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

[betarhoalphadelta]

That's what they said about the Prius battery twenty years ago. My family has put almost 600,000 miles on 4 hybrids in the past 15 years without ever experiencing a battery issue. And since reconditioned hybrid batteries have been available at a fraction of the cost of OEM for some time now, I suspect that we will see a robust market for reconditioned full electric batteries develop in the future.

Yeah, I hear you. It's not a major concern for me. But [for several reasons] I am not interested in Tesla, so if I go EV it will be a company that might not have the same amount of time on the BEV learning curve. I want to make sure that I know more before I buy.

Honestly it's a luxury because absent something catastrophic (i.e. my current ICEV gets totaled), I don't think I'll be in the market until mid-2026 (oldest graduates HS) at a minimum, mid-2027 more likely (middle child graduates HS), and I may be driving so little at that point that I don't yet feel the need to replace my car. So I've got 3+ years to watch as the used market develops.

Now if something catastrophic DOES happen, and I need to buy a car sooner than that, it'll be a tougher decision. Especially since I may still want to stay in a three-row 7-passenger vehicle at that time, which severely limits my options.

 

[redrocker652002]

Far as I ever knew all EVs typically come with a 120V (North America, anyway) charging cord.

As others have said or alluded to, you can upgrade from there if you want faster charge but that included cord does facilitate the basic function.

Yep, as I have been told. Like I said, just news to me. Not going to make a difference to me if we eventually buy one, but good to know.

 

[doug293cz]

Far as I ever knew all EVs typically come with a 120V (North America, anyway) charging cord.

As others have said or alluded to, you can upgrade from there if you want faster charge but that included cord does facilitate the basic function.

Yep, as I have been told. Like I said, just news to me. Not going to make a difference to me if we eventually buy one, but good to know.

Our Hyundai Ionic 5, purchased in Jan '24, did NOT come with a 120V charger cord. However, I had previously had a 240V outlet installed in the garage for both my daughter's PHEV and brewing.

Brew on

 

[whoaru99]

Our Hyundai Ionic 5, purchased in Jan '24, did NOT come with a 120V charger cord. However, I had previously had a 240V outlet installed in the garage for both my daughter's PHEV and brewing.

Brew on

It came with no charging cord or it came with a 240 cord?

Option, standard?

 

[Airborneguy]

Energy density and range may be the same reason. However, I can control gas level because I have eyes. I can and do keep my engines in good repair. What if the electric motor had a problem. I can't control the lack of range/charge other than not buy one.

Do you think “range” just disappears? Honest question. Are you under the impression that EVs don’t have an accurate method for reporting remaining charge?

 

[Airborneguy]

My car is currently doing one thing gas cars can never do: charge for free in a parking garage.

I drove 120 miles this morning for job #1, then 25 for job #2 (25 more home after this game).

This is routine for me, and FAR above the national average. My EV is way more convenient and way cheaper to operate under these well above average driving conditions.

But hey, at least diesel has “energy density” lol.

 

[whoaru99]

Our Hyundai Ionic 5, purchased in Jan '24, did NOT come with a 120V charger cord. However, I had previously had a 240V outlet installed in the garage for both my daughter's PHEV and brewing.

Brew on

It came with no charging cord or it came with a 240 cord?

Option, standard?

Quick read says they did come with 120V chargers for some time, but at some point stopped including them and instead offered an incentive to upgrade to a L2 / 240V charger. Does that sound right?

 

[Airborneguy]

Even Tesla stopped including a mobile charger. Thankfully mine came with one. With an adapter, it works with various outlets for 120v and 240v applications.

I used this exclusively for about 6 months on a 14-50 outlet before installing a dedicated 240v charger. Now I keep the mobile in the trunk just in case. Most recently I used it in the garage of an AirBnB.

 

[TexasTea]

Of course I think there is a charge indicator of some kind on the thing, but its not accurate. I've heard horror stories where it suddenly drops for no reason.

