OT: Electric Vehicles--anyone driving them or seriously looked at them?

[robt57]

And for something not completely different:

It's so cold, Teslas are struggling to charge in Chicago

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/16/12249...g-extreme-cold

[saab2000]

I left for work 2-1/2 days ago and drove to work with an appropriate amount and arrived home uneventfully this afternoon. For context, I work in the transportation industry and am often gone 2-4 days at a time. In my case I had about a 1/3 efficiency degradation over a summertime drive of the same type. Obviously quite significant and because I charge at home, no big deal. For those on a road trip it’s a huge deal.

It got up to about 0ºF today for the record.

Part of the development of the technology.

No question that the technology has a few Achilles Heels. It also has a few Aces of Spades. As I have always said, not for everyone. Hopefully it will deal with these challenges. Right now I’m about 80/20 in favor for my personal use case. And I weighed those things before I opted into the technology.

[old fat man]

Originally Posted by kppolich

will be interesting to see if a supercharger update will address this in the future, likely an over the air update to keep things running or if the new superchargers that are being installed now are more weather resistant.

Now, dead 12v batteries, engine block heaters and diesel gel won't get fixed over the air.

lol

[eddiepaletti]

snipped:

Originally Posted by saab2000

No question that the technology has a few Achilles Heels. It also has a few Aces of Spades. As I have always said, not for everyone. Hopefully it will deal with these challenges. Right now I’m about 80/20 in favor for my personal use case. And I weighed those things before I opted into the technology.

Agree 100%. I have never really bought into the argument that they are better for the environment (yet) given the negative starting footprint, but I eventually decided to lease one because I really liked the driving experience (instant on, quiet, torque out the wazoo, not having to stop for gas b/c I charge at home, etc.).

As I shared in an earlier post, I am now on my second only b/c first was totaled in a rollover accident (which would have totaled any ICE as well). When my current lease is up I lean toward buying this vehicle or another BEV I find compelling for my needs/uses/wants (e.g., the upcoming Volvo EX30).

[tomato coupe]

Coincidentally, the AAA has not received a single call during this cold spell to help people with cars that wouldn’t start.

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

Coincidentally, the AAA has not received a single call during this cold spell to help people with cars that wouldn’t start.

maybe, but a big difference is you can go to Costco, get a battery and you're back up.. all for probably under $200..

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by fourflys

maybe, but a big difference is you can go to Costco, get a battery and you're back up.. all for probably under $200..

Yeah, buying and installing a car battery in sub-zero temperatures sounds a lot more convenient than waiting for an EV to slow charge .

[saab2000]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

Coincidentally, the AAA has not received a single call during this cold spell to help people with cars that wouldn’t start.

What evidence can you provide to support this claim?

[merckxman]

NYT today:

Electric Car Owners Confront a Harsh Foe: Cold Weather https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/17/b...-android-share

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by robt57

And for something not completely different:

It's so cold, Teslas are struggling to charge in Chicago

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/16/12249...g-extreme-cold

EVs are still in their infancy. This won't be the last time this happens. Gets cold every winter(DOH!). It will get better, both in terms of EV range, cold weather ops, time to charge and convenience of chargers..Sure not there yet...

Lots of $ being spent on the 'next generation' battery. Lots of $ to be made also.

[bikinchris]

I find this debate about cold weather EVs interesting since 82% of new car sales in Norway are electric.

[adub]

Originally Posted by bikinchris

I find this debate about cold weather EVs interesting since 82% of new car sales in Norway are electric.

They have a more mature infrastructure for charging.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

EVs are still in their infancy.

Um...

Here's an older EV in my neighborhood (well, at Heritage Museum & Gardens, but local...)

"Milburn was one of the more successful makers of electric automobiles. Their cars were priced low and were light weight. The company also offered a unique a battery pack on rollers, allowing fresh batteries to be installed quickly. Eliminating the downtime required for re-charging made the Milburn much more versatile and useful than other electric cars.

Although motoring men and women shared a taste for luxury and speed in their driving, manufacturers tended to assume that gas cars were for men, electric cars were for women. Milburn and other electric auto makers’ ads typically featured fashionable women driving children to outings.

One of Milburn’s best customers was the U.S. Secret Service during President Woodrow Wilson’s term (1913-1921). These quiet cars were perfect for parade work or for providing a “tail” for the first family."

Sale price in 1917 was $1,895, only 2.5X average annual income that year. GE engine, powered by thirteen six volt batteries, putting out 3.36 HP!

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by saab2000

What evidence can you provide to support this claim?

Did I forget to use the sarcasm font again? Oops.

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

Yeah, buying and installing a car battery in sub-zero temperatures sounds a lot more convenient than waiting for an EV to slow charge .

or AAA will do it for you if have them and it's too cold for you.. sorry man, I spent 6 yrs in Alaska (and 19 yrs in central Indiana), "it's too cold" just doesn't register with me..