Anyone own an EV? What is your experience?

[Bowling4Bikes]

What year is your Leaf? I've been reading that Chevy was more conservative with range than Nissan was. Randos on the internet report their Spark telling them ~95 miles of range (I take that with a grain of salt though)

Leasing it looks like people have been able to use the $7500 to bargain down the lease rates. $139/mo seems to be standard for a 36mon/36k mile lease.

Only downside to the Spark vs a Leaf is 3.3kW/hr charger on the Spark vs 6.6kW/hr charger on the Leaf.

2012 SV (some nicer bits and the 440V tier-3 charging port). I don't know my charging rate, but I know it's even better with the 2014+ models.

-leasing is already pretty cheap, but be aware that there's all kinds of hidden charges once you walk into the office.

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

The Owner should also be solar power on the home, for free charging.
That isn't easy either.... Having the storage for overnight charging.

I need a new roof in 3-5 years. I'm trying to hold out until the solar technology takes another leap forward, but in either case I'll be installing solar in the near future. It's another step in making these things as green as possible.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

Yup, end of lease fees and what not.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

After my experience working with and for a couple different solar companies, no way I am letting those yahoos anywhere near my roof.

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

Yup, end of lease fees and what not.

$395 turn-in fee for me...still a huge savings from buying it.

I just had it pre-inspected...no extra charges. :banana

 

[aminalmutha]

After my experience working with and for a couple different solar companies, no way I am letting those yahoos anywhere near my roof.

OMFG, I watched some monkeys install solar panels on my neighbor's roof one afternoon. Lifetime warranty on the roof... HAHA not any more! arty:wtf Total hack retards. I couldn't believe the stupidity coming out of their moufs, not to mention the shoddy work. :wtf If I wasn't convinced before, I was convinced after that.

 

[Reli]

So I don't get this, HOV stickers are only good for a few years? Why? It's still an EV no matter how old it is.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

So I don't get this, HOV stickers are only good for a few years? Why? It's still an EV no matter how old it is.

The program for the white stickers only goes until 2019, for now.

Unlimited available through. :dunno

 

[Ogier le Danois]

Two friend own leafs. They like them. You can pick them up used for very little. I've seen as low as $8,000 for ones with 40,000 miles on them.

 

[Akira-R]

I bought a used Fiat 500e for ~12.5 with 20k miles.

I consistently get ~80 miles a full charge. It charges fully in about 3.5 hours on a Level 2 charger. (Keep that in mind, as a L1 charger will take closer to 18 hours)

It was in the shop for 45 days while they fixed an issue of it not charging.

I never really understood range anxiety until now. It's not like i can run to a gas station and get a gas can.

The pros:
If your work provides free charging....never pay for fuel again
Carpool is...better than not having it. But not as great as you'd like. Some freeways, the carpool might be slower.
Maintenance is tires and coolant (battery needs coolant).The car uses the drive system to do most braking so the pads don't need changing often. No other parts really require maintenance. No oil/tranny/clutch/etc.
I've gotten the fiat easily over 80mph. Acceleration is not bad at all.

Cons:
price
range anxiety
charging times. you have to plan trips and charges
resale will suck
AC/Heater will kill your mileage at around 30%
driving over 70mph will kill your range a good amount

by the end of 2017, EV cars like the leaf/bolt and a few others will have a 200 mile range soon.

 

[jt2]

The car I am looking at is the Chevy Spark EV

PM Ozymandias. I think he has one of those.

 

[Killroy1999]

FYI, Motorcycles can go in the HOV lane AND split lanes.


The used market is really good for EVs, because EVs are advancing.

A first gen Chevy Volt should be a really good price because the 2nd Gens come out.

I have a EV Motorcycle, great ride, fast

Range is ~150 miles in the twistiest ~80 miles at ~70+ MPH.

Gets ~200-400 MPGe

 

[jigabeer]

BMW i3REx here. just picked up my car last week. love it. put already 800 miles on it.

frankly we are making to many excuses NOT driving a EV. i don't need more. Charging is free next 2 years.
BMW offers free access to Chargepoint, i have free Level 2 charging at work and free wall outlet at home in my apartment.

its a no brainer for me. Still have my 11mpg Ford Expedition sitting around, just in case. but i don't see myself driving it a lot next 24 months.

 

[Toast]

What about the Chevy Bolt? Claimed 200 mile range but it is more expensive.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

Not out until late this year. I need to get in the diamond lane now. :laughing

 

[Cycle61]

I'd love to lend you the SV so you could ride up on it and see if anybody recognizes. :laughing

 

[teg916]

What is the procedure for running out of gas juice in an electric vehicle? Do you find somebody with a generator so you can charge it up before you drive off? Tow truck?

 

[Holeshot]

Fred, if you're close by the Eastbay you can come take my Volt for the weekend. Here's my experience/ advice:

I owned a Prius before my Volt and absolutely hated the Prius. The driving experience was terrible for my likes. I sold it was fast as possible.

I got my volt brand new and got the $7500+1500 credits. It's lost about $6K a year or so in value. You can buy a darn nice 2013 with 35K miles for $15K or so wholesale all over. The Volt drives like a normal car (unlike the Prius) and has all of the creature comforts of a normal car, like the Leaf. Consumer Reports has the Volt at the top of the list for hybrid PEV's. Go figure as the chassis it's shares with the Cruz shows the Cruz at the bottom of the pile.

