Would you buy an EV if you weren't able to charge at home?

[Obioban]

I've never been happier to own an EV-- We get to completely avoid touching gas pumps or being near people at the gas station. In our fleet of ICEVs we've probably used 4 gallons of gas all year-- the i3 has been absorbing 99% of the mile we drive to further limit being exposed to other people.

But, yep, charging at home.
(that said, everyone is driving so little these days that I suspect most people would be fine using the 110V standard wall socket charger).

Actually, one of my bigger concerns is that I might not use the gas in the ICEVs this year... which would mean next spring they'll have 2 year old gas in them, which would be terrible for everything...

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Dog Face Pony Soldier

Stay at home orders and everything being closed sure takes the wind out of the argument for owning an EV when you can't charge at home. I guess these people would have to just sit in their car at the charger? It's not like you're going for a bite or walking around a mall while your EV charges.

in the context of the original premise of this thread- yes, that would suck. it would also be highly inadvisable to own an electric car if you couldn't charge at home or have an alternative vehicle.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

in the context of the original premise of this thread- yes, that would suck. it would also be highly inadvisable to own an electric car if you couldn't charge at home or have an alternative vehicle.

Yep.

It would also suck to have to touch a gas pump or be in close proximity to people at a gas station these days.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Dog Face Pony Soldier

Stay at home orders and everything being closed sure takes the wind out of the argument for owning an EV when you can't charge at home. I guess these people would have to just sit in their car at the charger? It's not like you're going for a bite or walking around a mall while your EV charges.

You can get an 80% charge in 20-30 min at a DC fast charger. There are charging station not far from me at a Walmart, which are still open because they sell groceries. You could charge your car in the time it takes to get eggs and milk.

Considering no one is driving that much, a full charge could last weeks for people who can't charge at home. Additionally, there are many people who don't even own cars ie Manhattan residents. So having an EV isn't the most inconvenient thing.

I wondered though, through this pandemic, which would I rather have, ICE or EV? What if the trucks stop running heaven forbid, and the gas stops getting delivered? At least I could still charge if the electricity is still on. On the other hand, what if the electricity is off? At least most gas stations have a generator for emergencies. In the end though the best scenario would be to be prepared for both. I have the luxury of choice since I have both an EV and several ICE cars.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Yep.

It would also suck to have to touch a gas pump or be in close proximity to people at a gas station these days.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion on how to deal with this situation, but getting gas at the gas station is the least of my worries personally. I do wear disposable gloves, put gas in my car/truck and go. It's not like I can't stay away from people while doing that. Can't say the same for grocery stores unfortunately, and I'm assuming we're all going there to get food right?

Secondly, regular gas in my area is around $1.34 per gallon right now. You add the fact that I drive far less these days and it takes that out of the equation for me.

Don't get me wrong. I've been doing my research and think I can see a used black i3S in my future in a few years to supplement to my gas powered vehicles. I also think I'd end up in the same situation as you were I'd end up piling the miles on it more than the other cars too. But right now? The enthusiasm for one is not very high for me.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by jmg

I wondered though, through this pandemic, which would I rather have, ICE or EV? What if the trucks stop running heaven forbid, and the gas stops getting delivered? At least I could still charge if the electricity is still on. On the other hand, what if the electricity is off? At least most gas stations have a generator for emergencies. In the end though the best scenario would be to be prepared for both. I have the luxury of choice since I have both an EV and several ICE cars.

I agree both is better than either alone.

During "Superstorm Sandy" I was without power for at least 8 days. It started to get real fucking cold with no heat, hot water, or hot food. My gasoline powered car was literally a savior during this experience.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Dog Face Pony Soldier

I agree both is better than either alone.

During "Superstorm Sandy" I was without power for at least 8 days. It started to get real fucking cold with no heat, hot water, or hot food. My gasoline powered car was literally a savior during this experience.

