@FunCartel it makes me glad to know that you’re environmentally conscious! & I’m surprised & happy that many people here have a passion for EV’s / renewable energy / & efficiency!
Great thread! @EV_Enthusiast how does the interior space of the Y compare to the S? I love sleeping in the back of my Honda Pilot for car camping, and I know the S is known for that too. Is the Y big enough to lay flat in (I’m only 5’6” so don’t need a ton of room).
And, what is the consensus on buying used EVs (like a Model S)? I tend to buy used one owner reliable cars and drive them til they die (my Pilot has 216k on it currently), and I’m worried about a used EV and especially the possibility of having to replace a very expensive battery. Thanks!
@Protector Sounds like you need to look at Rivian for camping. They are the bees knees for that.
I have an EV. Bought a used Ford Focus EV in 2016. It's a 2012. It had a low range in battery but then I got a brand new 2018 battery in 2018 and then another new battery in 2019. Both covered under warranty, thank goodness! I love my EV and haven't had to pay for gas since 2016. It's the best!
@Protector I actually car camp quite a bit in my Model Y. I'm only 5'8", so if you're 5'6" you'll be perfectly fine. I sometimes have to lay a bit diagonally if I'm going fully stretched out, but just barely. I don't have experience car camping in the S, but it is a longer car. Longer can be okay for the sleeping part, but for driving, parking, garage space, etc. I'd honestly prefer the shorter Model Y. There's also more headroom to my understanding (sedan vs crossover SUV). Last cool thing about the Y is that it's the only Tesla model currently that has the full, uninterrupted glass roof (no bar in the middle). This is a plus for sleeping in, but the X extended windshield is cooler when driving. As for the Rivian, they could be good for camping, but they only just started delivering to customers in late October 2021, so I'd wait to see if we have any production/quality issues as they continue to grow and manufacture cars (think Tesla when they launch a new car, even early Model Ys in 2020).
To your used car question, I was exactly the same way as you (although I'd buy 5+ year old Civics and drive them till they die) and wondered about a used EV. The problem is knowing the history of the car with regard to the battery quality/degradation, which is not prioritized or even shared when buying (for the most part). For example, if the previous owner rarely charged at home on 110V or 240V, but only at DC fast chargers (Superchargers), the degradation will likely be awful. So it can be a risk, especially with how well Teslas tend to hold their value (I honestly don't know how well other EVs hold their value), as used vs new can sometimes be very close in price. Of course YYMV for this depending on what you might find for private sale.
Tesla is Awesome! Go for it!
If anybody ever doubts themselves, just know that Elon Musk became the richest person (not just in the world / but in history) due in part by creating electric vehicles , which went head on against the oil & auto industry (single handedly)! no other industry does as much lobbying as the oil industry , (maybe sugar & tobacco) & he took on the auto industry, to the point that they had to adapt & produce EV’s themselves …. It didn’t matter that these oil tycoons had all these politicians in their pockets, this man nearly went bankrupt in his pursuits, & he’s not anymore human than anyone else here … it came with a cost (& he’s open about it, it took a mental toll) & he works 7 days a week & 12 hours a day, but he was determined & relentless. Most of us are not willing to do the same (why? Because happiness is subjective).
Ok. I drove the Ford Mustang Mach E Premium. Very disappointed. Squishy, spongy ride. Looks like you would sit low but you don’t. It goes but not as exciting as the Tesla for the same price. This amounted to nothing more than a very quiet SUV.
Thanks for the update /such a letdown that it was a disappointment because it looks badass, but you dodge a bullet with the test drive … I’m guessing it comes down to The Tesla & Lucid , have you done a test drive ?
I am leaning toward the Tesla. So impressed with the car and the service provided during my visit. First class organization.
💯!
I had a Prius for 12 years and got a Tesla Model 3 in 2019 and traded that in for a Model Y on 4/1/2020. I love driving it and in spite of some awful customer service experiences, I still love the car. I charge it at home and when I go on longer trips the car plans the route and leads me to the nearest Tesla Supercharging Stations which seem to be everywhere.
