3 ms·

Y'all pretend like there's nothing between a city car and a car that regularly does 500+ mile trips. EV's aren't at the point where really long trips are as con

Y'all pretend like there's nothing between a city car and a car that regularly does 500+ mile trips. EV's aren't at the point where really long trips are as convenient as in a combustion car, that's not news. But the range that they're good for has been steadily increasing, and so have the goalposts of the "I'll buy one when they can do XYZ miles on a single charge" comments. This discussion has been had so many times, I can't blame people for downvoting it. Nothing new is going to come of having it again, it's just going to derail the thread.

hueving 10y ago
But the comment was in response to a comment about a 550 mile record. I think that brings fair game to point out that nobody can reliably use the thing to perform trips 85% that long frequently. For example, someone who classifies as a "mega-commuter"[1] would not be able to use a Tesla unless their office has a charging station. 1. "Across the United States, mega-commuters on average spend two hours to traverse 166 miles just for the lighter morning commute " http://www.mercurynews.com/2013/03/04/bay-area-tops-new-mega-commuter-census-list-defining-the-worst-trips-to-work/ http://www.mercurynews.com/2013/03/04/bay-area-tops-new-mega...
- icebraining 10y ago
  For example, someone who classifies as a "mega-commuter" would not be able to use a Tesla unless their office has a charging station. Pedantically, some would, since to be a mega-commuter you only need to travel 50 miles in each direction. Average != all.
- lsaferite 10y ago
  The percentage of the population that has these 'mega-commutes' is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Bringing it up as an argument about why EVs are 'long from being usable' is why they are getting down-voted.
bluGill 10y ago
Part of why the goalposts changed is most people don't know what the goalposts should be. When I first heard of electric cars they were convert your car with lead acid batteries. An interesting project, but not practical. Then the EV1, but since I don't live in California I ignored it. Then Tesla which was neat, but I make 300 mile (one way) trips and the supercharger was still a promise - the price made it a "I could make it work if there was a supercharger along my way, but it is too expensive". Then came the leaf - affordable, but the range was such that I didn't have confidence I could go to work, lunch and get back home again. Now the leaf has solve the above, but I'm learning about battery life - it can work for the first 60,000 miles, but after that replace the battery at a high cost. What will be the next goalpost? I don't know. The number one goalpost for me is always is it cheaper to replace my car or not. The reality is my current car is still working (though we will see what my mechanic says, there are some signs that the body is starting to fail), and at 40+mpg electric is not a better deal than keeping it working.
- DiabloD3 10y ago
  Well, except you have to go back to the Supercharger bit. Every year they roll out more and more Superchargers, and the 100kwh battery for the Model S exists now.

hueving 10y ago

But the comment was in response to a comment about a 550 mile record. I think that brings fair game to point out that nobody can reliably use the thing to perform trips 85% that long frequently. For example, someone who classifies as a "mega-commuter"[1] would not be able to use a Tesla unless their office has a charging station. 1. "Across the United States, mega-commuters on average spend two hours to traverse 166 miles just for the lighter morning commute " http://www.mercurynews.com/2013/03/04/bay-area-tops-new-mega-commuter-census-list-defining-the-worst-trips-to-work/ http://www.mercurynews.com/2013/03/04/bay-area-tops-new-mega...

icebraining 10y ago
For example, someone who classifies as a "mega-commuter" would not be able to use a Tesla unless their office has a charging station. Pedantically, some would, since to be a mega-commuter you only need to travel 50 miles in each direction. Average != all.
lsaferite 10y ago
The percentage of the population that has these 'mega-commutes' is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Bringing it up as an argument about why EVs are 'long from being usable' is why they are getting down-voted.

bluGill 10y ago

Part of why the goalposts changed is most people don't know what the goalposts should be. When I first heard of electric cars they were convert your car with lead acid batteries. An interesting project, but not practical. Then the EV1, but since I don't live in California I ignored it. Then Tesla which was neat, but I make 300 mile (one way) trips and the supercharger was still a promise - the price made it a "I could make it work if there was a supercharger along my way, but it is too expensive". Then came the leaf - affordable, but the range was such that I didn't have confidence I could go to work, lunch and get back home again. Now the leaf has solve the above, but I'm learning about battery life - it can work for the first 60,000 miles, but after that replace the battery at a high cost. What will be the next goalpost? I don't know. The number one goalpost for me is always is it cheaper to replace my car or not. The reality is my current car is still working (though we will see what my mechanic says, there are some signs that the body is starting to fail), and at 40+mpg electric is not a better deal than keeping it working.

DiabloD3 10y ago
Well, except you have to go back to the Supercharger bit. Every year they roll out more and more Superchargers, and the 100kwh battery for the Model S exists now.