Wow. And yet I’ve never been in one as driver or passenger.
That’s only 16% of cars sold last year; average car age is in the 10-12 year range so it’s still less than 16% of cars on the road. Not surprised a given person hasn’t been in one yet. That’ll change though.
True, but concentrations vary by location. In Orange County last month, I’d estimate it’s around 20% of the cars on the road. In Bellevue or Bainbridge Island, Washington, it’s probably getting close to that. Other places, it’s still a rarity.
@kayaker, come visit and I’ll take you for a ride.
If you were within a few hours drive, I’d take you up on that. My gf’s “farm truck” is a Silverado. Her long range plan is to drive that truck long enough so that her next truck can be electric.
I’ve been enthusiastic about EVs for years and have never been in one either. But that’s because I usually get around by bicycle. I’m enthusiastic for other people to get them, not for myself. The more EVs are on the road, the less pollution I have to breathe when I bike.
I was just in State College, PA for a few days on a consulting trip and I think I saw two Teslas. I’ve said it before and it’s true but you literally can’t go more than a minute on Santa Barbara streets without seeing a Tesla or a Rivian or some other EV. Despite that, prior to my test drive in February, I had only been in an EV three times, two Ubers and when my friend drove me to a concert. In the three months that I have owned mine, I have taken around ten people on their first ever drive in one.
Thanks to everyone who replied.
I just found a great product: it’s a thermometer that I can put in the car window which will display the interior temp to anyone standing outside the car, but also has bluetooth, and connects to my phone, so I can remotely check the temp-- I can set an alarm to alert me if the temp gets to a certain degree-- have it set for 82’F. Cost more than the unsmart thermometers, but not that much-- just under $20. There’s actually more I can do with it, but that’s all I’m doing right now.
Got the dog an anti-spill water bowl just for the car, too.
Since people are curious, the reason I’m sometimes hard-put not to run errands without her is that I lived in Speedway, a part of the west side of Indianapolis, for many years, and the dog went to a daycare a couple of miles from where we lived, albeit, technically in Avon, IN (east and south). A year ago I moved to Noblesville, IN, north and east of Speedway. It’s about a 40 minute drive to her daycare. I make it once a week, though, because the place is great; she loves it, and they love her, and she is 8, and it would be hard for her to make the adjustment to an new place. She really needs to go someplace, though-- she needs the socialization with other dogs and other people.
It’s about 20 minutes from where I work, and close to some stores I like to hit-- Speedway is kind of Little Mexico of Indianapolis, and there is a super mercado with produce like I can’t find anywhere else (mangos the size of softballs, and so sweet, like nectar of the gods), and a panaderia that is fantastic. There’s also a baking/candy making supply shop I hit about once a month, and nothing like it in Noblesville, and a couple of other places where they know me, so there are always at least two places I want to go, and maybe three every week, but for specific things, not general shopping, so I’m in and out. Since they are not the size of Walmart, I can usually even see the car from where I am in the store.
It wouldn’t make sense to drive the dog home, and drive back 40 minutes each way-- 20 minutes from work, but the exact opposite direction of home. One time a week, I’m in Speedway, and I want to do everything I have to do there in one stop. Plus, I’m not sure the car could even do all that driving without my having to stop somewhere for at least a partial fast charge.
So that’s why leaving her in the car for 5 minute stops with the AC on makes sense.
I do this on the day I get off work early, so we are shopping around 3:30, on Tuesday, when there are never crowds. Usually I go right through the check-out without waiting at all.
So, got the thermometer, and a sign that says “Dog is fine. AC is on, she has water, and she’s listening to NPR.”
I give her something to chew on each time, but she doesn’t-- it’s a “thing” I’ve seen in dogs before-- they won’t eat or play with toys if they think they are on guard duty.
This is in no way critical, but i want to point out that 20 years ago a comment about how “I need a way to signal my dog is comfortable in the electric car I use to drive him to a doggy daycare that is 40 minutes away, because he really likes the people there and I dont want to take him to the one near my house” would have seemed bizarre.
I like that we care more about our animals now. Its a good look. But it is a change.
Well, so is, “I’m a middle-aged Jew who really likes to hit a super mercado and panaderia once a week, in the neighborhood where my favorite ones are,” outside maybe of NYC.
Well, good.
Seems you have all your bases covered.
Do you have good glass coverage on your car?
I’d still be worried with the electric car being silent.
Peeps is dumb.
Dumb is dumb.
Shit happens.
Scritches to the traveling dog!! 
Do you mind including a link? I’m searching for something similar, since I end up leaving my dog in the running truck’s A/C occasionally.
Not challenging you or anything, but I’m curious why only hybrid or EV with A/C running in this situation. My ICE truck isn’t loud, but it’s still obvious the engine’s running to anyone near it. I would think leaving my dog inside would be at least as safe as a quieter electric vehicle, since passersby could hear it was on.
Not easily or even likely. When I leave the dog inside w A/C running, a thief would first need to break in, then defeat the locked steering wheel and transmission. Even idling in the parking lot it’s not drivable until I return with the key(s).
To those declaring “leave the dog at home”, remember some of us travel with dogs. On a multi-week camping trip with my dog, it’s almost impossible to plan around every contingency. On my last (10 day) trip with her, I had to dash quickly into stores for ice, bait, off-road permits, etc. When my wife and I travel for month-long trips, there’s inevitably something like a broken tooth or unplanned event that requires both of us in an office, however briefly.
Almost all RV parks prohibit unattended pets, even inside your camper. So the dogs have to be with us most of the time.
It would certainly work in an ICE car as well. In an EV the engine isn’t running, just the AC is. You could do the same thing with an ICE car.
I just don’t get it.
I wouldn’t have traveled with my kid to places they weren’t welcomed in. Why would I travel some place my dog wasn’t welcomed.
If you’ve obligated yourself with kids or pets you’ve limited your choices.
You have to know this. You have to do extra planning.
You just don’t go that way dragging a dog.
(Emergencies not included, you can’t plan for those, that’s a known).
I wouldn’t go anywhere with a pet and have to leave them in a running car anymore than I would a 3 yo kid.
I just wouldn’t.
If you feel you’re doing it safely, I’m happy for you and your pet.