Today, would you buy an EV vehicle.

[Torvy]

I live in the country, on a 40 acre ranch, but travel into the Bay Area weekly, a 200 mile r/t. When I drove an ICE vehicle I needed to go out of my way to fill up with gas at a station where the price was reasonable. Now, I never have to visit a gas station, with all my charging done at home via a solar array which I installed 9 years ago (when solar prices were much higher) at a cost of $30K. It has now paid for itself, and has an expected life of at least another 20 years. No more $300-600 monthly utility bills! No more visits to gas stations. No more gas purchases. The local price for gas today is $6.50/gallon!!)

I have a CyberTruck on order, but don't expect to see it for at least another year. My 2005 Chevy diesel truck has served me well but it is lacking in many modern features (which I would love to have) and getting" long in the tooth." I only wish I could have the electric truck now. The Ford version just doesn't compare.

As far as EVs, the tipping point is near and has already happened in some markets. According to a recent pole, 73% responded that their next vehicle would be an EV. We will soon see numerous new choices available in the $35K price range, many from China and South Korea, which are said to be very well made. Detroit is way behind Tesla. They are scrambling to catch up but won't be able. The Chevy Bolt's battery is a disaster (fires) which has forced GM to recall almost all of them and thus are not available. Statistically Teslas have way fewer fires than ICE vehicles.

Tesla batteries are expected to last 10 years or more. Many have already been in service that long. EV batteries older then that still have a lot of additional life in stationary applications and thus will have considerable value. At the absolute end of their life, they are eminently recyclable.

For those of us between the Rockies and the Appalachians, 200 mile round trip is nothing. I drove to Austin last week..350+ round trip. Most EV would have required a 30 minute stop to get home. Glad it worked out for you. Just don't force it on anyone. Without the subsidies, they are not affordable, yet.

 

[MtHam]

In San Antonio close to the hotel I have been staying or living in, there is a Tesla charging station. They have about 12 spots to charge. My understanding is it takes 30 to 45 minutes for a full charge with these rapid chargers. People are always backed in with several Teslas waiting to use one. They seem to stay in the vehicle while charging with a/c going.

I guess for some it could take up to a hour and half to charge their car with the wait. That would drive me nuts.

I think the problem with Tesla is similar to the problem with getting Starlink internet. Not enough support for the demand. So basically no matter what you do it will be a lot of hurry up and wait.

I waited 9 months after placing the order for my Model S Tesla.

I have had Starlink about 8 months after a 6 month wait. It is giving me reliable service in 60-150MBPS range and getting better every day. It's 1/2 the cost I previously paid for inferior service. Space X is the major provider to NASA for rocket service to the Space Station.
Elon rocks! (and delivers)

For those of us between the Rockies and the Appalachians, 200 mile round trip is nothing. I drove to Austin last week..350+ round trip. Most EV would have required a 30 minute stop to get home. Glad it worked out for you. Just don't force it on anyone. Without the subsidies, they are not affordable, yet.

My Model S Long Range has a range of 409 miles.

 

[Torvy]

My Model S Long Range has a range of 409 miles

Pretty sure I said "most". Even at 409 miles, I would not make that trip with that little margin for error. Highway speeds along I35 are normally 75-84. Driving slower to milk mileage is not an apples to apples comparison.

EV Range: Everything You Need to Know

We explain EPA ratings, factors that affect range, how EVs have performed in our testing, and why it's all very complicated.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I just retired my lexus at 23 years of service and 340,000 miles and it was free. If I could get an electric car at that price and it last that long, im game.

 

[Oaktree]

You cant watch tv without seeing most car ads with a electric vehicle to offer.

Must be different out your way, I haven't seen a single ad for an EV, ever. Most vehicle ads I see are for full size pickups, splashing thru puddles on dirt roads or driving over big rockpiles, just what most drivers do everyday.

 

[K5lwq]

I waited 9 months after placing the order for my Model S Tesla.

I have had Starlink about 8 months after a 6 month wait. It is giving me reliable service in 60-150MBPS range and getting better every day. It's 1/2 the cost I previously paid for inferior service. Space X is the major provider to NASA for rocket service to the Space Station.
Elon rocks! (and delivers)

My Model S Long Range has a range of 409 miles.

I ordered Starlink Feb 2021. Expected date has changed 3 times and there has been a price increase. Not knocking Elan but it appears he has excepted a lot of folks deposits with out Providing anything. Of course we can get it back without interest and lose our spot in line. If there is a line.

