Something like that. My brother's daily driver is a Ram 3500. He bought it because he lives in a tiny home and wanted something that he could move it with. He has never moved it. He wanted me to drive it to see what it was like... it was like driving a fishing boat from the tuna tower. Only, if you didn't have good visibility from the tuna tower.
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Renting an ICE instead
I got my EUV in late 2022 and have about 5500 miles on it. I love almost everything about it, except for the lack of reliable fast chargers on road trips in the Northeastern U.S. I’ve read what others have posted about their long trips and the strategizing that goes into what was once pretty straightforward with my old ICE vehicle. With that in mind, I think renting an ICE vehicle is the most practical way for me to travel by car for a few hundred miles.
Anyone else already reached the same conclusion?
Anyone else already reached the same conclusion?
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Sure, they currently produce more CO2 to manufacture, but that reverses after a few thousand (or maybe tens of thousands) of miles. But that doesn't count that the batteries will be recycled and at least 95% of the metals extracted for re-use. So, once recycled batteries enter into the equation, the numbers will look even more favorable.I have often wondered about this. What with the mining needed to produce the minerals needed for the batteries and the rare-earth elements to produce magnets for the motors, are EVs actually cleaner? Yes, tailpipe emissions are eliminated but are these gains lost to other processes?
There are some cool things going on, such as Nth Cycle's Oyster system. Not only for recycling batteries and other tech, but also for locally extracting metals from ore.
Man! I LOVE oysters. And if eating them will help, count me in.Nth Cycle's Oyster
I live in WMass too though only in the foothills and the Boston trip is definitely a challenge and there's like one DCFC (Cichy's Garage in Williamsburg) in the valley west of the river. I have charged a few times westbound at the Auburn Mall where they have 8 or 10 DCFCs and they actually work!Newish 2023 EUV owner, about 4500 miles on the car. I live in the western Mass Berkshires, and I make regular trips to the Boston area to visit family. Between the cold weather affecting the battery, using the heater, and driving up and down mountains and hills all the way, I can make it to my first stop (120 miles) on a full charge. However, this leaves me with a GOM range of about 50 miles or so. Driving around on local roads is much easier on the battery use, so it doesn't deplete it too much. BUT, when I need to return home I can't make it (comfortably) on an 80% charge. Between the western burbs and home the route crosses a number of major rivers running north and south. And after crossing the Connecticut River the route has long climbs up and down through the Berkshires. While this route is technically do-able in the Bolt, practically speaking it involves at least one FCDC session, and probably 2 if I only do 80% at the first re-charge. I have to weigh whether I should charge up at the closest FCDC and charge up to 100% (which I think at that particular spot takes well over an hour - and there's only one charging station). Or, do I try to make it to the next closest charging station, about an hour away by highway, and charge it to 80% there. That trip between the two charging stations pushes the limits of the range, and gets hairy. I've had to conserve by turning off the heat (the windows fog up) and driving slowly when choosing this option, and even then I ran the charge down into the "Charge Soon" zone.
Anyway, this is my reality using the Bolt for about a 270 mile round trip in cold weather and with terrain challenges. It's not something I enjoy doing. I will finally be getting my old ICE back on the road this week, and I'll be using it for this trip in the future. Which brings up something that pleasantly surprised me when I started using the One-pedal mode. My old ICE has a manual transmission. I extensively use engine braking to decelerate, which is especially helpful in icy conditions. The One-pedal mode feels a lot like engine braking; when you add the paddle it gives a finer degree of modulation.
The set covers in my 2017 were getting ratty and one was torn, so I ordered new ones from Chevy and took them to an auto upholstery shop to install and requested additional padding.The seats in the Bolt are so uncomfortable that I can't imagine WANTING to drive that far.
Night and day! The seats are so much better. I kick myself for not getting it done sooner. A few hundred bucks cannot be better spent.
I was going to ask why we don't just have rfid cards like I got with my Chevy Bolt from Charge Point back in 2017 and you answered it. This world is easy to understand; the answer to nearly everything important is MONEY.I asked a Shell charger CS rep about this; you can buy a card to use at their chargers for $5, which I did, but the first time I encountered one, it didn't have a credit card reader and I hadn't bought the card yet. The rep was able to take my CC number over the phone and remotely start the charger. The rep said I could just download the app, and I asked why I'd want to do that -- then I have to unlock my phone, type in codes etc. (sometimes at night, or in the snow, rain, heat, etc.), instead of just tapping or sliding a card? Why, I asked, do they keep promoting these stupid apps? He answered honestly -- So they can track you and harvest and sell your data. You can lend anyone your credit card, but how often do you lend someone your phone? They can get much more accurate data with the app.
One more reason to avoid apps!
I don't just dislike apps, I dislike smartphones and don't have one, though my wife does. I am leery of anything that both tracks your location and listens in to you. I have no doubt that at some point cash will be ended and all transactions will be by smartphone. As Admiral John Poindexter testified to Congress, (after lying that the NSA doesn't spy on Americans) the objective is to collect everything, and they mean it.
The digital world is a marvel, but I fear its main purpose will be control of the populace, both by government and big business, the line between which is growing fainter by the day.
Another major issue with high speed chargers is the proliferation of networks, each with its own app / card / pricing plans. This needs to change to a universal model, cash or charge, just like gas stations.I was going to ask why we don't just have rfid cards like I got with my Chevy Bolt from Charge Point back in 2017 and you answered it. This world is easy to understand; the answer to nearly everything important is MONEY.
I don't just dislike apps, I dislike smartphones and don't have one, though my wife does. I am leery of anything that both tracks your location and listens in to you. I have no doubt that at some point cash will be ended and all transactions will be by smartphone. As Admiral John Poindexter testified to Congress, (after lying that the NSA doesn't spy on Americans) the objective is to collect everything, and they mean it.
The digital world is a marvel, but I fear its main purpose will be control of the populace, both by government and big business, the line between which is growing fainter by the day.
Also, every charger should charge based upon kWh delivered only.
Since my Bolt doesn't have dcfc, I've only used it about 20 times in 6 years for L2 charging. I've used my wife's smartphone a few times, but it's ridiculous because just tapping the rfid card is many times faster. There are few people more fumble fingered than I am and I do my utmost to stay away from all electronic devices. I've found the less I'm at the keyboard, the more relaxed I feel. I know this is an alien concept, especially among the younger crowd who have known no other world. I tremble at the thought of what kind of posture these people will have when they're middle aged. A man I know went to his chiropractor and his 16 year old son went with him to wait and when the chiropractor saw his son he said he should start doing some exercises as his neck was already bent.Another major issue with high speed chargers is the proliferation of networks, each with its own app / card / pricing plans. This needs to change to a universal model, cash or charge, just like gas stations.
Also, every charger should charge based upon kWh delivered only.
…..Agree with what you post….altho my wife did get me a “smarter-than-me” phone(not hard at all).…..don't just dislike apps, I dislike smartphones and don't have one, though my wife does……Admiral John Poindexter testified to Congress, (after lying that the NSA doesn't spy on Americans) the objective is to collect everything, and they mean it.
The digital world is a marvel, but I fear its main purpose will be control of the populace….
However, if you mention surveillance without mentioning communist china(always small letters), you miss the worst actions by Big Brothers in very large families.
Oh, I’ll race you for the number 1 fumble fingered position.Since my Bolt doesn't have dcfc, I've only used it about 20 times in 6 years for L2 charging.…. There are few people more fumble fingered than I am and I do my utmost to stay away from all electronic devices.….
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