But you are far more likely to run out of gasoline than electricity. Because if you have gasoline, you can put it in a generator to make electricity. But you can’t make gasoline from electricity.
The thing folks tend to forget is that EVs are new. Yes, people made EVs way back in the Model T days with lead-acid batteries, but lead-acid EVs don’t work well enough to be viable. Lithium-ion EVs work. Li-ion batteries are new technology, commercialized in the mid '90s.
Li-ion EVs are competing against mature ICE technology. Tech that has built an infrastructure network over an entire century. EVs have already carved out a nice niche, and there’s no reason to believe they aren’t going to significantly improve utility over the next 20 years.
Every problem with EVs that get discussed ad nauseum are aspects of a completely new technology, being applied to an infrastructure heavy nationwide market. It simply takes time for the infrastructure and technology to mature.
Just to note, the mandate in the link is only for the wiring/switch to enable a generator to power the pumps (and only for stations along major interstates that exceed a certain amount of pumps per station). It doesn’t actually mandate that a generator be installed, or operated.
Actually while you are technically correct, I believe practically the answer is the direct opposite. You can’t recharge a EV from gasoline (practically), however with electricity you can obtain gasoline.
Typically you can ‘make’ gasoline from electricity, as in when power is restored gas pumps start pumping again.
But lets look at the generator option : From what I’ve seen on youtube vids it’s a very long and inefficient process that has a good chance of burning a home generator out as they typically were not designed for supplying a high load for long periods, heck many are not designed to run for long anyway regardless of the loads, they are not made durable as the total hours per year is expected to be very low, so they are designed for that. There are better, more durable generators made but at a much higher price & typically diesel - these should not have the above problems with durability.
But that’s Youtube, what about the numbers themselves (using much EV data from this page Electric Vehicle Charging Levels Explained)). Portable home generators typically range from 4000 to 10000 watts, which is apx 40A to 100 A at 110 volts (actually at 100 volts to make the math simple, but it’s close enough). A level 1 EV charger requires 12-16 amps, so we are good here, not even near maxing it out. For a recharging for 100 miles it appears to take apx 20 hours with a level 1 charger (how long to charge a ev wiht level 1 - Google Search) . From personal experience running a generator it takes about 1.5 gallons per hour, or 30 gallons for those 100 miles. For level 2 we would require 80 A which is beyond the capability of home generators.
So yes one could recharge a EV off a generator but it would be a very long and inefficient use of that fuel effectively getting about 3 mpg, better put that in a ICE. So while possible to do, it does not seem anywhere practical, especially if gasoline is a limited resource.
So if we shorten the answer, no you (really) can’t use a generator to recharge a EV (because it’s just so darn innefficient as it’s not practical to do).
During Hurricane Sandy, my folks lived on the south shore of LI and were out of power for 4 weeks. There were very long lines and waits for gas also but one could get it if one was patient enough. People were waiting at gas stations for the fuel delivery truck to arrive as the tanks were empty. Actually almost at any time one could have driven 2 hours from their location to my location and find no lines or shortages at the gas pumps, filled up as many containers as they chose and drove back. A 4 hour investment of time and perhaps 4 gallons short on the return due to the return - but certainly doable. Now it’s true one would need enough fuel to get the initial 100-120 miles, though I’m sure there were functioning stations much closer.
Though my parents were out of power that long IDK about the rest of the island and how EV chargers would have faired. If that were to happen again today with a EV could they get to a powered and open charger? Would there be very long lines and very slow turnover?
Some of you may be shocked to learn that some people don’t even own cars! Truly they are screwed in the case of needing a road trip or an emergency evacuation. Truly.
I don’t think it’s worth hypothesizing how emergency evacuations will work in a world without ICE vehicles because by the time there are no ICE vehicles to evacuate people things will be so different in terms of battery range and recharging infrastructure that our speculations will look outdated and silly.
And that it only applies to stations built after 2006. Reality is that even in hurricane disaster prone mandate present Florida there are only “nearly 200 retail gas station locations with access to backup power generators.” And as noted in that press release: such “does not guarantee those stations will be open, operational, or dispensing fuel after the storm. Severe hurricane damage may impede operations of these private businesses, even with access to backup power generators.”
IF they have gotten the deliveries, which often does not happen in the context of a disaster. Again real world was the Japan experience: electricity was back up fairly quickly; gasoline deliveries not.
But really … most of us do not choose our next car with disaster evacuation as our prime factor.
Wait a sec. Don’t you all rely on engine block heaters? Don’t those use electricity? It would seem you’re screwed too if the power goes out.
If your car is garaged, it’s not a problem. I haven’t plugged in a car in probably a decade. Our unheated, attached garage never got below -15 during the cold snap.
For vehicles that are outside, you can get them started with a boost generally, or in extreme circumstances you can heat the engine with a gas or propane heater.
