JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Today's topic came from two different sources. First, I was listening to a fascinating two-part story from the Search Engine podcast on the development and implementation of Waymo driverless vehicles, which are always electric cars.
Secondly, I bought gas. Ouch! I'm filling up at the half-way mark, and in eight days, the super-discount cash-only station I go to went up by fifteen cents per gallon. I wonder if this will get buyers more interested in electric vehicles? I thought, as $26 disappeared into my tank in less than two minutes.
I've been intrigued for a long time, but before even considering going electric, I'd have to do some major upgrades to my 200+ year-old home. Currently, I have ONE electric outlet outside, and that's on the porch ceiling (I theorize the then-owners were thinking about Christmas lights, because that's about its only use.) In addition, Maine is one of the top five states in electricity rates; the financially sensible way to 'fuel' an electric vehicle would be to get solar panels on my house and barn roofs.
To be honest, I've never actually driven a car that doesn't have a combustion engine. I had the opportunity a few years ago when we went to Norfolk to celebrate my darling Veronique's graduation. The Enterprise at National Airport offered me a GM Blazer EV, but the thought of driving a relatively unfamiliar route AND having to figure out how to recharge the thing was just too intimidating.
How about you, Reds? Do you have an electric vehicle, or have you driven one? What do you think about them, and do you have obstacles like mine when thinking about buying one?
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I have NO idea. I was (gently) pushing to get a new car recently, and we looked at them, but everything the salesperson started to explain things, it seemed to open up a whole new world of difficult horribleness. We kept our old car. I still think we need a new one, but if we get one, I think hybrid is the way to do. However they work...
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I did think about this when buying a new car last year--after seventeen years of driving my Honda. But we weren't sure we were ready for all-electric, especially as things are so spread out in Texas. And the price tag on hybrids was just too high. Also, I was in love with the Mazda, and they are not yet making a hybrid. This may put them in a better position financially considering the current state of affairs and the damage done to the EV industry. Probably for the next car we will look at EVs.
LUCY BURDETTE: I am due for a new car and we will start shopping once back in Connecticut. I adore my Subaru Outback though it isn't flashy. It gets great mileage, drives well, is comfortable, and fits all of our stuff. (A lot!)
However, John thinks that we should buy a hybrid and Subaru doesn't make an Outback version. He has a small electric vehicle, which he loves, though I'm not convinced. We will start the conversation this spring...
JENN McKINLAY: Youngest Hooligan just bought a used Tesla. I know there's a ban but as H2 pointed out it's used, so no billionaire made a profit off him. I was dubious but OMG! He has a long commute to the hospital and school and he was paying $70/week before the gas spike. Now he goes to a charging station where it takes 10-15 minutes and costs $8-12/week. And, real talk, it's one of the most comfortable cars I've ever ridden in--enough so that I'm considering an e-car for myself but my truck would have to die first. I love my Chevy Silverado. Not letting it go anytime soon.
RHYS BOWEN: For years now I've changed my car when the warranty expires. Driving 800 miles between CA and AZ means I want no bad surprises. So an electric car has not been in consideration as I'd have to stop and charge it. But a hybrid... definitely my next car. I drive a Mercedes SUV and I love it, but it is horrible on gas. $100 fillup every time. So I'm looking at the Lexus NX SUV next time. I like being high up with good vision in my current car and easy access too.
I've never had the opportunity to drive an electric car, so this is all new territory for me, but if I were considering purchasing a new car, I would definitely look into getting a hybrid vehicle . . . .
ReplyDeleteA hybrid seems to be the good "entryway drug" for all-electric, Joan.
DeleteI’ve had a Prius hybrid for 12 years (2 in that time) and the mileage is fantastic. It is time to get a newish car and my son says I should get an EV - but it will just take so much research!
ReplyDeleteRight? It's intimidating to have to learn a new technology!
DeleteWe had Priuses at work and we had a hybrid for a two-week drive around France and they were great. A few years ago we rented a car in Chicago and they wanted to give us an electric and we said no, we are driving to Indiana and don’t expect to find EV infrastructure there.
ReplyDeleteWe have lots of friends with EVs - if you are using Tesla Supercharging stations, it’s great. If you are using other charging systems, there doesn’t seem to be enough reliable infrastructure.
Honda has an e-car that has gas backup if you run out of electric charge.
Delete^ It is a Honda Clarity - no worries if we are driving a long distance it automatically switches to gas power. It's a nice car, very roomy inside, and very quiet.
DeleteI love car names. A Clarity. Hilarious.
DeleteLisa, that's how I felt about the drive from DC to Norfolk. I KNOW how to find a gas station - a charging station, not so much.
DeleteThere are several easy to use apps to find charging stations.
