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

[BigMcGuire]

They are not fake. It can cost upwards of $20K USD for a new battery. Just replace your engine with the battery being the high cost item if it craps out. Now the FUD is the battery will fail within 5 years. Tons of Tesla's running on 10 year old batteries and/or 250,000 miles on the original HV battery pack. Also if it does fail within 5 years, covered by a 8 year/100,000 mile warranty. People tend to equate their phone batteries to how long an EV battery will last.

Transmission replacements are not cheap anymore either. Engines are getting expensive as well due to their complexity.

This person has Model 3 Performance with 120,000 miles. Didn't exactly treat it easy, but only experienced 12% degradation of the battery.

We got our 2018 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD used with 38k miles on it in February 2022. We have 59k miles on it now. We can still charge it to 273 miles so no degradation. But yeah, as other posters said, there's a lot of misinformation there. I've even had family tell me how my battery won't last 100k miles - I'll have to replace it at least a few times.

Thankfully since February 2022 not much has changed here other than Tesla putting in a charging station near our house - but it's a tiny 6 port station and we only charge after 11pm because it's $.21/kwhr then - during peak hours (8am-11pm) it's $.51/kwhr - which is ridiculous. Our electric rates have also gone up at home. We still get "free" level 1 charging at the university.

Yeah the warranty always makes people go "wow" lol.

 

[BigMcGuire]

One of my friends with a Tesla had to get his electric service upgraded as well but he just considered it the cost of the EV and it's generally not a bad idea to upgrade your house for current times - it will certainly have value when you go to sell. It's just that a lot of people don't have the cash to do home upgrades whenever they want to without taking out a loan.

Yep or like us, we rent, and the owner didn't even want to pay half of the $ required to put in EV charging (we offered to pay half).

<sigh>.

Thankfully lvl 1 charging works for us but if we do a trip on the weekend, we have to hit a supercharger.

My generation won't be owning houses in CA. lol. <cough>

 

[BigMcGuire]

A while back, I responded to this thread that I would purchase an EV.

However, over the past six months to a year, the sheer volume of issues I’ve seen online in relation to charging and plain car failure (Mustang Mach-E), I have decided to wait.

I feel the company Electrify America (I believe that is the name) needs to get to the level of Tesla charging/availability of working chargers. Additionally, Ford clearly have some work to do on the Mustang EV line.

So, there you have it…

Half the time I've tried to charge at Electrify America/EV Go/Whatever half the stations were offline, didn't work, or I couldn't get the dang station to activate - they're often very expensive. It's amazing how frustrating it can be to get these 3rd party stations working. I often prefer them so I don't have to rush my shopping (Tesla Supercharger is way too fast) - I often get a LOT of Tesla owners asking me how I plug into the 3rd party stations lol.

Chargepoint is the most reliable but still a long ways from Tesla. I find a lot of the state run chargers use this.

 

[bruinsrme]

We had a new circuit put in to accommodate an electric water heater. We could no longer use Natrual Gas because of code changes. It didn't really cost a lot. But upgrading overall capacity to the house - I could see where that could cost a lot. I looked at prices of Breaker Boxes recently and was somewhat shocked at what they cost today.

We were lucky, new panel, additional 50amp sub panel along with the associated digging and conduit, and all the hook up was $5k.
Breaker panel prices - shocking? That is an understatement. Luckily the electric company purchased them January 2022. We started the upgrade in oct 21. The electric company had a clause if service was under 1 year it would cost $2500 for an upgrade. 1 year or more no charge to run the new service to the box and switch out meters. Then the city took forever.
We got 6 other quotes, they ranged $8k up to $12k for the job.
One quote was $4000 if we did all the leg work and they just did the hook up without the additional sub.
We are set now.

 

[Marsikus]

I have positive look at electric cars in general, but not for me, let it be for someone else who wants it.
So far I avoid buying any 4-wheeled box.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Yeah. The Ranger is a small pickup.

That would be the case of seeing a vehicle driving down the road with one corner of the vehicle hanging lower than the other three corners.

I knew a man who weighed 375 lbs and drove a 4 cylinder, manual transmission Ranger for years. Comfort is a subjective affair, but in terms of function and capability a compact vehicle can handle obese passengers - up to a point, of course. I have an acquaintance who is 6'7" and at least 375, probably more. He can't physically fit safely in my Fiesta ST because the Recaro seats are too narrow. But he is uncomfortable in most vehicles, even full size trucks. He drives a Tahoe and a Grand Marquis - speaking of which, the now-long-dead Crown Vic / Grand Marquis are the best affordable vehicles for very obese people - very wide, low entry, vast bench seats, plenty of grunt and a stout suspension. But you'll never do better than 22mpg and a nice example is getting much harder to find these days. I suppose the platform-sister Lincoln Town Car would be an option too - like a retired NYC Black Cab.

