# What are your electric vehicle plans? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614 "2020-10-22T18:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 79
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1586 "2024-08-05T20:28:48Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Tesla charging stations tend to be right off the highway, similar to gas stations. If not on a freeway, typically it’s just a matter of pulling in, exactly like a gas station. My long drives are mostly to rural areas; there’s _nothing_ right off the highway except maybe trees. I _hate_ it when the sign on the highway shows food or fuel at this exit but when you get to the bottom of the ramp it’s 4 or 5 miles away. Nope, stop at the stop sign & then go straight, right back up the on ramp & continue on to something less out of the way. > [@Pleonast](#): > > I’ve already seen added per-minute fees at certain high-demand stations. Still, no different than a gas station where you move the car after filling up and while the kids are using the bathroom and buying snacks. (I’m unfamiliar with this “rain” you speak of.) I can fill my ICE in 4 mins, almost always under a covered area & half of that time is squeegeeing away the remains of the suicidal bugs that didn’t get out of my way at mumblety mumble MPH. It’s no big deal to wait a few seconds for the fill to finish & then move it to a regular parking space because I’m already outside. That’s different than being comfortably sitting in a restaurant & need to get up & go move my car just as my food arrives. “Rain” is the reason we don’t have out of control wildfires around here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1587 "2024-08-05T20:31:04Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > That’s different than being comfortably sitting in a restaurant & need to get up & go move my car just as my food arrives. I guess it depends on how many road trips you take. For us, that would be an issue less than once per year. On our recent week long trip, none of the charging stations were busy and we never had to leave our meal to move our car ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1588 "2024-08-05T20:41:41Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > My long drives are mostly to rural areas; there’s _nothing_ right off the highway except maybe trees. Mostly rural driving for us as well. I guess the difference is there’s nothing off the highway around here. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1589 "2024-08-05T20:44:17Z")
That’s a major difference. In California along the coast, you’re always close to a charger. Ruralia, not so much. A lot of infrastructure needed still. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1590 "2024-08-05T20:54:22Z")
I also dislike driving out of sight of the highway for services. It always feels like I’m being bamboozled by an out of date sign. Having an app tell me where the charging was wouldn’t feel too much better at this stage in the game because while I would trust that their _location_ info was accurate, I wouldn’t trust that they wouldn’t be out of service or busy. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind so much having to move my car out of the way during a recharge. I also can fill up my HEV in 5 minutes, and would dislike waiting close to 30 minutes more than once a day. But interrupting whatever I was doing to move wouldn’t be that huge of an issue as long as the place wasn’t physically crowded and there weren’t people screaming at me to move my car already. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1591 "2024-08-05T20:56:35Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > Polestar 2? My cousin-in-law has one and rather likes it. Competes with the Tesla 3 on price but feels more like a normal car. Backed by a more mainstream carmaker than Tesla. Less range than the Model 3 or Mach E, which might be a deal killer. The Polestar 2 is assembled in China, though (Volvo being part of China’s Geely Motors now). If the proposed tariff on Chinese EVs comes to fruition, that could be a problem. Although I suspect they would open a second production line outside of China if that happens – according to Wikipedia the Polestar 3 is built in both China and the US, so they could possibly build some 2s in their US plant. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1592 "2024-08-05T21:27:05Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Having an app tell me where the charging was wouldn’t feel too much better at this stage in the game because while I would trust that their _location_ info was accurate, I wouldn’t trust that they wouldn’t be out of service or busy. Tesla shows you the location and the usage of the Supercharger location so you know what you are looking for, and what is open. Traveling I-90 and I-5 in WA and ID, I have found they are mostly vacant. The only that was maybe half full was a charging station in Burlington, WA. Have never seen one out of service. Of course, my limited experience is with 5 trips that required charging since we bought it in February ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1593 "2024-08-05T21:41:28Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Volvo being part of China’s Geely Motors now Volvo is another one with EV options. My mom got an XC40, or maybe it was the EX40. She got tired of waiting for the EX30. Anyway, it’s a standard 5-passenger, 4-door SUV/wagon/hatchback type car. It’s pretty good as a car, but I don’t care for the Android based screen. It’s not nearly as well thought out and designed as the Tesla screen based interface. The Volvo isn’t nearly as dependent on the screen as the Tesla, but when you do need to use the screen it can be frustrating. It is functional, just a very poorly thought out user interface. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1594 "2024-08-05T22:24:15Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Tesla shows you the location and the usage of the Supercharger location so you know what you are looking for, and what is open. It even does one better these days: it shows you if any other cars are en route to the charger. Of course it can only do that if the drivers are using the nav system to get there, but it’s accurate in my limited experience. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1595 "2024-08-05T22:26:19Z")