DeleteHow apropos! My daughter Lucy has been driving our old 2011 Honda CRV and fifteen years of salted roads have eaten holes in the rocker panels. It probably will not pass inspection in Maine (though it would in New York and Vermont, and New Hampshire doesn't even have car inspections. Live free AND die!). So she has been looking at cars, mostly used. She is a climate activist and is ONLY looking at EVs. I was urging a hybrid, as a number of my friends have hybrids, but she wants to live by her ideals. She is doing hours of research. When I get anxious for her I remember that nothing is irrevocable except having a child.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I bought a new-to us used car last year and went two hours downstate to the Miller's Kill area (far less road salt) to buy a gas Subaru Forester. I am in charge of all repairs in my household, from changing lightbulbs to minor engine repairs to large building projects, and I am currently at my limit for learning to manage new responsibilities.
Rhys, I also like being high up. Not only is it more comfortable for me at my height, but I have forty years of experience seeing what a pickup truck does to a small car in an accident. I live in pickup land. So when I am in a small low car, I feel as if I'm driving a Diet Coke can that could be fed into the crusher at any moment. (Selden)
Selden, my husband's car is a Subaru Forester with about 120,000 miles on it and we have been so happy with that car! We are beginning to acknowledge we probably need to replace it at some point, and currently the leading contender is to just buy a newer Forester, as that one has been so good.
DeleteSusan, yes, once my eye was alerted to Subaru Foresters I notice they are almost a third of the cars in every parking lot up here, another third being pickup trucks. I saw a snide comment on a NO KINGS protest saying, "I bet they all drove there in Subarus!" so they must have some liberal reputation of which I am unaware! (Selden)
DeleteSubarus do seem to appeal to dems more. But I think they also appeal to the outdoorsy type as well - campers, sports (biking, water activities, etc). I rented a Subaru once and loved, loved, loved driving it. Sadly, I ended up getting a hybrid when I needed a new car instead. Ahh!
DeleteSelden, my daughter is an energy consultant, with an emphasis on electric vehicles. During the pandemic supply chain debacle she ordered a VW ID.4 EV, but it was never delivered, so she looked at the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which she could find locally. She leased one, and is now on her second, she loved it so much. And driving it while we visited last year is why I ended up with a Hyundai hybrid Sonata. Excellent, reliable cars, with great features.
DeleteAnd the car she was driving before she bought an Ioniq 5 was a Subaru Forester!
My husband LOVES his 2014 Forester. Sadly, they no longer make the turbo version, so we are hanging on to it as long as we can.
DeleteI think Subarus get that liberal rep because they're SUPER popular in New England. All-wheel drive, decent gas mileage, they stand up to snow and rock salt and you can fit your bike/kayak clamp/ ski rack easily. Where I live, we have the same 1/3 Subaru, 1/3 pick up Selden describes.
DeletePS, I clearly need to add a car dealership to the local Millers Kill scene! Pretty sure it would be in Fort Henry (aka Queensbury's Dix Avenue/Quaker Rd area.)
DeleteKaren, Lucy is looking at an Ioniq 5! And Julia, we got our Subaru at the Ford dealership in Greenwich (they bought out the used vehicles being unloaded by an Albany [?] Subaru place that went out of business; they knew nothing about Subarus). But yes, maybe a Ford or Chevy dealership belongs in Millers Kill. It's a war up here between those two brands. If you want anything more exotic you have to go to Plattsburgh or Vermont or the Albany area. (Selden)
DeleteOh Julia, yes a car dealership in the greater Miller’s Kill area! More chances of crime, murder, controlled mayhem. Do it! xo
DeleteMaybe Irwin would consider a hybrid, but safety concerns about electrical fires have kept us from considering an ev. He is an engineer and has been waiting for the battery technology to become more reliable. Our garage is attached to our house and he considers them to be dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI'll come back this afternoon and share my matzo ball recipe.
Judy, if this from Google is accurate "there is a 0.0012% chance of a passenger electric vehicle battery catching fire, compared with a 0.1% chance for internal combustion engine cars." Although there are more internal combustion cars, the odds of an EV car catching fire are quite rare.
DeleteMy son is a Battery engineer for Lab 126, the research division of Amazon.
DeleteHe knows electric cars are safe. He and his wife both have fully electric cars. We are in California, fast charging stations are numerous, and a few offered are free. They both charge their cars at work for no charge.
Anon, that free charging at work is a terrific benefit, and I bet if it became widespread, we'd see a lot more people getting EVs.
DeleteJudy, I look forward to seeing your matzo ball recipe!
Interesting! I've had a Prius hybrid since I bought one new in 2009. I LOVED that car, which is still going strong (mostly). When Hugh's truck rusted out too much to pass inspection AND he wasn't hanging dry wall any more, he proposed taking over the 2009 as his "truck" since he can fit a six-foot ladder in it, and he found me a pre-owned Prius C, a little hybrid Toyota doesn't make any more.
ReplyDeleteAfter I started regularly driving the 250 miles round trip to take care of Ida Rose, I needed a more comfortable and reliable car. At the same time, a local Afghan refugee family needed a second car. I found a nearly new Prius plug-in Prime hybrid and sold the C to the family for a pittance. We've had solar panels for a decade, so the charging is free and I have a much nicer ride. If I ever need another car, I'd probably go all-electric, but I imagine the public infrastructure for charging hasn't made much progress with this administration.
