Always keep in mind that one million times zero equals zero.
- Manlobbi
Stocks A to Z / Stocks T / Tesla (TSLA)
No. of Recommendations: 1
There is some incredible irony, this being TSLA's board, and ZERO contributions to it for over ten months after being initiated. Given all the daily headlines in the news, as well as being a primary source of wealth of one of "the world's richest men".
The primary drawback to the EV model, at least for this writer, is the EXTREME limitation of its 'refueling' scenario.
1. Long trips: (>~200, 300 miles.) Unacceptable delays that, under the best of conditions, likely will always entail stops of 30 to 90 minutes. Twice that in worst case conditions.
2. Around town/local: Away from home location, charging at 'conveniently' located charging stations. At work, at school, shopping who/what/when/how is the vehicle plugged in / unplugged while you're off to do your business, attend classes?
Its useful employment?: Around town, here and there, work/school/shopping and then in the PM the vehicle always returns to its AM starting point (e.g. "home"), where you have adequate capacity to recharge the battery while you sleep. All good. (Or alternately, at the end of your day, stopping where you can depend on convenient access to adequate power, charging while you sleep.)
To me, these are INSURMOUNTABLE limitations to the model of using EV's. And are all on top of all the 'other' problems people have voiced. They, too, are significant.
(A nice touch, about which I have seen no discussion? The EV's battery itself. The battery in all models weighs over half a ton! Every trip, every minute, every mile, you're hauling around over a half ton of dead weight. That, all by itself, gobbles up big chunks of your energy, cutting into your miles-per-kilowatt. To get a feel of just how bad the 1000 pound penalty is, try driving your gas-powered car or pickup with 1000 pounds of sand in the back and keep track of your MPG. The decrease will be significant.)
No. of Recommendations: 3
We've owned an EV - a Chevy Bolt - for 2.5 years now. In that time, we have done 50,000 miles.
Never taken it on a trip further than about 80 miles from home, so never had to charge anywhere but in our garage.
Lifetime average is 3.6 miles/kWh. We pay about 8c per kWh, so it's cost us about $1,110 to drive 50k miles.
That would be less than $1/gallon in an ICE car getting 40mpg.
The only maintenance not covered by the warranty has been four new tires from Costco.
We wouldn't take it on a long trip. It's not what we bought it for, and we have an ICE van for that.
I do know Tesla owners who regularly take long trips and have no issues charging.
Reliable charging for a non-Tesla EV isn't there yet, but will be soon. Most manufacturers have agreed to use the Tesla standard plug.
Oh, it's fun to drive, too. Quick, smooth and quiet. We like it.
No. of Recommendations: 1
AdrianC
I do know Tesla owners who regularly take long trips and have no issues charging.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
By chance, do you know if they A) never exceed the max miles limitation? (Before needing a recharge.)
Or, B) they do plan longer trips, but intentionally make pre-planned stops where they want to stop, eat, browse, and walk around while their vehicle is "plugged in", recharging?
No. of Recommendations: 2
By chance, do you know if they A) never exceed the max miles limitation? (Before needing a recharge.)
You mean do they take trips longer than their car's maximum range? They do. It's really not a problem in a Tesla.
Or, B) they do plan longer trips, but intentionally make pre-planned stops where they want to stop, eat, browse, and walk around while their vehicle is "plugged in", recharging?
They use the planning tool built into the Tesla navigation. It routes them to a Supercharger. 20-30 minutes later they are charged and ready to roll.
Don't know about you, but I take regular longish trips (320 miles) in my gas car, and I stop at least one time, often twice. My car can go further on a tank, but I need to use the facilities, stretch my legs, get some coffee. That same trip would be no slower for me in a Tesla with a 250-mile range. Probably would be a nicer drive.
I would not do this trip in our Chevy EV, though. Not it's forte at all.