I didn’t notice that on our last trip, but that is a neat feature. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1596 "2024-08-05T22:26:54Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I guess it depends on how many road trips you take. Already have five 500+ miler weekends in the books this year, with three more planned. That’s a typical year for me. Last (long) weekend was 800 miles. The event hotel (so I didn’t get to choose it) did have a 2-vehicle charger; one Tesla was parked there all weekend & an ICE was parked in the other spot most of the time; to be fair, the lot was full & there wasn’t anywhere else for them to park. They even had a guard not letting anyone except hotel guests, with passes into the lot because the event was across the street & tons of people were trying to park there as there was limited on site parking. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1597 "2024-08-05T22:41:25Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Already have five 500+ miler weekends in the books this year, with three more planned. That’s a typical year for me. That’s my point. (maybe we are agreeing). For some people it would be a real issue, for others (like me) it doesn’t even register. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1598 "2024-08-05T22:51:56Z")
There’s a trip I make with moderate frequency that’s almost exactly 500 miles round trip. No charger at the destination, but several along the way. Last time I went was several weeks ago. Stopped twice: once for 15 minutes and the second 10 minutes. The first stop was exactly enough time to walk to the nearby McDonalds, use the bathroom, and grab a drink/snack. The second stop was late and had no nearby fast food, but they _did_ have a clean bathroom accessible by code (which the car provided). So I spent the remaining ~5 min messing around on my phone. I actually could have avoided that if I was willing to arrive with \<5% to spare, but I didn’t mind a tiny wait to give myself a little margin. So almost no delta vs. an ICE trip. Possibly even a negative delta since I can’t just leave the car while the gas is pumping. At 800 miles it starts to tip a little in favor of an ICE, but it’s still a small amount in the grant scheme of things. And still a net loss unless those long road trips are the _only_ thing you do. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1599 "2024-08-05T22:57:07Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > At 800 miles it starts to tip a little in favor of an ICE, but it’s still a small amount in the grant scheme of things. We’ve now done a very standard 700 mile trip (350 miles each way) and it is less time charging than fueling in our ICE vehicle. With the Subaru I had to fill up before we left, once along the way, once before we left on the return, once along the way back, and again when we got back (or soon after). With the EV, we start with it full, charge once on the way, destination charge while there, charge once on the way home, and plug into the garage when home. We’ve done this trip three times since February and the EV is the winner for this particular trip. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1600 "2024-08-06T00:03:03Z")
Well, I’m now on my second EV. My 2024 Mach E Rally arrived, and I turned in the 2021 Premium. Now I’m waiting for two different Tesla adapters to arrive, because as much as I love the cars, road trips still suck. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1601 "2024-08-06T00:07:01Z")
Ooh–review of the Mach-E Rally please? MSRP or more (or less)? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1602 "2024-08-06T13:41:20Z")
Oklahoma’s turnpikes, of which there are many, are mostly 80. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1603 "2024-08-06T14:47:26Z")
The freeways here in Socal are either 80mph or 10mph, traffic dependent, regardless of posting. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1604 "2024-08-06T14:56:49Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > 10mph You’re an optimist, I see. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/1605 "2024-08-06T14:59:55Z")
I’m assuming that at some point, I’ll leave the freeway. The average _can’t_ be zero. Can it? CAN IT? > [@echoreply](#): > > In most cases how far between charging stops is determined by charger location, so you’re driving 180 miles until the next charge, whether it takes 3 hours or 2.25 hours. Again, here in California, I was spoiled for choice when it came to charging locations. I really could have gotten some empirical data around whether slower driving with fewer charges was better than faster driving with more charges. But I didn’t, not really. I always picked “drive as fast as I think I can get away with.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614.md?page=78) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614.md?page=80)