Public charging infrastructure is a real speed bump on the road to EV adaptation. (pun intended!) It makes me wonder what the landscape was like in the very early years of automobiles. How did we get from a novelty to gas-stations-are-everywhere?
DeleteDon't have one, will not get one. Period.
ReplyDeleteRespect, Jay! Until I can get solar and have the electrical wiring redone in my house - which would cost as much as a new car - I'm sticking with gas.
DeleteThese days I really hate driving, especially having to deal with crazy drivers these days. I've not driven an electric car yet, though my 2015 car, which was bought new, has a lot of computer stuff in the car. Just remembered that we have rented a Prius, which is hybrid. I have driven a Prius several times and it is never cleaned before I rent it. I stopped renting the Prius.
ReplyDeleteAnon, when I was learning to drive in 1979, my Dad told me, "Always assume everyone else on the road is an idiot." I've had my license 47 years, and in all that time, I've never seen anything to disprove my dad's dictum. I taught it to my own kids!
DeleteWe looked into the logistics of driving from Cincinnati to Arlington, VA where our daughters live, in an EV. Five Hundred miles, the halfway point for charging in the middle of nowhere West Virginia and Maryland mountains. Hybrid for our next car, yes.
ReplyDeleteOhio has seven utility-grade coal-power plants, so I'm not sure how much we're protecting the envioroment by going all-electric.
Good point about the increase in coal power plants Margaret, but the big advantage of EV is you don't pay the high price of gas!
DeleteOne of the reasons we need more solar power.
DeleteEventually, we'll all be living in a clean-energy, all-electric world. I hope...
DeleteSure, Julia. But like Moses in the desert, we'll have to wait for the last generation (the slaves to gas vehicles, so to speak) to die out first.
DeleteHaving not been able to drive for so long, all I see of gas prices is the rapid rise in Uber fares. Lucy, I feel your Subaru Outback “devotion”, the last 5 years of my driving days were spent in Subaru Outback Sports (the Outback was too big and too expensive for me). Loved each and every one and had a great dealership to take care of the maintenance. Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteElisabeth, I didn't even think of the rise in Uber and Lyft fares. I can't imagine how much those drivers must be spending on gas at the moment...
DeleteIn 2024 I needed to buy a new car because my Ford Focus was 10 years old. I wanted my new car to be environmentally friendly so after doing lots of research, I ordered a red plug-in hybrid Ford Escape from the factory. I had to wait six months for it but it definitely was worth the wait! I absolutely love it! It plugs in to the regular outlet in my garage so there didn’t have to be any electrical changes in my garage. It charges overnight. I have saved on gas which yesterday was $1.74/litre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. When driving it silently switches to gas automatically when the electric charge is depleted! I haven’t noticed any change in my electric bill either. I highly recommend a plug-in hybrid Ford Escape ❤️🚗
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dorothy, that's very useful information for us all!
DeleteI think hybrid e-cars are the next gen of e-cars. You have electricity but gas back up.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Ford Escape had that - good to know.
It feels like that's the way to go for the near future, Anon.
DeleteBoth our current vehicles are paid off, and I anticipate my Honda Civic will be my primary car for the rest of my days. (I use it only for local driving and put so few miles on it I think it will last as long as I do.) When we decide we must bite the bullet and replace hubby's Forester, we will consider a hybrid if one is available that meets our other requirements. I was a fan of hybrids from the day they came out, but unfortunately the difference in price put them out of my reach in my younger years. I think EVs can be a great choice for certain situations, particularly as a commuting to and from work vehicle. But I don't think they make sense as a primary vehicle for someone who lives in the Midwest, where we realistically HAVE to drive distances on a pretty regualr basis.
ReplyDeleteA lot depends on where you live and work, Susan. For instance, my daughter-in-law commutes 30 minutes each day into Portland, ME, where her car sits all day in the parking garage. An EV would make PERFECT sense for her next car. On the other hand, I live in the country and my big drives of the week might be one shopping/errand trip and going to church on Sunday. The only way I could have an EV would be to charge it at home.
DeleteWe just bought a new vehicle – for 2 of us. We didn’t know we needed it. We were driving a perfectly good 2016 Dodge Caravan. Used the front seats only. Until we became a go-to-hospital Uber, there were no seats up in the back, as we used it as if it was a truck – a fancy one. While I was having my eyes checked, Jack went across the street and looked at vans – just cruising. He said there was a really nice red one – used, over there (ours was a white one with a red stripe – for coolness). We didn’t need it and it sold – of course it was RED!. It did trigger in him the perpetual need-to-look-at-cars-‘cus-I-am-bored response. We presently have the problem of a spare car that is a part of the dispersal of the estate – did we want it? Nope a 2020Ford Something SUV – a dime a dozen. Besides it is a car, and I don’t like cars.