I think range varies with load, and also with temperature. I would bet the range would vary immensely from say Death Valley to the artic circle, all other things the same. I know temps effect my Li battery output for other stuff. I bet the range would drop alot hauling a load vs empty.

In an ICE vehicle I merely glance at the gas gage once in a while, and gas stations are all over. I just came through a week with no power here in Texas (had a 22kw propane generator and 500 gallon tank so I was fine). I was out driving everyday. I was very happy not to be saddled with a useless EV, because when times are tough they will let you down

In Texas, or gulf coast in general, If you have an EV, you better invest in a generator big enough for your home needs AND what that EV drinks up.

If you guys like them that's fine with me, go out and buy them all. But as for me, I wouldn't have one. And EVERYONE I know feels the same way.

Hybrids are different. I don't have one, but they are the best of both worlds, a proven technology that works great. I'd buy one if I got a good deal.

 

[Airborneguy]

I’m not one to tell people to buy one. I couldn’t care less about other people’s cars. But when people show they know absolutely nothing about these cars, yet insist on speaking like they do, I have to respond.

Most of your complaints are not deficiencies. They’re easily answered with “use the right tool for the job”.

The others are often repeated nonsense.

 

[Airborneguy]

The worst natural disaster I’ver dealt with was Hurricane Sandy. I had power the next day. Couldn’t get gas at all for two weeks and not reliably for nearly 2 months. I wish I had my Tesla then.

I did have it for Hurricane Ian 2 years ago. It was hilarious charging at gas stations with massive gas lines. Lots of good ole’ boys stared at my NJ plates during that trip. Lol

 

[doug293cz]

Quick read says they did come with 120V chargers for some time, but at some point stopped including them and instead offered an incentive to upgrade to a L2 / 240V charger. Does that sound right?

Don't know anything about an upgrade incentive.

Brew on

 

[Kent88]

I think range varies with load, and also with temperature. I would bet the range would vary immensely from say Death Valley to the artic circle, all other things the same. I know temps effect my Li battery output for other stuff.

The factors you bring up affect ICE vehicles, too. I had family working as missionaries in Africa (hot climate!), and they had a different set of problems with their ICE vehicle than people have in our area.

In an ICE vehicle I merely glance at the gas gage once in a while,

I had a Pontiac before my Volt, and one of the issues that prompted our change in vehicles: a malfunctioning fuel gauge. That was something we actually lived with for a while. Then the speedometer quit working. Oh boy was that exciting.

I just came through a week with no power here in Texas (had a 22kw propane generator and 500 gallon tank so I was fine).

Glad you are ok. Gosh, some years ago I lived through a tornado going right through my neighborhood. We had power within two days. Maybe your utility provider sucks?

If you guys like them that's fine with me, go out and buy them all. But as for me, I wouldn't have one. And EVERYONE I know feels the same way.

Well now you know us and most of us say they're worth considering.

Hybrids are different. I don't have one, but they are the best of both worlds, a proven technology that works great. I'd buy one if I got a good deal.

My PHEV really showed me that I could go BEV with very few issues. They're good.

 

[redrocker652002]

Great conversation. Someone brought up the hybrid option. I must admit that I would consider that before full electric. I am that guy who lets my tank run to darn near empty before getting gas, so a hybrid offers that protection that when I run the battery to damn near dead I might have a few miles left to find a station. LOL.

But, with all else considered, I would think about a EV for a second car or a tool around town car just for the ease of not having to rely on gas. At 5 plus dollars a gallon, I would think charging an EV would be a bit cheaper?

 

[Kharnynb]

If we needed a second car, i'd go for a small(ish) electric one, for our main car, it wasn't feasible to buy an electric in our price class yet.

 

[Agent]

Great conversation. Someone brought up the hybrid option. I must admit that I would consider that before full electric.

