The Inconvenient Truth Of Electric Cars

Authored by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk,

A trip from LA to Las Vegas and back takes 8 hours with a car but 13 hours with an electric vehicle.

The grand vision that is electrical vehicle may flounder on something motorists take for granted: a pit stop.

The inconvenient truth of electric vehicles is they are inconvenient to own and operate. Most cars need a fee following 200 to 250 kilometers traveled.

Charging them necessitates locating an open bay, and then a charging station.

The New York Times reports L.A. to Vegas and Back by Electric Car: 8 Hours Driving; 5 More Plugged In.

The NYT writer, Ivan Penn, drove a Chevrolet Bolt from LA to Las Vegas, a 540-mile round trip that lots of folks create regularly.

Penn reports that in addition to eight hours in the street, he spent close charging the car. That is about 41.

It might have been much worse. “We always found a charger available, though more than once we got the last one, and drivers arriving after us had to wait,” explained Penn..

Therefore, what had been 5.5 hours could easily have been 8 hours. Was one wait. Tesla owners have been known to wait for one hour or more for a charger to open up. And Tesla owners can use Tesla channels or public channels. The reverse isn’t correct.

Even the United States has about 24,000 public charging channels, with an average of fewer than three charging posts. By comparison, there are approximately 150,000 gas channels.

Will the number of charging channels increase as quickly as vehicles?

I don’t know but the alleged saving over gasoline isn’t as good as mentioned.

Charging costs an average cost $10 for approximately 200 miles, depending upon the car, That’s roughly about half the normal cost of gas for this space, according to AAA.

“Our experience was not as economical: We spent about $67 on electricity, perhaps $10 less than we might have on gas,” says Penn.. Obviously, no one can predict with any reasonable amount of accuracy, future electrical expenses or future gasoline rates.

Is this really”green”?

Determined by ecological friendliness anger, however even though this is an environmentally friendly installation, it’s ridiculously inconvenient to spend 8 hours or maybe 5.5 hours charging a car for an 8-hour trip.

Regulations

There are not any standards for quantity of bays chargers, or plugs. Regulations haven’t caught up, but Mountlake Terrace, Washington, a Seattle suburb, is compelling programmers to install charging stations.

Signage. Each charging channel space shall be posted with signage indicating the distance is just for electric vehicle charging purposes. Days and hours of operation will probably be included if time constraints or tow-away provisions should be enforced.

Clearance. Charging station gear mounted on pedestals, lighting posts, bollards or other apparatus shall be a minimum of 24 inches apparent in the face of curb.

Charging Station Equipment. Charging station sockets and connector apparatus shall be no longer than 36 inches or no greater than 48 inches from the top of surface at which mounted, and shall contain a retraction device and/or somewhere to hang permanent cords and straps sufficiently above the floor or surface.

Charging Station Equipment Protection. When the electrical vehicle charging channel space is perpendicular or at an angle to curb face and charging equipment, sufficient gear protection, like wheel stops or concrete-filled steel bollards shall be used.

Maintenance. Station equipment shall be kept in most respects. A telephone number or additional contact information will soon be offered over the charging station gear for reporting as soon as the equipment isn’t working or other problems are encountered.

Required Number of Stations

When Do EV Vehicles Make Sense?

Currently, nowherefrom a cost standpoint. People today purchase EVs or hybrids on the questionable belief that they are doing something for the environment.

For those who very seldom drive whatsoever and for those individuals walking, public transport, or Uber is a feasible option, no car of any sort makes economic sense. But for those who require the convenience of owning a car, the points made below apply.

If and when the cost of an EV is no more than the price of a gas-powered vehicle (Leasing in gas, insurance, lifestyle of car, upkeep costs) EVs become functional for those who seldom if ever drive greater than 150 mile or so before a famous lengthy stop which also appears to have a charger. For many, the charging channel has to be home or work.

Until batteries charge as fast or nearly as quickly alerting a gas-powered automobile or available battery swapping stations exist, EVs won’t make sense for a large proportion of motorists.

Number 3 could occur soon, or maybe not, but 3 probably precedes 4.

Those who live in a metropolitan region who seldom if ever drive could find EVs functional in the not too distant future. This description is met by many millions of people.

Generally, possession and hassle costs need to fall before EV possession takes off. We are a decade off unless and until there are readily charging or adapting channels.

For those residing in cities, I expect possession rates will fall as Uber and new opportunities catch on.

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