EV's

[Clark]

So what is the upside of driving an EV?

Fun acceleration?
Quiet enough to sneak up on critters? I know a guy whose kill count went way up when he switched from an ICE ATV to an electric UTV. He would just ease along the cornfield looking down the rows, critters never heard him coming.

 

[CookMan]

So what is the upside of driving an EV?

Careful not to ask a question. Answer... There is not one upside!

 

[SRW]

Careful not to ask a question. Answer... There is not one upside!

We have unwitting testimony to that from and enthusiastic EV owner. I hope reality never sets in and ruins all the joy.

 

[WidgeonmanGH]

Reflections on my first road trip.

From the previous posts. Weather was in the mid 70s so nice. We traveled 210 miles to our destination with the last 7ish in town with stop signs etc. Had an average speed of 58 mph on the way down which translates to 70mph on the freeway almost the entire way. Climate control was set at 74 so my Bride was comfy not too cold. We arrived with 29 miles left on the car. I charged in the am while drinking coffee and before the family got up to visit and we had to get some claritin at the Walmart. (about 49 min)We had an event to go to so some extra miles. Left the event and came home and stopped for Subway and to eat it about half way home. Charged for the time we were eating our food so approximately 18ish min. the car had just enough to get us home but the extra charge was so we didn't even have to think about it and it was handy right by the food. We had 125 miles still on the guess o meter but it took us back up to 200 by the time we left. Got home and had 89 miles still on the car.

I forgot to check the cost/amount of the second charge (doh) but if I am remembering right it was less than $12. (I will update if it clears the bank soon).

So here is the cost break down.

Miles driven 440 miles.
Initial charge at home (@.08/kwh) $4.50, charge on the road $36.48 additional bonus charge of $12/2 (because I still have 89 miles on there) of $6 for a grand total of $46.98.

Just evaluating the fuel source. $46.98/440 miles gives me a cost per mile of .11/mile.

In comparison the same trip in my Chevy suburban (the RV) would have cost me $188.76 or .43 per mile. Or if I had a plain jane ICE car with 25 mpg about .17 per mile. When charging at home my cost for 440 miles is $10.66 or .02 per mile.

Charge times:
The longest charge was about 49 min. But I went from 10% all the way to 100%. I could have saved time on that (as I do more road trips I will learn) by not trying to go to 100%. The battery charges faster on the lower end. So If I had charged from 10% to 80% at my destination it would have only taken about 20ish min. Then the 20 min. I charged while eating dinner on the way home would have gotten us home and we would have only had 40ish min. for the whole trip. But as this was my first trip this was the way I did it. Next trip will be more efficient on the time. But time wasn't an issue so we did it this way.

Comfort.
The car was amazingly comfortable to drive. Because of the advanced cruise control driver assist features i was not half as tired as I usually am after a 4 hour trip. This car has lane control, distance from the car in front control, and of course speed control. So all I had to do was keep my hand on the wheel (or it complains after about 20 seconds). Even when we hit slowdowns it would go all the way down to stop and then back up to speed without my intervention. (had to learn to trust it on the slowdowns but it did really well). It is a very powerful car and you have to watch out or you look down and it says 80mph. (which is a no go on our roads) but accelerating around trucks when someone is tailgating you is seamless.

Overall the car performed as expected and if anything was more comfortable than we expected.

I include this full report just so people who have been watching the thread know what a real world experience is for someone with an EV. I think my next road trip will be to the East side of our state so over mountains and hills and it will be interesting to see how that changes things. (more e getting up the mountain, but we get e back going down hill). I am very happy with my purchase. It may not be for you. Cool, but it works really well for me.

One last thing. When you buy a VW you get free charging for 2 years on Charge America. I just didn't have the app installed and all registered. I will do that today and then this whole trip would have costs me $10.66. My procrastination cost me $40 but also let me report what a real world experience was.

 

[grahler]

I think if you don’t need 4wd or truck capability and just need a passenger car and value style, quiet cabin, and fuel efficiency and you don’t mind spending a lot on the purchase and paying the expensive insurance then it’s great.
I’m for whatever makes people happy.
Some ev look cool.
For me my main “road trip” is 3hr 45 min climbing from sea level to 5000 feet.
If I stuck on pavement and in summer so no snow I’d have to stop mid trip to charge (if there’s a charger on route) then once at destination I haven’t noticed chargers.
A reliable used 4wd with maintenance records covers my needs with a purchase price 1/3 a new ev. I sacrifice a bit on Highway comfort but no need to stop 40 minutes to charge AND I can have s truck when I get there to do truck things etc.
So what makes me happy is a versatile economical vehicle with the capability I need.
Ev does not satisfy that.
I get though other people have different values-some like spending on style and what is cool. I get that.
To each their own just don’t tell me buying a new car saved money because it doesn’t.

 

[Sasquatch Hunter]

Please lord make it stop,!! No Mas EV talking...

 

[WidgeonmanGH]

Evidently the government is making you click…… like they are making you buy an EV

 

[Fogie]

Please lord make it stop,!! No Mas EV talking...

It really is depressing, like hearing talk about coupon cutting or dumpster diving for aluminum cans.

 

[Sasquatch Hunter]

It really is depressing, like hearing talk about coupon cutting or dumpster diving for aluminum cans.

Or like rinsing out disposable diapers and using them twice. Boy, we are saving money honey.

 

[Fogie]

Or like rinsing out disposable diapers and using them twice. Boy, we are saving money honey.

Ok…I would rather drive an EV to Subway than do that.