OT/MISC Will you ever buy an electric vehicle?
- Thread starter changed
- Start date
Tristan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I even when I don't have transportation.
I will never by an electric vehicle.
When the cold comes, the will die a sudden death.
Sportsman
Veteran Member
Sure, look in the TB archives. I detailed it a year or two ago in one of the EV threads. It was a 1992 GM Geo Metro factory conversion by Solectria. The Geo Metro was delivered by GM with no running gear for completion. Had 144 volts of SLA batteries, 65 mph top end, decent acceleration, and suited my 25 mile commute in Illinois just fine, summer and winter, with it's 40+ mile range. It had a 3 phase AC motor, regen braking, and an advanced controller. The electronics and conversion were made by Solectria, a company founded by a bunch of MIT engineers that moved on to building AE systems and electric powered tour busses and postal vehicles when GM refused to sell them any more sleds. I'd have to look up the detailed information and that might take a while since I sold it some time ago.
I was originally sold to a power company (Northern States Power) to use in parades and for meter readers. They stupidly ran the batteries dry and sold it at a good price. I bought it in 2000 and sold it in 2004 when my employer moved out of range, I sold it to a greenie that put exotic batteries in it (at about 5 times the cost of the car) and I suspect is still driving it.
It was state of the art at the time. I loved driving it, but the wife didn't.... she couldn't stand all the people asking questions about it since it had "electric" printed on the side.
By the way, I drove it in 20 degree Illinois winter weather every year. Kept it in an unheated garage, but plugged in during the night with a heat pad under the batteries. The car stayed warm during the commute with the mass of 12 batteries in back and the electric resistance heater. It had both an electric and kerosene heater, but I never used the kerosene heater. The A/C worked well. My commute was about 25 miles daily, so I didn't notice any range reduction due to the heater or A/C.
Running cost was almost zero. I replaced all resistance light bulbs with CF bulbs in the house when I bought it so I never saw any increase in the power bill. Calculating the usage verified that I saved enough from the light bulb changes to pay for the charging. I knew people that charged theirs from solar panels on their garages.
Remember this was 20 years ago!
Last edited:
rob0126
Veteran Member
If you want noise, you could put playing cards on a caliper to flap when the wheels roll around, kinda like we use to do with bicycles.
Did Congress pass a bill stating vehicles have to be electric after 2025 or was that a decree from Biden? If from Congress, we need to petition the post-midterm Congress to ditch that. If it was from Biden, then the next president can ditch it the way Biden did all the good things Trump had done.
When the majority of the population cannot afford an electric vehicle, I cannot see how the majority will be able to survive without transportation. In the USA outside of large cities, there is no public transportation.
When the majority of the population cannot afford an electric vehicle, I cannot see how the majority will be able to survive without transportation. In the USA outside of large cities, there is no public transportation.
Yes. They recommend only doing the Level 3 Fast charging when it is the only available option due to time or distance consideration as it does impact battery life and speeds the decrease in maximum range each year.
Level 2 charging using 240 volts is the acceptable compromise at the moment and is necessary if you have a longer daily commute that you can’t recharge for overnight on only 120 volts.
Between my wife and I we have 3 cars. One has 290,000 on it. It needs work on it not currently running. Another has 229m on it. Running but needs work. 2008 our newest has 170m on it. Still going thank you Jesus!
Have never had newer than a 4 year old car. They think I can buy a 50m dollar car? It would be really nice to have a solid dependable gas using car.
Have never had newer than a 4 year old car. They think I can buy a 50m dollar car? It would be really nice to have a solid dependable gas using car.
Do you drive over 50 miles every day? Do you fill up your tank every day?
I fill up my EV overnight, every day. Effectively starting every day with a topped-off “tank”. It takes 15 seconds to plug it in as I exit the vehicle. It takes another 15 seconds to unplug it as I enter the vehicle. Actual time *I* spend standing there to “fill it up” each day is 30 seconds. It is recharging while I am recharging - overnight. Or while I am at the office - working.
