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Maybe I'm just lucky in where I live/the routes I travel, but having an EV has been amazing and I would never go back. I have done multiple long distance trips

Maybe I'm just lucky in where I live/the routes I travel, but having an EV has been amazing and I would never go back. I have done multiple long distance trips ranging from 3ish hours of driving to 10ish hours of driving, and while the charging definitely adds to the length, it is the amount I expected before I bought the car, and I'm fine with it. And finding fast chargers along my route has never been a problem. There has been an issue with the fast charger exactly once, and I was able to go to a different charger in the same town. I've had to wait for a stall to open up maybe twice. I'm also saving enough money on fuel every month that if I was going to take a long trip where charging infrastructure was not as reliable/prevalent, then I could probably rent an ICE vehicle for a week long trip once a year and still come out ahead. It would not surprise me to find out that charging infrastructure along my usual trips (the I-5 corridor) is unusually good, but I just wouldn't have guessed that such a large number of people would be taking so many long trips in areas with poor charging infrastructure that it would outweigh the other advantages.

aeternum 2y ago
I don't think the issue is necessarily trips. Many cars are being sold with multi-year free charging packages which incentivize people to not charge at home. People who buy one of these cars in population dense areas often face a choice: waste their home electricity or wait in line / fight for a spot to charge. It takes one of the major conveniences of EVs and removes it since people basically pay a penalty for charging at home.
- MostlyStable 2y ago
  So, again maybe this is just because of where I live and the power rates I have available to me, but my overnight rates are $0.04/kWh. And my power company paid the for most of my lvl 2 charger. I spend $20 or less per month keeping the car charged at home. I had one of those "free" charging packages (although much smaller and less generous than some), and even with it I would still charge at home purely for the convenience of not having to go somewhere. I get that some people are renters or for some other reason have a logistical difficulty with charging at home, but for anyone who isn't in that camp, I just can't imagine not charging at home. It is so nice to never have to think about stopping somewhere in normal/daily driving. It's honestly one of the biggest advantages (for me) of having an EV. The complete elimination during normal use of any thought or consideration about fuel other than developing the habit of plugging it in when I get home.

aeternum 2y ago

I don't think the issue is necessarily trips. Many cars are being sold with multi-year free charging packages which incentivize people to not charge at home. People who buy one of these cars in population dense areas often face a choice: waste their home electricity or wait in line / fight for a spot to charge. It takes one of the major conveniences of EVs and removes it since people basically pay a penalty for charging at home.

MostlyStable 2y ago
So, again maybe this is just because of where I live and the power rates I have available to me, but my overnight rates are $0.04/kWh. And my power company paid the for most of my lvl 2 charger. I spend $20 or less per month keeping the car charged at home. I had one of those "free" charging packages (although much smaller and less generous than some), and even with it I would still charge at home purely for the convenience of not having to go somewhere. I get that some people are renters or for some other reason have a logistical difficulty with charging at home, but for anyone who isn't in that camp, I just can't imagine not charging at home. It is so nice to never have to think about stopping somewhere in normal/daily driving. It's honestly one of the biggest advantages (for me) of having an EV. The complete elimination during normal use of any thought or consideration about fuel other than developing the habit of plugging it in when I get home.