4 ms·

I would be very interested in an all-electric minivan with enough range for my frequent 600-mile trips to my wife's home town. Sadly, this does not yet exist.

lmm 11y ago
You make a 10-hour-each-way trip frequently? Man, stop throwing away your life like that. Downsize your house, take a pay cut, do whatever it is you have to to move somewhere closer. I struggle to even begin to imagine the misery of what you're doing.
- Noted 11y ago
  I'm guessing there is probably a disconnect in what "frequently" means between you two.
- lotharbot 11y ago
  Depends on what you mean by "frequently". I live within a 5-mile radius of 5 of my siblings, my parents, my grandparents, and my aunt and uncle. I'm a stay-at-home parent, my wife works from home, and our son attends an excellent school a block away. My wife's family lives a little less than 600 miles away. We travel out that way 2-3 times per year, which is frequent enough that I wouldn't want to rent a car every time we did it. It wouldn't make sense to try to move closer, but it does make a lot of sense to have an efficient vehicle. If a full electric could make the trip with quick-charging stations along the way, I'd be all for it. For now (given that my old car was totaled in a hit-and-run this weekend) I'm leaning toward something like the Chevy Volt. The GP poster may be in a situation with similar characteristics -- frequent enough travel to want to do it in your own vehicle (rather than flying or renting something), too far for most electrics.
  - redblacktree 11y ago
    > The GP poster may be in a situation with similar characteristics Shockingly similar. Though I am the working parent, and my job is only about 1/3rd work-from-home.
- drcube 11y ago
  You don't have relatives across the country? Or you just don't visit them?
  - lmm 11y ago
    Furthest in the same country is 200 miles away; I have an uncle 900 miles away who I visit occasionally (as in once in ~3 years). But in any case I take the train or fly, and sleep or watch a movie or even code on the way.
- michaelt 11y ago
  Many people choose their car based on their peak requirements, rather than their average requirements. I've seen people commute in a minivan every day because the space was useful taking their kids' stuff back and forth to college a handful of times a year. I've seen people buy SUVs because they tow a boat or a horse box once every six months. I've seen people buying larger cars so they can transport five adults in greater comfort - even though they only need to do that a handful of times a year. Now, it's possible that these people would be better served by one car for their everyday needs, hiring different cars for these occasional needs - but most car buyers aren't used to behaving that way at the moment.
  - redblacktree 11y ago
    > Many people choose their car based on their peak requirements Exactly right. I don't want to pay for and maintain cars for different purposes, so I buy based on peak requirements.
- ksenzee 11y ago
  What are the roads like where you live? Because in my part of the world a ten-hour drive is a pleasant way to spend a vacation day. I look forward to road trips.
  - lmm 11y ago
    A new road you haven't seen before, sure. But the same one frequently?
    - ksenzee 11y ago
      Depends on the value of "frequently." Every weekend would be not much fun. Every month or two I'd be fine with. Riding in a comfortable vehicle is good family togetherness time, which is in short supply in a lot of families.
- redblacktree 11y ago
  "Frequently" means 2-3 times per year. My family is somewhat close, hers is fairly distant, our roots are here. I don't think 40-60 hours a year to see family is so bad. We make good use of the time. Typically when we do take a trip, we'll spend at least a week there. And honestly, I don't mind the driving. It gives me time to reflect on my life.
Gravityloss 11y ago
A plugin hybrid minivan would be perfect for you.
- redblacktree 11y ago
  Do those really exist? I recently bought a 2015 Toyota Sienna, and I didn't see any hybrid options in Honda or Toyota (arguably the leading minivan brands)
  - Gravityloss 11y ago
    I don't think so. There's very few plugin hybrids on the market at all, which is a shame.

lmm 11y ago

You make a 10-hour-each-way trip frequently? Man, stop throwing away your life like that. Downsize your house, take a pay cut, do whatever it is you have to to move somewhere closer. I struggle to even begin to imagine the misery of what you're doing.

Noted 11y ago
I'm guessing there is probably a disconnect in what "frequently" means between you two.
lotharbot 11y ago
Depends on what you mean by "frequently". I live within a 5-mile radius of 5 of my siblings, my parents, my grandparents, and my aunt and uncle. I'm a stay-at-home parent, my wife works from home, and our son attends an excellent school a block away. My wife's family lives a little less than 600 miles away. We travel out that way 2-3 times per year, which is frequent enough that I wouldn't want to rent a car every time we did it. It wouldn't make sense to try to move closer, but it does make a lot of sense to have an efficient vehicle. If a full electric could make the trip with quick-charging stations along the way, I'd be all for it. For now (given that my old car was totaled in a hit-and-run this weekend) I'm leaning toward something like the Chevy Volt. The GP poster may be in a situation with similar characteristics -- frequent enough travel to want to do it in your own vehicle (rather than flying or renting something), too far for most electrics.
- redblacktree 11y ago
  > The GP poster may be in a situation with similar characteristics Shockingly similar. Though I am the working parent, and my job is only about 1/3rd work-from-home.
drcube 11y ago
You don't have relatives across the country? Or you just don't visit them?
- lmm 11y ago
  Furthest in the same country is 200 miles away; I have an uncle 900 miles away who I visit occasionally (as in once in ~3 years). But in any case I take the train or fly, and sleep or watch a movie or even code on the way.
michaelt 11y ago
Many people choose their car based on their peak requirements, rather than their average requirements. I've seen people commute in a minivan every day because the space was useful taking their kids' stuff back and forth to college a handful of times a year. I've seen people buy SUVs because they tow a boat or a horse box once every six months. I've seen people buying larger cars so they can transport five adults in greater comfort - even though they only need to do that a handful of times a year. Now, it's possible that these people would be better served by one car for their everyday needs, hiring different cars for these occasional needs - but most car buyers aren't used to behaving that way at the moment.
- redblacktree 11y ago
  > Many people choose their car based on their peak requirements Exactly right. I don't want to pay for and maintain cars for different purposes, so I buy based on peak requirements.
ksenzee 11y ago
What are the roads like where you live? Because in my part of the world a ten-hour drive is a pleasant way to spend a vacation day. I look forward to road trips.
- lmm 11y ago
  A new road you haven't seen before, sure. But the same one frequently?
  - ksenzee 11y ago
    Depends on the value of "frequently." Every weekend would be not much fun. Every month or two I'd be fine with. Riding in a comfortable vehicle is good family togetherness time, which is in short supply in a lot of families.
redblacktree 11y ago
"Frequently" means 2-3 times per year. My family is somewhat close, hers is fairly distant, our roots are here. I don't think 40-60 hours a year to see family is so bad. We make good use of the time. Typically when we do take a trip, we'll spend at least a week there. And honestly, I don't mind the driving. It gives me time to reflect on my life.

Gravityloss 11y ago

A plugin hybrid minivan would be perfect for you.

redblacktree 11y ago
Do those really exist? I recently bought a 2015 Toyota Sienna, and I didn't see any hybrid options in Honda or Toyota (arguably the leading minivan brands)
- Gravityloss 11y ago
  I don't think so. There's very few plugin hybrids on the market at all, which is a shame.