Subj : Re: EVs
To   : k9zw
From : poindexter FORTRAN
Date : Sun Oct 22 2023 12:04:00

-=> k9zw wrote to Avon <=-

 k9> Pros

 k9> Goes like stink
 k9> Very quiet
 k9> Really nice car to drive
 k9> All the usually solid Volvo characterists


My BMW i3 has all of those traits.


 k9> Cons

 k9> Limited range, that is really limited by overly cold or hot weather

The i3 has a battery heater - you tell it when you're leaving and it'll
condition the battery when you're ready to leave.

 k9> Realistic charging needs require an expensive charger

I've read a lot about charging recently. I was lucky in that I had an
electrical line run to my carport. Unlucky that this was long before I'd
read up on it and they pulled a 10 awg wire, which only is rated for 20
amps. So, realistically, I can only charge at 220v/16 amps.

My car came with a level 2 charger that would do 32 amps on a 40 amp
circuit, and I was originally bummed about it, but charging at the lower
speed will let me get a full charge overnight. That's good enough for
now.

 k9> Range anxity (in spades)

I get a lot of that, my car will do 120 miles optimally, with another 80
miles on the range extender (a small gas engine that charges the
battery). I'm coming from a Prius plug-in that would do 460 miles on a
10 gallon tank with a gallon in reserve.

 k9> XC40 is smaller than we should have picked - the XC60 would be better

I'm married and we have an SUV, so size wasn't an issue here. I work
from home and use the EV as a town car mostly. While they're small,
they're not as small as small cars used to be - car design is getting
much more efficient. I can fit 3 adults and a teen in my car in a pinch
for an hour ride.


 k9> Good Chargers cost money (about USD $800/each) and electrician's help
 k9> (one ran $600 and other $180 to install)

Portable level 2 chargers seem pretty good. The BMW branded one is $399,
and I've seen popular chargers on Amazon for $299. All you need is a
plug to plug it into.

I've seen some interesting boxes that let you plug your charger into
your dryer outlet, and it locks out one or the other to let you share
the outlet with a car charger. If you had a washer/dryer in your garage,
you'd be set.

 The Really-Good Rapid Chargers
 k9> are crazy expensive (50% of the cost of the car)

 There are some rebates available through states and your local power
 utility, check them out if you're looking to install one.

 k9> The included charger
 k9> is a joke, takes 20+ hours to recharge if you are lucky

 Yeah, mine came with a level 1 charger, they're dang slow.

 I love the i3, but part of me is thinking I should have bought another
 Prius Plug-in. The engines and drivetrains are dependable - I did 180K
 on my Prius and was still on the first set of brakes. I'd done the
 basic maintenance - plugs, coolant and brake fluid and it never failed
 me.

 Nexcell is selling improved batteries - they're promising twice the
 charge at around half of the weight of the original batteries. Better
 MPG and range than stock (48 highway, 50 city) and 12 miles EV range.

 For around $14K, you could have a pretty great ride. mid 50s MPG, 25
 miles of EV would be more than enough for a weekend of driving or
 weekday commutes.






 k9> --- Steve K9ZW via SPOT BBS

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