I think this is an article you can read without a subscription:
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Back to the rental discussion for a minute, we recently rented in Tampa and had to drive down near Bradenton (Anna Maria Island) and then to Wimauma before heading back to Tampa airport. One of the rental options was a Polestar. We were very tempted, and even though I have a lot of the EV plug apps on my phone, we were hesitant to take it b/c we are so spoiled by our tesla charging and the tesla chargers (and I hadn’t looked into it in advance) that we decided to stick with an ICE car. Interestingly, our choices were older 2019 cars or very new 2023 toyotas, but when we got into a toyota it wanted DH to do some update on his toyota app on his phone (DH drives a 2023 toyota), and whatever it wanted to do was taking up time we didn’t have and DH didnt want his app that was keyed to his car at home messed with, So left that car too.
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Maintenance on our Odyssey is getting expensive, and we have aged out of that segment, so we will be looking for a new vehicle soon.
We have a RAV4 for long trips, so I opened my search to include EV’s, any of which could handle my local work commute. I looked at a Bolt EUV yesterday, and was very impressed. Sharp looking car, and appealing financially with the federal rebate.
The problem is that I want to find out if an EV is suited to my lifestyle, which means keeping it for ~week to go through charging cycles, and seeing how much of the battery is taken up by heating/cooling and battery conditioning from sitting in the driveway overnight in freezing weather.
A rental option like @jym626 speaks of in Tampa would be nice, but even hybrids are nearly impossible to rent locally, let alone EV’s.
It got me to thinking how my state (KY) has adopted alternatives to ICE vehicles. Looking at auto registrations from 2022, KY is near the bottom in terms of the ratio of non-EV/PHEV/HEV’s to EV/PHEV/HEV’s:
| State | Non-EV/PHEV/HEV : EV/PHEV/HEV | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 11.14 |
| 2 | California | 12.00 |
| 3 | Washington | 15.77 |
| 4 | Oregon | 17.14 |
| 5 | Hawaii | 17.63 |
| 43 | Kentucky | 57.62 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 74.61 |
| 48 | Wyoming | 76.64 |
| 49 | Louisiana | 93.33 |
| 50 | North Dakota | 99.71 |
| 51 | Mississippi | 102.42 |
While KY struggles with poverty, there are pockets near me where people have plenty of money to be adopting ICE alternatives, but they just don’t. Maybe like me, they’re not comfortable taking a leap of faith that doing so will work out well. Or the economics with <$3 gas don’t justify it. But there is definitely a barrier that will probably push me toward a hybrid RAV4 or Camry.
I’m in NC and drive a Bolt. You will do fine with one if it is a second car and you can charge at home. Just don’t road trip in West Virginia— abysmal charging infrastructure there.
EVs are trickier for folks who can’t charge at home or work or a regular place like a gym or grocery store, or for folks who want it as their main or only car AND they take long trips. But your situation where it is a second car and you can charge at home — perfect scenario for gettting to know EVs.
If you leave it plugged in battery conditioning is not a drain. Heat and cooling does take more out of the battery but if you are not doing more than, let’s say conservatively, 130-150 miles at a pop you should be fine even in the winter. In temperate weather I can get well over 200 but I don’t push it. My readout often suggests 250+ in good conditions. High acceleration and uphills will eat your battery too. I recommend springing for the higher trim with the heated seats and heated steering. It makes a big difference in comfort and saves the battery too.
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Great info, thank you!
This could be an issue. The cable would be obstructing walking paths, so keeping it plugged in is not an option. Driving 200 miles per week, I am guessing two nights would be needed for charging (when we would just accept the walking obstruction), and 100% of the remainder of the time would be unplugged and subject to the outdoor elements.
Rumor is that Bolt production will be halted next week, with some period of down time to revamp the design, possibly for a 2025 model (?). But will the tax credit still be there? That is a must for such a purchase to make sense for us.
Also, an all-new, all-hybrid Camry design will be coming in the spring. That may be an easier sell to DW, especially with 50+ mpg.
Also good info. Price creepage could put this further out of reach.
It does sound like a hybrid might be better for what you need.
My parents have a hybrid Venza and love it. I am sure the Camry will be great as well.
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Not just rumor, since that has been announced by GM.
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I don’t find the battery conditioning to be an issue at all in the 7 years we’ve had my car. We do have a single car garage but I don’t park in there all the time any more. I used to, but now I’m down to maybe once or twice a week for a little while. Our 22 yr old is living in our basement apartment and working and drives a Ford C-Max plug in that needs to be charged much more frequently, so if the cable is really an issue for you then I would think something with a larger capacity like a true EV would be better. The C-Max gets about 20 miles per charge which is great for going back and forth to work but it means it needs to get plugged in every single night or you use the gas. My Bolt can get plugged in once a week if we’re not doing much traveling.
We do have a Level 2 (220/240V) charger in the garage (have had it for years) and that is great. I think GM is still doing the giveaway on that and I would really recommend it. It was not bad at all when we got ours done back in 2015 because our stove is in the kitchen on the wall shared with the garage so easy for the electrician to tap into the 220/240 there.