 

[4sallypat]

Love my 1st EV: Ford F150 Lightning the past 6 months but now having second thoughts and switching to my 2nd EV is being delivered after 9 months!

'23 Mustang Mach E @$56K but reduced to $39K before TTL:

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Love my 1st EV: Ford F150 Lightning the past 6 months but now having second thoughts and switching to my 2nd EV is being delivered after 9 months!

'23 Mustang Mach E @$56K but reduced to $39K before TTL:

I would be interested in hearing your comparative experience with the two, especially in light of the issues recently coming to light with the 'Mustang.' I could see myself coming up with an argument for getting myself an EV F-150 (especially if I get to the point where I could charge it with my own solar), but never in a million years will I ever buy any new SUV, and especially not one Ford is attempting to sell as a 'Mustang'. Not a dig at you at all, merely my personal tastes.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Inefficient? how so? If I can't charge it then why would I get one?

A domestic dwelling having a huge electric supply like that and then still not having enough for EV charging (according to you which I don’t actually believe). Yup that is incredibly inefficient living.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Meanwhile the figures of car sales (all car sales not just EV) are coming in for Europe.

Norways TOP 10 for 2022.

And Denmarks top 10.

No excuses about not enough amps in the home, or obese people, or once in a decade there may be a black out and so on. Just leading the way 👍

 

[Lord Blackadder]

No excuses about not enough amps in the home, or obese people, or once in a decade there may be a black out and so on. Just leading the way 👍

Electric cars are unquestionably the future. People who snark about 'climate Kool-Aid' will certainly be singing a different tune in the near future whether they like it or not. My only critique is cost - will EVs eventually be truly accessible to working class / lower middle class consumers, or will driving become the province of the well-off? I am cautiously optimistic but the future is by no means certain.

 

[AdamNC]

My biggest concern is emergency use. Say your elderly parents or son or daughter at college is hospitalized or something 6-8 hours away and your EV has only 1/2 a charge. You don’t have the time to charge. You need a vehicle that can get there fast with no delays. When EVs can be charged fully in same time it takes to fill my 13gallon tank on my Civic and can drive 460 miles on a single charge I am not interested. EV as they are kill road trips and family vacations.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My biggest concern is emergency use. Say your elderly parents or son or daughter at college is hospitalized or something 6-8 hours away and your EV has only 1/2 a charge. You don’t have the time to charge. You need a vehicle that can get there fast with no delays. When EVs can be charged fully in same time it takes to fill my 13gallon tank on my Civic and can drive 460 miles on a single charge I am not interested. EV as they are kill road trips and family vacations.

Only would take a 20 minute stop for that edge case scenario today with the right EV.

Of course everyone ALWAYS picks the edge cases as to why EV’s won’t work.
They do work just fine.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Electric cars are unquestionably the future. People who snark about 'climate Kool-Aid' will certainly be singing a different tune in the near future whether they like it or not. My only critique is cost - will EVs eventually be truly accessible to working class / lower middle class consumers, or will driving become the province of the well-off? I am cautiously optimistic but the future is by no means certain.

This is true. But unfortunately with the shortage of chips all the manufacturers are going after the luxury market as that’s where they make the most money.
What we need is done going after the lower end market. MG are doing that here with a good degree of success. My boss just ordered one.

 

[AdamNC]

Only would take a 20 minute stop for that edge case scenario today with the right EV.

Of course everyone ALWAYS picks the edge cases as to why EV’s won’t work.
They do work just fine.

With the RIGHT EV. That’s the key. Affordable EVs are ****. 150 mil range for 25k is a joke.

 

[Apple fanboy]

With the RIGHT EV. That’s the key. Affordable EVs are ****. 150 mil range for 25k is a joke.

I enjoy my BMW i3 thanks. Off to London on Wednesday. I’ll make one stop there, one on the way back.

I also won’t burn any fossil fuels doing it. Cheap and clean driving.
How many journeys in excess of 150 miles do you make in the average week?