ReplyDeleteSo, it festered, and last week, we went in to ‘look’ and came back with a brand-new second hand 2025 Chrysler Pacifica (white with no stripe – yet) – really a Caravan with a new name. Oh, and a lot of bells and whistles and a sliding glass ceiling roof. And it knows things, and it spooks you and both of us are afraid of it! But it does have fold-in-the-floor seats and heated front seats. It is gas. I don’t know if vans come in electric, but should we drive anywhere except to town, it is at least 450 kms, which is borderline for not having to refill the electrity to get there. (a tank of gas for us when not being an Uber usually last 6 weeks at about $100 (Cdn). The second consideration, is that we would have to rewire to get a charger in and locally there are few charger stations with the exception of Federal Parks, so in tourist season that is good.
(As an aside, did you know that in Canada: ‘4905 – Section 714 was amended on October 29, 2018, to require all new construction, including single-family residences and MURBs, to have a minimum of one energized outlet capable of Level 2 charging or higher for every dwelling unit. Parking spaces designated for visitors are exempt.’ Whether you have an EV or not.
In Nova Scotia where we live, power is still generated by coal (getting less), oil, and some renewables (wind). When considering how the power is generated and when considering that Nova Scotia has some of the highest rates for electricity in the country, it still has not become a question in our house. Friends of ours have 2 of their 3 cars as electric. They sneak in and scare the cats, as they as so quiet, and we have to be really careful that Prue (the deaf one) is not under the car as they depart. She has come close to being squished.
Margo, I so identify with getting a much newer car and being startled by all the bells and whistles - the first time a safety feature started braking without me I thought the vehicle was possessed!
DeleteRequiring new construction to have EV charging ports just makes sense. It's the 21st century version of making sure your house has a coal chute!
A query for another day's possible post... have any of the Reds ever received disquieting mail from fans (or non-fans)? I ask because my married name is very googleable (only 6 people with it in the country, 5 in my family) and due to my daughter's activism on behalf of clean energy I received an unsettling letter on Saturday. No threat was specified but I was unnerved by the animus that prompted this man to clip a newspaper, search for our name, find my address and a stamp, scribble a semi-literate note, and put it in the mail. Obviously, if it does not pertain to anyone among the Reds, forget it! (Selden)
ReplyDeleteYikes is right, Selden! I second the advice to report the mail to your local police. Crazy times call for extra caution.
DeleteYes, Selden, agreeing here. Definitely report and make sure local law enforcement has copies of the letter. That's very unsettling.
DeleteI'm going to third that, Selden. We can all see there are a LOT of crazies out there.
DeleteThanks. The man seemed unbalanced by not nearby. She wrote the letter to the editor when she was living in Montana in 2022. Had the clipping lived on his refrigerator for four years?! The unsigned note said in a scrawl: "Your family member Needs to Shut up and Leave Montana. Native Born and Raised Montanan saying Shut the Hell up and Leave!! Maybe You Should Have Spanked Her Bottem As A Kid Instead of spoiling Her Rotten." Though there was no threat, and though she has lived for several years now in Portland, Maine, the energy behind it gave me a queasy feeling. It hadn't occurred to me to show it to the police. Thank you. (Selden)
DeleteChiming in to agree--you don't want a situation of "why didn't you tell anyone in authority?"
DeleteOMG, Selden. Yes, give a copy to the police. Then give a copy to Julia to use in her next book.
DeleteYikes Selden! "Disquieting" ? I'd be a bit worried. Can you call your local PD or sheriff and file a report so that if it escalates further or if others have had a similar experience you have it noted.
ReplyDeleteI switched to a Prius in 2010. Loved it. When it came time to buy a new car, although the 2010 Prius only had 80,000 (barely broken in for a Toyota), I bought a 2018 Prius Prime, the plug-in hybrid, and gave the 2010 Prius to The Girl (someone promptly smashed into it, bent the frame, and totaled it - she was heartbroken). My Prius Prime gets has about a 35-mile range on all electric, which is perfect for running around town. When we did some electric work on the Cottage, we put in an outlet so I can charge pretty conveniently (not a 220v, just a 110, so it does take a long time). On long trips, we switch to the gas-electric hybrid and get about 54mpg on the highway. All this combines to a 70mpg lifetime mileage and I only put gas in the car every other month. We do have solar panels; I estimate keeping the car charged costs me $2-3 a week. Eight years later there are less than 50,000 miles on the car. As my mechanic said, I'll get sick of driving it before it dies.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's 2014 RAV4 finally gave up the ghost - well the A/C did. He needed to replace it with something that can pull his trailer. I said another RAV4 was fine, but it had to be the hybrid model. I don't think Toyota offered a plug-in hybrid RAV4, but they either do now or will soon.
My brother drives a Ford Mustang MACH-E and loves it. I don't think I'll ever drive another non-hybrid vehicle and when the time eventually comes for me to get a new car, I'll be sorely tempted to go all electric (depending on cost and developments in technology).
My 2022 Prime gets about 33 miles of charge in the summer but more like 27 when it's cold out. The car's lifetime mpg is currently 67 - I love it! I also do slow overnight charging, which works for my lifestyle.
DeleteOur neighbor has one of the green MACH-Es. You can't miss him driving down the road, he's the only one I've ever seen.
