlds" and said to get a Toyota Rav4. I disagree..I think a hybrid is terrible. You get an underpowered engine with an under developed electric motor. As the saying goes, s**t or get off the pot. Go all EV or stick with ICE.

Hybrid's are great! They may not have the power that fully electric does but they have excellent range and at the moment depending on where you are, may be more environmentally friendly. They're a hugely important stepping stone in the transition to EVs, which aren't quite suitable for a lot of people yet.

 

[PracticalMac]

With you on that. Give me knobs and switches. Not a giant iPad glued to the dash!

and @oldmacs

Actually, it does.
2 sticks behind wheel, and 2 controllers on the wheel. Also same items on door (window, locks, ...mirror?)

I thought the same about needing more controls, but there is rub:
2015 Honda Civic the audio and extra features are all on a 9 inch touch screen.
The only knob item is AC and heated seats.

When I sat inside a Model 3, I realized I did not miss any of that.
I actually LOVED not having all those extra buttons.
I did have a quibble, but overall I realized the dash is (for me at least) a significant improvement over traditional layout.
Years ago I looked at a Nissan Leaf with typical dash and came away completely unimpressed and uninspired.

Back to my Honda Civic, it has a lot of software features, but are difficult to navigate and just clunky. Tesla is like iPhone, showing what you can do with tech in cars.
New EV's are getting very imaginative too.

 

[PracticalMac]

Hybrid's are great! They may not have the power that fully electric does but they have excellent range and at the moment depending on where you are, may be more environmentally friendly. They're a hugely important stepping stone in the transition to EVs, which aren't quite suitable for a lot of people yet.

Hybrids are horrible.
Plug-in Hybrids, that is the were the joy is.

Why use an low efficiency gas engine to charge when you can charge from the grid for 1/5 the energy and less $.

 

[oldmacs]

and @oldmacs

Actually, it does.
2 sticks behind wheel, and 2 controllers on the wheel. Also same items on door (window, locks, ...mirror?)

I thought the same about needing more controls, but there is rub:
2015 Honda Civic the audio and extra features are all on a 9 inch touch screen.
The only knob item is AC and heated seats.

When I sat inside a Model 3, I realized I did not miss any of that.
I actually LOVED not having all those extra buttons.
I did have a quibble, but overall I realized the dash is (for me at least) a significant improvement over traditional layout.
Years ago I looked at a Nissan Leaf and came away completely unimpressed and uninspired.

Back to my Honda Civic, it has a lot of software features, but are difficult to navigate and just clunky. Tesla is like iPhone, showing what you can do with tech in cars.
New EV's are getting very imaginative too.

Can you adjust the AC on a Tesla without looking at the screen?

 

[oldmacs]

Hybrids are horrible.
Plug-in Hybrids, that is the were the joy is.

Why use an low efficiency gas engine to charge when you can charge from the grid for 1/5 the energy and less $.

I disagree. My family are very happy with our Corolla Hybrid. At the moment it is the most environmentally friendly form of motoring in my country. Big improvement over traditional ICE, in extended time between fill ups, being more environmentally friendly without the downsides of EVs.

 

[PracticalMac]

Can you adjust the AC on a Tesla without looking at the screen?

Yes, voice.

(Honestly just learning some details myself)

 

[oldmacs]

Yes, voice.

And how accurate are voice commands?

Honestly, in my car I can do all the climate adjustments I want without looking at any screen without having to deal with voice control

 

[PracticalMac]

And how accurate are voice commands?

Honestly, in my car I can do all the climate adjustments I want without looking at any screen without having to deal with voice control

Probably excellent (not try it all out, just test drive).

I get you. Just give it a try. Wont convince you, just make you think.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I find anything that requires voice commands works some of the time. I can adjust the temperature and where it’s blowing in my VW Golf without taking my eyes off the road.
I’ve spent a significant amount of time in a Model 3 (my boss has one), and they are not for me. The sun shinning in the iPad for example makes it hard to see. Why is it so glossy? The screen in my car has a matte finish at least.

 

[jaymc]

I find anything that requires voice commands works some of the time. I can adjust the temperature and where it’s blowing in my VW Golf without taking my eyes off the road.
I’ve spent a significant amount of time in a Model 3 (my boss has one), and they are not for me. The sun shinning in the iPad for example makes it hard to see. Why is it so glossy? The screen in my car has a matte finish at least.

Try this ... https://www.amazon.com/LMZX-Anti-Glare-Anti-Fingerprint-Touchscreen-Accessories/dp/B07YBSR6C4

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I'd like to replace my Fiesta with an EV when it ages out. I'm currently at 120k miles and I live in a very snowy part of the world, so rust will kill the car before the mechanicals go. With luck I'll make 200k miles which gives me potentially another 5-ish years till I need a replacement.