You could also get one of those things that covers cables so they are not tripping hazards. Something like this for outdoors and the thick cable: https://www.amazon.com/Eapele-Protector-Prevent-Outdoor-Settings/dp/B07WY5J9FV/ref=asc_df_B07WY5J9FV&mcid=c517b93ebb673ed39c8fe895e1381484?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676793082122&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584276314563279&th=1
If you are really interested in the Bolt there is a Bolt subreddit that will talk your ear off: Reddit - Dive into anything
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Tesla losing the EV credit for certain models after the end of the year.
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Well I went to the Tesla non-dealership/showroom today to sit in a Y. I’m thinking of buying one to replace my 8 year old/ 130k miles ICE vehicle in 2024 or 2025. My niggling concern is that we are a one car family. I could put a charger in my garage and my driving is mostly around town where range would not be an issue. Once/month or so I take a road trip 350 mi. each way. I’ve done the roadtrip in a Model 3 long range and found the charging to be no problem whatsoever. In some parts of my mostly rural state, finding a fast Tesla charger could require a less direct route to the destination but I rarely visit those areas. Electric power distribution is pretty reliable in my area. What other factors should I consider? (Besides price, of course).
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how close is the nearest Service Center?
I’m now in a position to close and take delivery on either a Rivian or a Kia EV9 and am super torn. The Rivian is about $10K more than the fully loaded top GT-Line Kia. The Rivian has more range, better interior finish quality, I like the look better and its got more cargo capacity and a bigger center screen and slicker UI. It also is the only one in its class that could truly be used off road and it has a very advanced air suspension system.
The Kia is loaded with features neither Rivian nor Tesla have. CarPlay and Android Auto. Paddle shifting control of the regen braking level (from full one pedal to full IC coasting). Optional second row captains seats. Toggle LED rear view mirror. And my wife like’s the drive better than the other EV’s we have test driven – Tesla, Rivian, BMW, etc. (though it will be primarily my vehicle). The Kia is also a tad smaller whereas my wife said driving the Rivian felt “like a tank” because she couldn’t see the road over the longer front hood and it sits higher in its default suspension height. Kia actually has more and better driving assist features than Rivian.
The RIvian is faster but the EV9 is more efficient.
Both have similar warranties, though ironically the Kia has the arguable better of the two. The Rivian is 4 years/50 and the Kia is 5 year/60. The Rivian is 125K miles for the battery and the Kia is 100K miles, but also throws in 3 years of roadside assistance.
Obviously there will be more and more convenience service options for the Kia, but I find the quality of the dealerships pretty hit and mostly miss. And Rivian is currently building two service centers each about 30-40 minutes from me in either direction, so I’ll soon have 4 centers in the region within an hour-ish drive and one as close as 30 minutes – which is about the same distance as the nearest Kia dealer.
I really like the Rivian but do think I’ll really miss CarPlay, native SiruisXM, variable brake controls, etc.
Tesla has mobile service- often they will
Come to you.
yes, I understand. But big stuff gets performed at a SC…
Am guessing if they were able to go to a tesla non-dealership, a service center can’t be too far away
I have a friend who’s Tesla is on its last legs (or tires). He has loved it for the 8 years. When he first purchased it the customer service was great, they came and picked the car up, making an appointment was easy, always spoke to a real person. However, now everything is done via an appt. Almost zero customer service and unless the car is not drivable, he has to drop it off at the service center. He wants another EV but is interested in a little more customer care.
I do wonder as the EV market seems to be slowing if some of the companies will end up abandoning the technology? Thus leaving customers with cars that are difficult to find parts for.
I agree that the CS is not at all what it used to be at Tesla (for example, I live in a very large metro area and there are only 3 (actually I think now maybe 4) service centers in the area. It’s not like other dealerships that are all over the place and each as a service center. ANd there are only limited authorized body shops too. So yes, thats a potential drawback, though (hope I don’t jinx this) I’ve had very few issues with my car in the 5 1/2 years I’ve had it. But I’d think the other companies producing EV’s have to get their staff and mechanics more up to speed with how to maintain/repair them. And ones like Rivian, Polestar, Lucid, etc, while very cool, are unlikely to have many repair shops in any area. My friend’s Lucid had to be shipped out of state for a repair. All this said, I believe EV’s are here to stay.
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Well, YOY monthly sales growth remained positive for BEVs in November.
At the same time, overall light duty vehicle sales dropped in November. There’s not evidence of a slowdown in EV sales relative to other vehicles.
That drop would have been more significant if not for growth in hybrid sales (driven partly by supply chain recoveries).
That math suggests EV owners probably don’t need to worry.
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I’d be lost without CarPlay.
Yes right now EV’s are still popular. But, given the battery requirements (rare minerals), disposal issues, lack of sufficient infrastructure, etc at some point people might start pivoting back. We have a friend’s son who works for a major car rental company. Not much demand for EV’s and there is a lot of concern about states mandating all EV by certain dates.
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