Originally Posted by
Go4th
In researching the Outlander PHEV, I stumbled upon this thread. I've been EV/PHEV shopping since January. I've done so much online research and watched more YouTube videos than I care to count. I've test driven the Model 3, Model X, Kona EV, Niro EV, 500e, Leaf Plus, Bolt, i3...etc. Here's a few things I have learned:
1. When you own a Mirage/G4, and get the MPG you do, the fuel savings is not that great compared to other ICE cars. The savings is there, but just not as good as if you are compare from any other lower MPG. I drive about 500-800 miles a week. If I bought a $40k EV, it would pay for itself in gas/oil/brakes in about 10 years, give or take. I also love the idea of way less maintenance on an EV.
2. Search YouTube for "(insert EV name here) road trip" and the notion of not being able to road trip is easily and quickly debunked. This also ties in with number 3. If I were to road trip in my G4, because of the small gas tank, I would need to make more frequent stops anyhow, so with an EV, it wouldn't be that different for me at least.
3. Charging times are not always 1-2 hours. Watching road trip videos will show this. Most people on a road trip stop and charge for 30-60 minutes. During this time they get dinner, shop, use the rest room, etc. Or just entertain themselves on their phone. Also, charge times get faster and faster. As for lines at the Tesla chargers-they CAN use non Tesla chargers, but at nowhere near they same charge rate, so it's to their advantage to stick with the Tesla network. I also believe they have some pretty convenient locations as well.
4. Even in the relatively short time of this post, the non-Tesla charging network grows quickly. In fact, a shopping center within a 5 minute drive of me put in 6 or 8 Electrify America stations. As someone else mentioned, as the adoption of EV's grows, so will the charging stations. At home options are growing also, and getting less expensive, that don't require an electrician. A vehicle like the Nissan Leaf, for example, can plug into a dryer outlet (with included plug) if you happen to have one in your garage.
5. YouTube channel "New Coloumb" has made a video specifically addressing the issue of living in an apartment and not having charging capability there or at work. It can be done, and many people do it. Going to an EV isn't just getting a vehicle with a different propulsion system, and along with that requires a change in the way we do things. And sometimes that does involve losing some convenience (ie 5 minute fuel ups), and for many, that's a change worth making.
We are in for a huge EV explosion over the next few years, and it IS going to become mainstream enough that these issues will be resolved (I'd love to see charging stations at all public waysides...for example).