10 ms·

> Back when Tesla was the only long-range EV you could buy, well, Tesla pretty much had the market cornered. Now, with other manufacturers offering long range E

by tzs 2y ago

> Back when Tesla was the only long-range EV you could buy, well, Tesla pretty much had the market cornered. Now, with other manufacturers offering long range EVs, Tesla just isn't standing up to the competition There's also more competition than just other long range EVs. I plan on getting a new car sometime in the next year or two and had been planning on an EV. But lately I've been thinking that a PHEV might be the right approach. In the last 10 years I think that there are only 3 days on which I drove more than 40 miles, and only 1 day where I was away from home overnight. If I had a car with a lower energy cost per mile than my current car (a 2006 Honda CR-V) I would probably drive more than I do now, but still would be under 40 miles most days. A PHEV with a 40+ mile range on battery would be on battery most of the time for me. It would only need to use the ICE on the occasional long trip plus whenever its software decided to use it to keep it in good condition (ICE engines need to run occasionally to remain in good share). It would in effect be an EV for me most of the time. And on the occasional long trip it would be more convenient than an EV due to gas stations being more widely available and faster than EV charging stations while still being economical.

gwbas1c 2y ago
I went down that path. Don't. I ended dumping my PHEV at a massive loss (2018 Pacifica PHEV) due to all the mechanical and electronic problems in the vehicle. The problem with PHEVs is that they are super-complicated, mechanically; and much more complicated than a conventional vehicle. It's hard to find a mechanic who will work on them when they get old. If they have problems, like mine did, even the factory / dealer mechanic will struggle, because they are all low-volume cars. Then, you still need to get oil changes. The only thing you need to do with an EV are tires, washer fluid, and air filters. > And on the occasional long trip it would be more convenient than an EV due to gas stations being more widely available and faster than EV charging stations while still being economical. That's really not the case. On long trips I take bathroom breaks at Superchargers. It's enough: I drove from MA to Washington DC, and there were so many Superchargers I just didn't think about charging. When I left the hotel, I went to a Whole Foods with a supercharger, grabbed lunch at the buffet, and was ready to go. I drove from MA to Montreal. I stopped twice to pee on the way up, and that was long enough. The hotel had chargers. On the way home I charged at a grocery store to buy stuff for a picnic, and then charged again at a bathroom break. At most Superchargers I now see non-Teslas, too, so don't feel like you have to buy a Tesla if you want to use a Supercharger.
- geoka9 2y ago
  What about a Toyota PHEV (Prime)? And how much more complicated they are than a (non-plugin) hybrid?
  - gwbas1c 2y ago
    At that point, the money you spend on a complicated drivetrain is better spent on a bigger battery. (I personally didn't like the Prius prime when I test drove it in 2013.) Keep in mind that big batteries charge "faster." On a road trip, a 200 mile EV will need more time to charge 60 to 200 miles then charging a 300 mile EV 80 to 220 miles. One of the major advantage of an EV is low maintenance. You'll have to bring the Prime in for oil changes. You don't need to do that with an EV.

by tzs 2y ago

gwbas1c 2y ago

I went down that path. Don't. I ended dumping my PHEV at a massive loss (2018 Pacifica PHEV) due to all the mechanical and electronic problems in the vehicle. The problem with PHEVs is that they are super-complicated, mechanically; and much more complicated than a conventional vehicle. It's hard to find a mechanic who will work on them when they get old. If they have problems, like mine did, even the factory / dealer mechanic will struggle, because they are all low-volume cars. Then, you still need to get oil changes. The only thing you need to do with an EV are tires, washer fluid, and air filters. > And on the occasional long trip it would be more convenient than an EV due to gas stations being more widely available and faster than EV charging stations while still being economical. That's really not the case. On long trips I take bathroom breaks at Superchargers. It's enough: I drove from MA to Washington DC, and there were so many Superchargers I just didn't think about charging. When I left the hotel, I went to a Whole Foods with a supercharger, grabbed lunch at the buffet, and was ready to go. I drove from MA to Montreal. I stopped twice to pee on the way up, and that was long enough. The hotel had chargers. On the way home I charged at a grocery store to buy stuff for a picnic, and then charged again at a bathroom break. At most Superchargers I now see non-Teslas, too, so don't feel like you have to buy a Tesla if you want to use a Supercharger.

geoka9 2y ago
What about a Toyota PHEV (Prime)? And how much more complicated they are than a (non-plugin) hybrid?
- gwbas1c 2y ago
  At that point, the money you spend on a complicated drivetrain is better spent on a bigger battery. (I personally didn't like the Prius prime when I test drove it in 2013.) Keep in mind that big batteries charge "faster." On a road trip, a 200 mile EV will need more time to charge 60 to 200 miles then charging a 300 mile EV 80 to 220 miles. One of the major advantage of an EV is low maintenance. You'll have to bring the Prime in for oil changes. You don't need to do that with an EV.