Ready To Buy Your First Electric Car? The Cheapest Tesla Model 3 And The Top 3 Alternatives: 2020 Chevy Bolt, Hyundai Kona EV, Kia Niro EV

[TheTimeTraveler]

Subaru announced earlier this year that 40% of its global sales will be Hybrid or Electric by 2030, so we know where the trend is going.....



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[Passepartout]

I believe EB stands for Electric Bicycle

Could be. But the usual term is 'ebike.' They're sure populate here.

 

[easyrider]

OK, I'll bite. What's an EB?

Electric bicycle. I can't seem to make up my mind on if we want fold-able smaller eb's or an eb that is more trail worthy. The trail worthy eb's look more my style with fat tires and shocks. The fold-able eb seems very light and looks easy to store or take to a timeshare. We are leaning to fold-able because they would likely fit in back of the suv.

Bill

 

[Passepartout]

Electric bicycle. I can't seem to make up my mind on if we want fold-able smaller eb's or an eb that is more trail worthy. The trail worthy eb's look more my style with fat tires and shocks. The fold-able eb seems very light and looks easy to store or take to a timeshare. We are leaning to fold-able because they would likely fit in back of the suv.

Bill

Maybe a foldable fat tire ebike? The trouble (as I see it) is that when styles try to do too much they end up not doing either one very well. Remember 'Scrambler' motorcycles that were 'road worthy- or at least road legal dirt bikes, but they didn't handle all that well in the dirt and the knobby tires are about worthless on wet pavement.

You can't win!

 

[Brett]

Maybe a foldable fat tire ebike? The trouble (as I see it) is that when styles try to do too much they end up not doing either one very well. Remember 'Scrambler' motorcycles that were 'road worthy- or at least road legal dirt bikes, but they didn't handle all that well in the dirt and the knobby tires are about worthless on wet pavement.

You can't win!

true, I have a more street looking ebike because I live in coastal Virginia where there are no hills or mountains. I don't need the rugged low geared big shocks mountain bikes.

 

[easyrider]

This is what I want.

Jeep E-Bike

The Jeep E-Bike is designed to conquer technical off-road terrain including soft sand, snow, and hardpacked, rocky trails. Learn more.

quietkat.com

But something like this is what would travel better in the back of the suv.

T4B 350W 36V/13AH Fat 2-Way Fat Tire Folding Electric Bike

Get Noticed with Low Profile Frame and Fat 20-inch tire which will get you attention when you ride in an urban or off-road environment in various rainy, snowy, mountain and road conditions.

www.bikeberry.com

We might have to just get a rack to haul the eb's around. Then the eb wouldn't need to fold. The plan is take them on trips which include timeshares so maybe the folding option is better.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

true, I have a more street looking ebike because I live in coastal Virginia where there are no hills or mountains. I don't need the rugged low geared big shocks mountain bikes.

How do you like it so far ?

Bill

 

[Brett]

How do you like it so far ?

Bill

I like it a lot. We're going biking this afternoon.

 

[Passepartout]

This is what I want.

Jeep E-Bike

The Jeep E-Bike is designed to conquer technical off-road terrain including soft sand, snow, and hardpacked, rocky trails. Learn more.

quietkat.com

But something like this is what would travel better in the back of the suv.

T4B 350W 36V/13AH Fat 2-Way Fat Tire Folding Electric Bike

Get Noticed with Low Profile Frame and Fat 20-inch tire which will get you attention when you ride in an urban or off-road environment in various rainy, snowy, mountain and road conditions.

www.bikeberry.com

We might have to just get a rack to haul the eb's around. Then the eb wouldn't need to fold. The plan is take them on trips which include timeshares so maybe the folding option is better.

Bill

Have someone video you putting a 60-70 lb ebike on a roof rack. I want to sell popcorn at that showing!

 

[DrQ]

A heat pump is essentially an air conditioner installed backwards. An air conditioner moves heat from inside the car to outside, a heat pump moves heat from outside the car to inside. The thermodynamic process and parts are the same.

