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Originally Posted by CoolMikey
Yea, but that's when driven in perfect weather, like a granny and downhill on top of that. In more realistic conditions you are looking at probably half that.
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Yes and no.
When I drive my car, I try to squeeze every bit of range out of every electron.
The displays in EV's tell you exactly how much energy you are using in real time and, if you change your styles you can see a big difference in range. You can squeeze alot more range out of gasoline cars too by changing driving habbits.
I get the best range in the spring late spring, early fall. In the summer, the air conditioner is on and in winter, the heater is on. Range is also reduced because effeciency drops when the weather gets too cold, or your car's wasting energy pushing snow and slush out of the way, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolMikey
And that's when the car is brand new, few years in and the battery will hold fraction of the charge.
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... yes and no.
This depends on many things, how you charge and how you drive, etc. I've heard that the batteries in Mitsubishi's lose their ability to hold a charge earlier in life, while GM's and Tesla's do not. In the 3 years that I've been driving mine, I've seen zero degradation in battery range so far. But besides, batteries are guaranteed 8 years (10 years in some cars).
But if you're still worried, it looks like you can now upgrade your battery anytime:
https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/5/11...g-model-change
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolMikey
Just look how quickly your cellphone batteries (which use pretty much the same li-ion technology) depreciate. Then you are kinda fucked, either you replace the batteries which will cost an arm and a leg, or hope you can offload your <100 mile range car to some idiot.
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Tesla offers battery upgrades the Sportster drivers, the first cars that Tesla made 10 years ago, for only $5000. Pricey perhaps, but not really that bad when you consider the usual maintenance costs that would go into a similar ICE car.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolMikey
So it might be usable for getting to and from work, but not exactly a replacement for gas powered cars just yet.
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I was nervous about this too a few years ago, but now I'm ready to make the plunge, and so is my better half. We plan to both buy new fully electric cars next spring. We are even adding extra 220-volt 40 amp circuits in our house right now as I type this, to charge them both at the same time.