DeleteI have to say, those MACH-Es are cute cars!
DeleteKaren and Julia: My brother's is blue, but a pretty blue. I've only ever seen pictures of it, though.
DeleteEdith, if I had a garage, that's what I'd do. But our garage has been converted into a TV/family area (don't ask). I know the plug into the car is relatively waterproof, but the outdoor outlet is not, so I only charge during the day. This way, if a surprise rainstorm comes along, I can unplug. If we ever splurge on a hardwired charger, I'll probably switch to overnight charging.
Happy EV owner since 2014! I bought a Prius in 2002, one of the first hybrids. In 2014, I passed the Prius to my son and bought a 2012 all electric Nissan Leaf with 40K on it. It was a great car for running around town and I just plugged it into my porch outlet overnight. Over time, the range gradually decreased from 70 miles to about 48. I had a lot of range anxiety. In 2021 my sister and brother-in=law bought a 2017 Chevy Bolt. I went on a road trip with them in May to the California redwoods. We were able to find the fast chargers and charge, although we had a couple of hiccups. California has lots of chargers available. In Arcadia, we found one that was free??!!. In December 2024, I donated my Leaf and bought a 2020 Bolt for myself. A few weeks after I bought mine, my son's father bought a 2018 Bolt. We love our cars. I haven't taken mine on the road, but I could. It's estimated that EV owners save $12-15K over the life of the vehicle in maintenance costs. There are just fewer moving parts. I'm so happy to NOT go to the gas station! In my progressive Portland bubble, EVs are everywhere. The EV technology is moving forward quickly in other parts of the world, despite the roadblocks the US government has set up.. Soon a 15 minute recharge and 500 mile range will be a reality for EV owners.
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday, I was talking to my friends who are asylum seekers from Central America. They work as contractors for Amazon, delivering packages. The increased gas prices have hit them hard. She told me that they would like to buy a used hybrid (an all-electric vehicle doesn't make sense for them). As with everything, the poor and marginalized are suffering the most by our overseas adventures.
I can imagine Portland having EV's everywhere. But, what I've noticed (as a visitor) are the bicycles! Bicycles everywhere - kids in groups biking to school, and I once spent several minutes waiting for a long, long stretch of bikers, going to work I presume, before I could drive through the intersection. Which is wonderful.
DeleteI always feel guilty driving in Portland - whether I'm in a EV or gas car!
Yes, anon! Lots of bikes. Some of the e-bikes go so fast that I (as a walker and jogger) get a bit afraid when they come barreling towards me in the bike lane.
DeleteThe Other Portland (as we call it in Maine) sounds a lot like what Youngest tells me of The Hague - prioritizing bike infrastructure and a high percentage of EVs. It makes a lot of sense the two cities would be similar - they share a similar climate and density.
DeleteJulia, my daughter believes the majority of new cars will be EVs in 10 years. It will be interesting to see. (Selden)
DeleteYeah Portlanders on each coast!!
DeleteI've been driving a Chevy Bolt EUV for about two years now and love it around the city; haven't yet made a long trip in it but am appreciating the NO NEED FOR GAS reality of this car. It's zippy, quiet and no-emissions, which is three big points in its favour. We installed a Level 2 charger in our garage when we bought the car and have no need to use other chargers in the city. It's true that a longer trip means charging en route, but that is a change of habit rather than anything else. Here in Manitoba, we have mega hydro-powered electricity so rates are very affordable.
ReplyDeleteWe considered a hybrid, but that just means hauling around a combustion engine AND an electric battery, and I just couldn't make sense of that double-trouble approach. We went all in and I am not sorry. Especially these days.
On our first visit to Athens we noticed SO many Bolts, and the Chinese version of small electric cars, too. I think Europe is way ahead of us in that technology, and the ability to buy Chinese cars. Their gas prices are also insanely higher than ours, because, at least in the US, the government subsidizes gas prices. My stepsister in the UK just paid $9.46/gal (they pay by the litre, and in pounds, so this is the USD equivalent). She is on a fixed income, and does not drive much, so she only has to fill her little car every couple of weeks, but that is still extremely pricey.
DeleteWe notice (on "Escape to the Country) that a number of houses already have the charger installed. And since the current is different there, they don't have the expense (which we had) of installing a 240v line. We'll be renting a car for 3 weeks in England, and I'm sure it won't be electric, so we're getting ready for the high prices.
DeleteYes, we installed the charger in our garage. My brother-in-law has had a Bolt for 4 years, also only charges at home. His daughter also has one. Ditto my sister-in-law. One of the interesting things about our road trip was seeing who else was charging, what kind of cars they had. Generally, we did the charging when we needed a break anyway, either for lunch, or bathroom, or stretching our legs, and our battery charges in about 20 minutes or less (to 80%), so it wasn't a problem at all. But one has to do the research to know where the charging stations are.
DeleteAs you all know, I'm a huge Kdrama fan, and I've looked up some of the intriguing cars I see in the shows. South Korea is another country making amazing EVs that unfortunately aren't allowed into the US.