EVs are moving in the right direction but are still too expensive to replace hybrids and ICE-powered vehicles except in the luxury sectors. We are not yet seeing a true one-to-one EV replacement for, say, a Focus or a Golf on the market. I loathe Elon Musk for a variety of reasons, so while I acknowledge his leading role in the EV sector I'd rather avoid contributing to his galactic escape fund. I want to see something more affordable that doesn't skimp on range. We're getting there, but there is still a ways to go. In the US huge V8/V6 gas-powered SUVs are still selling like hotcakes and the car is dying, so the market pressures are all wrong for the growth of affordable EVs.

Also, call me old-fashioned, but I think physical controls have become criminally underrated. Voice control is great and I use mine all the time, but I don't need to voice-control every damned feature in my car, and I certainly prefer to have a manual control available for basic stuff like the traction control disable (handy in snowy places when you need to rock the car when stuck) HVAC, and audio.

 

[oldmacs]

I loathe Elon Musk for a variety of reasons, so while I acknowledge his leading role in the EV sector I'd rather avoid contributing to his galactic escape fund

Same!!

I want to see something more affordable that doesn't skimp on range

I'd like to see what Toyota for example will bring in terms of EVs.

Teslas are decidedly high end cars. If they really wanted to make an EV for the masses, they'd make one without a huge touchscreen - its just unnecessary, a 10 inch touch information screen with manual AC and other controls would be just fine for most. Same with the leather seats, sunroof, heated seats etc.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Teslas are decidedly high end cars. If they really wanted to make an EV for the masses, they'd make one without a huge touchscreen - its just unnecessary, a 10 inch touch information screen with manual AC and other controls would be just fine for most. Same with the leather seats, sunroof, heated seats etc.

There are a lot of ergonomic benefits to consolidating controls in a big touch screen. But there are also drawbacks. Cars have so many 'features' now that you spend time navigating an OS - and no matter how efficient you make that it's never going to be as efficient as twisting a physical knob that's always there.

Also, longevity is a legitimate concern. It will be interesting to see what a 10-15 year-old Tesla or other similar EVs are like to live with. High replacement costs on Prius batteries are already hitting owners. At the moment, a battery pack replacement on a Tesla is something like $15-$20K+. A third party refurbishment is still ~$5k, about the cost of an engine replacement in many ICE cars. This is too expensive for the non-luxury market and risks giving EVs the reputation of being disposable cars for the wealthy - the exact opposite of their purpose really. Of course, the oldest Teslas were really just mass-produced prototypes rather than mature production machines, so I would hope that more recent models are more durable. But the cost to buy and run still needs to come down, and durability needs to increase.

Battery pack lifespan and replacement cost lie at the heart of the potential for EVs to replace ICE vehicles on a 1-1 basis. More affordable, more durable battery packs could push the average lifespan of EVs well beyond the current average an ICE car or hybrid can achieve.

 

[oldmacs]

I do think the (proposed?) moving of indicators and gear controls onto the screen is just complete and utter stupidity. I know they're supposedly automated, but I think this is also utter insanity.

I could see the usefulness of a system that could predict when indication is supposed to happen and then remind the driver to do so if they're not.. but full automation of it sounds like complete and utter disaster to me.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This was a funny thread I saw online today.
It's also a good way of doing analysis! (Flipping things around)



I am thinking of replacing my electric car with a petrol car and have some questions.

1. I have heard that petrol cars can not refuel at home while you sleep? How often do you have to refill elsewhere? Is this several times a year? Will there be a solution for refueling at home?

2. Which parts will I need service on and how often? The car salesman mentioned a box with gears in it. What is this and will I receive a warning with an indicator when I need to change gear?

3. Can I accelerate and brake with one pedal as I do today with my electric car?

4. Do I get fuel back when I slow down or drive downhill? I assume so, but need to ask to be sure.

5. The car I test drove seemed to have a delay from the time I pressed the accelerator pedal until it began to accelerate. Is that normal in petrol cars?

6. We currently pay about 1.2p per mile to drive our electric car. I have heard that petrol can cost up to 10 times as much so I reckon we will lose some money in the beginning. We drive about 20,000 miles a year. Let's hope more people will start using petrol so prices go down.

7. Is it true that petrol is flammable? Should I empty the tank and store the petrol somewhere else while the car is in the garage?

8. Is there an automatic system to prevent gasoline from catching fire or exploding in an accident. What does this cost?

9. I understand that the main ingredient in petrol is oil. Is it true that the extraction and refining of oil causes environmental problems as well as conflicts and major wars that over the last 100 years have cost millions of lives? Is there a solution to these problems?

I may have more questions later, but these are the most important ones to me at the moment.

Thank you in advance for your reply.