Gas vs Electric cost

[skidoofast]

/rant:

First let me say, I have concern over allowing the Chinese EVs into the country at this moment in time. It would absolutely be disastrous to our legacy automakers. However, the battery and EV technology they are delivering is Far Superior to what we know here today.

Charging times are down to 10mins or less for a 400+ mile range. BYD has developed a whole host of electric vehicles from the small cheap in town car to the luxury full loaded touring vehicle that are far less expensive then anything we see here today.

My point is not to support the Chinese industry, it is to say the technology is available to deliver a far superior EV ecosystem then we have developed here in the USA.

Our current governmental administration says they wants more on-shoring of manufacturing in this country, yet they seem dead set on doing what they can to limit (or at least not support) the industry while keeping the latest and greatest technology out of the country.

Bottomline, the electric car industry could be far greater here than it is currently. If we can get all parties to pull in the same direction and support our legacy and upstart auto makers, I’m sure we could close the gap and deliver a much superior vehicle that out performs ICE on EVERY level.

/end rant

I think it really comes down to the will of the buyer, there are a lot of people that feel that EV is not right for them.

Many of them probably only drive 200 per week with the mindset of "what if I wanted to drive across the country in my EV, what a hassle"

The reality is that they haven't traveled in 40 years and its not likely they will start road tripping any time soon, also most Americans own 2,3,4 or even 5 cars so jump in one of the others and drive if that's what you want to do (I personally own 5 cars, an RV and a motorcycle and majority of my driving is done within 50 miles of my house)

a lot of people want apple car play, android auto, all the bells and whistles, but in reality most know where they are going and how to get there

I want to tippy toe into EV and see what I think of it, what my wife thinks of it, does it fit our needs, so price is a big factor, I'm also at the point were simplicity is more appealing

in my part of the country EV's though gaining popularity are the very minority

the funny part is you now have an infotainment system that goes with you (like you always had) no more Sirius XM car subscriptions, now you can have a more cost effective just phone version

Pandora, still there on your phone, Podcasts, yep still there on Spotify

sorry for the rant, thoughts kept popping in my mind

 

[Slater]

I've test driven several EV. All my sedans for the past 35 years have been a BMW 6-Cyl manual RWD. The classic in-line six BMW, especially the modern ones with VANOS, have a very flat torque curve and zero engine vibration because they are naturally balanced, and intake and exhaust noise are well controlled. If one knows how to properly drive a manual, torque is consistent. But yup, 99% of the market wants not to shift gears, they want to with their phone and hope the ADAS saves them from rear ending their fellow road users.

When I was a kid in the 1970s we had an electric garden tractor, so I've understood the charge at home/low maintenance paradigm well before most people. I now have a gas zero-turn for my 5 acres I cut, I really don't miss the Electrak.

If you charge at home EV are great for daily use cases that don't exceed 200 miles in cold climates. That's probably 90% usage. The other 10% is where money is. If most everyone can just charge at home and EV are great, why is their huge political discussion on the charging infrastructure and tax incentives.

EV owners make it sound like public charging is not an issue because they charge at home, yet some additional $21B of private and government investment is needed to ensure EV adoption happens.

I think a lot of the market doesn't mind a trip to the gas station every week to recover 400 miles in 5 minutes. If one has to refuel at 200 miles a charge for 30+ minutes because they no private charging access, it's just a hard sell.

You’re preaching to the wrong choir. Those talking points do not reflect the reality of the majority of drivers.

 

[skidoofast]

But then who are staying at all the big chain hotels that are found at every intersection of the US Interstate Highway System? Try pulling in after say 8 PM and find a room, especially in summer. Just sayin'

That would be me with my company car, or on the rare occasion me and my family driving our subaru outback or F 150 but I do understand your point, people do travel, but not the majority all the time

my point is this will be a weekend runner for me, might be the back and forth vehicle for my wife

which I can imagine that it will be that for the majority of the buyers of this kind of vehicle

although i know where the superchargers are from where i live to Minneapolis (250 miles) and it would not be a problem to stop and charge once on the way there, maybe once while there and once on the way back, it would suck to wait for 30 minutes but is doable

 

[The Weatherman]

The previous Administration put a 100% tariff on Chinese EV. Not much news was made about it.

