Poll: Do you have, or plan to get, an electric car?

[Bilsch]

Before you buy, @Airborneguy, (hey, a poem!) have a look at this: cybertruck bricked by carwash?

Yea what kind of crazy car company would include a disable button to stop the rain sensing wipers in a car wash.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I’m starting want one…

If you want people to stare at you, a face tattoo is cheaper.

 

[Jonakr]

At some point I'll need a replacement daily driver. We started looking at used EVs about 2 years ago, but the market was trash. We looked at a Bolt, but there was something wrong with it. With my commute, I need a 50 mile range. it was at about 90% capacity, but something like 30 miles left.

We saw a cyber truck in the wild this weekend. My wife just said WTF???

 

[AzOr]

This is an insult to 99% of all the Boy Scouts who ever built a Pinewood Derby car.

Two cuts, no mas.

 

[Ingo]

I have a KIA Niro EV.
Top trim and it's super nice. I live in Iceland and electricity is cheap.

But I also have a diesel Mercedes SUV. Wouldn't wanna be without that one

 

[mac_1103]

Two cuts, no mas.

 

[corkybstewart]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/04/23/electric-vehicles-motorsports-formulae/

For consumers, EV range anxiety — concern about a car’s ability to go the necessary distance without recharging — is one of the factors tempering all-electric growth. In Formula E, a version of this tension defines every race.

The cars file behind the starting line with only about 60 percent of the energy they need to finish the race. If drivers go full-on, pushing the gas pedal through every turn, their allotted energy quickly peters out. So instead, they play what one driver, Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy, described as the “efficiency game.” They bunch together in a pack to cut down on wind resistance. They focus obsessively on decelerating and braking — measures that in an EV spin the motor in reverse, forcing current back into the battery. A driver’s goal — the prerequisite to winning — is to regenerate power and cross the finish line as the car’s energy ticks down to zero.
Emphasizing range and efficiency is a deliberate focal point of the sport. For every race, Formula E drivers are given energy limits lower than their actual battery capacity; they could race more all-out, if they were allowed to. And even the batteries could grow in capacity by several times, to match commercial EVs, if the sport so wished. The top road EVs can go more than 400 miles without recharging. The race in Italy was a mere 58.8 miles.

But the move to limit energy usage is meant to both entice automakers and challenge them to innovate, in service of their commercial fleets. Several years ago, after a Formula E breakthrough, Jaguar offered an over-the-air software upgrade to drivers of its I-Pace SUV. Its range immediately increased by 10 percent.

“The developments in battery technology are still so fast and developing so quickly,” said Jeff Dodds, the Formula E CEO. “The internal combustion engine is over 100 years old. So they are at the limits of the capability of that technology. We’re nowhere near that.”

 

[Airborneguy]

Range anxiety is an ICE driver’s malaise. EV owners quickly realize it doesn’t exist.

 

[Kent88]

I think the highest speed limit I have encountered is 80mph. It isn't often that I can drive for more than 3 hours without stopping to deposit some fluid, maybe get some new fluid, stretch, have a bite to eat, etc. especially not now that I travel with tiny people.

There are plenty of BEVs with over 240 miles of range. There are plenty of BEVs that, when charged to 80% (what is usually recommended when DC charging), have a range around 240.

Range anxiety is the wrong term for it. I, and some others (probably not Airborne, and good for him, he has been driving a BEV for longer than I have) occasionally get charging anxiety, because there maybe aren't enough charging stations along our route. But with a little planning before we go it gets better.

“The developments in battery technology are still so fast and developing so quickly,” said Jeff Dodds, the Formula E CEO. “The internal combustion engine is over 100 years old. So they are at the limits of the capability of that technology. We’re nowhere near that.”

That really is pretty exciting. More charging stations are being built, DC chargers can accomplish a lot in a half an hour, and BEV range can handle a few hours at high speeds on the highway before needing to recharge. BEVs can already handle a lot of Americans daily commutes, and short road trips. Lots of people can even make multi-day road trips work. Multi-day road trips are going to keep getting easier for everyone.

 

[Airborneguy]

Keep in mind also I’m in a Tesla. Superchargers are almost as prevalent as gas stations now. Well, that’s an exaggeration but considering they are only needed on road trips, its effectively true.

Once every EV can use superchargers, its game over. They will pop up like crazy. They are even being purchased by third party companies now. And besides sheer volume, they work reliably. I have only encountered a handful of broken chargers. Two that were actively being worked on, and occasionally the car will tell me beforehand “charger 6 is out” or something like that.

“Range anxiety” is a problem with those who have no experience with these cars and are likely influenced by all the false or old information constantly thrown in their faces intentionally or through the grapevine. It’s certainly a major hurdle for EV producers to overcome.

 

[mac_1103]

“Range anxiety” is a problem with those who have no experience with these cars and are likely influenced by all the false or old information constantly thrown in their faces intentionally or through the grapevine.

This is certainly true for much of the country. Especially the northeast and the west coast. But I wonder if it isn't still a real thing in the mountain west for instance. How many superchargers are there in the wide open spaces of Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas?

 

[sibelman]

How many superchargers are there in the wide open spaces of Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas?

 

[Airborneguy]

This is certainly true for much of the country. Especially the northeast and the west coast. But I wonder if it isn't still a real thing in the mountain west for instance. How many superchargers are there in the wide open spaces of Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas?

Enough for roadtrippers. I planned a trip to Montana this past September. Wouldn’t have had any issues but my father chickened out and demanded to fly.

 

[mac_1103]

What's the difference between orange and green?

