Electric Vehicles

airforceguy1 · PostAug 12, 2022#1012022-08-12T01:03+00:00

Glad to see MODOT making this investment...

Missouri to invest $100 million in electric vehicle charging stations

The Missouri Department of Transportation recently submitted a draft report to the federal government outlining how it plans to add charging stations at key locations along the state’s interstate highway system.

The move could reverse a trend: Missouri has lagged behind other states in charging station build-out, a key issue in the expansion of electric vehicles. The state had been hesitant to invest, with electricity regulators and utilities at first waffling on their involvement. But the new plan is a signal that government and private industry are now preparing for a future with more EVs on the roads.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missouri-to-invest-100-million-in-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/article_af5eeb86-614d-557a-bef1-536c24495344.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

quincunx · PostAug 16, 2022#1022022-08-16T12:50+00:00

A downside to hauling heavy batteries around. I recall reading that street damage goes as weight to the 4th power. It's a problem for cars and trucks too of course. Plus increased dangerous condition should a crash happen and additional particulate pollution. Buses could be powered by overhead wires. For cars and trucks it's a tradeoff of range and weight.

WISH TV - New Red Line buses are too heavy for some city streets

https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/ ... y-streets/

symphonicpoet · PostAug 17, 2022#1032022-08-17T02:42+00:00

^Note the severity of that warehouse fire the other day. The building itself was masonry, and thus presumably not too flamable. But there were lots of electronics batteries stored on the premises. I've heard some talk that it was one of the hottest fires in recent memory, and we've had some doozies. It got going FAST. (Mind you, we have a Prius, so my room to talk meter is set to zilch.)

quincunx · PostAug 17, 2022#1042022-08-17T03:16+00:00

Does it have a lithium or nickel metal hydride battery? I think the later is much lower fire risk.

symphonicpoet · PostAug 17, 2022#1052022-08-17T04:28+00:00

^I had just assumed it was LiPo, but you're right. NiMH. Might have been the first car to use that. (And ours is from that introductory 2004 model year.)

quincunx · PostAug 17, 2022#1062022-08-17T14:38+00:00

Wow, how is the battery capacity holding up?

symphonicpoet · PostAug 18, 2022#1072022-08-18T02:38+00:00

^Works fine. I'm always wondering when it will need replacing, but it's been fine so far. Really only has about 150K on it, which they're supposed to be good for.

quincunx · PostSep 02, 2022#1082022-09-02T22:59+00:00

VrtNews - 50 percent more accidents with electric cars: not due to technology, but due to improper driving behavior

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/08/25 ... to-s-test/

Ebsy · PostSep 08, 2022#1092022-09-08T21:46+00:00

Well Teslas are also poorly made death machines so I am sure that has something to do with it.

eee123 · PostSep 09, 2022#1102022-09-09T00:09+00:00

Out of curiosity I started to look into cost/logistics of electric car ownership. Somebody feel free to correct all of this, but most electric cars that aren't super expensive look pretty limited for road trip usefulness, as in there's not that many rapid chargers out there. Judging by plugshare, there's a significant percentage of the fast chargers broken, as well.

Like say you want to take a float trip. Better hope those chargers in Sullivan and/or Ironton are working, or you could be screwed on your trip to the Current River. Even if your outfitter has a charger at the lot, those slow chargers that are becoming ubiquitous seem like they only give you ~25 miles of range per hour charged. So you're out of luck if it's a quick day trip float.

As of now, it seems like electric cars are mostly useful for people who are OK with spending a ton on a car or people who just need a second around-town-type car.

quincunx · PostSep 09, 2022#1112022-09-09T00:38+00:00

One could own the short-range EV for daily commute and errands and rent something else for long distance.

jambo · PostSep 09, 2022#1122022-09-09T03:17+00:00

^^Try a 2022 Chevy Bolt. You will need carefull planing for your float trip but the Bolt will be charging while you are canoing. The Bolt does well for the AC Level 2 charges. See "State of Charge" YouTube chanel.

kipfilet · PostSep 13, 2022#1132022-09-13T23:01+00:00

eee123 wrote: ↑
Sep 09, 2022
Out of curiosity I started to look into cost/logistics of electric car ownership. Somebody feel free to correct all of this, but most electric cars that aren't super expensive look pretty limited for road trip usefulness, as in there's not that many rapid chargers out there. Judging by plugshare, there's a significant percentage of the fast chargers broken, as well.

Like say you want to take a float trip. Better hope those chargers in Sullivan and/or Ironton are working, or you could be screwed on your trip to the Current River. Even if your outfitter has a charger at the lot, those slow chargers that are becoming ubiquitous seem like they only give you ~25 miles of range per hour charged. So you're out of luck if it's a quick day trip float.

As of now, it seems like electric cars are mostly useful for people who are OK with spending a ton on a car or people who just need a second around-town-type car.