A 2023 Bolt is supposed to list at around $33K for a basic model.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I don't remember-did your Bolt require the battery replacement? That's one issue I'm seeing with GM EV's right now; availability of the reworked battery packs. Some dealers still have new Bolt's on the lot with "stop sell" marked on them. And LG is NOT picking up the old battery packs either. Several local area dealerships are down an entire service bay-because of the Bolt battery pack replacements they've done. They won't pick them up and ship them back.
yea, that is 30 seconds a day. I fill up once every six weeks. that is 42 days.
30 seconds X 42 days = 1260 seconds.
There are 60 seconds in a minute = 21 minutes.
It takes less than 5 minutes to fill the car.
But OK.
ALL Bolts ever produced were ultimately put under the battery recall. I am on the list for a new battery later this year. The workaround is to set the charge limiter to 90% or less which I have done.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thanks. That workaround seems to be working.
How many miles do you drive over those 6 weeks? How much fuel does your tank hold? What mpg do you get?
I like starting off each day with a full “tank”.
And my effective cost equivalent shows that I am getting just over 200 mpg at the current price of gasoline in my area vs the cost of electricity I am using.
SpokaneMan
Veteran Member
I didn't read many replies. But my response is a big fat hell no. (For obvious reasons, of course).
Other EV advantages that most people do not consider is the lack a bunch of other maintenance items that take time and money and aggravation associated with internal combustion engines (ICE):
No oil changes, radiator or transmission fluids or flushes
No water pumps or fuel pumps to go out
No belts to worry about
No oil filters, fuel filters or air filters
No fuel injectors or carburetors
No spark plugs
Far fewer moving parts, no pistons, rods, valves, crankshafts, camshafts, or timing chains to break, wear, tear or replace.
Those things leave a whole lot less to deal with on an ongoing basis.
ETA: That is also why I consider Hybrids to be the worst of both worlds because since they still have an ICE as well as an electric motor they retain all of those components requiring ongoing maintenance.
No oil changes, radiator or transmission fluids or flushes
No water pumps or fuel pumps to go out
No belts to worry about
No oil filters, fuel filters or air filters
No fuel injectors or carburetors
No spark plugs
Far fewer moving parts, no pistons, rods, valves, crankshafts, camshafts, or timing chains to break, wear, tear or replace.
Those things leave a whole lot less to deal with on an ongoing basis.
ETA: That is also why I consider Hybrids to be the worst of both worlds because since they still have an ICE as well as an electric motor they retain all of those components requiring ongoing maintenance.
"Like" starting off with a full tank everyday has no value to me. I do not believe I have run out of gas since about 1972.
It isn't in the decision tree.
Apparently, with an electric vehicle . . . it is.
Is it?
I average 4000 miles a year. Thats about 333 miles a month.
I get 25 to 27 miles per gallon. And I put 11 gallons a month - $54 last month.
You do not get "miles per gallon". EVs use about .03 (cents) of electric per mile. That about $10/month.
Today that is about $45 savings. When gas was $3.50 a gallon, the savings was $28/mo. When gas was $2.50 a gallon it was $17 per month.
Realistically, any savings you get is a result of government subsidy.
And any excess I pay is a result of government penalties.
When they capture enough of the market, you can expect that to change.
Edit: I just realized I do not put $54 a month in gas. I put $54 last fill which was 6 weeks - 42 days.
So over 30 days that works out to $39/month - so I would save $29 a month with EV not $45.
Last edited:
Old Greek
Veteran Member
Also, as more and more EV's start replacing gasoline vehicles the government will begin charging tax per mile driven to make up for the loss of the gasoline tax.
Old Greek
Veteran Member
All good points!
If the Bolt had an ICE it would likely get about 35 mpg.
I have driven the EV an average of 342 miles per month. That would have burned about 10 gallons of gas at our current price of $4.86/gallon or a total of $48.60 in gas.
My actual electric cost for those 342 miles at .023 cents per mile was $7.86.
For the cost of 1 gallon of gas $4.86 I was able to go 211 miles ($4.86 / .023). Thus 211 mpg is my current calculated mpg at the current cost of gasoline and electricity.
mama of two
Senior Member
My father bought this exact model in March. He loves it!
