Twitter

Discussion in 'West Mall' started by Joe Fan, Jul 25, 2016.

  1. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    Your comment seems to suggest that there is some significant trade-off or compromise in “switching” to an EV. For those who do a lot of frequent long range travel this might be true (charging takes time), but for most people I don’t think it is.

    Plug it in when it’s parked at home and no gas station visits.
     
  2. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    Sangre
    To your point it looks like a quarter of charging stations in San Francisco don't work
     
  3. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    Dion
    What about all the people in apartment buildings?
     
  4. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    My refill infrastructure:

    electrical_outlet_l1-3762975576.jpg

    EVs are not for everyone, I get it, but I think there are also a lot of misconceptions and general anti-EV sentiment that is not very well informed.
     
  5. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    Let them eat cake

    Seriously though, over time I think those properties will begin to include charging as EV adoption increases. It’s early but a transition will happen.
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
  6. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    People who can afford a fun car will consider a Tesla. No one is taking their fun car to the Davis Mountains.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  7. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    Can you imagine the miles of extension cords.:coolnana:

    EVs will happen.
    And I know you are not saying stop all oil production and gas cars.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  8. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    Demand appears to be pretty strong lately. Tesla just started ramping up production in two new factories (Berlin and Austin) and Elon recently said that global demand far exceeds their current production capacity (four total factories). There are other EV manufacturers, American and Chinese, who could also do very well if they can get the economics right.
    Of course. It will be an interesting dynamic to watch play out in the coming years though. If gas prices remain high more buyers will consider an EV. And if the charging infrastructure continues to be built out (it will) then “range anxiety” becomes less of an impediment to adoption.
     
  9. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    For daily driving around your home, I can see why the long charging times aren't a big deal. Just keep it plugged in overnight. However, what if you're on a road trip and need to be able to drive a long distance? You can't just fill up and go.

    I also speculate (don't really know) that EVs would be expensive and a hassle to maintain and/or repair if anything breaks or goes wrong.

    To me, the big change will be if they figure out how to efficiently and quickly exchange batteries. That would end the charging issue.
     
  10. Monahorns

    Monahorns 5,000+ Posts

    Dion, how would you describe the upfront price for the Tesla you bought. More than, equal to, or less than a ICE car of similar specs.
     
  11. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    Battery swap is not happening at scale. The innovation will be in faster charging battery tech.
    More, of course. It’s early in the development lifetime of the technology.
     
  12. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    There are concerns over batteries spontaneously combusting.
    Many here is USA but France just took all of their EV buses out of service due to EV buses exploding into fire.
     
  13. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    This is their biggest selling point: no oil changes, no transmission, no coolant, no water pump, no belts, etc. Less moving parts in general.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  15. OUBubba

    OUBubba 5,000+ Posts

    • Like Like x 2
  16. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    I’m holding off on buying that electric French bus for a while
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
  17. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    Last time I read about home charging stations you had to install something bigger than a 110 outlet, and it was recommended to be on a dedicated circuit.
    Has that changed?
     
  18. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Most folks have 220 installed in their garage and don’t know it.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  19. humahuma

    humahuma 1,000+ Posts

    The problem is time, I can fill up and go. E has to wait an hour.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  20. OUBubba

    OUBubba 5,000+ Posts

    I’ve heard 20 min. That’s the next big advancement.
     
  21. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    That's true, and that's a definite upside. However, there are still plenty of things to go wrong - heating and air conditioning, brakes, suspension, drivetrain (or whatever they call the system that connects the power source to the wheels), etc. When they do, are you pretty much stuck with one source for parts and service (which means you'll get butt-slammed), or do you have options? Also, I would imagine the battery will eventually stop working properly like every battery does. How long do they last, and what's the cost to replace it?
     
  22. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    Yeah, I think most outlets for ovens and dryers are 220V. The plugs are different.

    Of course, every outlet in my house is 220V, and I have to plug in a big, heavy transformer if I need 110V power.
     
  23. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    • Winner Winner x 1
    • poop poop x 1
  24. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    The charger that came with the car runs on the 220 outlet in my garage. It is a slow charge but works fine for me right now. You’re right about the dedicated 60 amp circuit to install the fast charger.
    The charger on a dedicated circuit is actually pretty quick, maybe closer to a half hour for a full charge, which wouldn’t be required very often. Charge rates will improve over time as the battery tech gets better. I have used Tesla’s Supercharger at the HEB a couple times and it was fast.
     
  25. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    How does that work? Payment, I mean. Do you pay right there with a card, like you would for gas? Do you get charged by the minute, by the amount of juice delivered?
     
  26. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    I don’t know but anecdotally I have seen reports of 300,000+ miles, and there is going to be some degradation over time. I’ve seen one report that the battery will retain over 80% of its capacity after 200k miles, which is pretty good if true.

    Aside: I feel like I’m the “EV Guy” here now among a mostly anti-EV set. :whiteflag:

    For what it’s worth, I don’t think of myself as an environmentalist so that’s not a factor for me. I drove my brother in law’s Tesla Model 3 a few years ago and liked it a lot and have wanted one ever since. My wife and I really enjoy the Model Y and it is just a car, not a statement.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  27. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    You have a Tesla account and app with a card on file. When you plug in the charger recognizes the vehicle and bills the card. Cost is by kWh which is $.29 at my HEB Supercharger and about $.12 at home, I think. So you just plug in, charge up, unplug and leave.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  28. BrntOrngStmpeDe

    BrntOrngStmpeDe 1,000+ Posts

    much of this is only 2-3 years off. many manufacturers are switching from 400v to 800v which allows faster charging and there are already tests that show some of the vehicles/batteries can be 80% recharged in 15 min. it's true, there are challenges still but most of them are being solved.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  29. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    My former boss wants the truck. Not an ev guy.
     
  30. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    I can think of some marketing campaigns for guys who like trucks and stuff to make it more popular. For example, combine charging stations with Thai massage parlors. “Put a charge into it”, if you know what I mean.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Hot Hot x 1

Share This Page