I love my electric car but I don't think that the level of infrastructure in the Midwest is prepared for an EV to be your only means of transportation. In our case, we kept our older ICE that we use for longer road trips. I also know people who exclusively own EVs and rent when they need to go on a roadtrip.

STLEnginerd · PostSep 15, 2022#1142022-09-15T10:24+00:00

Yeah its not just the Midwest. I still struggle to see how we get to 100% electric. The road trip anxiety is real. The 14hour overnight straight shot to Disneyworld with the kids sleeping in the car wouldn't look the same but that not even the hardest problem to solve. People can adjust to one off circumstances like road trips but the daily routine needs to be workable.

An electric car charging overnight is fine if you live in suburbs with big garage but in the two other extremes its much more difficult. For those who live in the city and use street parking exclusively where do you charge overnight. For those who live way out in the sticks, you have significant range anxiety and a lot of them don't have garages so similar problem as the city street cars. Right now i feel like about 75% of people converting to electric is pretty doable with some significant investment by people in at home charging infrastructure. Getting the last 25% is gonna be tough.

jshank83 · PostSep 15, 2022#1152022-09-15T12:12+00:00

STLEnginerd wrote: ↑
Sep 15, 2022
Yeah its not just the Midwest. I still struggle to see how we get to 100% electric. The road trip anxiety is real. The 14hour overnight straight shot to Disneyworld with the kids sleeping in the car wouldn't look the same but that not even the hardest problem to solve. People can adjust to one off circumstances like road trips but the daily routine needs to be workable.

An electric car charging overnight is fine if you live in suburbs with big garage but in the two other extremes its much more difficult. For those who live in the city and use street parking exclusively where do you charge overnight. For those who live way out in the sticks, you have significant range anxiety and a lot of them don't have garages so similar problem as the city street cars. Right now i feel like about 75% of people converting to electric is pretty doable with some significant investment by people in at home charging infrastructure. Getting the last 25% is gonna be tough.

That’s been my biggest hang up with electric. Distance you can go on a charge and charging time. Both are getting better but I couldn’t see myself doing a long road trip in electric because I don’t want to wait for the charging times. I will say as a 2 car home I could see us going to electric for one car. I could use it for work/driving around town. We also don’t have a garage, apparently in 1904 people weren’t looking ahead to my garage needs, but we do have a driveway so I am sure we could figure out something for charging…. If it doesn’t get stolen.

jambo · PostSep 15, 2022#1162022-09-15T15:12+00:00

I do road trips to Florida with my Model 3 Tesla. I endure no range anxiety. Tesla continues to install Superchaorgers in Missouri, Illinois, and everywhere. Check the Plug Share web site or app for all DC fast charging locations. Namaste

stlwahoo · PostSep 15, 2022#1172022-09-15T17:18+00:00

Easier than a plug: Wireless EV charging gets ready for prime time

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/09/wh ... -charging/

STLEnginerd · PostSep 15, 2022#1182022-09-15T19:47+00:00

Very cool. I could see that making a dent in the problem i described. Street parking in the city is still a bit tricky but being able to charge without a physical connection removes a big barrier to adoption for many.

moorlander · PostSep 15, 2022#1192022-09-15T21:20+00:00

Why aren’t plug in hybrids getting more love? EV for commuting and a gas engine for longer treks. This seems to me to be the natural transition vehicle.

dredger · PostSep 15, 2022#1202022-09-15T21:26+00:00

^ I think the plug in hybrid made sense a few years ago. However, My ford fusion hybrid (not a plug in) gives me great mileage for my daily commute. At same time, our next car will be straight up EV because their will so many choices coming on line in the next 2-3 years, the range will easily handle my commute or any other day trips and third, I live in an area where rooftop solar panel makes some good sense (plus Cali makes sure you get a good return on the sell back of extra electricity, almost to good and another discussion)

quincunx · PostSep 16, 2022#1212022-09-16T00:09+00:00

How efficient are fast chargers and wireless chargers?

MarkHaversham · PostSep 16, 2022#1222022-09-16T01:40+00:00

quincunx wrote: ↑
Sep 16, 2022
How efficient are fast chargers and wireless chargers?

Wireless chargers are about as efficient as wires. It's not like the electric energy is going through the wires anyway.

Miss Shell · PostSep 16, 2022#1232022-09-16T15:31+00:00

My company recently put EV charging stations in one of their parking lots downtown, free of charge for employees. I live in city and park in the street, so buying an EV could be a reality for me now. I hope more companies start taking the initiative.

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

quincunx · PostSep 17, 2022#1242022-09-17T18:20+00:00

LA Times - Op-Ed: Think bigger. Switching to electric cars isn’t enough

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2 ... fic-deaths

TheWayoftheArch_V2.0 · PostSep 17, 2022#1252022-09-17T19:07+00:00

One of my neighbors runs an extension cord from his porch to his car on the street. Surprisingly never gets bothered.

Electric Vehicles

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