Are You A Wannabe?
If you, like me, are a “wannabe” EV owner, here’s one last reminder to complete the survey below. You can also click this link and complete it there. In either case, be sure to click “Done” when you complete it.
Create your own user feedback survey
For those eager for more information about this survey, the plan is to both write short articles about some of the highlights and also create a full report on these results. Actually, the report will also include the results of at least two previous surveys (the EV owner/lessee one and the campground one). The report will be free thanks to sponsorship from EV-related partners.
As many of you know very well, I’m convinced that electric vehicles are the future of transport. Actually, I’m convinced EVs currently on the market are already better options for hundreds of millions of people than similarly priced gasmobiles. But awareness is super low, experience is minuscule, and breaking down sociopsychological barriers that come from outdated, habitual concepts is anything but easy. So, the question is, what will work best?
Also, the electric offerings very certainly do need to (and will) improve. When it comes to the next wave of electric car buyers and lessees, questions this survey aims to answer relate to what we are looking for. What will get the next wave of buyers to dive in? What will make us drop a few dozen grand (or at least a few grand) on a fast metal and plastic box? How can an automaker win us over when dozens of electric vehicle options are on the market? For those in the EV industry but not working on the production of electric cars, what can be done to speed up the electric revolution?
These are some of the broader questions we’re looking to answer. So, chime in to help us do so!
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What will work best? A tough question for sure.
FIRST I’m currently trying to set an example to show people what is possible and that it’s totally possible to be off gasoline for most folks in the US. There are exceptions, yes but with very little effort, some savings in gas prices which helps and a little bit of research, it can be done today.
SECOND I’m trying to share what insights I feel I have here while at the same time, continuing to learn more about what’s changing in the products, what we can do differently, what others are doing, how much people can save…and what the science is actually saying about Climate Change to keep me honest.
THIRD Looking for opportunities to scale my knowledge in areas I feel I have unique experience or insights. This is my stretch area for now but my current role at work has some opportunity in this space, I’m looking for opportunities to scale this in my community through training events and also by writing articles, blogs.
FINALLY Being intentional about sharing small wins on social media, with coworkers, with friends, at a cafe etc. For instance…I’m really happy with my EV. It’s saving us $130/mo in fuel prices which is nice. or With the tax incentives and my trade in, this EV only cost me $4k out of pocket and it’s virtually brand new!
You left out a big barrier. In my eyes, the biggest barrier to getting an EV is infrastructure. I looked at the US Govt. list of charging stations and it simply doesn’t fit the needs of most people. If you live in an apt. in nearby San Francisco, street parking is the norm and it is highly random where you will be able to find a parking space any given day. The many picturesque older houses there have only street parking. There are very, very few public charging stations. The same for most older cities like NYC and Boston. Cities in Europe are the same or worse.
That is true even in newer developed areas in the denser suburbs where I live. If you own your own house you’re okay, but in a condo or apt. (even a brand new one), your options are limited to the point where it simply doesn’t make sense to get an EV.
That will change, of course, but so will range and cost and everything else.
Don’t misconstrue this as my being against EVs. I can’t wait for the day when ICE cars are only found in museums. We have to accept that we aren’t there yet.
Everyone of those beautiful old San Francisco street lamps near those lovely old houses has the potential to become a charging source. 120V outlets are everywhere.
120V outlets for EV charging is amazingly underutilized . . .
http://www.aprs.org/EV-charging-everywhere.html
It doesn’t matter what I say (like my last paragraph above), it appears someone will read it as if I’m saying such-and-such is an insurmountable barrier to EV adoption.
Of COURSE, the problem is fixable, but it has NOT yet been fixed, and until it is, EV adoption will be slow. Anyone looking at EVs (as I am) has to look at charging options. The number of charging stations is growing fast but for most people in big cities the lack of charging stations is a serious impediment.
Right now an EV is a good choice as a second car for people who have off-street parking, make enough to get the tax break, and have an ICE for trips longer than 80 miles round trip. This puts an upper limit on it. We may not see any sales growth until the number of charging stations reaches some critical cross-over point.
Michael I do agree that infrastructure is a big issue. Even as a home owner or renter, in most situations, you need to have a Level ii charger installed at home. Sometime employers have one or two chargers installed where people work – but that can get expensive for the business owner real fast.
One solution that our roadster provides is the ability to get a complete recharge in about 8 hours from any standard 120-volt outlet. With the ability to be recharged at work, the roadster has an effective daily range of up to 200 miles. The roadster recharges in about half the time of a Nissan Leaf from a Level ll Charger.
You can cut that time in half with a 240vac outlet.
The average cost for installing a 240vac dryer outlet is ~$250.
No doubt about that – and we have those covered should the owner want either a simple 240-volt connection or a Level ll option. But the key is convenience. Why worry about getting a charge in 4 hours when the car is going to sit idle at home for 12 or more hours? Often 120-volt outlets are installed on lamp posts in parking lots and on the external walls of buildings adjacent to the parking lot.
Below is a map of charging stations of parts of NY City. Brooklyn and Queens are in the right half. Manhattan has a lot. Only 20% of NYC lives in Manhattan. Nearly twice as many live in Brooklyn and Queens in the right half. Almost no charging stations there.
Everyone talks about leaving a plug to a street lamp overnight. I don’t see it happening. In San Francisco and NYC, some people will unplug that (or worse) just out of a sense of “fun”. It only takes one mean street person to do that and pretty much everyone will give up on charging on street. Vandalism happens.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b72779717275b9f09c59cad6c0a728c4a09f0a93dd3650d970b71cba357cbecf.jpg
Michael, I went to Google Earth maps and zoomed in on Brooklyn. It looks to me as if many of the residences have off street parking.
As for jerks unplugging EVs, we may need a system of locking plugs. Certainly an EV should be able to call the driver if the plug is pulled before charging finished.
Off-street parking – many do, many don’t. The real estate market in NYC is going to higher density as it is here in the SF Bay area.
If I ruled the world, no one could build an apt. without providing charging stations for every adult resident. Regrettably (for the world) my offer of benevolent dictatorship (kindly but firm) has been (inexplicably!) declined. (I may have to withdraw the offer).