General EV Conversation
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,868
Likes: 1,470
From: San Diego, CA
As plentiful as chargers are in California and for daily driving, driving an EV long distance from San Francisco to SoCal, Santa Ana area was extremely inconvenient for me last year. I was in my friend's M3 Pre-highland model RWD (not long range). The vehicle was rated 270ish miles at 100%. We had to stop 4 times for charging for about a 400 mile road trip, but granted we started off with little to no charge. The Tesla navi was having us charge to percentages that I didn't agree with, though I can't say for certain who knows better. It doesn't make sense in my mind to charge to 60% and then have to stop again according to the route planner. We certainly did not need that many bathroom breaks.
Anyway, I vowed I would not do that again unless the vehicle has longer range. This particular trip would have been more convenient in a gas powered vehicle. It's just my personal thoughts. Please don't give me the whole EV schpeal, as I own 2 EVs. But I will most definitely rent a vehicle the next time I drive down to Socal.
Anyway, I vowed I would not do that again unless the vehicle has longer range. This particular trip would have been more convenient in a gas powered vehicle. It's just my personal thoughts. Please don't give me the whole EV schpeal, as I own 2 EVs. But I will most definitely rent a vehicle the next time I drive down to Socal.
I think the way to look at it is this: With an ICE car almost any trip is doable at a moment's notice without much planning and regardless of how full your tank may be, but in an EV there will always be some extra considerations you have to factor in. In your case that low SoC at kick off undoubtedly made the trip worse and also because the car seemingly prioritized little and often charging over charging to 80% plus for that particular trip on that particular day.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,429
Likes: 3,656
From: California
If @swajames discussion the other day between him and Jill on Phev's doesn't say anything about why I don't take anything Jill says seriously, than I have nothing else to offer on the subject.
Moving on, I'm looking to add a Tesla Power Wall through my current solar provider Sunrun, this should lower my power bills. The cost will be $150 a month, which is more than I get charged by my current provider, PG&E for using power after the sun comes down. The battery would cover periods between 4pm and 9pm when power isn't being generated as much, and PG&E charges about .60 cents a kWh, and it should cover periods when I'm pulling off the grid, which is between 12am and 8am. Someone is coming for a site survey this Friday
Moving on, I'm looking to add a Tesla Power Wall through my current solar provider Sunrun, this should lower my power bills. The cost will be $150 a month, which is more than I get charged by my current provider, PG&E for using power after the sun comes down. The battery would cover periods between 4pm and 9pm when power isn't being generated as much, and PG&E charges about .60 cents a kWh, and it should cover periods when I'm pulling off the grid, which is between 12am and 8am. Someone is coming for a site survey this Friday
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 252
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2...-year-check-in
Interesting take, seems hondatrend wrote this from a trad, albeit cranky car buyer, whose first ev would be a model y
Interesting take, seems hondatrend wrote this from a trad, albeit cranky car buyer, whose first ev would be a model y
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,429
Likes: 3,656
From: California
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2...-year-check-in
Interesting take, seems hondatrend wrote this from a trad, albeit cranky car buyer, whose first ev would be a model y
Interesting take, seems hondatrend wrote this from a trad, albeit cranky car buyer, whose first ev would be a model y
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 252
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
Difference between reality and pushing a talking point.
Then there is maintenance how come the EV critics never bring this up? I see people at the Toyota dealership waiting for their cars to be serviced it's a village of the damned they hate it. And it's expensive. Won't be surprised if someone tells me sitting in a dealership is enjoyable.
Then there is maintenance how come the EV critics never bring this up? I see people at the Toyota dealership waiting for their cars to be serviced it's a village of the damned they hate it. And it's expensive. Won't be surprised if someone tells me sitting in a dealership is enjoyable.
So the piece in bold is the issue here, right? I've done the Bay Area/San Diego drives in my truck, and leaving with a full charge would usually only need to stop twice, and with both times generally for less than 20 mins and at places/times I'd probably stop anyway. If I'd tried this trip leaving at low SoC it would be a different experience.
I think the way to look at it is this: With an ICE car almost any trip is doable at a moment's notice without much planning and regardless of how full your tank may be, but in an EV there will always be some extra considerations you have to factor in. In your case that low SoC at kick off undoubtedly made the trip worse and also because the car seemingly prioritized little and often charging over charging to 80% plus for that particular trip on that particular day.
I think the way to look at it is this: With an ICE car almost any trip is doable at a moment's notice without much planning and regardless of how full your tank may be, but in an EV there will always be some extra considerations you have to factor in. In your case that low SoC at kick off undoubtedly made the trip worse and also because the car seemingly prioritized little and often charging over charging to 80% plus for that particular trip on that particular day.
That’s not good. Last time I stopped that often in that distance was back when I rode bikes. That was the first and last road trip I made on my bike!!
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,868
Likes: 1,470
From: San Diego, CA
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,429
Likes: 3,656
From: California
390 miles, I make one 20 minute stop. By the time I empty my bladder, walk back to my car, I'm almost ready to go. Pretty much identical to me taking a gas car, except I spend less on fuel, have a better driving experience, and maybe lose 10 whole minutes. Gosh 😬
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,470
Likes: 196
From: San Francisco, CA
So the piece in bold is the issue here, right? I've done the Bay Area/San Diego drives in my truck, and leaving with a full charge would usually only need to stop twice, and with both times generally for less than 20 mins and at places/times I'd probably stop anyway. If I'd tried this trip leaving at low SoC it would be a different experience.
I think the way to look at it is this: With an ICE car almost any trip is doable at a moment's notice without much planning and regardless of how full your tank may be, but in an EV there will always be some extra considerations you have to factor in. In your case that low SoC at kick off undoubtedly made the trip worse and also because the car seemingly prioritized little and often charging over charging to 80% plus for that particular trip on that particular day.
I think the way to look at it is this: With an ICE car almost any trip is doable at a moment's notice without much planning and regardless of how full your tank may be, but in an EV there will always be some extra considerations you have to factor in. In your case that low SoC at kick off undoubtedly made the trip worse and also because the car seemingly prioritized little and often charging over charging to 80% plus for that particular trip on that particular day.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,868
Likes: 1,470
From: San Diego, CA
The other thing on the Bay Area/San Diego trip is that there are a lot of carpool lanes between LA and San Diego and you could use them as a solo driver in an EV so if you were traveling alone you generally made up time that way, definitely so in peak and heavier traffic periods. That advantage goes away end of this month when the EV solo driver access to carpool lanes goes away.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,470
Likes: 196
From: San Francisco, CA
They have converted almost every carpool lane in the Bay Area into toll roads, and the EV sticker only got us 50% off the toll...But like you said, going away at the end of the month.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
I’ve never had to use a Gatorade bottle before. I rather stop.
Road tripping in an EV would definitely be a change of pace for us.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,868
Likes: 1,470
From: San Diego, CA