This guy got 12~18 mpg by using a Generac iQ2000 generator to charge a Tesla model-S.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with Harry’s Garage on Youtube, but this was his “real world take on living with an iPace”. This isn’t meant as an argument, just to show where I got the information for my post. Harry is an older gent with a lot of experience with cars as an enthusiast and collector. I figure his review is among the most level headed, ‘real world’ reviews on living with various vehicles. Also, he lives in the UK so the charging situation may be different from the one in NA.
I’m curious to hear your take on his experience compared to yours with the iPace. Which would likely be my pick as well, if I ever decided to buy an EV.
Again, in which locations and how often is it necessary to travel hundreds of miles to escape an oncoming natural disaster?
I guess the south and east coast of the US has a fairly regular seasonal hurricane problem. Evacuations are a fairly common event. So if you need to get into your car and bug out along with several million other people, whatever hotel you’ll be staying in that is far enough away, will likely be short of charging stations. If you want to go more than a couple of hundred miles to stay with friends and family, the roads are likely to be packed and fast charging stations in short supply.
I can see it being a challenge until the EV charging infrastructure is much more robust. Which will take time.
Additionally, I can fill my ICE vehicle at any brand station. EV charging stations seem to be split into Tesla and non-Tesla varieties. Bit annoying that. Why should I be restricted to one or the other just to refuel and be on my way?
Because Tesla built an infrastructure to benefit Tesla owners, as an incentive to buy Tesla cars? Access to this network is part of what Tesla owners pay for. Why should anyone else be granted access to a network they didn’t help pay to build?
That’s like being mad that you can’t fill up your diesel car at a gas station without diesel pumps.
seeing as I live in Alberta I can also say the NDP was going after the coal stations not NG, supplemented by solar/wind. If you think the present government is going to be any better, you’re dreaming. So long as they think that oil is the only solution the economy is going to continue to shrink until the next boom cycle, which will never be like it was for two reasons: The rigs don’t need anywhere near the numbers to run and The US increasing use of fracking to obtain their energy needs. FWIW, the only reason I’m not in a Model 3 right now is due to my previous car needing replacement sooner than later. I’ve got no issue running a 3 LR between Edmonton and Cold Lake.
Insofar as temps go, Good Luck starting your gas or especially ,diesel, in those temps without a block heater or a supplementary heater in your blackout scenario. Furthermore, your range is cut substantially in them as well in winter conditions.
I’ve lived on the Prairies most of my life and had to play the light a pot of kerosene under the truck to start it game as well as the drive to work with square tires. It sucks no matter what you’re trying to drive.
Tesla could just charge you a reasonable premium for use of their station to help offset the cost of building that infrastructure. They choose not to right now. I don’t see that as a workable long term business model for EV infrastructure.
It actually is nothing like that. At all. :rolleyes:
I watched the video. His experience is generally the same as mine, with charging being the main exception. His biggest complaint seems to be the charging network. I agree the chargers should use credit or debit cards. It’s a hassle to sign up, but once you do it, it’s pretty easy. In the U.S. Northwest, at least, I haven’t seen a problem with getting access or using the apps. The system must be different over there, apparently some of the charging stations require you to bring your own cable, which I’ve never seen here. (He had two cables in his car) He also had a problem finding the “right” kind of connector when he went to a charging station. Everyone I’ve seen here has the two most common at every pump. He didn’t seen to know before he got to a charging station what type it would be, but over here that information is available on the app when you’re searching for a charger, and even on your car’s display.
The other issue is range. My car has never shown 244 miles of range. His car lost over 30 of those miles in range in the first 100 miles. My car starts around 210 and seems to be pretty accurate after the first 10 miles or so. So, I guess it “learns” over time. I assume I have 200 miles, not to the 240 they advertise. However, Jaguar just announced a software update that is promised to increase range overall by 15% (30 miles), as well as increase accuracy. I’ll let you know.
As for other issues: 1) I just drove in the snow the first time last week. It handled very well. A big improvement over my old Volt. 2) No problems with the heating and cooling. Always a comfortable ride,and a heated windshield (!).
Interesting. Thanks for having a look and sharing, Procrustus.
I’m intrigued by the idea of an EV and it would certainly satisfy 95% of my driving needs. That said, I do love the noise and drama of my MB AMG, so I’m hard pressed to let that go just yet.
Just for kicks, you should go test drive an EV just to see how committed you are to the noise and drama. The driving experience of even the least sophisticated EV is amazing compared to a heck of a lot of cars. I highly doubt any other type of vehicle leaves as many test drivers with a huge smile.
It’s on my to-do list. There’s a Jaguar dealership around the corner from my MB dealership and I’m due for a service visit. 
I’m sure Tesla doesn’t see it as a workable long term business model for EV infrastructure either. Because it isn’t, it’s a Tesla marketing tool, a Tesla infrastructure.
Letting Volt or iPace drivers use the chargers doesn’t make it a better Tesla marketing tool. Letting Tesla drivers jump the queue and supercharge their cars while other EV drivers wait… THAT is a Tesla marketing tool.