The upside to driving an EV!

[mbsieg]

Now, my situation may be a little different than other people's I installed a 15 KW solar system 3 years ago. It has paid for itself. So I have absolutely no cost for electricity at home. These are some of the good experiences I have had in the 13,000, mi. I have driven my Ford! Here is a list of things that "I" love about my EV!

The horsepower, the torque, the speed!

The ability to opportunity charge. Opportunity charging is when you take advantage of free charging at places that you already stopping, or stopping specifically at places that offer free charging to get people in the door.

The ability to go spend the day driving around the mountains and not spend a penny on fuel.

The ability to go to our closest Walmart 90 mi north or 90 mi south. Basically a 200 mi trip with no cost for fuel.

The technology installed in the vehicles. Most EVs will have the newest technology and gadgets. Which I love!

The exercise it provides while waiting to charge!!!! LOL I'm a fat a$$ and it's good for my health.

The ability to power my house.

The ability to power our SAR command trailer!

And no noise while doing it!

No oil changes!

Ability to see more wildlife. The darn things are so quiet.

 

[Melensdad]

I have a refundable deposit on a Fisker Ocean Ultra, its a mid-size SUV, all wheel drive, 340 mile range, outfitted the way I want it the cost is just south of $60,000.

I'm seriously considering a Hyundai Ionic 5. Slightly larger interior than the Fisker Ocean. More known features than the brand new, really cool, but still reasonably unknown and totally unproven Fisker. Cost of the top of the line Limited edition, outfitted the way I like is just shy of $57,000. Range is 300 miles in Rear Wheel Drive. Range is only 260 in an AWD variant. So the range is far less than an AWD Fisker Ocean.

Either one would require a home charing station to be installed, figure another $2000 for that. So I see it the cost of the Fisker is $62,000 and the cost of the Hyundai is roughly $59,000, all in, after charger, but not including state taxes. Fisker has some really cool features. Fisker is totally unproven, literally only been on the roads for a few months. Ionic 5 is the 2022 Car of the Year, been around for roughly 20 months. So some track record and actually has a dealership network.

I am really drawn to the range of the FISKER OCEAN.

I am really drawn to the dealer network of the HYUNDAI IONIC 5.

I also like the added cargo space of the Ionic 5, seems more practice for my fencing transport. But also I think it would be better for a toddler's stroller. Either vehicle would easily hold all the groceries we would buy. Storage capacity for weekend luggage could be carried in the Ionic 5, and probably should still fit into the Ocean, probably? Fisker is better looking, by a country mile. Fisker has less features.

But with GAS at $4/gallon locally and with DIESEL at $4.39 in my area, the electric cars are looking pretty darn good right now. I could see either of these vehicles as my wife's daily driver. I could also see either of these vehicles as LIKELY choices to run to Notre Dame for Dasha, to Purdue for my coaching or to Chicago to visit Melen . . . but in all 3 cases it would be in good weather conditions.

If a winter storm was in the area I'd choose a gas or diesel vehicle every time over an electric, largely because Notre Dame and Purdue would both be round trips that use 75+% of the available range of the Hyundai if I choose the AWD version of that vehicle. Trips to Chiraq to visit Melen are shorter drives so in bad weather I'd simply choose any AWD or 4WD vehicle over any Front or Rear wheel drive vehicle.

I'm ALSO considering a Toyota Crown Hybrid, Toyota Venza Hybrid and newly redesigned 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. All of which are somewhat less expensive than the electric cars.

 

[Melensdad]

The ability to go spend the day driving around the mountains and not spend a penny on fuel.

But you invested up front for solar panels on your roof, which have apparently paid for themselves, so this statement is only partially true. Most people will pay for electricity at roughly 1/3rd to 1/2 the cost of gasoline. The cost per mile is obviously lower, but so it the practical range when recharge time (even at a rapid charger) is factored in.

 

[mbsieg]

But you invested up front for solar panels on your roof, which have apparently paid for themselves, so this statement is only partially true.

I'm curious you are the second person that has said this now. What am I missing? I am genuinely curious.

Most people will pay for electricity at roughly 1/3rd to 1/2 the cost of gasoline. The cost per mile is obviously lower, but so it the practical range when recharge time (even at a rapid charger) is factored in.

 

[Melensdad]

I'm curious you are the second person that has said this now. What am I missing? I am genuinely curious.

I think most people don't have the cash to pay, upfront, for solar panels.

So, while you are generating 'free' electricity today. It cost a lot of money up front and took time to pay back. This payback time will vary from state to state and by the rates charged by various local utility companies within each state. For some the payback makes a lot of sense. For others, not so much. I'm currently investigating it, but as I don't live in a state that offers subsidies (steals tax $$$ from my neighbors to subsidize me) solar or wind energy, the theoretical payback seems very long and not particularly economical.

 

[mbsieg]

I think most people don't have the cash to pay, upfront, for solar panels.

So, while you are generating 'free' electricity today. It cost a lot of money up front and took time to pay back. This payback time will vary from state to state and by the rates charged by various local utility companies within each state. For some the payback makes a lot of sense. For others, not so much. I'm currently investigating it, but as I don't live in a state that offers subsidies (steals tax $$$ from my neighbors to subsidize me) solar or wind energy, the theoretical payback seems very long and not particularly economical.

That I understand completely. Unfortunately, because I did not have the system professionally installed... I was not the lucky recipient of a subsidy on that either. Lol but I had sweat equity in it. That is for sure.