Ha, reminds me of being in Frankfurt during the heat wave of 2006. Work wasn't air conditioned so we'd just go drive around in someone's car with a/c to stay sane.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by W///

Everyone's entitled to their opinion on how to deal with this situation, but getting gas at the gas station is the least of my worries personally. I do wear disposable gloves, put gas in my car/truck and go. It's not like I can't stay away from people while doing that. Can't say the same for grocery stores unfortunately, and I'm assuming we're all going there to get food right?

I haven't been inside a grocery store since February.

I did do curbside pickup once (they bring the groceries to you in the parking lot), but other than that I've been doing instacart home delivery.

Originally Posted by Dog Face Pony Soldier

I agree both is better than either alone.

During "Superstorm Sandy" I was without power for at least 8 days. It started to get real fucking cold with no heat, hot water, or hot food. My gasoline powered car was literally a savior during this experience.

Especially if your EV is equipped with a heat pump, you can run the climate control for a long, long time if the car isn't in motion.

Bonus: no chance of poisoning yourself in your garage.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Obioban

I haven't been inside a grocery store since February.

I did do curbside pickup once (they bring the groceries to you in the parking lot), but other than that I've been doing instacart home delivery.



Especially if your EV is equipped with a heat pump, you can run the climate control for a long, long time if the car isn't in motion.

Bonus: no chance of poisoning yourself in your garage.

Then hell has officially frozen over haha. I know I've given you crap for a few years because sometimes I don't understand your logic even though I know you're clearly knowledgeable with cars, but I can't say I saw you liking an i3 coming. It's the anti-thesis of what you normally like in cars.

I know a lot of us on these forums are clearly very attached to our cars because we've put so much time and effort into them. But the question is, if you really think you're not going to be driving for a whole 2 years, why don't you sell them? I know clearly the E46 won't be going anywhere, but if the rest of them are just rotting away in a garage?

I have that back and forth with myself all the time. I've promised myself a one in one out policy with 4 cars currently. The Tundra, E92 M3 and Z4MR are not going anywhere, which leaves my E36 M3. Not 100% sold I absolutely want to get rid of it for an i3S when they dip under $20k in a few years, but let's see. If gas goes over $4 again, I might consider it more strongly because I don't have 1 fuel efficient car.

[Onizukachan]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Oh, it does-- but it doesn't matter.

As in, so long as it doesn't reduce it so that I can't use the car for something I need (it doesn't), regardless of how I drive the next day I start off with 100% again. The electric bill might be $1.50 instead of $1.00 that night but... who cares? It's pennies of difference.

A similar argument would be that you should never drive an ICEV anywhere other than the highway, because ICEVs are more inefficient in cities than on highways-- only in that case, the cost for doing so is much higher (as ICEVs cost much more to run).

Based on your numbers, the cost is mere pennies per day more to drive a car vs an electric vehicle.

I put my 15 gallons of diesel in every two or three weeks, or every 500 miles. That’s about $2 or less a day, and I cruise at 75mph 30 miles a day... Plus the speed limit is generally 45-60 in town... non freeway.
When they get the charging down to 15 minutes or less, and range at 75 into the 500 mile range, they’ll be practical cars, instead of urban commuters. If you can’t jump in and drive 800 miles in 10 hours or less, With only one 10 minute stop, they aren’t really that useful for the money invested.
Shoot, save 20grand, buy a pos 94 Corrolla for 1k and make bank and be greener too!

A far as the pandemic, I haven’t changed my way of living much except I won’t wait in line to go in a store so I only go to target to browse crap now and don’t go browse at Walmart anymore. And my commute is actually longer now that I’m taking my daughter to family instead the day care on the way to work.
Still go cruise For an hour or two now and again to keep the cars charged.
Stay at home? Lol. I work from home, I need to get out of work once a day and go house shopping or dvd shopping, or food shopping or something.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by Onizukachan

Based on your numbers, the cost is mere pennies per day more to drive a car vs an electric vehicle.