DeleteI am all in for saving the environment and reducing our carbon footprint and our reliance on oil. Yet there is a nagging voice lurking in my curmudgeon brain, wondering what's the catch? I'm old enough to believe that nothing that seems easy really is. Are there hidden costs and dangers here that we don't know about or have just not been told? Are there better and more efficient ways to solve the problem? I really don't know but the paranoid part of me says that the simple way may not be the very best way. I sincerely hope that the suspicious part of me is wrong, but I have seen too many commercials and have listened to too many politicians in my time to take anything at face value. Color me paranoid. I was not born there, nor have I ever visited there, but I am basically from Missouri, and it is not the most pleasant way to live.
ReplyDeleteNew advances in the car industry often bring questions. We waited a long time before deciding EV cars were in many ways better than gas driven cars. The obvious is less pollution, a lot less money spent on gas. But also less thought of is maintenance cost over the years. As there are no typical engine parts to go wrong.
DeleteBasically from Missouri? In other words you are a Missourian in that you like their motto the "Show Me State"?
DeleteMy hub is from St. Louis (born there but we now live in So. CA...go Cards!) and he is always reminding me he is from the "Show Me State" so everything has to be verified.
I'm another Cards fan. Last summer I went to St. Louis with my son's dad to visit his uncle who's 96. We were able to go to a game (they won!). I also looked and looked for EVs. I saw a couple of Teslas, and a Tesla charging station in a park in Kirkwood, but I didn't see a single Chevy Bolt. It was very weird.
DeleteJerry, Ross's version of being a Missourian was to quote President Regan: "Trust, but verify." Not a bad way to live these days!
DeleteI would definitely consider an EV for my next vehicle if my current Mazda CR5 doesn't outlive me. We have a surprising number of charging stations in our small-town rural area--probably in part for the tourist traffic we get here near Lake Erie. My younger brothers could both do the electrical upgrades necessary so I could charge at home. As for batteries catching fire, I have read about a number of advances in battery technology which seems to eliminate the fire hazard.
ReplyDeleteOh, to have a relative who can do electrical upgrades! I tried to get my son to fix a lamp for me and he said, "Mom, that's not what marine electricians do."
DeleteJerry, there are catches to everything!
ReplyDeleteI had been driving Hondas for 40 years, until youngest daughter was preparing for her first overseas assignment to Nairobi. Diplomats can take their cars with them, except Kenya was a British protectorate, so they drive on the left, and her 2015 BMW sports car had lefthand drive. So she begged me to buy it from her, and made me the proverbial deal I couldn't refuse. I had a love/hate relationship with it, not the least of which--the hate part--came from the spoiled thing only using premium gas.
Last summer I stopped at a gas station I had never used before and ended up filling the tank with adulterated fuel, which stopped the car cold and turned it into a brick for a couple weeks. The mechanic had to let the fuel drip out, because BMW, and the car was never the same. I decided to look for a new car. We had visited the energy consultant daughter in May (her first new car in 2005 had been a Honda Civic Hybrid that we all drove!), and she let me drive her Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric car. I loved all the bells and whistles, best of all, the right and left sideview cameras that turn on when the turn signal is activated. I have reduced peripheral vision, and the BMW had terrible visibility.
I finally settled on a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, and I really love it. It's a big enough car that I can get four adults in comfortably (the middle rear seat is pretty much unusable for an adult), and a load of plants, or my mom's walker in the roomy trunk. It has both heated and COOLED seats! And it gets an average of about 41 mpg. Which is nearly twice the BMW's gas-guzzling 22 mpg of premium. I was looking for a car with very good safety features, and I found one. It actually stops itself if another vehicle or person are in your path. The first time it happened it stopped when a truck ran a red light in front of me, and avoided a really bad collision. Do all new cars have this feature??
Steve will be due for a new SUV in a year or two, and we are thinking of getting an electric car for him.
Cooled seats, Karen? COOLED seats? I've just developed a new vehicle must-have!
DeleteYes! Cooled seats are da bomb!
DeleteDecisions Decisions. The old adage, “ain’t nothin’ easy anymore” is more relevant than ever. My current dilemma is how the heck to keep veggies fresh for more than 2 days. They just don’t last as long as they used to. If it isn’t one thing it’s 12.
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing, Paula, because boy, isn't that the truth!
DeleteMy last three cars have been hybrids and I love them. The current one is a 14 yo Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Just had the engine replaced (100% warranty because they had many issues with that year's engines) and she's getting 32 mpg around town. I'd love to update to a hybrid plug-in the next time the Universe graces me with big bucks. I prefer Toyotas having driven both a Camry Hybrid and a Prius. Never would have gotten the Hyundai except someone ran a red light and totaled by Prius. Still, with the new engine she's doing a great job. -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteHope you are ok Victoria, better the car get wrecked than you!
DeleteI agree with Anon, Victoria!
