Electric Car experience

[HuskyHawk]

So I'm planning on getting a new or new to me vehicle now that I'm back driving to work every day. I have a hip/sciatica issue that means that a whole range of vehicles either cause me pain (including my current BMW X5 to some degree) or are at risk of it. Mostly this involves pedal placement too far to the left due to a large/wide tunnel area combined with the seat comfort. I've now tested well over 20 cars. I'm not really an EV guy, and there are a couple of ICE models that I like and which probably won't cause pain. Genesis GV-70 (gorgeous but highest risk due to price and pedal), Lexus NX-350 (fairly safe, fairly nice) and VW Tiguan (slow, low features, new one comes out soon) were best.

While testing an Audi Q5 (which flunked) I also tested a 2022 Audi e-tron, because it's a great looking car and I'd never driven an EV. Not only was it incredibly comfortable, but I'm 100% sure it would be pain free. Seat is awesome, pedal well to the right and with regenerative braking you don't even reach over to the brakes as often. Massive depreciation in EVs has made it fairly cheap. However, it's a lower range model (220 miles) and that was new and not in winter. I have looked into chargers and installing one is no problem. But I am concerned about real world range in winter, with the heat on, being dramatically lower. Also probably summer with A/C. My wife is concerned that in 5 years when the battery warranty is done residual value would be close to zero. But that's not really different than leasing. My drive to work is only 17-18 miles, so I know that will be fine, but can I take it to Falmouth (70 miles) and back?

Any EV drivers out there who can provide useful information to help on the decision?

 

[uconnfan68]

Fix your hip/sciatica issues first.

 

[jibsey]

Let’s say you lost 25% of miles for heat or air, you still have 170 miles. 1.8% per year loss means these cars have plenty even after 15 years. Throw a few solar panels on your house and charge it for next to free.

 

[shizzle787]

EVs are overrated. You only save about 10% on dollars spent per mile when you break it down, and the cost of the vehicle can be 10k more than a gas equivalent. As someone who works at Genesis, the GV70 is by far the most popular model. Other than some occasional correctable glitches related to software updates, it is a great car. Lexus is also extremely reliable. I would stay away from Volkswagen.

 

[husky8273]

a hybrid is a better alternative

 

[ConnEd]

Looks like there are several charging stations in and around Falmouth, so if you’re <60% when you get there, you can plug in for a quick boost to make sure you get home.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Fix your hip/sciatica issues first.

The only way I can fix it is by changing the car I drive.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I wouldn't buy a used EV. Seems like too much risk with sustainment costs.

 

[Jaker]

Lots of EV options coming out, I am thinking of buying a fleet of small trucks for my company when a reasonal priced one comes out.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

a hybrid is a better alternative

I have a hybrid Nautilus. Love it. $10-15k cheaper than the equivalent Genesis, probably $25k cheaper than the equivalent Lexus or BMW. Getting about 33 mpg, great self-driving technology.

 

[tomtom80]

Got 2 hybrid Toyota RAV4. Amazing. Getting 40-44mpg

 

[Jaker]

the Rav4 is probably the best hybrid on the market.

 

[Jaydumo20]

I absolutely love my EV. It drives better than any gas car I've ever owned, the pickup is better, I never have to worry about gas prices.
Plus, the environmental benefits are still way more attractive than gas vehicles.

 

[sledog]

You'll be sitting on a huge battery. There is enough concern that your gnads may be affected by the Electrostatic field that there are several clinical trials in process. Review the data first.

 

[jibsey]

I wouldn't buy a used EV. Seems like too much risk with sustainment costs.

I would get a very low mileage all electric almost new one still under warranty used. I don’t know if you heard but prices are going up, now is a good time.
As far as sustainment there are no moving engine parts, no oil, gaskets etc.
A ton of public serving governments use electric buses in heavy usage now all over the world. It’s the future. I have a hybrid electric and my next car will be all electric…..used.

 

[ucinnc]

My two cents. I have an EV, and I love it. I’m not a car guy, but it drives noticeably better - much smoother ride, acceleration, etc. When I drive my wife’s car, which used to be fine, it now feels like a dinosaur. As for cost, if you get a charger at your house/garage, it will save money. But if you’re relying on public high-speed chargers then it’s basically a wash with gas. I’ve had mine a year and a half and it’s still fun to drive. Bottom line for me - I can’t imagine ever going back to gas.

 

[lateralous]

My two cents. I have an EV, and I love it. I’m not a car guy, but it drives noticeably better - much smoother ride, acceleration, etc. When I drive my wife’s car, which used to be fine, it now feels like a dinosaur. As for cost, if you get a charger at your house/garage, it will save money. But if you’re relying on public high-speed chargers then it’s basically a wash with gas. I’ve had mine a year and a half and it’s still fun to drive. Bottom line for me - I can’t imagine ever going back to gas.