Given that air conditioners have been installed in cars literally for decades, I dont see why this would be especially difficult to manufacture reliably. I agree you probably don't want the very first one, but given how similar this is to existing automotive technology I'd expect the learning curve to be short.

Nissan and the Tesla Y have heat pumps. At some point it will become a commodity that other manufacturers can buy off the shelf for their designs. Again, you want to wait until Gen 2 or 3. Automotive air conditioners were big and not reliable until the 1970's. I remember the AC systems would have to be rebuilt about every 3-4 years, now they can go for decades.

 

[Glynda]

Ford stands for Found On Road Dead.

Chuckle! I'm old. My daddy always said that Ford stands for "Fix or Repair Daily." My daughter still believes it.

 

[easyrider]

Have someone video you putting a 60-70 lb ebike on a roof rack. I want to sell popcorn at that showing!

I would be using a rear hitch rack, lol.

Bill

 

[Sea Six]

What do you do if their is a hurricane or winter power outage for more than 24 hours? How do you charge the battery?

When we lose power after a hurricane, we can't get gas either. The stations are OUT from people topping off their tanks and filling jugs. Plus the stations don't have power so they can't even pump any gas even if they had some. Some gas stations have generators, but even so, last hurricane here (IRMA) it took over a week for the gas stations to get deliveries. For a few days there was only 1 gas station in the area pumping gas (7-11) and some people waited in line for hours. We were without power for 2 weeks, so we had gas way sooner than electric. Now, if you have a gas engine, you can last 350 miles on a full tank, where an electric fully charged may only get you 200 or so. Also, people who have whole house back-up generators ran out of propane because the delivery trucks couldn't get diesel fuel.

 

[Glynda]

My husband sold his large SUV a few weeks ago and we are down to my mid-sized SUV, a street legal golf cart and a Vespa 250 motorcycle. We always traveled in hubby's large SUV. He also has a small business that requires him to pick merchandise up from manufacturers/wholesalers and deliver to his customers. Of course since COVID, I've barely driven my car. He's trying mine now to see if he live with it. If so, our thought is to buy a smaller electric or hybrid car, mostly to drive around town. I know nothing about them so this thread timely for me. Not sure I want all electric because hopefully there will be times again when I travel across the state and out of state for a few days. Frankly, right now, all electric scares me. Lack of charging stations and power outages worry me. Fleeing a hurricane, stuck in lines on the Interstate and unable to get off scares me.

So far, I've read some of you saying wait for new technology that is coming around the corner and others saying new things will always be coming (Hi Jim!). Seems to me that if people don't buy there will be little pressure to install stations and newer features.

OK, I'm too uninformed to add anything but will be reading!

 

[Talent312]

For recharging, do you use a household current outlet or a dedicated 220V circuit?
I'm thinking about installing a 220v circuit, but would need to update my panel.
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[PigsDad]

Not sure I want all electric because hopefully there will be times again when I travel across the state and out of state for a few days.

I just returned from a road trip, and with a quick search on Google Maps, there was a stretch on my route where it was 210 miles between charging stations. Given that it was in the high 90's, and air conditioning is a must when traveling in those conditions, that is a bit far for me to trust any EV-only vehicle at this time. I'm sure there will be a time when the infrastructure will support EVs, but for me it is not there yet.

Kurt

 

[Passepartout]

For recharging, do you use a household current outlet or a dedicated 220V circuit?
I'm thinking about installing a 220v circuit, but would need to update my panel.

Our Honda Clarity charges on household current. Or if we find a public level 2 (220v) charger, it'll happily accommodate that too.

ETA: I should clarify. The Clarity only has a 17kW battery, good for around 50-60 full electric miles, then we have the 1.5 liter gas engine for range only limited by gas stations. On household current it charges at about 4 miles range per hour plugged in. So overnight is a full charge. If you upgrade to level 2, it charges about 10-12 miles per hour on the charger. I've never experienced one of the 480v fast DC chargers with it, but those should top it off in minutes- at a cost of shortening the battery's life.

