Electric Vehicles: Tesla specific talk, current firmware, purchasing, modifications

[Citysnaps]

Yeah I'm with you on this one, we're lucky that we still have my wife's ICE vehicle and will use that for roadtrips going forward. Typically I do anyway but thought I had it good plan for the Tesla and charging but was way off the mark. Good lesson though, it'll never happen again lol.

In the past I've done multi-day photo road trips down to the Salton Sea (a little inland from San Diego), and then crossing over to Joshua Tree National Park (being there is like being on Mars), the Mojave Desert, and then up along the Eastern Sierras on Hwy 395, and back home to the Bay Area. That was an awesome trip.

Also did another long (6 day) photo roadtrip with a friend across Nevada on Hwy 80, dropping down to 50 near Utah, and back home. Hitting up people for conversation and photos along the way, and making photos of weird stuff.

I'm pretty sure I'd be super stressed out doing that in an EV.

(hat tip to my wife the artist for making the map below)

 

[diamond.g]

Depends on your circumstances, like having a charger at home.
I got a 2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, and it's been great. It provides 45 miles ICE-free range. Low maintenance, and I average about 4 tank fulls / year.
(Not counting road trips out of state, that obviously lack any range anxiety).

I have a 2014 Volt that I put ~100K miles on (I bought it when it had 40K miles). I used to drive from Fredericksburg to DC for work everyday. The only issue I have is the coolant sensor died which requires special software/tools to get out of HV lockout. And the car somehow allowed the HV pack to totally die after my wife filled it up (with gas), which also required special software to un-brick it. I am happy I was able to fix it without needing to tow (the coolant sensor issue just prevented charging). Our local mechanic didn't have access to the tools to fix either issue, it would have had to be towed to the dealership. All the cells seem balanced so I am unsure of why the car didn't switch over to HEV mode.

My wife rarely plugged the Volt in, even when the vehicle took a charge. I was way more consistent about it. It is a lot of weight to carry around unused.

 

[diamond.g]

Looking for a new car, which would be used for general getting around locally, and multiple long distance road trips, I'm starting to reconsider my options (originally wanting an EV).

My wife's had a Toyota hybrid for a year and a half and has worked out great. I'm now leaning in that direction for my next ride.

With the EPA fuel economy standards allegedly being rolled back, that is going to put folks in a tight spot with respect to how much it costs to fill up a tank. A Toyota hybrid is a good choice.

 

[Cmaier]

You guys have me almost convinced to look at something like an X5 or Cayenne plug-in hybrid. My commute round trip is around 40 miles, and there’s a cheap charger at work (cheaper than charging at home, by far).

 

[Cmaier]

Ha ha ha. https://www.theverge.com/news/603201/tesla-admits-hw3-computer-defect-replacements

 

[Eric]

Ha ha ha. https://www.theverge.com/news/603201/tesla-admits-hw3-computer-defect-replacements

Man that FSD is the worst implementation ever created for a vehicle IMO. In fact I would say that unless you're the little old lady from Pasadena it's more likely to do harm than good.

 

[Eric]

You guys have me almost convinced to look at something like an X5 or Cayenne plug-in hybrid. My commute round trip is around 40 miles, and there’s a cheap charger at work (cheaper than charging at home, by far).

This is one area the Tesla is a great fit, I'm about 50 miles from SF and travel there several times a week. A charge to around 75% to 80% is perfect for met to get there, tool around, then come home with ease. Then I just plug it in and am ready to go next time.

 

[cbum]

there’s a cheap charger at work

Yes, same here - however, the only time any of them are available are on weekends - to many users!

 

[Yoused]

One of the frustrations is ChargePoint / EVGo / ElectrifyAmerica / Tritium / Tesla / Blink / etcetc (not to mention the galling existence of Shell and BP chargers). You can use any one of them (that you can get to fit your port), but if you are not signed up with them, the vig is steep. So, in order to make your long travels affordable, you have to load your phone up with 57 different apps, sign up with each one and hope you do not find yourself looking at WTFIT.

 

[Cmaier]

One of the frustrations is ChargePoint / EVGo / ElectrifyAmerica / Tritium / Tesla / Blink / etcetc (not to mention the galling existence of Shell and BP chargers). You can use any one of them (that you can get to fit your port), but if you are not signed up with them, the vig is steep. So, in order to make your long travels affordable, you have to load your phone up with 57 different apps, sign up with each one and hope you do not find yourself looking at WTFIT.

The best part about my tesla is i can charge at any supercharger for free forever, and each time i do it’s a few pennies out of Musk’s pocket.