Same here. I’ve had a Nissan Ariya for 2+ years and have a hard time imagining going back to gas. I get about 220-330 mile range depending to the season .

I live near Philadelphia. The last game I attended in Gampel, I made it to Storrs on one charge and then just plugged it in at the Spring Hill Inn overnight to refill.

 

[TheHorde]

I love my GV

 

[JMick]

If range is a concern, used extended range Mach Es are really cheap and they've sold a bunch so they're out there. I'd give it a look if you can find one and see if it's comfortable

 

[Conndog]

I absolutely love my EV. It drives better than any gas car I've ever owned, the pickup is better, I never have to worry about gas prices.
Plus, the environmental benefits are still way more attractive than gas vehicles.

Me too- I’ve got a 2019 Kia Niro EV. Kia (and maybe Hyundai) uses a heat pump for heating and doesn’t have a big winter range penalty. And in summer, it gets way more than its stated 239 mile range. That said, in 5 to 10 years the main issues with EV’s should be solved- charging time and a good charging network. On the news is talk about Chinese development with batteries starting to get fully charged in 5 minutes! China is way ahead of US in electric vehicle development.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I would get a very low mileage all electric almost new one still under warranty used. I don’t know if you heard but prices are going up, now is a good time.
As far as sustainment there are no moving engine parts, no oil, gaskets etc.
A ton of public serving governments use electric buses in heavy usage now all over the world. It’s the future. I have a hybrid electric and my next car will be all electric…..used.

Fair enough. When I think sustainment costs with EV's it is for the battery and associated parts.

Much easier for commercial or government fleet to rotate their vehicles in/out of service and pay for it that an individual.

Personally, I think Toyota has it right with the hybrids.

 

[FairwayFlyer]

Love my cybertruck. Before that had a BMW i3. Been electric since 2014. Highly recommend.

 

[jake14mw]

I've been driving EVs since 2017, not for environmental reasons, but just because they have made sense economically for me and I really like the way they drive. Had to rent a gas car on vacation recently and just hated the lack of instant torque and engine revving.

You are asking the right questions. Winter can affect range greatly. I have found anywhere from 15-30% less range if really cold out. According to this study the cold affects the e-tron range less than others

How do cold weather and freezing temperatures affect EVs?

Cold weather and freezing temperatures significantly affect EV range, efficiency, and performance. Explore how to improve winter operation.

www.evengineeringonline.com

The other thing to keep in mind with EV range is that the stated range is in mixed local and highway driving. Highway range is less than local range. Also, when on a longer road trip, you don't want to charge the battery above about 80% because charging starts slowing significantly above 80%. This limits practical highway range on long trips. The etron is a super nice car. It's maximum charging speed is about 150kw, which is not class leading, but pretty good and the good thing is that it holds that charge rate for a long time where most EVs peak early and then steadily decrease.

As much as I love EVs, if I was the type of person that took frequent long trips, I would still keep one gas car in the household for them because I just don't like having to stop and wait to charge on road trips. Some people are just fine with it. How often do you take the Falmouth trip? In the summer, that 140 mile trip will be no issue. In the winter, it might be close as the car gets older. How long do you stay there for? Is there a place that you can conveniently charge at while there? If it's the type of thing where you are staying overnight at a parent's house or something, plugging in overnight into a normal outlet will probably give you just enough additional range to get back without issue. Are there many long road trips that you would take with it?

Honestly, for any two car household, I strongly recommend having an EV as one car. There are many choices in used EVs now. If you can find one for $25k or less, there is also up to a $4k federal tax rebate if you qualify. Getting a nice low milage used EV for $21k is a fantastic deal, and makes the driving experience so much nicer.

 

[DSquiz]

I bought a used Chevy Bolt EUV almost a year ago and it’s by far the best car I’ve ever owned, I’ll never touch a gas car again. One pedal driving (where you don’t need to use the brake, you slow as you let off the gas) is an absolute game changer and makes driving so much more comfortable. When I use a gas car now and have to constantly switch between the gas and brake, I almost can’t believe how less intuitive it is. Plus it’s just so smooth (no transmission or gears) and pickup in wild.

I also love never having to worry about gas, plug it in at night and it’s ready to go. Zero maintenance, no oil changes, fluids, belts etc. I’ve saved so much money in just the last year compared to every other car I’ve ever owned.

 

[Vuce]

My son and 3 of his friends all in their mid 20a have Teslas. I think the Model 3 is what most of them have. The one thing with EVs I’ve seen/heard from that group around my son is you are always aware of how much charge you have. Colder weather climates bring more challenges because of battery issues but they all LOVE their cars and no major problems when I talk to them. There are quite a few Tesla vehicles where I work too and there is a charging station in the parking lot that you can reserve if you need it.