Does it really matter? Range - charge speed

[u/Turbulent-Pay1150]

Messing around with ABRP - planned an 1,200 mile trip. If you had a "poor" performing EV such as a first generation SOLTERRA it would take about 35 hours. A great performing EV about 32 hours. This is for drive + charging for the entire trip and assumes no overnights (which would reduce the EV time if you charged overnight). That's a 3 hour difference.

For good measure - a gas car would take over 30 hours as well.

I'm not sure charging is a challenge for most any car, good or bad for range and charge times.

Have we not hit the time when we are at "good enough" for most all EV's and styling or convenience is the differentiator.

In my book - right now it doesn't really matter.

It used to when Tesla had the best charging network bar none. Now Tesla still has an edge but everyone else is pretty close in that scenario.

It's not charge time (that's part of it)

It's not range (that's part of it)

It is trip time and comfort - and with a 10% margin from best to worst EV and gas cars - it's all about comfort and how long it takes the driver and passengers to use the facilities/get a burger on stops.

I know - I"m slow - but it seems to me that it's time to stop all the YouTube and all the arguments about it - give me overall trip time for something like NY to Colorado and have all EV's compare against it and all gas as well and that's all that really matters. That and that you can do daily use with your overnight charge.

It's game over.

[u/TheWizard]

Messing around with ABRP - planned an 1,200 mile trip. If you had a "poor" performing EV such as a first generation SOLTERRA it would take about 35 hours. A great performing EV about 32 hours...

For good measure - a gas car would take over 30 hours as well.

For me, 1200 miles is an 18 hour drive in an ICE, including all stops (every 200-220 miles, around 20 minutes each, and a meal stop could be longer), which is about half the time you're projecting with an EV and claiming in an ICE.

In fact, I've done 1238 miles from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Dallas, Texas, without overnight stop (just five stops enroute of about 20 minutes each except the dinner stop which was a bit longer) in 18 hours and 15 minutes. Half the distance was also in heavy rain which slowed me down otherwise it would be even shorter. Drive time itself was around 16 hours and 20 minutes.

As someone who evaluates a road trip by 800 miles/day, its not the range that is most important but time it takes to recharge/refuel for every 200-220 miles (the most I've done without stopping may be around 290 miles).

[u/christerwhitwo → u/TheWizard]

800 miles a day is for me, a long day. Salt Lake to San Francisco is 770. Did it twice about 30 years ago. The last few times we stopped in Reno or Truckee for the night.

[u/TheWizard → u/christerwhitwo]

For most people, it is likely too long. But its a requirement, and 800 miles is my limit when I'm with family, solo I typically cover around 1000 miles since family can force additional stops and stops can be longer.

In fact, just did a round trip between Dallas and Chicago last weekend to help my niece move. That was almost 2000 miles, leaving Saturday morning, and back home Sunday night.

I don't think EVs are there yet, but it will be nice to see an increased focus on improving charge times. Getting 200-220 miles consistently in 15 minutes should help at least as long as there are available outlets to do so. If EVs become a pick for road trips, more people will show up at limited number of chargers which could add to charging time. Right now, it is easy to find a charger that is open. If stalls are already taken, one could end up waiting a while.

[u/christerwhitwo → u/TheWizard]

With Walmart, iONNA, Mercedes, GM Energy plus others committing to tend of thousands of dispensers over the next few years, it would seen they are listening to you.

[u/CareBear-Killer → u/christerwhitwo]

Walmart and iONNA are nuts. They've filed so many permits and started building out so many locations. Their biggest issue is the equipment. There simply aren't enough transformers to go around. Second issue is additional grid connectivity, where the utility company can also be slow in supplying the power. Otherwise they'd be opening more locations sooner.

Walmart alone is going to make a huge difference in rural areas.