 

[corkybstewart]

This is certainly true for much of the country. Especially the northeast and the west coast. But I wonder if it isn't still a real thing in the mountain west for instance. How many superchargers are there in the wide open spaces of Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas?

There are 100 mile stretches in NM with no chargers at all.
In France there's a full rest area every 50 kilometers, with at least a dozen chargers. Even without the chargers I wish the USA had the same rest area situation as in France. There's a rest area every 20 kilometers, every other one will have at least a restaurant, gas station, convenience store, and many have motels-all without getting off the interstate(autoroute).

 

[Kent88]

I have mixed feelings about this, but I thought I would share it anyway. It could be a way to get fast level 2 chargers into more remote areas, but I just don't see ordinary rural homeowners doing it



I think the application that this makes sense in would be VRBO and Airbnb, and in odd places like when I used to live near a pro sport team venue that had a lot of modest, single family residences nearby who would basically rent their driveways for parking during home games.

I don't know, thoughts?

 

[Bilsch]

This is certainly true for much of the country. Especially the northeast and the west coast. But I wonder if it isn't still a real thing in the mountain west for instance. How many superchargers are there in the wide open spaces of Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas?

Up until a couple years ago not enough for us out here. Now though there are plenty of chargers even for early adopters with smaller batteries and less efficient motors. Tesla owners anyway.

 

[tracer bullet]

I wouldn't be surprised if people supposedly worried about range anxiety will move the goalposts and find another problem even if EV's are soon able to do 500 miles.

I can't complain about others too much, I just ordered a new Z4.

 

[sibelman]

the difference between orange and green?

Orange means DC fast charge. Others, mostly level 2, are green. This is from plugshare.com, the best known source for locating chargers across multiple "networks."

 

[Kent88]

I wouldn't be surprised if people supposedly worried about range anxiety will move the goalposts and find another problem even if EV's are soon able to do 500 miles.

Yup!

Even though that's 400mi, about 5hrs of driving at highway (80mph) speed, on an 80% charge. Nearly twice what I suggested was enough to go between bio stops. You could shave off 100mi from that 400mi for poor weather and still have a comfortable range, unless you always road trip alone, and either have the bladder of a long haul trucker, or have a very disgusting use for those empty beverage bottles (in which case you better be traveling solo).

There's someone in here from Iowa who popped up in '23 or '22, said that he needed certain EVs to meet certain criteria, which I pointed out either had been or was darn close to being met, never responded, but came back a few months later with a new requirement for charging speed. He was just one example of all the goalpost moving

 

[Bilsch]

Speaking of moved goal posts I feel bad for the people that bought hydrogen fuel cars hoping the infrastructure would improve. It was bad enough they had only 59 total stations in the US but Shell recently announced closing another 7 and pulling out of that business.

In 2014 had briefly considered a Mirai but was told it could be a while until H2 stations came to my state. Turns out it would have been a forever wait.

 

[whoaru99]

I wouldn't be surprised if people supposedly worried about range anxiety will move the goalposts and find another problem even if EV's are soon able to do 500 miles.

I can't complain about others too much, I just ordered a new Z4.

I drive a truck that can do 600+ mi on a single fill. There are still times when the tank gets low and next fill point concerns come to mind.

It happens regardless of fuel and regardless of range.

Piss poor planning or victim of circumstance, regardless, it happens.

 

[Bilsch]

Reading the interwebs one would get the impression every pickup truck driver takes their vehicle daily to the maximum extent of the range, nonstop cannonball run style. While also towing something heavy.

 

[Agent]

I drive a truck that can do 600+ mi on a single fill. There are still times when the tank gets low and next fill point concerns come to mind.

It happens regardless of fuel and regardless of range.

Piss poor planning or victim of circumstance, regardless, it happens.

Alternatively, I was issued a dodge truck that got maaaaaybe 12mpg on a 23 gallon tank. Almost got stranded in BFN Wyoming with that glorious POS.

 

[doug293cz]

Another (first for me) sighting in the wild. Kind of jarring to see that next to you.

Brew on

 

[whoaru99]

Reading the interwebs one would get the impression every pickup truck driver takes their vehicle daily to the maximum extent of the range, nonstop cannonball run style. While also towing something heavy.

Seems you have misunderstood my point, presuming that's sorta for me since I brought up a pickup with long range capability.

 

[Bilsch]

Seems you have misunderstood my point, presuming that's sorta for me since I brought up a pickup with long range capability.

Sorry if it was unclear but I wasn't referencing anything in your post. In fact I agree with everything you said. Just happened to be musing about how often I read the truck range thing around the web.

 

[sibelman]

sighting in the wild.

I live in the Portland OR metro area, where Teslas are common AF. So far, the only cybertruck I've seen is in the window of a showroom I drove by the other day. Not quite "in the wild."

 

[doug293cz]

I live in the Portland OR metro area, where Teslas are common AF. So far, the only cybertruck I've seen is in the window of a showroom I drove by the other day. Not quite "in the wild."

I'm in the Seattle area, and it seems like 1 in 10 cars is a Tesla. This Cyber Abomination was East bound in Kent on James St at the intersection with Central Ave.

Brew on

 

[AzOr]

I live in the Portland OR metro area, where Teslas are common AF. So far, the only cybertruck I've seen is in the window of a showroom I drove by the other day. Not quite "in the wild."

Ha. I just saw my first one today. It was parked near SW 2nd and Burnside. Something about the big slabs of stainless (or whatever it's made of) made the thing look huge. Much bigger than I expected.