Anyway, not interested in a vehicle that waste my time like that. Getting less interesting in Starlink.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I ordered Starlink Feb 2021. Expected date has changed 3 times and there has been a price increase. Not knocking Elan but it appears he has excepted a lot of folks deposits with out Providing anything. Of course we can get it back without interest and lose our spot in line. If there is a line.

Anyway, not interested in a vehicle that waste my time like that. Getting less interesting in Starlink.

A friend of mine got starlink a few months ago. Hes back to using his cell phone for internet.

 

[IXLR8]

A bit off topic, but... I bought a cordless electric chainsaw two months ago. I wasn't expecting much, but I'm blown away by how well it works. That's one piece of equipment I'd recommend switching over to without reservation. Weirdly, the primary drawback is that it has so much torque that it feels more dangerous to me than the two-stroke.

That is because it is more dangerous than a two-stroke because of that torque you mentioned. Look and try to find chain saw chaps that are rated for an electric chain saw. Most chaps on them now state NOT rated for an electric chain saw. There are only 2, maybe 3, chaps that are electric chainsaw rated.

 

[Jstpssng]

I met a Mach-E owner at a charging station while charging my Bolt.

I've got a 2019 Bolt, and it's a great car. They're slashing prices because of competition, not because it's a bad car.

My Bolt is one of the models covered by a battery recall, so right now, I'm running it at 85% of full charge most of the time. That's my only gripe. Everything else about it is great, and the battery problem will be fixed at no cost, so only a mild inconvenience.

Maybe it's time for a thread from Bolt owners, about their Bolts.

I always figured if it wasn't for global warming we would still be in the ice age.

Years ago I read a Sci-fi book which advanced that theory. I forget who the author was, but he later changed his viewpoints.

Pretty sure I said "most". Even at 409 miles, I would not make that trip with that little margin for error. Highway speeds along I35 are normally 75-84. Driving slower to milk mileage is not an apples to apples comparison.

Ditto here. As I've stated several time before, I don't normally let my fuel gauge get below 1/2. Running out of fuel can be a life or death situation in some of the places I go, especially as I get older. However, it still would be handy a lot of the time for running to town... which is 43 miles one way.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I live in the country, on a 40 acre ranch, but travel into the Bay Area weekly, a 200 mile r/t. When I drove an ICE vehicle I needed to go out of my way to fill up with gas at a station where the price was reasonable. Now, I never have to visit a gas station, with all my charging done at home via a solar array which I installed 9 years ago (when solar prices were much higher) at a cost of $30K. It has now paid for itself, and has an expected life of at least another 20 years. No more $300-600 monthly utility bills! No more visits to gas stations. No more gas purchases. The local price for gas today is $6.50/gallon!!)

I have a CyberTruck on order, but don't expect to see it for at least another year. My 2005 Chevy diesel truck has served me well but it is lacking in many modern features (which I would love to have) and getting" long in the tooth." I only wish I could have the electric truck now. The Ford version just doesn't compare.

As far as EVs, the tipping point is near and has already happened in some markets. According to a recent pole, 73% responded that their next vehicle would be an EV. We will soon see numerous new choices available in the $35K price range, many from China and South Korea, which are said to be very well made. Detroit is way behind Tesla. They are scrambling to catch up but won't be able. The Chevy Bolt's battery is a disaster (fires) which has forced GM to recall almost all of them and thus are not available. Statistically Teslas have way fewer fires than ICE vehicles.

Tesla batteries are expected to last 10 years or more. Many have already been in service that long. EV batteries older then that still have a lot of additional life in stationary applications and thus will have considerable value. At the absolute end of their life, they are eminently recyclable.

I agree that the tipping point is getting closer every day for those that can manage the range and limited charging locations. However, that tipping point is ultimately dependent on the competing price of gasoline or diesel. Had the government not intentionally sabotaged, discouraged, and depressed fossil-fuel production, the business case for an EV would look very different.

Obama said that under his carbon tax plan "electricity prices would necessarily skyrocket". ("Skyrocket" is a big word . . . ) But he ultimately had the sense to know that it would be political suicide to really push this. Hillary swore to put the coal industry out of business. Biden and team has actually doubled-down on this new "green religion". At current gasoline prices, I completely understand the attraction of EV. At prices that we were paying on January 19, 2021, I think the basic payback period / ROI analysis yielded much different results.