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My Volt will go 40 miles on a charge. I only drive about 12 to work. We have free EV charging at work. I recharge there. I drive home. We have an L2 charger in our garage. I charge more if I like.
I RARELY use gas. If I do, in straight gas hybrid mode, I get 44 mpg highway. Around 40mpg in town.
Volt has regen braking, so you do get a bit of battery power back while driving.
When it was in the teens here last winter, the gas hybrid engine would kick in to offer an "assist" now and then. Still didn't use much gas and my electric only dropped by about 5 miles to 35 on a charge.
I don't think the Volt is much more expensive than any other similarly-appointed vehicle.
I think most people who are highly critical of PHEVs and EVs haven't spent much time driving one of them.
And the Volt is old technology to what is being planned. As soon as it was launched the next car was being worked on.
]I don't think the Volt is much more expensive than any other similarly-appointed vehicle.
I think most people who are highly critical of PHEVs and EVs haven't spent much time driving one of them.
I agree with you. I was definitely among the crass when it came to Priuses, for example. Then I worked at a Toyota store, and they really truly grew on me. I would sooner have a Prius than a Camry any day of the week.
Not enough charging stations. The argument that "most customers don't drive that far!!!!" is debunked by the fact that many customers have that oddball drive they need to make that exceeds 40 miles.
But over 50% of households have more than one vehicle. Keeping one car for use only as a commuter is pretty common already. I don't see how it's any different if that car is electric.
But over 50% of households have more than one vehicle. Keeping one car for use only as a commuter is pretty common already. I don't see how it's any different if that car is electric.
For us, the Leaf has actually become our 'main' vehicle, and the ICE cars are the 'secondary' vehicles that we only use when we want to travel beyond a certain distance, which isn't that often, or when someone else is already using the Leaf.
Trips to the beach, shopping, visiting friends, etc. are all within easy driving range of the Leaf.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Is the future of electric cars dim?
certainly not.. future is GREAT! and we have come so FAR!!!
My company had plug-in parking lots in 1976... I helped build many EV conversions and we had a lot of fun with them. Since I live in the mtns and boonies I went Diesel.
50mpg since 1976, no OPEC, Dinosaurs, or toxic batteries required.
I appreciate being able to 'bump start' when needed. I always park on a hill..
I will add HHV technology to my diesels, should get me over 75mpg.
Electric is fine if you live in the city / paved roads / and don't have to drive 80 miles one way for groceries.
Electrics are great but batteries leave a lot to be desired. I used a EV1 many years ago, a Leaf in recent years, and had experience with a Tesla recently. All of them share the some issues... Range and Re-charge time.
As other have stated... when I can get range (in all seasons) and recharge time more comparable to a petroleum fueled car I will buy, but not until then. Much of the public agrees.
I have an old gas SUV and a new 2014 Ford Focus Electric.
I use the Ford every day for commuting and errands. Cost = $240/month lease (0 down) and $15/month electricity. Plug it in over night = full battery every morning. If I forget twice (=range becomes dicey), there's a Blink fast charging station at work.
I use the SUV for long range travel. Cost = $0/month (10 years old, paid off) and $10/month gas (it stands around almost all the time now).
So for me, the EV is perfect for almost 100% of my driving needs and due to the low lease payments and extremely low "fuel" costs it beats the gas alternative. I'm puzzled why households with more than one car don't consider an EV.
It is also super fun to drive, due to full torque at 0 rpm and it is fully loaded. I love it !!!
As other have stated... when I can get range (in all seasons) and recharge time more comparable to a petroleum fueled car I will buy, but not until then. Much of the public agrees.
Right, but nearly every type of car on the road won't be bought by much of the public. I'd never buy a pick-up or a convertible or a two-seater, but nobody argues they are somehow failed types of cars.
But over 50% of households have more than one vehicle. Keeping one car for use only as a commuter is pretty common already. I don't see how it's any different if that car is electric.
THis is a good point that a lot of people don't realize. 66% of all housholds have 2 or more cars already, Replace on of those with an EV and you're set for commuting and errand running on electricity. And that number of cars is way more than th emanufacturers can make now, so it would take a LONG time to replace that many cars.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdelena
As other have stated... when I can get range (in all seasons) and recharge time more comparable to a petroleum fueled car I will buy, but not until then. Much of the public agrees.
What do you really need both for on a day to day basis, though, when you can have a "full tank" every morning when you go out to the car to go to work? It's a paradigm shift in how you think about transportation and realistically looking at your day to day usage.
Electric vehicles won't really be popular until battery technology gets to a point where they have similar range and refueling/charging times as gas vehicles.
Yes, and unless we as a people concentrate our R&D dollars, using government as a vehicle, to develop better battery technology, we'll be buying these high tech batteries from China and other countries that are heavily subsidizing this technology development TODAY.
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