I put my 15 gallons of diesel in every two or three weeks, or every 500 miles. That’s about $2 or less a day, and I cruise at 75mph 30 miles a day... Plus the speed limit is generally 45-60 in town... non freeway.
When they get the charging down to 15 minutes or less, and range at 75 into the 500 mile range, they’ll be practical cars, instead of urban commuters. If you can’t jump in and drive 800 miles in 10 hours or less, With only one 10 minute stop, they aren’t really that useful for the money invested.
Shoot, save 20grand, buy a pos 94 Corrolla for 1k and make bank and be greener too!

A far as the pandemic, I haven’t changed my way of living much except I won’t wait in line to go in a store so I only go to target to browse crap now and don’t go browse at Walmart anymore. And my commute is actually longer now that I’m taking my daughter to family instead the day care on the way to work.
Still go cruise For an hour or two now and again to keep the cars charged.
Stay at home? Lol. I work from home, I need to get out of work once a day and go house shopping or dvd shopping, or food shopping or something.

I'd completely agree that if you work from home and your primary car is a 4 cylinder eco diesel, you're not going to save much going to an EV.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by W///

Then hell has officially frozen over haha. I know I've given you crap for a few years because sometimes I don't understand your logic even though I know you're clearly knowledgeable with cars, but I can't say I saw you liking an i3 coming. It's the anti-thesis of what you normally like in cars.

I know a lot of us on these forums are clearly very attached to our cars because we've put so much time and effort into them. But the question is, if you really think you're not going to be driving for a whole 2 years, why don't you sell them? I know clearly the E46 won't be going anywhere, but if the rest of them are just rotting away in a garage?

I have that back and forth with myself all the time. I've promised myself a one in one out policy with 4 cars currently. The Tundra, E92 M3 and Z4MR are not going anywhere, which leaves my E36 M3. Not 100% sold I absolutely want to get rid of it for an i3S when they dip under $20k in a few years, but let's see. If gas goes over $4 again, I might consider it more strongly because I don't have 1 fuel efficient car.

Why would I sell them? All of them, other than the i3, are appreciating at this point-- that's more than I can say for any other asset I own, recently. When this is over, they'll all still be ready to go. None of them are particularly stock, so it's not like I could just rebuy them later. Plus, it's getting really hard to find nice condition, up to date on maintenance e39 M5s, etc.

Broken down car by car:
Suburban: probably should sell this, actually. 200 miles in the last 2 years
M3 coupe: clearly not going anywhere.
M3 wagon: one of our two family cars (other being the i3)
M5: my wife loves it, so I'm stuck with it either way. This is the car we own that's least to my taste (too big/torquey for me, really)
... I've actually been debating a quarantine project of building a 6mt e61 (wagon) M5...

The i3... some of it is very much what I like in cars, some of it is not.

Typical likes
2700 lbs
super low COG
Super stiff chassis
no turbo lag
small car with a practical interior

Things I don't like:
Space ship looks
no manual... though I don't think EVs would be better with a manual
EPS (though that's unavoidable in EVs)

I think I'm okay with it because the areas it deviates from what I normally like actually get me something in exchange. As in, I strongly dislike turbos, but there's also no payoff for me getting one. The aspects of the i3 that I dislike result in zero gas consumption and zero maintenance-- real, tangible benefits.

Also, since I changed jobs my commute kind of sucks... so I don't need full on dynamics. Our plan was to move out into the boonies this summer, which might have changed that... but that's on hold until this pandemic is over.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Why would I sell them? All of them, other than the i3, are appreciating at this point-- that's more than I can say for any other asset I own, recently. When this is over, they'll all still be ready to go. None of them are particularly stock, so it's not like I could just rebuy them later. Plus, it's getting really hard to find nice condition, up to date on maintenance e39 M5s, etc.

Broken down car by car:
Suburban: probably should sell this, actually. 200 miles in the last 2 years
M3 coupe: clearly not going anywhere.
M3 wagon: one of our two family cars (other being the i3)
M5: my wife loves it, so I'm stuck with it either way. This is the car we own that's least to my taste (too big/torquey for me, really)
... I've actually been debating a quarantine project of building a 6mt e61 (wagon) M5...