I've been eyeing up Chevy Volts with that same feeling. 40 +/- miles of battery would cover 90% of my driving, but not hamstring me from that other 10%.

Then of course they discontinued something with serious potential. Now the only non-performance PHEV sedan is the Prius Prime.

Luckily, I think I still have a year or two to decide before the '03 Golf TDI finally rusts away.

 

[Kent88]

I do miss my Volt.

A little.

It was a good car for the time we had it, and I learned something about EVs.

 

[PCABrewing]

I did have it for Hurricane Ian 2 years ago. It was hilarious charging at gas stations with massive gas lines. Lots of good ole’ boys stared at my NJ plates during that trip. Lol

They probably thought you were down there for looting....

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Great conversation. Someone brought up the hybrid option. I must admit that I would consider that before full electric. I am that guy who lets my tank run to darn near empty before getting gas, so a hybrid offers that protection that when I run the battery to damn near dead I might have a few miles left to find a station. LOL.

But, with all else considered, I would think about a EV for a second car or a tool around town car just for the ease of not having to rely on gas. At 5 plus dollars a gallon, I would think charging an EV would be a bit cheaper?

I like PHEV as a concept, but I'm not sure it would make all that much sense economically. The problem with PHEV is that you're adding all the cost/infrastructure of the BEV (but thankfully lower cost/capacity of battery), but you're not eliminating any of the ICEV stuff. From a reliability / mechanical complexity standpoint, you now have two powertrains to support, and ~twice the number of potential failure points.

If PHEV was essentially the same cost as ICEV, it would be a slam dunk. But a quick google search suggests it's ~15% higher than an equivalent ICEV.

If my next vehicle is going to be battery-powered, I think it's better to go pure BEV than worry about PHEV. I think PHEVs are mostly a "gateway drug" to BEV. People buy a PHEV and then buy one tank of gas every 4-6 months and realize "maybe I don't need that combustion engine in there!"

At least that's my thought... @Kent88 would you agree as someone who lived it?

 

[Kent88]

Without getting into the minutiae of it, yeah. Pretty much.

 

[NeoBrew]

I like PHEV as a concept, but I'm not sure it would make all that much sense economically. The problem with PHEV is that you're adding all the cost/infrastructure of the BEV (but thankfully lower cost/capacity of battery), but you're not eliminating any of the ICEV stuff. From a reliability / mechanical complexity standpoint, you now have two powertrains to support, and ~twice the number of potential failure points.

If PHEV was essentially the same cost as ICEV, it would be a slam dunk. But a quick google search suggests it's ~15% higher than an equivalent ICEV.

If my next vehicle is going to be battery-powered, I think it's better to go pure BEV than worry about PHEV. I think PHEVs are mostly a "gateway drug" to BEV. People buy a PHEV and then buy one tank of gas every 4-6 months and realize "maybe I don't need that combustion engine in there!"

At least that's my thought... @Kent88 would you agree as someone who lived it?

For the few PHEV I have owned, one ex-wife Pacifica and one Ford C-Max for my kids, both of which had small plug in batteries, it was about having the option to go on long trips and in cold weather without having to worry about battery capacity. It definitely worked well for us. The ex hardly drove more than 10 miles a day, the kids mostly the same.

I would say in my world it was definitely a gateway. My own driving needs just don’t add up for electric yet. I have a hybrid F-150 that I love. It allows me to tow my boat or other trailers, go to the big box stores on the weekend, and not get embarrassingly bad mileage when I do day trips for work that can exceed 300 miles round trip. It also allows me to get to meetings when we have a big snow fall, which I like.

I have contemplated getting a second vehicle for when I don’t need the truck, but the extra insurance alone puts me off. Between the extra upfront costs and the extra insurance it would never offset the savings in mileage.

I am sure I will go electric someday, just not quite yet.

 

[Airborneguy]

No more steering wheel nag! FSD is almost a real thing.