A few things about driving an electric/ PEV:

- Range anxiety is something you never have to worry about with the gas engine being in a PEV/ hybrid. There are more than a few times where the charger kicked off or I forgot to charge it early enough in the evening and didn't get near a full charge in the battery. Having a gas engine as backup/ range extender is a must for me. I don't get true electric PEV's, especially ones that won't charge as fast as a Supercharged Tesla.

-Anything less than 100 miles is going to be a problem and force too many compromises in the worst of climate (Cold/ hot). You won't be able to use the heat at time nor A/C if you're low in juice. No thanks for me...give me the backup engine. I get 38-47 miles out of the Volt on one charge depending on how I drive on the freeway. There are so many variables that can cut the range by as much as 50% or more.

-Resale on the true PEV's are terrible aside from a Tesla.

-Range can be extended in the future with battery advancements.

-The warranty in CA for a hybrid (PEV Hybrid like the Volt) is 150K miles or 10 years on all hybrid systems which is very loosely defined as anything that makes the hybrid system run, etc. That can include the monitor screen and gauges, etc. Thats CA law.

-Carpool PEV stickers are at 85K. They're been extending them upward at 10/15K a time. They'll do it again on this one too.

-Maintenance on a PEV is near nothing.

-My fuel over 35K miles has been 340 gallons.

-Remote start/ app start all options on most of these cars. I charge at work for free and PG&E committed to 25K chargers in the state. Laws are in place where land lords cannot refuse to install a charging unit in apartments, etc.

I have to say, I love my Volt. There's a decent after market too for them and great forum support at http://gm-volt.com. The Leaf and Fiat 500e are nice works too, but man...without that gas engine, I'd be creeped out all the time.

http://gm-volt.com/2016/02/12/calif...-for-plug-in-hybrids-to-2019-and-evs-to-2025/

 

[Sharky]

This thread interests me.
My mother wants an EV but she has some really absurd requirements.

Needs to be small but safe:rolleyes

I'm hoping the new 30k Tesla will be worth looking at.

I doubting a 30k Tesla will even be in the offing.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

Fred, if you're close by the Eastbay you can come take my Volt for the weekend. Here's my experience/ advice:

I owned a Prius before my Volt and absolutely hated the Prius. The driving experience was terrible for my likes. I sold it was fast as possible.

I got my volt brand new and got the $7500+1500 credits. It's lost about $6K a year or so in value. You can buy a darn nice 2013 with 35K miles for $15K or so wholesale all over. The Volt drives like a normal car (unlike the Prius) and has all of the creature comforts of a normal car, like the Leaf. Consumer Reports has the Volt at the top of the list for hybrid PEV's. Go figure as the chassis it's shares with the Cruz shows the Cruz at the bottom of the pile.

A few things about driving an electric/ PEV:

- Range anxiety is something you never have to worry about with the gas engine being in a PEV/ hybrid. There are more than a few times where the charger kicked off or I forgot to charge it early enough in the evening and didn't get near a full charge in the battery. Having a gas engine as backup/ range extender is a must for me. I don't get true electric PEV's, especially ones that won't charge as fast as a Supercharged Tesla.

-Anything less than 100 miles is going to be a problem and force too many compromises in the worst of climate (Cold/ hot). You won't be able to use the heat at time nor A/C if you're low in juice. No thanks for me...give me the backup engine. I get 38-47 miles out of the Volt on one charge depending on how I drive on the freeway. There are so many variables that can cut the range by as much as 50% or more.

-Resale on the true PEV's are terrible aside from a Tesla.

-Range can be extended in the future with battery advancements.

-The warranty in CA for a hybrid (PEV Hybrid like the Volt) is 150K miles or 10 years on all hybrid systems which is very loosely defined as anything that makes the hybrid system run, etc. That can include the monitor screen and gauges, etc. Thats CA law.

-Carpool PEV stickers are at 85K. They're been extending them upward at 10/15K a time. They'll do it again on this one too.

-Maintenance on a PEV is near nothing.

-My fuel over 35K miles has been 340 gallons.

-Remote start/ app start all options on most of these cars. I charge at work for free and PG&E committed to 25K chargers in the state. Laws are in place where land lords cannot refuse to install a charging unit in apartments, etc.

I have to say, I love my Volt. There's a decent after market too for them and great forum support at http://gm-volt.com. The Leaf and Fiat 500e are nice works too, but man...without that gas engine, I'd be creeped out all the time.

http://gm-volt.com/2016/02/12/calif...-for-plug-in-hybrids-to-2019-and-evs-to-2025/

I did do some looking at 2013 Volts online last night, ones that already have the stickers, and you do make a compelling argument. I remember driving a PG&E one in 2011 and liking it (they replaced some absolutely horrible NG Cavaliers :laughing)

A used Volt is about the same price as a new Spark EV (after rebates on the Spark)

I'd only be using about a half gallon of gas everyday with the Volt.

Only thing holding me back is I like my 4Runner and I have kept it pretty clean over the last 9 years.