Thread

1. gambiting · 1790547426 · focus · HN ↗

   I mean, I feel like even if petrol wasn't as expensive as it is, the sales would be booming anyway, maybe a sliver slower - for the simple reason that affordable EVs are now here and they are pretty damn good now. After years and years of lamenting "where are the EVs for your average Joe Smith" - they are now here. Funnily enough, they aren't made by Volkswagen or Peugeot, but they are here anyway. And Europe's cheapest new car - Dacia Spring - is an EV.

   1. vjsrinivas · 1790547590 · focus · HN ↗

      Im on the verge of switching from PHEV to full EV. I just need a reasonably affordable EV with 450+ mile of range.

      1. blondie9x · 1790548911 · focus · HN ↗

         It's better for the body to keep driving sessions to 3-4 hours max before you get up walk around and charge a bit. 330 mile range is more than enough. If you only use 60% of the battery to maximize its lifespan you can drive for 3.5 hours roughly before you deplete a battery from 80% -> 20%.

         1. doubled112 · 1790549693 · focus · HN ↗

            I don’t think people understand how convenient it is to be able to go 1000+ KM without thinking about filling up or charging, even if it isn’t in one trip.

            I could do it in a 2002 Jetta. Why can’t I do it in a vehicle 25 years newer?

            1. gambiting · 1790577032 · focus · HN ↗

               I don't think people understand how incredibly convenient it is to wake up to a vehicle with a full "tank" every single morning. I'll take that over a Jetta that can do 1000 miles on a tank without any hesitation.

               1. doubled112 · 1790596535 · focus · HN ↗

                  The “gas station” being my driveway is an idea I have come around to.

                  For the average commuter and vehicle, it would be more convenient.

                  My family’s closest family is 750km away. Making that a longer trip sounds like torture, but range is getting better all the time.

                  I also rent, so I’m stuck at 120v charging at home. Does that limit the convenience?

                  1. gambiting · 1790607323 · focus · HN ↗

                     Well, the question is how often do you do that drive. My family lives 4 countries away and about 12 hour of driving. I do that drive about once a year. But I have a young child so I don't like doing this in one go anymore, we usually stop halfway at a hotel, have some nice food, get some sleep and carry on the next day - so charging is solved(because we can just stay at a hotel with a charger). If you're driving to see them every week then maybe an EV is not quite right for you yet.

                     >>Making that a longer trip sounds like torture, but range is getting better all the time.

                     On the other hand, my sister drives A LOT. Like 1000 miles(1600km) a week a lot. And she was spending a fortune on diesel, so recently got herself a second hand Polestar 2, even though it's a long range model she gets a comfortable 300km before she has to charge it - and I asked her hey do you find charging it annoying. And she says no, because she usually has to stop for a pee every 3 hours anyway, the car needs 15-20 minutes on a fast charger for a top up and then she can carry on. Saves her an absolute fortune in fuel money. She drives up and down the country and so far it just hasn't been a problem at all.

                     >>I also rent, so I’m stuck at 120v charging at home. Does that limit the convenience?

                     Yeah, that's going to be the biggest problem I think. If you can't charge at home(or can only charge at ~1kWh/hour of charging) that's not going to be a great experience. Realistically you can only replenish 12kWh overnight using a basic 120V socket and that's just not a lot.

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