DeleteOne of my best friends in Florida bought a hybrid for her business (she is a physical therapist who taught handicapped drivers to get behind the wheel) eight or nine years ago. She lamented the loss of truck space, but loved the interior space, silence, and gas mileage. When she retired, she kept the hybrid and bought an all-electric for her new car. So far she loves it, but she does get a bit stressed when roads flood, which is a common Florida problem. As for here in Maine, I've got an ageing gas HHR that I love, and I'd toyed with the idea of a hybrid, but not an all electric. Charging stations are few and far between up here, and I have heard that our extreme cold temps can be a problem. We'll see what happens, and I'm grateful we have all these options!
ReplyDeleteYes, we had to "charge" on a frigid day after a trip to Cincinnati, and the battery got depleted faster. But I think if you were doing just your normal driving, charging at home, it wouldn't be an issue.
DeleteI do think that's the catch in rural states like ours, Kait. It becomes a chicken and egg issue: which comes first, the charging stations or the EVs?
DeleteThere are options for charging: plug into your 120-volt, 13-amp outlet. It is best for short commutes, providing roughly 3–5 miles of range per hour of charging. OR
DeleteFor faster, more efficient charging, a 240-volt charging station is installed in your garage or on a wall. This adds roughly 25-40 miles of range per hour, fully charging most cars overnight.
OR some EV cars are electric but if you run out of charge on a long distance drive it switches over to being gas driven. See the Honda Clarity.
Ye,s we looked at Lexus SUVs, too, Rhys. I just am not fond of the grille on the front, and that was a dealbreaker. (!) . And I love being high up,too. We had to rent a car a while ago, and got a Hyundai Palisade, or something like that, which was HUGE, and I adored it. Impossible to park, though. Jenn, secretly I so agree--the Tesla is SO much fun , and SO pretty and comfortable. And H has a point about the used-ness.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to drive around Boston regularly, Hank, not only would I want to be high off the road, I'd also want Day-Glo color and flashing lights to warn away the other, um, fine Boston drivers.
DeleteMy husband bought an EV in July, an Ioniq5. We just got back from our first "longer trip" with it, meaning that we had to charge up several times/day. We love the car - I haven't learned how to drive it yet, though. It has so much room for luggage, etc. KY to PA and back. The car is so quiet, and it "took" all the Maryland/WV mountains like they were nothing. Highly recommend. He installed a charger in the garage - another expense that encourages me not to move house yet.
ReplyDeleteBeth, my sister is a Realtor and she says having a garage charger is definitely an improvement that pays for itself when you sell!
DeleteOh, that's great to hear! Thanks.
DeleteMy 2014 Prius hybrid still seems like a bargain. Apart from a fee scrapes where I drive forward too far and bump the curb in front of me, it's perfect. Charges in my garage from a regular outlet at so small a cost I can't measure it. All electric for local shopping trips, otherwise about 50-60 mpg and gets up to highway speed fast.
ReplyDeleteShould have added the term plug-in.
DeleteSusan, I'm just grateful to learn I'm not the only person who never manages to figure out where the front of the car is and who scraps the curb!
DeleteThis is all so interesting! I would add that my daughter has a plug in Audi hybrid, and it has no spare, not even a donut, because that space is what holds the battery. Is that the usual configuration? I found that a wee bit worrying on a highway trip...
ReplyDeleteNo donut or spare in my "normal" car (Hyundai Accent).
DeleteYou definitely need AAA then, Debs!
DeleteLet me begin by confessing that I have misplaced my recipe so I will give it at the end as best as I remember it. They are really easy to make. This treatise is lengthy with suggestions.
ReplyDeleteThere are loads of recipes for matzo balls and they are very forgiving. They are usually in a ratio of 2 eggs, 2 Tablespoons liquid, 1 to 2 Tablespoons melted fat, ½ teaspoon salt or more, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, ½ cup matzo meal. But, if you separate your eggs and beat the whites then add them like you would for a sponge cake, you get fluffier matzo balls. If you want tough matzo balls (my grandfather liked them to be hard, not fluffy), you can roll them in your hands a second time before you add them to the boiling soup or water. A few other important or interesting things that can help include: 1. You must give the mixture time to rest before rolling the matzo balls, 2. You can add interesting things like chopped nuts, chopped herbs or even chopped liver to the mixture, or spices like cinnamon or ginger or both! Use what YOU like. 3. Don’t leave them sitting in the liquid or soup for days. After you make them, refrigerate them separately in a tightly closed container and add them to the hot soup about 15 to 30 minutes before you serve the soup.
Matzo Balls
½ cup matzo meal
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black or white ground pepper
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1 pinch of nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
2 Tablespoons chicken soup or water or seltzer
2 Tablespoons oil (corn, safflower, etc.) or melted shortening or chicken fat
Directions
Mix dry ingredients together well and set aside.
Beat eggs with liquid and oil.
Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and combine thoroughly.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
Remove from fridge and wet hands then scoop with tablespoon forming balls about the size of walnuts. (sticky, sticky, sticky…wet hands help) This recipe makes about 18 depending on size of matzo balls.
Meanwhile bring either a pot of soup or a pot of water (2-3 quarts) to a boil.
Drop the formed balls into the boiling liquid. They’ll sink, then bounce up to the surface.
