Electric Car Ownership - Any Experiences?

[Zaukrie]

Minneapolis St Paul is the 16th largest metropolitan area in the US.....I guess there are only ten urban areas in the US?

The issue with mass transit in Portland is that it is largely based on getting to the city, where almost no one works.

We're way off topic of current car driving though.

 

[Umbran]

Minneapolis St Paul is the 16th largest metropolitan area in the US.....I guess there are only ten urban areas in the US?

So, please remember:
1) This isn't about value judgements. This is about transportation needs.
2) Transportation needs are more strongly influenced by population density than the population's absolute size.

 

[Zaukrie]

So, please remember:
1) This isn't about value judgements. This is about transportation needs.
2) Transportation needs are more strongly influenced by population density than the population's absolute size.

Sure, my point is that we aren't ready for full electric cars in most parts of the nation.... Yet. We want the same thing.....

 

[Thomas Shey]

I think someone mentioned upthread - there are folks who are so against electric vehicles (and the people who would choose to drive them, I suppose) that they vandalize/damage public charging stations.

Oh, for...

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I did a lot of research into Plug-in Hybrids. I think they are a great compromise especially if you live in a colder climate and do the occasional long-distance drive. While in town, it's completely EV, on the highway, you can run it as a hybrid.

You still want to upgrade to a lvl 2 charger, though, since plugging it in a regular plug is a 12 hour recharge

 

[Thomas Shey]

Well, the reason most (urban) apartments don't have parking is that most urban apartment dwellers don't have cars! Most urban dwellers don't need cars.

I think you have to be very selective when talking about areas before this is true. I'd tend to suggest that this is far more practical some areas than others. Mass transit in most of California and Texas is not exciting.

 

[Zaukrie]

I did a lot of research into Plug-in Hybrids. I think they are a great compromise especially if you live in a colder climate and do the occasional long-distance drive. While in town, it's completely EV, on the highway, you can run it as a hybrid.

You still want to upgrade to a lvl 2 charger, though, since plugging it in a regular plug is a 12 hour recharge

My wife has one. Sometimes she puts gas in because the car says it's old, basically. It's a very full minivan and she gets over fifty or sixty miles per gallon, vs 18- 22 from the ice version.

 

[Belen]

I think you have to be very selective when talking about areas before this is true. I'd tend to suggest that this is far more practical some areas than others. Mass transit in most of California and Texas is not exciting.

It does not really exist outside of large, urban, metro areas.

Personally, I will not adopt EV tech until is matures and includes:

1. can be charged in the same amount of time as filling a gas tank
2. costs the same as a gas vehicle without the subsidies
3. insurance rates close to ICE
4. increased range

I think that this may end of being never unless they can get the charged roads in place.

I still have huge concerns about the environmental impact in the making of EVs and where a lot of them are being made.

I am kind of hoping for a different alternative such as a fuel cell vehicle etc.

 

[schneeland]

I did a lot of research into Plug-in Hybrids. I think they are a great compromise especially if you live in a colder climate and do the occasional long-distance drive. While in town, it's completely EV, on the highway, you can run it as a hybrid.

You still want to upgrade to a lvl 2 charger, though, since plugging it in a regular plug is a 12 hour recharge

Would agree here. By my current estimation, I should be able to do about 80% of my local driving on battery, and potentially could even get to the office (~70km) if it is fully charged. But I'd be safe to also get back even if I don't get one of the parking spots with chargers, and it would also cover the long distance trips to parents and friends (many of which live in more rural areas).
When I bought my last car, the surcharge for hybrid was still pretty big (I think ~6k€), but hopefully this will have decreased when I look for the next one. In that case, plug-in hybrid would be a strong contender.

 

[Ryujin]

It does not really exist outside of large, urban, metro areas.

Personally, I will not adopt EV tech until is matures and includes:

1. can be charged in the same amount of time as filling a gas tank
2. costs the same as a gas vehicle without the subsidies
3. insurance rates close to ICE
4. increased range

I think that this may end of being never unless they can get the charged roads in place.

I still have huge concerns about the environmental impact in the making of EVs and where a lot of them are being made.

I am kind of hoping for a different alternative such as a fuel cell vehicle etc.

#1 isn't ever really going to happen unless the industry creates standardized battery packs, that are hot-swappable. You would then just remove and replace the battery, instead of charging, in much the same way you swap your BBQ's propane tank at a store.