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Electric cars are unquestionably the future. People who snark about 'climate Kool-Aid' will certainly be singing a different tune in the near future whether they like it or not. My only critique is cost - will EVs eventually be truly accessible to working class / lower middle class consumers, or will driving become the province of the well-off? I am cautiously optimistic but the future is by no means certain.

Plenty of cheaper ones available. And ofcourse with more models entering the market from all manufacturers you also get more people trading in or up and thus the second hand market will grow as well for those who can’t or aren’t willing to buy new.

Like for like I’m not seeing a real cost difference to be honest.

 

[AdamNC]

I average 1100 miles a week. And many of the small towns I visit have no chargers within 75 miles. Some 150. Small towns might have one charger but half the time they are disconnected or out of service. When time is money you don’t have 30 mins to sit and charge. I don’t see people sitting sitting at charging stations in lines of cars like they are evacuating a city being a popular past time on highways.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

My biggest concern is emergency use. Say your elderly parents or son or daughter at college is hospitalized or something 6-8 hours away and your EV has only 1/2 a charge. You don’t have the time to charge. You need a vehicle that can get there fast with no delays. When EVs can be charged fully in same time it takes to fill my 13gallon tank on my Civic and can drive 460 miles on a single charge I am not interested. EV as they are kill road trips and family vacations.

That is a ridiculous edge case. But even so, your behaviour changes. EV owners know the concept of ABC always be charging. It be rare to have a low charge. But also you shouldn’t be driving for 6-8 hours non stop anyway. Poronkusema. And when you practice that the car is charged up and you be safe for yourself and other on the road.

And no EV don’t kill road trips or holidays. I drove 4K this summer holiday across 8 countries. No problem at all.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

With the RIGHT EV. That’s the key. Affordable EVs are ****. 150 mil range for 25k is a joke.

It remains a major challenge. My Fiesta can go over 400 miles on a tank of fuel and the car cost under $19k. I do long road trips (over 1500-2000 total miles round trip) about three to four times a year on average. I frequently do trips of about 220 miles round trip.

So for me a 1:1 EV replacement of my car is a sub $20K four-seater compact EV that can get me about 750 miles in a 12-13 hour driving day, on highways where the speed limit reaches 75mph. No such car exists now, or is under development yet AFAIK.

But you also need to think laterally. It may be that being able to 'fuel' up a car in 20 minutes and then drive all day just isn't going to be possible in an affordable EV in the short term, or even medium term. Granted, if the environmental arguments mean little to you, you won't be willing to make any sacrifices in performance or cost for an EV anyway, in which case this conversation is going nowhere. But if you are factoring in the imperative need to wean ourselves off oil, those sacrifices in capability and higher cost are part of the bargain until we see substantial step changes in EV technology and manufacturing. Some people can move to EVs earlier; some will be compelled to wait for the next iteration of models. Some occupations my required ICE vehicles for quite a few years to come.

 

[AdamNC]

Many people drive way more then 6-8 hours at a time. When I raced my Mustang I would drive from Washington DC to Dallas, St Louis, many places in one go without stopping except for a fast meal or fill up.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Many people drive way more then 6-8 hours at a time. When I raced my Mustang I would drive from Washington DC to Dallas, St Louis, many places in one go without stopping except for a fast meal or fill up.

We're all going to have to live a little differently in the post-ICE motoring world, at least until (and if) technology offers us a direct replacement that allows us to live the same way we did before, but without oil. A lot of people are probably never going to accept that until compelled by circumstance. But thinking ahead and considering alternatives to current habits may make the adaptation less painful for many.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

This is true. But unfortunately with the shortage of chips all the manufacturers are going after the luxury market as that’s where they make the most money.
What we need is done going after the lower end market. MG are doing that here with a good degree of success. My boss just ordered one.

Chinese ICE MG’s are shockingly bad and I’d never trust an EV version. Any car that requires chassis repair from corrosion in just 3 years to me screams poor quality. The quality of the steel MG use was subject of a meeting I was involved in back in 2021. Awful cars.

 

[bruinsrme]

A domestic dwelling having a huge electric supply like that and then still not having enough for EV charging (according to you which I don’t actually believe). Yup that is incredibly inefficient living.

Inefficient, how so? Its essentially a duplex with a pool and spa? What do you propose no ac in the desert, no laundry or no kitchens?

 

[danny_w]

Perhaps they could give us an EV today with the longer range many need if they would cut back performance to something closer to an ICE car. Nobody needs such fast acceleration as most current EVs provide even if it is fun. I don’t know if this is feasible but just wondering here.