 

[Bilsch]

3. Limited life- if you get stuck in below freezing weather in the middle of nowhere, you won't be able to run the heater for very long before you deplete the charge and freeze to death.

On a full battery I can go about 75 hours just running heat.

 

[Airborneguy]

They don’t even try to understand what they’re talking about before spouting off.

 

[Bilsch]

Spend enough money and you can make people believe anything. Look how long tobacco companies had smokers convinced cigarettes were healthy.

 

[passedpawn]

They don’t even try to understand what they’re talking about before spouting off.

Who is "they"?

 

[Airborneguy]

Everyone who spouts easily disproven lies about EV. They’re either doing it on purpose to protect big oil, or being willfully ignorant.

There’s a big difference between “I’m not into them, I don’t want to charge on roadtrips,” vs, “I can’t drive a car that might stop at any moment because the battery died suddenly.”

 

[whoaru99]

On a full battery I can go about 75 hours just running heat.

That's quite a while. I have no idea how long my primary car would run/idle on a full tank of gas to keep the heat on continuously.

That said, how often would you be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a fully charged battery? I typically fill the gas tank before I head to the middle of nowhere but it's not still full when I get there.




(Before too many get their knickers in a twist, I'm just having a little fun with the scenario.)

 

[Kent88]

That said, how often would you be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a fully charged battery? I typically fill the gas tank before I head to the middle of nowhere but it's not still full when I get there.

, I'm up here living in a place that typically gets snow 4-6 months of the year. One thing you learn when you grow up in this area, is that you cut wayyyy back on unnecessary trips when the snow starts to fly. You also learn that everyone who matters is pretty forgiving if you need to cancel plans because there's a blizzard or a cold snap. The Christmas before last, we had a heckuva cold snap (did you know that cold temps also negatively impact ICE vehicles? It was pretty obvious that week) and blizzard, and my spouse and I pride ourselves on being able to visit our families on holidays. We didn't make it that year, and nobody is holding a grudge because of it.

You know what lots of people do on winter road trips around here? Wear base layers and bring along clothes you can put over them. Lots of people have emergency blankets here. Sure, there are some unfortunate souls who don't learn it soon enough, but most do. My in-laws love to ice fish, so we have clothes for when we need to sit in the freezing cold for hours and hours. I appreciate your concern for us up here, but a lot of us who have spent our lives in this terrific climate know how it goes. And the people who move here learn how to prepare for winter pretty quickly.

Look, when you move here, or decide you aren't going to move away, you accept some risk that you're going to live with unique to parts of the world that get snow. Every decision you make in the winter creates new potential problems. I've heard of people with ICE vehicles, nearly full gas tanks, who go off-road in a blizzard, call for help, and while they wait for rescue the snow keeps coming down and they don't clean the snow away from their tailpipe.

It isn't just vehicles. If you don't keep your furnace in good shape, you could end up with no heat and pipes burst. If you don't shovel your driveway and sidewalks you can slip and break a leg. If it's an ice storm that could happen anyway because how do you shovel ice?

I could go on.

Everywhere in the world has its challenges. One of the jobs my spouse looked at after college would've had us move to Arizona. I have a family member who lived there for a couple years after graduating high school, and he told us about some of the challenges they have that are different from what we deal with.

If you're that concerned about the what-ifs in life and want to be better prepared there are probably dozens of prepper forums on the internet you could go create accounts on, or you can make a thread on the topic here in Chit Chat. If you aren't that hardcore and just want to be prepared for road trip through an unfamiliar part of the world or some short hikes at a park or wilderness area, I suggest a waterproof phone case, backup phone battery, and a kit you make after reading Les Stroud's book. And if you have the money and want even more peace of mind, a GPS with an SOS button. (Edit: which I believe most EVs have built in with a service like OnStar)

 

[whoaru99]

@Kent88

As you quoted me, it's not clear to me if the point was to build on/expand what I said in a general way, or is something directed specifically to/at me?