EV owners: question about EV charging

boxosox

I'm beginning to consider getting an EV, so starting to really think about the practicalities.

I did a drive from Guildford to Glasgow yesterday, so was aware that I would probably have had to stop two or three times adding around 1.5hrs to my journey time of 7hrs which would have been tedious.

But what about journeys where you go out for the day to see the in-laws for Sunday lunch where the car doesn't have enough range to get there and back?  Do you time it so you top-up at a public charger somewhere first, or do you ask to charge at their house using a 3-pin plug?

And what about a day at the seaside?  Is it frustrating that part of the day is spent finding a charger so that you can get home again?  Do the family mind waiting in a random car park for 40 mins whilst the car charges instead of building sand castles and eating ice cream in the sunshine?

And if a car advertises 230 mile range, what's the realistic range if I drive how I normally would?  150 miles?

Keep_pedalling

boxosox said:

I'm beginning to consider getting an EV, so starting to really think about the practicalities.

I did a drive from Guildford to Glasgow yesterday, so was aware that I would probably have had to stop two or three times adding around 1.5hrs to my journey time of 7hrs which would have been tedious.

An EV with a real range at motorway speeds of 200 miles would need a two stop strategy, but there is no way I would drive 420 miles with just a single stop it is just not a safe thing to do. Starting off on 100% you could do this with a couple of 20 min stops charging to 80% each time (charging rates slow down above this level of charge so you are just wasting time charging over 80%). Personally I would be stopping at least 3 times regardless of whether driving EV or ICE.

But what about journeys where you go out for the day to see the in-laws for Sunday lunch where the car doesn't have enough range to get there and back?  Do you time it so you top-up at a public charger somewhere first, or do you ask to charge at their house using a 3-pin plug?

If you are only staying for lunch you are not going to add many miles on a granny charger, so either a quick stop at a rapid charger, or if this is a regular thing get an EV with longer range .

And what about a day at the seaside?  Is it frustrating that part of the day is spent finding a charger so that you can get home again?  Do the family mind waiting in a random car park for 40 mins whilst the car charges instead of building sand castles and eating ice cream in the sunshine?

I don’t think there is a single place in the UK that is not within 80 miles of a coastal resort so that is not a problem that needs to be considered unless you forget to charge up the night before.  

And if a car advertises 230 mile range, what's the realistic range if I drive how I normally would?  150 miles?

We have no idea how you normally drive, but the main things effecting range are speed and temperature. 150 miles is likely for motorway driving in winter.

alan_d

Plenty of info about, but watch this for starters!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDNqQIOaL8w

Also the costs are waaaay more than Petrol or Diesel when charging away from home, comparison here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqVFTEFvSBA

born_again

E-Niro 1 stop for me each way. Which I would anyway at least. Norm would be 2 to 3 even in any other car for me.
Daughters mini. 3 to 4 stops each way.

All depends on what you drive, how you drive & weather.

https://youtu.be/X5bFUMGEN48?si=alevY8wP2kDp6nEB

LightFlare

alan_d said:

Plenty of info about, but watch this for starters!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDNqQIOaL8w

Also the costs are waaaay more than Petrol or Diesel when charging away from home, comparison here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqVFTEFvSBA

I so felt for poor Lee -- he tried his very best, but the reality is that the infrastructure just isn't there for long journeys and EVs. Imaging trying that with kids etc on board.

Fine for <75 mile there and <75 mile back journeys where you can guarantee to charge overnight - otherwise , forget it (depending on max range) IMO

Anyone would think that the government/councils were anti car and didnt want anyone to travel more than 15 min from home

alan_d

LightFlare said:

I so felt for poor Lee -- he tried his very best, but the reality is that the infrastructure just isn't there for long journeys and EVs. Imaging trying that with kids etc on board.

Fine for <75 mile there and <75 mile back journeys where you can guarantee to charge overnight - otherwise , forget it (depending on max range) IMO

Anyone would think that the government/councils were anti car and didnt want anyone to travel more than 15 min from home

Yep. The charging time is the most obvious issue, but if you watch his videos from the trip, the bigger issues are things like chargers not working, or charging slowly because they can't charge multiple vehicles at that location at the same time at full speed, long waits because the chargers are already in use - 90 minutes in one case, and the general inconvenience of it all. with things like different apps needed just to use the chargers in the first place.
Then add in the cost - more than double the diesel cost (when charging away from home).
Then factor in EV depreciation. OK, the Porsche is an extreme case, but nearly all manufactures are currently scaling back EV production and/or discounting them, because they aren't selling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXMRGX9AbBE&amp;t=555s&amp;pp=ygUPZ2VvZmYgYnV5cyBjYXJz

saveallmymoney

Baffled by these responses. I've had a 200ish mile range EV since 2017 (2 different ones). I just set the Sat Nav where i want to go. Been to Paris, Edinburgh, Cornwall all over really. The car tells me when to stop and for how long, never more than about 20 minutes, just enough time for a pee, it's never directed me to a faulty charger.

Oh, but it is a Tesla :-)

force_ten1

can a video posted by a person that makes a good chunk of his living rubbishing EVs on youtube really be trusted 

he engineers his videos to suit his agenda and nothing ever goes right for him because that is what gets the clicks and generates the ad revenue for him  

if he set off from home and stopped at a fast 300kw charger got to a good charge state in around 20 minutes and continued to his destination without any further problems then it would be boring and nobody would watch it so you will never see it from that chanel 

LightFlare

Is there a channel where someone in an EV has done the same trip and NOT had any issues with range/working chargers/cost/frustration/additional time ??

Maybe just to prove that its possible someone would be willing -- perhaps even a vehicle manufacturer who currently cant even sell the damn things. 

themadvix

Perhaps try Fully Charged on YouTube - a far more balanced and realistic view of life with an EV then whatever this click-baity channel is!

force_ten1

LightFlare said:

Is there a channel where someone in an EV has done the same trip and NOT had any issues with range/working chargers/cost/frustration/additional time ??

Maybe just to prove that its possible someone would be willing -- perhaps even a vehicle manufacturer who currently cant even sell the damn things. 

yes there is a channel where someone in an EV has done the same trip and not had any issues