Was thinking about getting an EV but have decided to wait until after the elections. Trump has said too many things about stopping the production of charging stations and increasing oil production. This could make owning an EV a terrible idea. Yes, must wait until after the election.
They probably don't need to repeal the act, but they could easily fuck up implementation. It's already been slow to get charging stations built under the IRA; WashPo explains why and suggests it'll get a lot better going forward. But as of now it allows the GQP to loudly proclaim "The Biden IRA is bad" (but please keep sending us the money because we like to take credit for it anyway lol).The only thing Trump could do is try and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act which would be difficult unless the Republicans control the House and the Senate.
Tesla already has a great charging network and with other manufacturers gaining access it really doesn't make sense to hold off unless you have a specific use case. Something else to keep in mind is that if the GOP is able to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act they could also take away the BEV tax credit.
Beyond there not being enough charging stations, and them having annoying as shit interfaces. They also just charge too much. The local level 2s are 2-4x local electrical retail rates and the level 3s are like 6x. It would be cheaper for me to drive an F150 than my Bolt if I was paying for public Level 3 chargers around here.
My city has put in a few level 2s at parks, that were all free, but I saw starting tomorrow they are going to start charging 2x the going retail rate for electricity from our city's electrical coop. I get that there is a little bit of overhead, but I know the city isn't paying retail rate for power from our city's power company either.
They probably don't need to repeal the act, but they could easily fuck up implementation. It's already been slow to get charging stations built under the IRA; WashPo explains why and suggests it'll get a lot better going forward. But as of now it allows the GQP to loudly proclaim "The Biden IRA is bad" (but please keep sending us the money because we like to take credit for it anyway lol).
WashPo - Biden’s $7.5 billion investment in EV charging has only produced 7 stations in two years
Suffice to say Electrify America and the IRA have a lot of work left to do, and there's still plenty of time.
Workplaces should install chargers and it should just be a standard thing. They already have power for block heaters, just put a 120v charger at each parking spot off the same circuit. If they don't have power to run them all at once just have them on timers so they alternate. That would handle like 90% of charging for people who can't charge at home. Although if you can't charge at home an EV is probably a bad choice.
Hotels could install chargers too, that would be the most logical place as if you are traveling you are going to be stopping at a hotel and staying the night at some point during the trip. Once EVs have enough range for at least 12 hours of driving including heat etc they will be more viable for travel, if hotels have chargers.
Who regularly drives 12-hours nonstop?
Just at that 10 yr 95k point with my Grande Cherokee ECO diesel. Have a maintenance light that's going to cost probably a little over $5000 to get rid of (clogged intake manifold and swirl vales due to pollution controls). Debate buying a new car, No way. Ever since I've had this car, whenever I rented a car as part of my job, nothing compared to it. Underpowered unresponsive toys. So I will take a big gamble and have the work done, and if I get another 50k out of this thing I will be way ahead. I just pray that it won't get totaled somehow. At that point, it will be an EV if I'm still driving.I just had a conversation with my brother. He's a die-hard climate denier, and blows off the notion of getting an EV. We were discussing investments, and I mentioned a certain well-known car company which had made advances in battery technology, likely to sell it to the rest of the vehicle market -- at a price. He blew off that idea, suggesting that "people weren't buying EVs", or that the stock wasn't a sure thing.
I see the writing on the wall. First, the amount of oil in the ground is limited, and it will likely be depleted in 200 years. Second, the climate imperative assures that the transportation market will only lean toward EV as the future unfolds.
That given, I won't invest a large sum of money in any type of vehicle as long as my 29-year-old SUV continues to run like new, as long as gasoline is priced below $10/gallon, and as long as I only drive at most 5,000 miles per annum. It doesn't make much sense for an old retired fart like me, and all my old retired fart friends seem to be following the same strategy.
HOWEVER! Looking at the near future, it would make more sense -- if driven to it (ha - a pun) -- to go with a hybrid. For the longer term, it would still be feasible, and for the shorter term, waiting for an infrastructure of charging stations, you would avoid being stranded somewhere with no means of firing up the engine (so to speak).