The i3... some of it is very much what I like in cars, some of it is not.

Typical likes
2700 lbs
super low COG
Super stiff chassis
no turbo lag
small car with a practical interior

Things I don't like:
Space ship looks
no manual... though I don't think EVs would be better with a manual
EPS (though that's unavoidable in EVs)

I think I'm okay with it because the areas it deviates from what I normally like actually get me something in exchange. As in, I strongly dislike turbos, but there's also no payoff for me getting one. The aspects of the i3 that I dislike result in zero gas consumption and zero maintenance-- real, tangible benefits.

Also, since I changed jobs my commute kind of sucks... so I don't need full on dynamics. Our plan was to move out into the boonies this summer, which might have changed that... but that's on hold until this pandemic is over.

Agree with you on the i3. It's surprisingly fun to drive even for an enthusiast. Light RWD instant torque? It's what we all want in a car! The downsides are what you mentioned, it also needs more power and the looks are polarizing. Admittedly, it's been sitting in the garage, I think I drove it once I the past month since working from home. Any drives I do are in the M3 CS since I want to have some fun.

[VisualEcho]

I'd buy that new Tesla roadster if I could a.) will it into existence, b.) afford it, and c.) charge it at home.

Beyond that, no.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Throw a generator in the trunk . And charge while you drive

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Throw a generator in the trunk . And charge while you drive

That's a factory option on the i3,... though it adds 300 lbs (and brings back ICE maintenance). Though, at this point, they only offer it in the USA on new cars.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/11/25/b...led-in-the-i3/

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Obioban

That's a factory option on the i3,... though it adds 300 lbs (and brings back ICE maintenance). Though, at this point, they only offer it in the USA on new cars.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/11/25/b...led-in-the-i3/

That 0.6-liter 38-hp 2-cylinder from the BMW C600 scooter (range extender) should be called "Irony"
///M badge on the rear would make it complete...

[Humdizzle]

I would get an EV vehicle but it doesn't make financial sense to me right now. I wish the i3 had a bit longer range (my commute is 80 miles round trip / 35 minutes each way door to door). the extended range ones seem a bit too expensive still in the low 20s.

also phillips 66 has a gas app so you don't have to touch the keypad. put yeah you still have to touch the pump which sucks. You can always just use some hand sanitizer after you touch it though.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

That 0.6-liter 38-hp 2-cylinder from the BMW C600 scooter (range extender) should be called "Irony"
///M badge on the rear would make it complete...

It doesn't power the wheels. It only charges the battery.

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Yep.

It would also suck to have to touch a gas pump or be in close proximity to people at a gas station these days.

I have never been to a gas station where being 6' or closer is ever a thing.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

That 0.6-liter 38-hp 2-cylinder from the BMW C600 scooter (range extender) should be called "Irony"
///M badge on the rear would make it complete...

///M has already lost all meaning, in the era where M cars have turbos, all wheel drive, automatics, no steering feel, and can be SUVs. A 2700 lb, carbon fiber monocoque, instantaneous throttle response, rwd hatch with the lowest CoG of any car BMW has sold would hardly hurt their reputation.

And the scooter motor (optional) is really just an on board generator-- doesn't power the wheels.

[Unknown_Car]

Originally Posted by Obioban

I've never been happier to own an EV-- We get to completely avoid touching gas pumps or being near people at the gas station. In our fleet of ICEVs we've probably used 4 gallons of gas all year-- the i3 has been absorbing 99% of the mile we drive to further limit being exposed to other people.

But, yep, charging at home.
(that said, everyone is driving so little these days that I suspect most people would be fine using the 110V standard wall socket charger).

Actually, one of my bigger concerns is that I might not use the gas in the ICEVs this year... which would mean next spring they'll have 2 year old gas in them, which would be terrible for everything...

You should lock yourself in the house maybe as well, so you don't see people at all, it might protect you better.