what about an EV?

[rcmatt007]

Clearly electric motors are far more efficient than internal combustion engines... so... lets run the numbers...

We replaced our Hyundai Sonata with a Chevy Equinox EV... (much easier for these old bones to get in and out of...)

The equinox takes 85 kwh to have a full charge and can go ~300 miles to empty (you DO NOT want to empty the battery). Our power cost about $0.12 per kwh, so 300 miles costs $10.20... So that is great around town were I can charge at home. Fortunately I had easy access to setting up a 220 outlet in the detached shop/garage. Unfortunately, Putting 220 into the main garage will require an electrician.

Some quirky things. Like all batteries, the closer you get to 100% the slower the charge rate. Over night at home that is no big deal, but at a charge station you want it to stop at 80% as you begin to pay for time.

Level1 charging (110) takes for ever. Level 2 (220) is very reasonable at home. On the road you end up using level 3 (fast charging).

Aye, but here lies the rub.... We traveled about 550 miles a couple of weeks ago starting at 100% charge. First recharge was 67% back up to 80%,,, approximately $7. Second recharge was about 47% back to 60%... another $7. Third recharge was 27% back to 80% and a whooping $27. For a total of about $41. If I had been able to charge all of that at home it would have cost me $15 at most.

[CYBORG]

: Sounds like it is a deal, ... only if you forget about the initial investment,( car and charger), and you never leave your local area And maybe the tax credit, if you need that sort of thing

[rcmatt007]

Around home it is very economical. But not so much if you fast charge

[eades473]

Try taking an EV on a cross country trip. My Suburban gets around 18 mpg on the highway, has a 35 gallon tank. So about 600 miles between 15 minute fill up. Try that in a EV. Gas at around $3.00/gallon, around $90.00 a tank if run almost empty. No home equipment to pay for or set up. Plus the Suburban has a 6.2 liter engine and a 10 speed transmission that tows easily with barely any difference in mileage. My own viewpoint is gas power for me.

[Fred Camper]

We have both twenty 460 watt solar panels on the house and 2022 Electric Bolt EUV. Pepper drives 300 plus miles each week and our net energy use at home is slightly negative, so we give back more power to DTE than we pull. We take the baby diesel truck on trips with 700 miles of range and 27 to 32 mpg. Nice one two punch. Our lawn tractor is an EV as well.

[dontwantapickle]

Right tool for the job.

We have used electric forklifts in the warehouse for years.
Those new electric dirtbikes are incredible.

I just bought a battery powered weedwacker.
It works so well that I gave away my old 2 stroke weedwacker.
No more of that premix-hard to start game around here.

Next on the list is a cordless chainsaw.

[dontwantapickle]

An electric lawn tractor is a great use for this technology.

[rcmatt007]

We have both twenty 460 watt solar panels on the house and 2022 Electric Bolt EUV. Pepper drives 300 plus miles each week and our net energy use at home is slightly negative, so we give back more power to DTE than we pull. We take the baby diesel truck on trips with 700 miles of range and 27 to 32 mpg. Nice one two punch. Our lawn tractor is an EV as well.

Sort of the same. With our solar panels we only pay the power company once every 12 months. I mow 2 acres with a Li powered mower. Our "big trip" vehicle is a F250 6.7 diesel and nearly all the driving in our EV is around home.

[Whiskerfish]

I am not against it. I don't believe we understand or have a complete grasp of the ugly side of the tech yet but the world is going to move that way regardless.

Due to the mileage restrictions I do not foresee ever owning one myself. Family is a ways away and I need to be able to run 600 plus miles at the drop of a hat. That ability is a significant way down the road yet

[Rat]

My budget demands that I drive (or ride) old vehicles that no one else wants anymore.

So far those have all been gas powered …

Gord

[CYBORG]

same here

[Track T 2411]

My budget demands that I drive (or ride) old vehicles that no one else wants anymore.

So far those have all been gas powered …

Gord

Here, too!

[theailer]

I have solar panels and a house battery, currently the electrical company is owing me quite some money
But I would not purchase an EV today, they are crazily expensive and my little Skoda Fabia can get around 600miles of range if I baby it on the highway. Sure, most trips are very short where a EV would excel but we all have very different use cases for cars I guess.

[rcmatt007]

I have solar panels and a house battery, currently the electrical company is owing me quite some money
But I would not purchase an EV today, they are crazily expensive and my little Skoda Fabia can get around 600miles of range if I baby it on the highway. Sure, most trips are very short where a EV would excel but we all have very different use cases for cars I guess.

You are correct in that it all depends on how you use your vehicle. It is hard to compare our Equinox to the Hyundai Sonata hybrid as they are very different vehicles. The Sonata also had solar panels and averaged about 55 mpg. Even a hybrid small SUV would not get that. Clearly an EV is not cost effective for long distant travel using fast charge stations. However, for us using it mostly for local driving it is very cost effective.

[Liam]

Just over 2 years ago I asked a similar question. Almost started a war. I suppose it all depends on who asks the question.