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

[betarhoalphadelta]

If DC was cheaper the AC wouldn't everyone have DC at their house. What a minute. Benjamin Franklin pushed DC. Was less costly than AC, but AC won out.

There are many factors, other than cost, that go into public utilities. Don't even mention Nikola Telsa.

Umm... Whut?

 

[Kent88]

I'm no rocket surgeon, so it probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but I didn't understand that either.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I'm no rocket surgeon, so it probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but I didn't understand that either.

I *am* an electrical engineer, but I didn't think a substantive response would have gotten anywhere.

 

[Kent88]

I remember you saying that in that other thread where we were discussing exponential growth.

 

[OleBrewing]

Why?

You can do all wheel drive (4 motor) electric now. To do hydraulic, you'd have to have an electric motor to drive the hydraulic pump, and the friction losses in the pump/plumbing would make it less efficient then the electric direct drive. Also, how would you do regenerative charging?

Brew on

Diesal power.

 

[Kent88]

It's funny, I have asked my spouse several times to put in 110v chargers at the parking lot at work. I said that we put them in at the frat house back in the day so diesel trucks could plug in, and I'm sure some co-workers would appreciate that in the coldest days of winter. All the days where the temperature stays above freezing, those would be an opportunity to charge at work.

Won't do it.

 

[NGD]

@Kent88 If you dont mind me asking, how much do you guys pay per kWh in your area?

Sounds like it would be expensive to have 110v chargers installed. However who doesn't love free charging at work

 

[Kent88]

 

[NGD]

Came across this. GM’s new all electric Hummer. 1000hp and crab crawl mode.

 

[AzOr]

The Jeep looks really cool if I trusted Fiat to make a reliable vehicle.

 

[Kent88]

I grew up with GM vehicles, my spouse's family is all Chrysler/Dodge. We maintain a 1 GM and 1 fiat household. The GM is the car that gets a lot of work when there is no snow, and doesn't go on many long trips. The Jeep is our primary winter vehicle and gets used for long trips because it has more cargo space.

I was hoping that the Wagoneer would be a PHEV van that we could afford and haul kids around in that would make more sense than a Grand Cherokee. Jeep let me down.

I really hope that there are some better options than a Pacifica when the day comes that we trade the current Jeep off.

 

[NGD]

Well shoot, Rivian isnt slowing down. This is downright impressive. Even more so if they kept driving after the test.

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/09/1...towing-test-of-its-r1t-electric-pickup-truck/

 

[AzOr]

It’s a good looking truck as well. As mentioned before in this thread, ev’s have a ton of off road potential.
When these come down in price to the mid 40k’s, I’m in. Or at least a used one in this range.

 

[NGD]

Hopefully it‘s sooner than later. Seems like everyone is trying to one-up tesla at the moment. Sure that half ton EV truck is great, but I just bought a 3 bedroom rental unit in Indiana on an acre of land for less than the base price.

 

[gunhaus]

In 320 or so years when the fossil fuel supply of the north shelf finally begins to dwindle, I'll MAYBE think about it - Get back to me then,

 

[matt_m]

My mom was strongly considering a plug-in hybrid Escape. She's in her 70's and only goes out a couple times a week mostly local so she likely would rarely have needed to buy gas. With her driving frequency, the slow charge from a wall outlet would have met her needs. She wouldn't have saved on gas, but the non-pumping-gas thing for a senior would have been worth it. Only problem is the dealer could only find 2 in the whole country, both a color she wasn't willing to consider. There's currently a 4-month waiting list for orders.

 

[Kent88]

I'm trying to figure out how to convince my parents to go electric. A Bolt EUV should be able to take care of 99% of their driving, and they're kind of a 1.5 car household right now. Dad doesn't feel great about driving public roads these days outside of 5-10 miles from his house, so I'm not sure they'll keep two vehicles when he retires. I've mapped out how far a current gen Bolt can go in cold weather (based on what my Volt can do) from their house, and I'm sure it's possible to put a 240v line into their garage even if it isn't easy.

They don't go on trips in winter. If they go on trips with family they typically don't drive. Basically it's just something where they need a gas vehicle 3-4 times per year.

I've got some time to figure it out, the vehicle they have right now is still pretty new. Hopefully by the time they look to trade again the Bolt EUVs will be available and their range will be just as good as current Bolts.

 

[RePete]

News today.
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/au...lash-electric-battery-costs-build-25-n1240754

 

[Kent88]

Shoot. I don't like Elon, but that is good news. If nothing else it'll force competitors to work harder.

 

[NGD]

For people with short commutes or that go out infrequently, old gas in plug-in hybrids can be an issue. My wife has been on the same tank of gas for 1200 miles/month and a half. Some people report the same tank of fuel for 6-8 months before they decide to run it out.

 

[RePete]

For people with short commutes or that go out infrequently, old gas in plug-in hybrids can be an issue. My wife has been on the same tank of gas for 1200 miles/month and a half. Some people report the same tank of fuel for 6-8 months before they decide to run it out.

The Volt will reach some limit, and then make you use the gas, I believe.

 

[NGD]

The Volt will reach some limit, and then make you use the gas, I believe.

I was replying to @matt_m comment about how little his mother drives. At least with some prius plug in owners its been an issue where they have been on the same tank for nearly a year then found poor engine performance from bad gas.

So your saying if you don’t use the engine for X number of miles in a Volt it will kick on the motor regardless of battery charge?

 

[RePete]

I was replying to @matt_m comment about how little his mother drives. At least with some prius plug in owners its been an issue where they have been on the same tank for nearly a year then found poor engine performance from bad gas.

So your saying if you don’t use the engine for X number of miles in a Volt it will kick on the motor regardless of battery charge?

Yes

 

[NGD]

Volts are well thought out. I wonder what the cut off age is. I would guess its around a year.

 

[RePete]

Volts are well thought out. I wonder what the cut off age is. I would guess its around a year.

Don't know. I've seen people talk about it on the FB Volt Owners group.

 

[bleme]

Volts are well thought out. I wonder what the cut off age is. I would guess its around a year.

I'd think it has to be much less than that. My lawn mower gas isn't good after just 4 months...

 

[Kent88]

I've seen it too, I think in the owners manual.

1st gen Volts (pre-2015ish), I think they recommend only premium gas. I've been putting in only premium gas, but I've had a year to make observations and I think I'll be using regular in winter because my battery range declines and the places I drive are far enough away that I do burn a little gas on most trips to the grocery store in winter, so I should go through gas fast enough that I don't have to be concerned about old gas.

 

[matt_m]

There's some family about 90 minutes from her that she visits regularly enough she'd have to buy gas every couple months at least. But its a moot point because she's picking up a standard Escape early next week.

I've had really good luck with Star Tron as a gas stabilizer in small equipment. In a generator we kept it full and ready to go and just drained it once a year. Still started on the 1st or second pull when we sold it after several years. I assume it would be fine in a car too, but probably best to read the label.

 

[RePete]

https://matadornetwork.com/read/dri...a5Uq2MZtwttkXOXQ7_4pxnun8KUOXbvoMM6i3ZppLTdzM

 

[T_Baggins]

I think this says it all...