People with families don't drive non-stop for 12-hours. They stop to use the bathroom, get food etc.Going on a family trip comes to mind. I know people who will go to Disneyworld for example and they actually drive the whole way. That's like a week of driving. So say you did 12 hours in a day you could charge at your hotel. Personally that much driving is not for me and I will ever drive that much myself, but I don't blame people for considering it when they're about to drop close to 100k on a vehicle. You want to make sure it will serve all your needs, even the ones that only come up once a year.
I'd occasionally thought my old Trooper was underpowered, but it wasn't designed for the drag strip; it's a 4WD designed for 4WD terrain. I DO get respect from Jeep owners, assuming the road-warrior equivalent of body language I see when I'm driving. The buzzy little subcompacts and supercharged sedans behave like they're saying "Get that ol' Zu-Zu off the road!" With the former group, they maneuver for close inspection to check all sides.Just at that 10 yr 95k point with my Grande Cherokee ECO diesel. Have a maintenance light that's going to cost probably a little over $5000 to get rid of (clogged intake manifold and swirl vales due to pollution controls). Debate buying a new car, No way. Ever since I've had this car, whenever I rented a car as part of my job, nothing compared to it. Underpowered unresponsive toys. So I will take a big gamble and have the work done, and if I get another 50k out of this thing I will be way ahead. I just pray that it won't get totaled somehow. At that point, it will be an EV if I'm still driving.
My home electricity is $0.12/kw-hr, public level 3s (that charge per kw-hr and not minute) are about $0.65/kw-hr. Gas is right about $3.It really depends. I was looking pricing at my local Tesla Supercharger rates near my house.
000-0400 - $.18
0400-1000 - $.30
1000-1800- $.53
1800-0000- $.43
Local Electrify America is $.56 kwh 24-hours a day.
My local SDGE rate plan for winter.
0000-0600 - $.15
0600-1600- $.45
0600-2100- $.52
2100-0000 - $.45
Gas is currently at around $4.50/Gallon for San Diego.
So a bolt will be $.16 cost per mile assuming $.56 kwh and 3.5 Miles per kwh.
F150 assuming a EPA mileage of 21 combined city and driving and $4.50 gallon it would cost about $.21 cost per mile in fuel cost.
I am getting an estimate for upgrading my home service from 100 to 200 amp and then burying the wire to a detached garage etc. to see if it is reasonable for me to buy an EV as my next vehicle. If I can't charge at home I won't because where I live and work there are no level 2 or 3 chargers so I almost have to charge at home. A PHEV would be okay if 120V can charge it overnight. But if get an estimate for the work that I find prohibitive I'm buying another ICE vehicle.
Once people can get their lottery tickets, morning coffee, cigarettes, and junk food including roller hot dogs during a charging stop they'll settle down about it. Charging time is a concern right now as is the availability of charging stations, but that will only get better. Many folks get gas and are used to a short 5 minute stop maybe on their lunch break or on their way to work etc. so of course the thought of sitting there for 20 minutes isn't realistic to most folks daily lives. Actually long vacation drives seem more amenable to EV's as ideally you could plan a lunch stop around a charge etc.
I am getting an estimate for upgrading my home service from 100 to 200 amp and then burying the wire to a detached garage etc. to see if it is reasonable for me to buy an EV as my next vehicle. If I can't charge at home I won't because where I live and work there are no level 2 or 3 chargers so I almost have to charge at home. A PHEV would be okay if 120V can charge it overnight. But if get an estimate for the work that I find prohibitive I'm buying another ICE vehicle.
My home electricity is $0.12/kw-hr, public level 3s (that charge per kw-hr and not minute) are about $0.65/kw-hr. Gas is right about $3.
So from home the Bolt is is about $0.03/mi at home, $0.19/mi from Level 3, and an F150 would be $0.14/mi, a Prius would be about $0.05/mi.
I'm happy to not be burning gas or dealing with an engine, but the economics aren't great if you can't charge at home or have expensive electricity at home.