slo’s TUESDAY 11/12 poll - EVs (electric vehicles) 🚗

[TCRAIG]

I voted ‘other’ since I already have a hybrid SUV (Honda CRV) - but when EV technology gets a bit more stable and can handle a smaller SUV like the CRV for longer distances without charging - I might consider one…Of course - what I’m REALLY holding out for is a FLYING CAR - like The Jetsuns - I would go out an buy one of those in a second!

 

[tony67]

I picked Other.

I am not against EVs and I have invested in some of the EV companies.

I would not personally buy one at this point in time - I've considered Hybrid.
At this point in time I feel there are still too many negatives and the batteries have too many issues.

 

[georgina]

Currently leasing a Hyundai Ioniq 5. I like the car very much; Hyundai gave us 2 years of free fast charging (takes about 20 minutes to charge) and we put in a level 2 charger in the garage (takes several hours). Battery goes around 267 miles on a charge, depends on type of driving. Leased because we weren't ready to buy, with the rapidly changing technology, but will probably buy an EV at some point. We still need 2 cars, so when we replace my 14 year old Subaru we may get a Hybrid, and then buy a smaller EV down the road.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

First off...PET PEEVE- Renting a car during travel, showing up at the airport, and being told that all they have is EVs. I did not rent an EV, did not plan around having to charge an EV, etc.

We drive a lot. None of the vehicles we've researched have long enough battery life and fast enough charging to handle a lengthy road trip...especially if you go through sparsely populated areas of the US. I wouldn't mind one for tasks around town, but since DH and I take turns driving our vehicles on long road trips and our third vehicle is for the kids, I just can't see buying a 4th vehicle just for puttering around town.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

I would like one, but I don't foresee it in the near future, mainly because my current gas car has quite a bit of life in it, though it's 12 years old. I don't know if it's the case currently, but for awhile there was a very long wait to get an EV in my area ... like you had to get on a list months in advance. When I eventually do need a new car, it will probably be because the current one is finally broken so bad to the point that I don't want to dump more money into it, and I'll need to be able to buy something quickly within a few days or a week or so.

And, while I used to think I would want to go for EV, I'm also liking the idea of the plug in hybrid as well. I would have to do more research on if I wanted EV vs plug in hybrid, but one of those would definitely be my preference. Next choice would be the regular hybrid. Most of what I do is just around town driving, and even if we go to our weekend house it's well within EV range. Plus there seems to be plenty of charging infrastructure here. Everyone we've known with an EV has been happy with them, and some are on their 2nd.

 

[evilmommie]

No, thanks. We got one as a rental last year and spent more time looking for a charging station than enjoying the city.

 

[PollyannaMom]

One of our cars is a hybrid, but I'm not comfortable going full electric.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Plug-in only makes no sense. There aren't enough chargers and they charge too slow to make a long load-trip viable. The chargers that are out there (mostly Chargepoint, but really all of them) are too infrequent and notorious targets for vandalism, reducing the number of chargers even more. If we are to make the transition, the answer is to require all cars to be plug-in hybrids like my Volt. But even that does not make sense, as the plug in hybrids do not get as good of gas milage as the non plug-in hybrids (like my Honda CRv or a Prius). Not only that, but the plug-in hybrids come with a substantially higher price tag - $10K for the Prius for example. You will never make that difference back no matter how much you plug it in, as the all-electric range on a plug-in hybrid is minimal; about 40 miles to the charge on the Prius.

This is about to come to a major head in the battle, as CA CARB (California Air Resources Board, an unelected governing agency) just passed yet another mandate that will add at least another $0.65 to our already outrageous gas prices in CA. Gas refineries are leaving CA at a healthy clip because it's just too onerous for them to do business in CA, and the Governor keeps pointing the finger back at them. Less supply means even higher prices. Not only that, but the sales tax on gas in CA is also indexed to the price of gas. It's the death-spiral of inflation! I hear you; just buy an electric car. Not so fast; even if you plug it in at home (by far the cheapest way), we are also paying close to double the national average for electricity. The state is obsessed with making that even worse, as they fight to close down all non-renewable plants (at this point just natural gas and nuclear). Natural gas is by far the cheapest way to generate electricity, and the cleanest way to dispose of natural gas, which happens to be a waste by-product of drilling for oil and refining fuel - you either use it or de-gas it back into the air which is far worse for the environment. Natural gas plants can also generate 10x the amount of electricity on a much smaller footprint. Sure, wind and solar plants sound like a great solution, but in reality they are not very good at actually generating the electricity.

We've been living this nightmare for a while here in CA - you either see it or you're not paying attention. If you live outside CA you are seeing the price increases too only not to the same extent. Trains and trucks run on diesel, not electricity, and the goods come into CA ports, so the added cost to ship the goods is showing up in the price you pay too.

