Electric Car Ownership - Any Experiences?

[Umbran]

At least you'll still get the lower rate if you charge off-peak, with or without the app.

If I don't use the app, I will miss out on the rebate, though. Thus my question to the utility. We'll see how long it takes for them to answer.

 

[Umbran]

This is when I glaze over and think back wistfully on my Prius Hybrid.

Yeah. Moving to an electric was a "sometime in the nearish future" thing for us. Our Prius getting totaled changed the timeframe.

I know its all a growing field, but I do understand when people are hesitant to lean into the technology.

I get you - I'm not normally an early-adopter myself.

 

[Ryujin]

If I don't use the app, I will miss out on the rebate, though. Thus my question to the utility. We'll see how long it takes for them to answer.

I wonder if it's like the Mazda Connect app that Mazda offers with their new vehicles. Two years free if you buy the car new. Likely not transferable and a monthly charge after that period. Maybe the necessary information is available through the in-vehicle display?

 

[prabe]

I wonder if it's like the Mazda Connect app that Mazda offers with their new vehicles. Two years free if you buy the car new. Likely not transferable and a monthly charge after that period. Maybe the necessary information is available through the in-vehicle display?

The impression I get is this is an app connected to a charging network, not directly to the car. So (for example) the EVGo app, not the Kia Connect app.

 

[Umbran]

I wonder if it's like the Mazda Connect app that Mazda offers with their new vehicles. Two years free if you buy the car new. Likely not transferable and a monthly charge after that period. Maybe the necessary information is available through the in-vehicle display?

The impression I get is this is an app connected to a charging network, not directly to the car. So (for example) the EVGo app, not the Kia Connect app.

In order to give me rebates, my utility would need to know when I actually charge the car. The utility has an app for that - ChargeSmartMA.

ChargeSmartMA has two places it can get its data - the car, or the charger.

Chevy has its own app, myChevrolet, which uses the OnStar network to make information about your car available in an app, but you have to pay for that service. ChargeSmartMA can connect to Chevy, if you are paying for that account from Chevy.

My utility could also get the information from my charger, which is also internet-enabled, and that I don't need a separate, paid account for. So, obviously, I'd prefer to give them the info that way.

 

[Kannik]

This is when I glaze over and think back wistfully on my Prius Hybrid. No mental mathematics, great MPG, and I probably could have kept it going another 100k miles. I know that the newness of the EV will eventually feel normal, but all the research I did into all this stuff made (and still makes) my brain hurt.

Haha, well, I might have gone geekily overboard in my explanation/details (as I am wont to do ). Mostly it could be this:

Come home, plug in car like I plug in my phone.
The car already comes set by default to charge to 80%.
Once per week when I do my groceries, plug it into the Chargepoint/etc charger at the store and let it charge while I shop.

And that would cover it.

 

[Umbran]

And an update:

My utility actually got back to me! They understand the issue, and admit that they are still a bit new at app design. I'm facing a known issue that is on their list for improvements in future releases. In the meantime, they do have a solution - they can take a few bits of information about my car, and insert them into the database by hand, and the app will pick that up and allow me to continue.

While I would have preferred they had better design, I'll give them a nod on the support end, at least.

 

[GreyLord]

Well, not an electric car, but I am heavily considering an electric bike. What do people know about those. Probably won't get one till next year, but there seems to be a LOT of choices.

Can I ride one that I've modified to go at a higher speed, on the road?

Ones I've looked at which I'd do this with have headlights, blinkers, and the rest of the stuff, but without the modification are limited to something like 20-25 MPH/32-40 KPH.

 

[Ryujin]

Well, not an electric car, but I am heavily considering an electric bike. What do people know about those. Probably won't get one till next year, but there seems to be a LOT of choices.

Can I ride one that I've modified to go at a higher speed, on the road?

Ones I've looked at which I'd do this with have headlights, blinkers, and the rest of the stuff, but without the modification are limited to something like 20-25 MPH/32-40 KPH.

Be careful about modifications. If the bike is speed limited in your region then that's likely a requirement for it to be legal for use.

 

[Umbran]

Be careful about modifications. If the bike is speed limited in your region then that's likely a requirement for it to be legal for use.

More specifically, if you modify it to go that fast, it may be classified as a motorcycle, and then you can find yourself driving without a license...