No. The news was made about what they were doing in support of our legacy auto makers and early adopters to help bring the industry into only being 8yrs behind instead of 10.

As I said earlier, I’m not in support of opening the market to Chime at this time. Once the US has made the gains we need to compete, then it’s a different question.

 

[Slater]

They are not talking points. They are my evaluation based on what I've read from manufacturers, from the government, and what is stated as private EV charging companies future investment.

Your evaluation sounds just like the talking points the anti-EV propaganda shepherds deliver to their sheep.

 

[skidoofast]

I've road tripped a lot in the past 35 years, it's how my wife and I vacation. Lots of people road trip. There is a reason a large contingent of hotels exist at nearly every major intersection of the National Highway System.

yet you miss my point, probably because you like to argue

I’ll state it again, this will not be a vehicle for that, hell this vehicle won’t be a want or desire for the majority of people and at 150,000 a year production it can not be

I live in Minnesota, if I go to Kansas I’ll take a different vehicle

 

[RevCaptJack]

We have a 30amp outlet for when my son visits in his RV. Will I be able to plug my Slate into that just like it is? With only a plug adapter?

 

[skidoofast]

We have a 30amp outlet for when my son visits in his RV. Will I be able to plug my Slate into that just like it is? With only a plug adapter?

it appears you could, you will not get the benefit of off peak rates

some electric companies issue you a credit for installing an off peak charging station

 

[metroshot]

Gas prices here in So Calif are currently just under $6/gallon and it's going higher due to refinery issues.

EV rates are high (home charging) but much cheaper using Tesla Superchargers (w/ Tesla membership).

EV is still way cheaper even if you have to charge at public fast chargers.....

 

[RevCaptJack]

it appears you could, you will not get the benefit of off peak rates

some electric companies issue you a credit for installing an off peak charging station

Thanks. I’m not sure if FPL has off peak rates. But I will check that out!

 

[skidoofast]

Thanks. I’m not sure if FPL has off peak rates. But I will check that out!

our basement floor heat is electric, we have off peak for that, our off peak is 1/2 the normal rate

I have a relatively that just got on an EV program with a rate of $15 per month + $0.01 per kilowatt from 10pm to 6am

 

[lgerger]

I've had a Tesla Model Y Long Range for five years now, and the charge stats over the last 12 months show I spent $801 charging (to include estimates of home charging, which at 11.5kW (using a Tesla wall connector at 48A) represents 88% of my charging. Total was for 4,167KWh, and estimates I saved $1,147 in gasoline equivalent costs. My local utility actually lets me allow them to manage when the vehicle charges to keep it only during off-peak hours, saving $10/month off my electric bill. I can force it to charge any time, though.

 

[FL4XE]

Thanks. I’m not sure if FPL has off peak rates. But I will check that out!

FPL has off-peak rates you can sign up for but make sure the bulk of your use is off-peak because otherwise your bill will go up. They also have an EV charging program where they will put in a charger for you and you pay a monthly fee for unlimited off-peak charging: https://www.fpl.com/electric-vehicles/for-drivers/evolution-home.html

 

[Garbone]

Thanks. I’m not sure if FPL has off peak rates. But I will check that out!

Depends on location in state for FPL.

I tried to get one of those $30 a month unlimited chargers from FPL but our charger is outside and my garage is not a charger location option so no go. As it is 2 Evs we pay about $50 a month on average $.13 with FPL.

 

[Saint Alban]

Also…

“SmartCharge New York is a program that incentivizes electric vehicle (EV) drivers in New York to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours, helping reduce stress on the energy grid and supporting more reliable electricity service. Participants earn cash rewards based on how and when they charge their EVs, primarily between midnight and 8 a.m., year-round. The program is available to EV owners charging within Con Edison, Orange & Rockland, and other New York utility service areas, and it requires enrollment and a compatible vehicle or smart charger.”

We’ve been using this program for a few years now and it’s been great.