Electric Car Ownership - Any Experiences?

[Paul Farquhar]

cars not being where there should be is not EVs problem, it's people problem.
that is why I said that I look both ways even when crossing one-way street.

"you can make things idiot proof, but they will just make a better idiot"

I wasn’t talking about streets of any type. Frequently, the idiot is the driver, and they are the idiot with a deadly weapon. So it helps if they ring a bell to alert everyone an idiot with a deadly weapon is approaching. The louder the bell the better.

 

[Horwath]

I wasn’t talking about streets of any type. Frequently, the idiot is the driver, and they are the idiot with a deadly weapon. So it helps if they ring a bell to alert everyone an idiot with a deadly weapon is approaching. The louder the bell the better.

the idiot driver is mostly self-correcting in this case. The idiot will want to drive some loud ICE gas guzzler as it is "manly" and not a "insert gay insult word here" EV car.

 

[Umbran]

Folks, I appear to have to make this official.

The issues of whether you can hear an EV are noted, but are not really on-topic for this thread. If you want to have a discussion of the issues of disability in modern sub/urban traffic, you can do that, but this isn't the thread for it.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

the idiot driver is mostly self-correcting in this case. The idiot will want to drive some loud ICE gas guzzler as it is "manly" and not a "insert gay insult word here" EV car.

Spouting Tesla propaganda much? I’m a physicist, I did the energy calculations, and the benefit of driving an electric vehicle is small, and is offset by the opportunity cost of scrapage. I certainly wouldn’t advocate a large car - which is why I wouldn’t advocate an EV. A small petrol car is less than half the weight of a typical EV.

There is certainly benefit for EVs in reducing urban pollution, but that is a second order issue compared to the existential threat of global warming.

The only thing that makes a significant difference to you carbon footprint is DRIVING LESS.

 

[Umbran]

Spouting Tesla propaganda much? I’m a physicist

Oh, don't do the Appeal to Authority thing here. You aren't the only physicist around.

I certainly wouldn’t advocate a large car - which is why I wouldn’t advocate an EV.

Nobody is asking you to advocate for them! The question the thread poses is not "Are EVs a good idea?" So, this is kind of off topic.

 

[schneeland]

personally, I see needing to charge the car every 200-300KM a feature not a bug.
people should rest more during long driving. Having 30-60min breaks is a good thing.

Yes and no. I would agree that driving more than 300km non-stop alone is not a good idea. But usually you can switch drivers and then a 5-10 minutes break is enough and you are not limited to places that have EV charging.

More generally to the OP's question (based on my own experience and what colleagues are reporting who already own EVs for a while):

• As someone mentioned already, the EV driving experience is great (I tested an Opel Astra Plug-in Hybrid when I looked for my last car)
• If you want a full EV and not a plug-in hybrid, the charging times without a DC charging wall box simply become too long - so you'll either want one yourself or access to enough public charging stations not too far from either your wife's workplace or your house (but I think you factored that in already)
• Effective capacity is temperature-dependent - if winters are cold where you are, expect a drop in maximum driving range of up to 25%
• You'll need to do a bit of planning around available infrastructure when you drive - but integrated navigation is already becoming better at factoring that in, so you might be fine (don't know about the Chevy Bolt, but my colleagues are reporting good experiences with Mercedes and BMW)
• Not sure about the situation in the US, but here in Germany, pricing and payment for public charging stations are still a bit of a mess. You may need to check the pre-requisites to use the stations of different providers
• And, as others have mentioned, it will depend a bit on how much long distance travel you do and how urban/rural the target area is (for me personally, that currently is the deal breaker for a full EV)
• Closing note: I assume that's not relevant in your case, but if you need a tow-bar, that seems to be very hard to get with EVs

 

[TwoSix]

personally, I see needing to charge the car every 200-300KM a feature not a bug.
people should rest more during long driving. Having 30-60min breaks is a good thing.

I once did 700KM drive without break(Prague-Zagreb) as I was in a hurry, never again.
That was borderline suicidal behavior, you need to take a break.

Nah.

I have an EV. Having to plan longer drives around charging stations and taking hour-plus breaks is a definite downside. You can make the best of it, of course; stopping to take a break every few hours isn't a bad thing. But making the best of a bad situation is still, ultimately, a bad situation.

I can always choose to take an hour break every 3-4 hours in an ICE car, going from a choice to being mandatory is ultimately a loss.

 

[prabe]

Not sure about the situation in the US, but here in Germany, pricing and payment for public charging stations are still a bit of a mess. You may need to check the pre-requisites to use the stations of different providers

Right. Forgot to mention this: Each charging network in the US (there are ... a lot) has its own app/card payment system, and practically all of them are prepaid--you can't just use your credit card and go, you have to join and prepay most of the time. We have like five cards in the glove box, and my wife has a similar number of such apps on her phone (she drives it more than I do, she deals with this more).

 

[FrogReaver]

I concluded about 5 years ago that the next time I’d buy a new car (around 2030). there was a good chance an ev would make sense at that time.

At the moment I personally think everything is mostly a wash. From pollution, to cost of ownership, to resale value, etc.

Which for me would tip the scales heavily in favor of a non-ev at this time, primarily because fueling stations are everywhere. So even if I bought a car as a work commuter I could also travel with it if desired.

If I was in a more urban instead of more rural environment maybe things are different.

 

[FrogReaver]

IMO, EVs either need a cheaper upfront price, more charging stations and quicker charging, or way longer range in general for them to have a clear advantage vs gas cars today.