I know, TL-DR. LSS - you don't want this.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

For those that don’t know…..

View attachment 912282

Many feel very strongly about these cars in regards to why they are wonderful and why they are bad. Today, I’m wanting your opinion about these cars. So give us your electrically charged answer…..

What is your opinion of EVs?
Do you have one?
If you don’t have one….do you want one?
(multiple choice)

*For those that have one, please post about your vehicle along with the pros and cons about it.


For Me…..I don’t like them. I’ve never had one, but I know several people that do/did. There’s only one person that I know that have replaced their EV with another one. I know a few people that didn’t like it so much, that they replaced it in under a year after they got it. I would never want one. My car is a hybrid and I love my car and will always have a hybrid if they are always available.

View attachment 912283

They are neither wonderful, nor bad.... And yet both. In considering an EV you have to consider what your habits are and whether one is right for you.

If you're a family that has one car used only for commuting and you live in a home or condo with a garage, then an EV is perfect for you. You can charge it overnight, and use it to go to work. It's a great option. But if you live in an apartment or a place with street parking, uh not so great. Where EVs are less than ideal is the long haul. That 1,000 mile battery Musk promised is nowhere on the horizon. And well it's not a simple problem of technology. It's a problem of the laws of thermodynamics. We can put out a battery that can go 1,000 miles and charge up in 5 minutes tomorrow. The problem is it would sacrifice both safety and longevity. Again this is a thermodynamics problem, not just a problem that technology is going to overcome. And infrastructure isn't quite there yet in a lot of areas of the country. The bottom line is on a 12 hour drive, I'm either 3 hours ahead of you in a gas car, or I can stop along the way and spend 3 hours at places I want to see whereas you're stuck charging your battery wherever the charger is. It's doable, but not ideal.

I voted ‘other’ since I already have a hybrid SUV (Honda CRV) - but when EV technology gets a bit more stable and can handle a smaller SUV like the CRV for longer distances without charging - I might consider one…Of course - what I’m REALLY holding out for is a FLYING CAR - like The Jetsuns - I would go out an buy one of those in a second!

Only if it makes the sound.

 

[fla4fun]

I like the concept of an EV, but they aren’t where they need to be as far as range to make one practical for me. If they continue to develop and improve, and the infrastructure catches up, then I would consider one in the future. For now I will stick with my Prius.

 

[The Mayor]

Don't like them and will never own one. Next car may be a hybrid but will depend on price compared to a gas car.

 

[Micca]

I don't drive, never got my license.

Joe Walsh had a license but lost it and also doesn't drive

 

[The Mayor]

Joe Walsh had a license but lost it and also doesn't drive

I just thought he couldn't drive 55!!

 

[Moliphino]

I just thought he couldn't drive 55!!

That's Sammy Hagar.

 

[EACarlson]

I'm not a fan of mandating them like CARB is doing. Starting next year any company that operates commercial vehicles in CA has to have part of their fleet be Zero Emission Vehicles. I'm also not in favor of the government subsidizing EVs. That said, I would get a plug in electric hybrid if it was available for close to the same cost as an ICE vehicle.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Joe Walsh had a license but lost it and also doesn't drive

Well, life's been good to me so far...

 

[tvguy]

I am kind of interested but we bought new cars in 2018 and 2020 and we keep cars for 20-31 years so barring a traffic collision we won't be in the market for a new car for at least 15 years. Our 2020 is a hybrid, and that has been a good compromise so far.
My son is on his third EV.
First was a used 2018 Fiat 500 E. I attribute all the issues with it on being made by Fiat. Most of their dealerships have closed.
Second was a new 2020 Hyundai Kona. The dealer had nobody on staff who could do any of the battery recalls, Hyundai bought it back under the lemon law. Again, that was a dealership issue not a Hyundai issue, and a friend has a Kona and they STILL don't have a tech on staff to do the recalls on the battery.
Third is a new 2021 VW ID4. Some funky software issues but so far the only issue that kept it off the road is nobody in Los Angeles had the special tires they use. My son hit a pot hole and blew a tire and it took several days for one to be shipped from Pennsylvania.
So I am interested, but right now, they are too expensive and hard to service. Although my wife really likes the look of the Mustang Mach E.

 

[HeatherC]

I would not want an EV because we live somewhat rural and do a lot of driving on a daily basis as well as a lot of long road trips. I think it would be a hassle to have to wait to charge up.

I would, however, love a hybrid.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Joe Walsh had a license but lost it and also doesn't drive

Maybe he can get a ride from Tracy. She's got a Fast Car.

 

[pezgirlroy]

We have one gas powered car and a BMW fully electric. We love it. My preference will be to have one of each but it is a great car and we have been very happy with it.