@FunCartel The other thing a friend of mine told me was the terrible one pedal driving with the Mach E. Mainly that the braking is very harsh and not smooth at all (when regen braking is on and/or high).
Not sure if you've explored the joy of one pedal driving, but it's one of main issues I have the hardest time going back to whenever I drive an ICE vehicle. I personally prioritize the quality of the regen/one pedal driving.
@EV_Enthusiast Yeah, I had it on one pedal driving and it was very disappointing. I seriously questioned if Ford had even bothered to try and reverse engineer the Tesla because there is such a big gap in performance but not in price. Heck, the VW is a few thousand dollars cheaper but performs better than the Ford. Underwhelmed beyond words…and I wasn’t even driving the base model.
I am not an EV owner so I cannot comment on that. However, I just ran across this article that uses a recently published study to look at the costs involved in an EV vs. a gas powered vehicle. The cost of charging vs. gas can vary, one has a harder time (currently) finding a place to charge, resulting in wasted miles, one needs to pay for the installation of a charger at home, etc. Not saying any of this to discourage, they are just looking at the various factors and making a comparison.
Just thought it might be helpful.
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2021/10/21/electric-vehicle-charging-cost-vs-gas/6110815001/
Question on the environmental aspect of EVs: obviously they eliminate air pollution where they are driven but how is that compared to the air pollution generated to produce the electricity used to charge it? This is something I have not investigated. Does anyone know much about this?
I was surprised to read in the comments here that it would take 7-8 hours to charge a vehicle that would only be able to drive about 30 miles on that. I’m assuming that’s the case with the vehicles under discussion? Surely that’s not the case with all EVs, is it? I’m asking as a complete dummy on this. I don’t mean to distract from the OP but this is something I’ve wondered about and it seems a few folks here are knowledgeable about the EVs.
Since I am a person of extremely modest means, until EVs are showing up on the used car market this will be a moot point for me.
@Babichev They were talking about a level 1 charging station taking that long. Level 3 charging can charge most cars in 35-45 minutes. And you do not necessarily need the charging station. Also the Build Back Better bill which just passed a House procedural vote includes money for infrastructure and increase the tax credit dollars for buying one. The only real pollution are the various mined minerals used in the batteries but those would be mined even if EVs were not around, and the tires that occasionally need to be changed. In addition, the tax incentives given to individuals increase if the car is completely manufactured in the USA if the new bill comes about.
Bottom line is we need to start somewhere if the species wishes to survive. I know a lot of people can’t afford the EVs out now but less expensive models are coming out in the next 12 months. To me personally, this is not about the money but rather the long term survival of us. Plus I converted all my power tools—lawn mower, leaf blower etc. to electric and I am extremely happy with their performance.
I agree on definitely needing to do something about our impact on the environment. That’s what I’m trying to assess. One needs to use some sort of energy to produce the electricity, whether it’s burning coal or gas, or using wind or solar. The pollution may not be occurring at the point where the car is being driven but it’s occurring at the point of where the electricity is being generated if it’s at a plant where they burn coal or gas. That’s what I’m trying to find out, what is the environmental impact of the amount of electricity used to charge a vehicle vs. the amount of gas burned by a gas engine. I seem to not be making myself clear. I’m sure that information must be out there, just thought someone here might know.
Okay, a quick Google search turned up several articles from reasonably reputable sources that agree that overall EVs are cleaner. Here’s one such article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/climate/electric-vehicles-environment.html
@Babichev The fact that EVs are cleaner has been fact for years. The raw materials mining is the main source of pollution as the EV factories are much cleaner as they use electrical robotic equipment. You do not have nearly as many oils and chemical liquids involved as ICE vehicles. The telling part is the EV industry is much more transparent that the ICE industry . Have a question about anything EV? You can find it in seconds. Meanwhile the oil industry has been spreading misinformation all over the place. Because they are scared.