 

[Passepartout]

Chuckle! I'm old. My daddy always said that Ford stands for "Fix or Repair Daily." My daughter still believes it.

First On Race Day!

 

[PigsDad]

First On Race Day!

And then there was a popular one when I was growing up that wasn't quite so complimentary:

F'd Over Rebuilt Dodge

Kurt

 

[DrQ]

For recharging, do you use a household current outlet or a dedicated 220V circuit?
I'm thinking about installing a 220v circuit, but would need to update my panel.
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YMMV, with my Bolt EV, I can recharge about ~1/6 capacity overnight on a dedicated 15 amp 110 V circuit where I can charge @ 12 amps. At that rate, I restore about 4 miles for every hour of charging.

Little known fact, the Bolt EV charger works on BOTH 110 V and 220 V (Probably, one part for international use) I have a 20 amp 220 V air conditioner close to where I park, so I hacked a 220 volt extension cord and put a 110v female plug and I can charge at twice the rate if I have the need. (Kids don't try this unless you are comfortable around 'lectricty and know how 110v/220v works)

 

[bizaro86]

YMMV, with my Bolt EV, I can recharge about ~1/6 capacity overnight on a dedicated 15 amp 110 V circuit where I can charge @ 12 amps. At that rate, I restore about 4 miles for every hour of charging.

Little known fact, the Bolt EV charger works on BOTH 110 V and 220 V (Probably, one part for international use) I have a 20 amp 220 V air conditioner close to where I park, so I hacked a 220 volt extension cord and put a 110v female plug and I can charge at twice the rate if I have the need. (Kids don't try this unless you are comfortable around 'lectricty and know how 110v/220v works)

Nice! That's a good idea, nice to get the extra charging speed.

Most laptops are that way as well, I have often plugged mine directly into other voltage and frequency power using just an adapter for the prongs. The ratings are printed on the side of the transformer on the cord.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Chuckle! I'm old. My daddy always said that Ford stands for "Fix or Repair Daily." My daughter still believes it.

I'm old enough to remember when most of the car choices boiled down to Ford, GM and Chrysler, with an occasional Studebaker, Nash or Volkswagen and a few British makes. You often tended to stay with one brand for life. My Dad was an avowed Ford owner.

I seem to remember the "Fix Or Repair Daily" jibes came mostly from GM owners. My Dad would respond that they didn't know what they were talking about, since they owned "Garbage Machines"!!

Then the sixties and seventies came along and Fiat started shipping over its stylish 124 coupes and spyders. I almost bought one, but dodged the bullet! Let's just say their reliability was not the greatest. Fiat quickly became known as "Fix It Again Tony"!!! And let's not even get into British electrics and Lucas!!

Times certainly seemed simpler then.

As to all-electric vehicles, we certainly see them here. However, in most of Canada they really are only a viable option in built-up areas with lots of charging stations. Cold weather in winter really kills the effective range of the battery power. So really only good as commuter vehicles in winter. Hybrids are quite common and a viable alternative, especially for longer trips, unless you like spending lots of time stopping to recharge!!

 

[DrQ]

Unfortunately, GM and Ford are doing their "Detroit" thing and are so far off the curve it makes me ill.

Please explain

2020 Chevrolet Bolt - Driven @ Top Speed

despite our insecurities about owning an ev, we found that spending a week with the 2020 chevy bolt was quite pleasurable in a daily-driver kind of way. check out our full review to learn more about it.

www.topspeed.com

 

[VegasBella]

My mom just bought herself a Chevy Bolt and loves it. I have a Tesla Model S and love it.

 

[MULTIZ321]

How Important is Electric Car Battery Range? First-Time Buyers Take Note.

How Important Is Electric Car Battery Range? First-Time Buyers Take Note

How Important Is battery range? Tesla knows.

www.forbes.com

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Richard