EV charging at the Mall

[vision63]

I think people change their whole ideas and concepts about driving when they have EV's. They match/jibe their lifestyles based on the limitations of their vehicles. Unconsciously.

People in prisons get used to it. People who are free, take for granted that they can walk out of their front door and walk around the block any time they feel like it with no limitations whatsoever (if they "can" walk).

The only way there'll be the proper adoption of EV's is if people more or less have no choice but to buy EV's. That's political policy.

[Speedy]

wurm wrote:
Another quick question for those doing almost all of your charging at home. I know it's all dependent on the area of the country in which you live, but on average how much have you seen your monthly electric bill increase?

And those of you fortunate enough to already be totally off-the-grid, no need to rub it in.

We pay around 13.375¢/kWh. But our fixed charge remains the same no matter how much we use so using more means less total average charges per kWh. Taxes, etc. are based on use so there is no overall average kWh savings attached to those. We noticed no noticeable change in our electric bill for our two PHEVs (Volt, ELR) that go 42 and 34 miles respectively before the gasoline generator kicks in.

The Volt is driven about five days a week for six months, then zero for six months, and uses less than a tankful of gas (9 gals.) a year. The ELR is driven the same and uses about the same amount of gas over the same six months but it is also our travel car (we put 10k miles on it in the last six months) so it uses plenty of gas getting to each destination where we again charge using the grid for all our stays. We live centrally in a fairly compact metro area of 200k population.

[wurm]

But our fixed charge remains the same no matter how much we use so using more means less total average charges per kWh.

That's intriguing. That sounds different than some sort of 'budget plan' some utilities offer to avoid higher bills in peak seasons. Does this get adjusted every year or is it a forever rate?

[GGD]

wurm wrote:
But our fixed charge remains the same no matter how much we use so using more means less total average charges per kWh.

That's intriguing. That sounds different than some sort of 'budget plan' some utilities offer to avoid higher bills in peak seasons. Does this get adjusted every year or is it a forever rate?

Sounds more like how my water bill works, there's a fixed monthly cost just to provide service to the property and then actual usage is charged on top of that.

[Speedy]

GGD wrote:
[quote=wurm]
But our fixed charge remains the same no matter how much we use so using more means less total average charges per kWh.

That's intriguing. That sounds different than some sort of 'budget plan' some utilities offer to avoid higher bills in peak seasons. Does this get adjusted every year or is it a forever rate?

Sounds more like how my water bill works, there's a fixed monthly cost just to provide service to the property and then actual usage is charged on top of that.
This ^ My post is not well stated.

[Robert M]

Robert M wrote:
special:

"sucks to see people waiting in line for better infrastructure. It was 7:40 PM and his car should be fully charged by 8:20. I guess those other drivers need to wait their turn."

The time frame needed to charge the vehicle is a significant issue for me and that's assuming you don't have to wait for an open charging station.

https://www.transportation.gov/rural/ev/...ing-speeds

I can fill my Mazda in less than five minute, not factoring in waiting in line for an open pump. 20 or more minutes without factoring time waiting for an open charging station? Nope. That doesn't work for me for my general day to day driving and absolutely wouldn't work for me while on a road trip.

I'm actually in the market for a new or new to me vehicle. It will be a standard hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, preferably a plug-in hybrid. Since I can't put a charging station in the building where I live, I'll install it in the warehouse of my office.

Robert

Simple.  Charge at work and you’ll be fine unless you drive 300+ miles a day in which case take an ICE vehicle.  I suppose you let the shop that does your maintenance come pick up and drop off your vehicle at your office thus not costing you time, only money; money that you wouldn’t spend if you drove an EV.

"I suppose you let the shop that does your maintenance come pick up and drop off your vehicle at your office thus not costing you time, only money; money that you wouldn’t spend if you drove an EV."

You suppose incorrectly. If I have to bring my vehicle to the shop, I drop it off and have my wife or a co-worker get me. Someone brings me back at the end of the day or the next day to get my vehicle.

Not sure where you get the idea that I'd not spend that time or money if I had an EV. They are still vehicles that require maintenance. If I owned an EV, I'd still have to bring it to the shop for routine maintenance. Tire rotations. Fluid replacements including brake fluid, battery coolant, etc. Battery inspections. While EVS don't require the same level of maintenance as an ICE vehicle - far less actually - they definitely need routine maintenance that is best done at a shop.

I know several people with EVs that will vouch for that.

Robert

[AllGold]

You change brake fluid and coolant a LOT less than you change oil on an ICE vehicle. The only regular somewhat frequent maintenance you need on an EV is tire rotations (which can be done at the dealer or any tire shop while you wait) and tire replacements every 50K or so miles.

[bhaveshp]

Robert M wrote:
special:

"sucks to see people waiting in line for better infrastructure. It was 7:40 PM and his car should be fully charged by 8:20. I guess those other drivers need to wait their turn."

The time frame needed to charge the vehicle is a significant issue for me and that's assuming you don't have to wait for an open charging station.

https://www.transportation.gov/rural/ev/...ing-speeds

I can fill my Mazda in less than five minute, not factoring in waiting in line for an open pump. 20 or more minutes without factoring time waiting for an open charging station? Nope. That doesn't work for me for my general day to day driving and absolutely wouldn't work for me while on a road trip.

I'm actually in the market for a new or new to me vehicle. It will be a standard hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, preferably a plug-in hybrid. Since I can't put a charging station in the building where I live, I'll install it in the warehouse of my office.

Robert

Simple.  Charge at work and you’ll be fine unless you drive 300+ miles a day in which case take an ICE vehicle.  I suppose you let the shop that does your maintenance come pick up and drop off your vehicle at your office thus not costing you time, only money; money that you wouldn’t spend if you drove an EV.

"I suppose you let the shop that does your maintenance come pick up and drop off your vehicle at your office thus not costing you time, only money; money that you wouldn’t spend if you drove an EV."

You suppose incorrectly. If I have to bring my vehicle to the shop, I drop it off and have my wife or a co-worker get me. Someone brings me back at the end of the day or the next day to get my vehicle.

Not sure where you get the idea that I'd not spend that time or money if I had an EV. They are still vehicles that require maintenance. If I owned an EV, I'd still have to bring it to the shop for routine maintenance. Tire rotations. Fluid replacements including brake fluid, battery coolant, etc. Battery inspections. While EVS don't require the same level of maintenance as an ICE vehicle - far less actually - they definitely need routine maintenance that is best done at a shop.

I know several people with EVs that will vouch for that.

Robert

Nope. Have 2 EV's, one 7 years old and another 3 years old. Zero routine maintenance. Zero, zilch, nada.

No Fluid replacements, brake fluid, battery coolant, battery inspections, nothing.

I've had to get the cabin air filter changed twice. Both scheduled in app, performed on my driveway. Never saw the human who performed the maintenance. Payment charged to the card on file in the app.

Tire changes, rotations, and wiper blade changes. That's it.

BTW, interesting to reply to a 3 month old thread...