Chevy, Ford... going into electric trucks.

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:

Reisender wrote:
I’ve read a couple interesting articles on workplace charging. Utilities are promoting it in areas with reasonable solar output. A covered solar parking area can provide all the power needed for the average daily commute.

BC hydro has a good write up on their website re total increase in grid load. If every personal vehicle in BC was to miraculously become electtic overnight the total increased grid load would be 19 percent. This is a hydro rich province. Pretty much all our power comes from hydro here and capacity continues to grow. There is some solar growth here but not lots.

New buildings in California put include garage with roofs of solar benefitting employees with charging stations and added sun protection to their cars when previous practice is just open asphalt or concrete.

Tesla is offering solar panels on the roof of your house as a package since they also own Solar City.

Oh like the Giga factory roof here?



Oh waite, that's not the real roof. Here is the real roof! Hey, where is the complete solar roof like the fake picture?



Guess that says a lot for the king of fakes. :R

Reisender wrote:
I’ve read a couple interesting articles on workplace charging. Utilities are promoting it in areas with reasonable solar output. A covered solar parking area can provide all the power needed for the average daily commute.

BC hydro has a good write up on their website re total increase in grid load. If every personal vehicle in BC was to miraculously become electtic overnight the total increased grid load would be 19 percent. This is a hydro rich province. Pretty much all our power comes from hydro here and capacity continues to grow. There is some solar growth here but not lots.

New buildings in California put include garage with roofs of solar benefitting employees with charging stations and added sun protection to their cars when previous practice is just open asphalt or concrete.

Tesla is offering solar panels on the roof of your house as a package since they also own Solar City.

I’ve read a couple interesting articles on workplace charging. Utilities are promoting it in areas with reasonable solar output. A covered solar parking area can provide all the power needed for the average daily commute.

BC hydro has a good write up on their website re total increase in grid load. If every personal vehicle in BC was to miraculously become electtic overnight the total increased grid load would be 19 percent. This is a hydro rich province. Pretty much all our power comes from hydro here and capacity continues to grow. There is some solar growth here but not lots.

I have two teenage drivers right now. They don't forget to plug in, because the alternative is next time they have to drive the gas car and pay for gas...

but yes, as of right now street parking and overnight EV charging is not an option.

Reisender wrote:

It’s true. It’s a very personal thing. And not everyone lives in a place where it is easy to charge at home. But for us the three seconds to hook up and unhook, two or three times a week is worth not having to waste 10 minutes at a gas station. But you mentioned picking up a coffee. That brings up an interesting point. Best muffins we have ever had are from a particular gas station. From time to time (more often than my wife knows) I still stop there to pick one up. Old habits. LOL.

But I doubt the gas/diesel car industry will ever get anyone who has grown up in an EV home to switch to a fuel that is four to eight times as expensive and not delivered to your home and dispensed to your “tank”. Not to mention the loud, stinky, crappy performance and high maintenance that goes with a gas or diesel vehicle.

Shiner I’m not trying to trivialize your vehicles or fueling experiences. For some it’s even a social experience and there is nothing wrong with that. But (I think) the next generation is going to have a hard time finding the attraction.

JMHO

I don't think the price of energy will remain low especially as EV's gain market share. Sure it is inexpensive now since there is so little market share, but as market share grows, so will energy demand. This demand will require upgrading the grid in most places which will require money. This money has to come from the users of this energy. Sure, many home owners can go solar, but most people can't either due to financial reasons or space. Then there is tax revenue loss that is not coming from fuel taxes. As time goes on, the taxes on these vehicles will have to grow considerably more than they are today to recoup these looses.

It is all going to be about convenience with this "I want it know with little effort" generation. For most metropolitan areas, EV's are a great choice. However, as you get into suburban and rural areas, it may not be the better option. Although, EV's may not be the better option for the poor who are living in the projects in metro areas.

Some day.

pianotuna wrote:
ShinerBock,


Those of us who live in cold climates already run cords and have outlets available. We are used to plugging in at night, too.

Since a bev does not need to be fully charged, even a 15 amp circuit can provide 25 miles of range when plugged in overnight.

As a retired person, living in an urban location I find I drive only 3 days out of the week. Of course, that would not be so for the majority of folks--but I am certain 15 amps would more than meet my needs.

Yeah, but driving on car three days out of the week is a lot different than driving multiple vehicles everyday of the week. Needing only five minutes(most of which is spent cleaning the windshield and getting coffee) to fill up every other week is just less of hassle for me to remember to plug in every night and to make sure my truck has enough juice to get me to the farm on Wednesdays and the weekends to feed cattle.


It would be even more troublesome for my friend that I mentioned before who lives in the suburbs and has two teenage drivers. One of his kids always parks on the street and it is hard enough to force a teenager to make sure there is gas in a car let alone to make sure it is charged every night. I see a lot of people parking on the street in his neighborhood and many others like his.

ShinerBock wrote:

time2roll wrote:
Outdoor charging is actually common.

But would I want to do it every other day versus filling up in 5 minutes on my way to work? No. Especially if I lived in a common suburb home like my friend does where most people park on the street. I would hate to have to run an extension cord out there all the time versus filling up with fuel once or twice a week for 5-10 minutes. If I had to fill up twice a week, then I would probably rather plug in.

It’s true. It’s a very personal thing. And not everyone lives in a place where it is easy to charge at home. But for us the three seconds to hook up and unhook, two or three times a week is worth not having to waste 10 minutes at a gas station. But you mentioned picking up a coffee. That brings up an interesting point. Best muffins we have ever had are from a particular gas station. From time to time (more often than my wife knows) I still stop there to pick one up. Old habits. LOL.

But I doubt the gas/diesel car industry will ever get anyone who has grown up in an EV home to switch to a fuel that is four to eight times as expensive and not delivered to your home and dispensed to your “tank”. Not to mention the loud, stinky, crappy performance and high maintenance that goes with a gas or diesel vehicle.

Shiner I’m not trying to trivialize your vehicles or fueling experiences. For some it’s even a social experience and there is nothing wrong with that. But (I think) the next generation is going to have a hard time finding the attraction.

JMHO

ShinerBock,


Those of us who live in cold climates already run cords and have outlets available. We are used to plugging in at night, too.

Since a bev does not need to be fully charged, even a 15 amp circuit can provide 25 miles of range when plugged in overnight.

As a retired person, living in an urban location I find I drive only 3 days out of the week. Of course, that would not be so for the majority of folks--but I am certain 15 amps would more than meet my needs.

I charge at work. it's like getting free gas lol. That gravy train will end eventually, but as long as there's only a few of us no one really cares.

At home, I have 4 chargers (i dunno, they just sort of accumulate). no matter where I park I've got a place to plug in.

It is definitely an issue for those without driveways or garages, like apartment dwellers who street park.

It is hard to appreciate the convenience of never going to a gas station until you no longer have to do it. It is oddly life changing.