Let them cook for about 20 minutes, then remove them and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Pop them into the hot soup about 15 minutes to ½ hour before serving. Voila!
Sounds wonderful, Judy, and thanks for the wet hands tip!
DeleteThanks Judy!
DeleteFunny you should bring this up. I'm mulling over replacing my beloved 2003 Jeep Liberty with a newer but used SUV. I had almost decided on a Mazda CX50 but am unhappy that all the smaller SUVs look alike. I saw three parked along the curb in a row the other day. All different brands but looked exactly alike from the side. Just no. Then I had a dream I was looking for a car to buy and my main objection to the one in the dream was I didn't sit up high enough in the driver's seat. My subconscious was sending me a message. Now I've switched my sights to a used Toyota 4Runner. I'd love a Land Cruiser but who can afford that? All gasoline engine for me. My hub has a hybrid Toyota RAV4 and he loves it. Great mileage. He also has a pickup truck, but we won't go there. Electric may be a good thing, but I'm not convinced when you have special batteries and must have access to a charging station.
ReplyDeletePat, those 4Runners are great vehicles. I see old ones - like 2010 models - all the time, and we live where winters are tough on cars and trucks.
DeleteNot interested! My husband and I own 2 8 cylinder American cars and love them! No Japanese or German cars thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a Tesla 3 for five years and have been very happy with it. It's comfortable, quiet, and easy to drive (once you get used to almost never having to use the brake, since taking your foot off the gas pedal stops the car very quickly). We wish there were a Tesla rapid-charging station near our apartment, but the 20-minute drive to the nearest fast-charging location is easy, and it's in a lovely area for walking. Perhaps if we weren't retired, this would bug us more. But as it is, we're very content (except with having helped to enrich Elon Musk, but five years ago, who knew?)
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking this question, Julia! I’m finding the answers fascinating—having lived in San Francisco for decades, where every other car has been a Prius or a Tesla since they were invented, I could never understand why everyone didn’t instantly rush out to trade in their gas-powered cars for hybrids or EVs. But the smart and thoughtful community here taught me something new this morning—it’s easy to make the switch if you don’t have to be afraid that getting stranded without a charge means you’ll freeze to death or die of heatstroke waiting for a tow truck, and those with needs beyond doing errands and a daily commute have real concerns that haven’t really been addressed yet. But I do think that the more people you know who own one and love it, the less scary it is to make the switch yourself. (Same with Waymo! I use them all the time when I’m in SF because they do a much better and safer job of driving in that crazy city than random Uber drivers—plus you don’t have to talk to the driver or tip!—so I’m always surprised when people are scared to try them…)
ReplyDeleteGas prices-yikes! When I retired two years ago I was able to buy my company leased car. It was a 2020 Toyota Camry which I had gotten just before the 2020 pandemic and lockdown. After 4 years the sales rep car didn’t even have 35,00 miles on it. I love Camry’s, the price was excellent so I will be driving that until it does. My husband bought his first ever brand new car 21/2 years ago, a hybrid Rav 4. It definitely uses less gas than mine, if fun to drive, and will probably outlast mine. The next time we buy a car, if there are no unforeseen problems, perhaps things will have improved in our world (🤞🏼🙏🏻), and we can buy an all electric.
ReplyDeleteWe have been hybrid drivers since the priuses etc came out and for the last 3 years have a plug in hybrid and a full EV as our cars . We lease - and fortunately, the newer EVs have better range now which eases up what was crippling for me -thinking about a road trip with the EV.
ReplyDeleteWe plug in in our garage which keeps the vehicles charged for daily driving. We are considering upgrading to the 220 fast charger.
Pleased so far.
Still less than impressed with public charge stations. Seem broken down often and less available in the northern NE away from the freeway corridors. But our new EV will be able to use tesla chargers.
I've driven nothing but Priuses since 2004. My current car is a 2012 Prius c, and I love it. I would never go back to a combustion engine. I WOULD consider an electric hybrid for my next car, but I don't plan on that happening too soon. I mean, this car is only 14 years old...
ReplyDeleteLucy, I'm driving my 3rd Outback. Living in rural Maine makes EVs impractical. My daughter just got a hybrid Forester. It's REALLY nice. I encourage you to take a look at them.
ReplyDeleteI road in a Waymo in SF and it was great fun though I'm not ready to give up control yet. Hopefully by the time my kids take my license away, there self-driving cars will be available for me! Meanwhile, I didn't go electric. How do you go on a long road trip with such limited mileage. We couldn't drive 8-10 hours if we had to pause to plug in all the time. So I went with an Audi Q5 which is kinda big for me, but I'm told it can self-park. Hmmmm. I'm going back for a lesson in a week or so to see how that really works. If I sit idling, it shuts down so I'm not wasting gas and polluting the world. It corrects me if I move off the center line--it has a lot of bells and whistles and mostly is great in Connecticut winters (I live on the top of a mountain with a very long driveway that can be like a luge run in winter). If this wasn't our primary car though, I would have considered electric.
ReplyDelete