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Ask HN: Do EV Owners Think About Evacuations?

I'm thinking about both living in the Western US and buying an EV. One scenario I keep thinking about is getting caught in a wildfire evacuation zone without a fully charged battery. Do any of you consider that possibility, and if so how do you account for it either practically or just mentally?

MBCook 4y ago
If you were to plug in every night I wouldn’t think it would be an issue. That assumes that’s a possibility for you. Unlike a gas car, when an EV is stationary it’s using basically no energy. Climate and the computers would still be running but relative to driving at a normal speed that’s not much at all. So even if you were stuck in a traffic jam you may still be better off because you’re not losing ‘fuel’ as fast as an idling gas car. During the 2021 winter there were articles about how people were afraid they’d freeze to death in an EV if trapped in a massive traffic jam for a very long time. As I remember papers looked into it and found the EVs would actually keep you warm much longer because of how little energy the climate system used compared to keeping a full engine running enough to heat the cabin.
- yuppie_scum 4y ago
  https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38807463/tesla-model-3-climate-control-cold-weather-test/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38807463/tesla-model-3-cl...
  - idontwantthis 4y ago
    That model also didn't have the heatpump, which is huge. It should last much longer than the gas car with a pump instead of all resistive heat.
dylanhassinger 4y ago
If power grid goes out, you can run your house off an EV. so goes both ways
cratermoon 4y ago
> getting caught in a wildfire evacuation zone without a fully charged battery. How is that different from getting caught in some disaster without a full tank of gas, or at least enough gas to make it out of the area?
- idontwantthis 4y ago
  I don't know honestly I've never dealt with either before. Gas would be easier to refill on the road, but I suppose I shouldn't take gas station availability for granted either during an evacuation.
  - cratermoon 4y ago
    > Gas would be easier to refill on the road All the other drivers with half-empty tanks will probably be thinking the same thing. Long lines, flaring tempers. Once the stations run out, there will be no deliveries until after the crisis.
- twothamendment 4y ago
  I live where wildfire is the most likely of any evacuation scenario that I can think of. I keep my pickup 3/4 full of diesel, but most of the time it is full (not a daily driver). This gives me 500 to 700 miles. But we are talking about getting caught not full - I'm still going to have more range on a half tank than most EV have full. If had to pick (and I guess I have) , I wouldn't pick an EV for evacuation. It is difficult to toss in a jug of electricity, but I can easily add 200 miles of range with two five gallon cans. Now I just need some autopilot because I don't think I can stay awake for 900 miles of driving! Lest I be framed a hater with my diesel (no rolling coal for me) truck, I think EVs have there place - just not in my area (yet).
  - idontwantthis 4y ago
    How far do you anticipate needing to drive in a wildfire evacuation? I think 100 miles should be plenty to get to safety, but I guess you need to think about the next few days in wherever you are stuck.

MBCook 4y ago

If you were to plug in every night I wouldn’t think it would be an issue. That assumes that’s a possibility for you. Unlike a gas car, when an EV is stationary it’s using basically no energy. Climate and the computers would still be running but relative to driving at a normal speed that’s not much at all. So even if you were stuck in a traffic jam you may still be better off because you’re not losing ‘fuel’ as fast as an idling gas car. During the 2021 winter there were articles about how people were afraid they’d freeze to death in an EV if trapped in a massive traffic jam for a very long time. As I remember papers looked into it and found the EVs would actually keep you warm much longer because of how little energy the climate system used compared to keeping a full engine running enough to heat the cabin.

yuppie_scum 4y ago
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38807463/tesla-model-3-climate-control-cold-weather-test/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38807463/tesla-model-3-cl...
- idontwantthis 4y ago
  That model also didn't have the heatpump, which is huge. It should last much longer than the gas car with a pump instead of all resistive heat.

dylanhassinger 4y ago

If power grid goes out, you can run your house off an EV. so goes both ways

cratermoon 4y ago

> getting caught in a wildfire evacuation zone without a fully charged battery. How is that different from getting caught in some disaster without a full tank of gas, or at least enough gas to make it out of the area?

idontwantthis 4y ago
I don't know honestly I've never dealt with either before. Gas would be easier to refill on the road, but I suppose I shouldn't take gas station availability for granted either during an evacuation.
- cratermoon 4y ago
  > Gas would be easier to refill on the road All the other drivers with half-empty tanks will probably be thinking the same thing. Long lines, flaring tempers. Once the stations run out, there will be no deliveries until after the crisis.
twothamendment 4y ago
I live where wildfire is the most likely of any evacuation scenario that I can think of. I keep my pickup 3/4 full of diesel, but most of the time it is full (not a daily driver). This gives me 500 to 700 miles. But we are talking about getting caught not full - I'm still going to have more range on a half tank than most EV have full. If had to pick (and I guess I have) , I wouldn't pick an EV for evacuation. It is difficult to toss in a jug of electricity, but I can easily add 200 miles of range with two five gallon cans. Now I just need some autopilot because I don't think I can stay awake for 900 miles of driving! Lest I be framed a hater with my diesel (no rolling coal for me) truck, I think EVs have there place - just not in my area (yet).
- idontwantthis 4y ago
  How far do you anticipate needing to drive in a wildfire evacuation? I think 100 miles should be plenty to get to safety, but I guess you need to think about the next few days in wherever you are stuck.