So you saved $40/month.
At $3.50 a gallon, you would spend $35/month saving $28.
At $2.50 a gallon, you would spend $25/month saving $18.
You don't get miles per gallon. The common denominator is miles per dollar.
And don't forget,
you will have to have a charging station in your garage.
If you don;t have one, you hire and electrician and pay starting at $1500
In order to get that awesome 3 cents a mile
you have to spend 3 years of gas money on a charging station.
(I spent $500 last year on gas)
But electricty is reliable. They never shut it off for any reason especially weather or fire or freezing cold.
Reliable.
you will have to have a charging station in your garage.
If you don;t have one, you hire and electrician and pay starting at $1500
In order to get that awesome 3 cents a mile
you have to spend 3 years of gas money on a charging station.
(I spent $500 last year on gas)
But electricty is reliable. They never shut it off for any reason especially weather or fire or freezing cold.
Reliable.
I have an EV and no charging station in my garage. It comes with the 120 volt charger you simply plug into a normal outlet.
I MAY choose to add the 240 volt circuit in order to have faster charging but I don’t actually NEED it. If you drive less than 50 miles a day the 120 volt will recharge it overnight just fine.
SmithJ
Veteran Member
Monthly payment on a 2022 Acura MDX is more than that and it’s a comparably sized Gasoline suv.
and that’s the market the Ioniq is aimed at, not bubba with the 25 year old Chevy…..
and nothings wrong with bubbas Chevy, it’s just a different market
Last edited:
Warm Wisconsin
Easy as 3.141592653589..
I love speed and acceleration! An electric car can outdo an gas powered car any day. So I would not buy for green reasons. I would buy for adrenaline reasons.
Warm Wisconsin
Easy as 3.141592653589..
Drag race: Rimac Nevera vs Ferrari SF90 Stradale
View: https://youtu.be/A4orCB71BgY
Run time 11:34
Rimac is an electric production car (BTW - Never heard of Rimac? They own Bugatti.
Ferrari is a gasoline super car with electric off the line assist but isn’t t considered an electric car.
The 1,000 hp Ferrari looks like a Ford Escort in this race. It doesn’t even compare. There is no Bugatti Lamborghini or any other gasoline car that comes close.
Run time 11:34
Rimac is an electric production car (BTW - Never heard of Rimac? They own Bugatti.
Ferrari is a gasoline super car with electric off the line assist but isn’t t considered an electric car.
The 1,000 hp Ferrari looks like a Ford Escort in this race. It doesn’t even compare. There is no Bugatti Lamborghini or any other gasoline car that comes close.
Last edited:
changed
Preferred pronouns: dude/bro
Don't forget about the cost for a replacement battery when the original goes bad.
PghPanther
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Makes sense but I don't have a house or garage to plug a car in at the apt complex I live in so that would be a bit of an issue.......on the otherhand I only drive 60 miles a week and get 40 miles to the gallon which means I fill up once a month that's it.................so in my situation it doesn't make sense for now.
iboya
Veteran Member
Very small and not sure if AWD is available
Nice budget option though for some.
Zagdid
Veteran Member
Stuck in a snowstorm at night. The EV battery capacity shows range in miles, but the range recalculates with each accessory that is turned on. Lights - recalculating. Wipers - recalculating. Heater - recalculating. Seat heater - recalculating. Spinning wheels - recalculating. Good luck getting home. 4 way flashers - recalculating
Electricity is ubiquitous.
It is everywhere.
Its is always there.
Except when it isn't.
During Tornados, Hurricanes, Ice Storms, and floods the power goes out.
In California, it has become routine to simply turn off the power during wild fires.
In Texas of all places, electricity was out, in the midst of winter storms, for two weeks - the whole state.
And when it isn't, not having a vehicle is really a problem.
It is everywhere.
Its is always there.
Except when it isn't.
During Tornados, Hurricanes, Ice Storms, and floods the power goes out.
In California, it has become routine to simply turn off the power during wild fires.
In Texas of all places, electricity was out, in the midst of winter storms, for two weeks - the whole state.
And when it isn't, not having a vehicle is really a problem.