 

[Yoused]

By the end of the decade, we may see the proliferation of "solid state" batteries, which will be a game-changer. 600~1000mile range would be more common, which would accelerate acceptance of EVs (and they would also be lighter). But, for that to happen, we need a reasonably stable country, which is uncertain just now.

 

[Nycturne]

One of the frustrations is ChargePoint / EVGo / ElectrifyAmerica / Tritium / Tesla / Blink / etcetc (not to mention the galling existence of Shell and BP chargers). You can use any one of them (that you can get to fit your port), but if you are not signed up with them, the vig is steep. So, in order to make your long travels affordable, you have to load your phone up with 57 different apps, sign up with each one and hope you do not find yourself looking at WTFIT.

Technology Connections has ranted on this a couple of times now. Somehow gas stations already solved this, but now because the tech industry is coming in and "disrupting" things, we gotta break what works in favor of feeding the data beast?

At least it looks like SAE sees this as something needing correcting, but they seemingly miss the problem that this whole system doesn't have the same level of accessibility of POS systems and someone working a cash register: https://www.sae.org/news/press-room/2024/12/sae-evpki-plug-and-charge

 

[DT]

In the past I've done multi-day photo road trips down to the Salton Sea (a little inland from San Diego), and then crossing over to Joshua Tree National Park (being there is like being on Mars), the Mojave Desert, and then up along the Eastern Sierras on Hwy 395, and back home to the Bay Area. That was an awesome trip.

Also did another long (6 day) photo roadtrip with a friend across Nevada on Hwy 80, dropping down to 50 near Utah, and back home. Hitting up people for conversation and photos along the way, and making photos of weird stuff.

I'm pretty sure I'd be super stressed out doing that in an EV.

(hat tip to my wife the artist for making the map below)

Yeah, I'm all about an EV when it works well for your use cases, and doesn't create unnecessary anxiety/issues/concerns.

A PHEV can be a good option, in general, they're a bit of both a Best Case / Worst Case scenario in a vehicle. Upsides are (again, use case dependent), better mileage, less fuel use, some perks of a BEV (ex: can run quiet), they can have better than ICE performance, and if you're in a situation where you can't charge, they have a "gas backup".

However, you're adding weight, complexity, not being the best ICE when there's no charge, not being the best BEV due to limited range. Obviously complexity can lead to more repairs, you're still dealing with ICE maintenance (ex: oil changes), etc.

Still though, if your typical "operational range" is within electric only and you want the extra flexibility - and, as I've said several times, you have home charging - then it might be something to consider.

We shopped the X5 50e, which is 40-45 mile electric only range, 500+ total range, tons of power when both electric and ICE are working together, more traditional SUV design. For us, it came down to the benefit of a PHEV for the 1-2 out-of-single-charge-BEV-range trips we might make a year vs. all the perks of a BEV.

EREVs like the upcoming Scouts, have a small gas engine that is not tied into the drivetrain, it's a generator, it's only for charging the batteries. So you have, in effect, a pure BEV, but with the option to juice it up using the onboard gas generator. Has the same perks of being able to "gas up" anywhere, though some of the same downsides in that you're dealing with an additional system (and that also reduces the battery size). Apparently a notable majority of the Scout reservations are for the EREV flavor!

 

[DT]

This is a pretty fun PHEV option too, same drivetrain the XC60R (we also briefly considered), but in a rare wagon config, that looks fantastic, has a killer suspension setup, some very cool design elements, certainly would NOT see yourself coming and going

https://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/v60-hybrid/https://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/v60-hybrid/

 

[Cmaier]

Yeah, I'm all about an EV when it works well for your use cases, and doesn't create unnecessary anxiety/issues/concerns.

A PHEV can be a good option, in general, they're a bit of both a Best Case / Worst Case scenario in a vehicle. Upsides are (again, use case dependent), better mileage, less fuel use, some perks of a BEV (ex: can run quiet), they can have better than ICE performance, and if you're in a situation where you can't charge, they have a "gas backup".

However, you're adding weight, complexity, not being the best ICE when there's no charge, not being the best BEV due to limited range. Obviously complexity can lead to more repairs, you're still dealing with ICE maintenance (ex: oil changes), etc.

Still though, if your typical "operational range" is within electric only and you want the extra flexibility - and, as I've said several times, you have home charging - then it might be something to consider.

We shopped the X5 50e, which is 40-45 mile electric only range, 500+ total range, tons of power when both electric and ICE are working together, more traditional SUV design. For us, it came down to the benefit of a PHEV for the 1-2 out-of-single-charge-BEV-range trips we might make a year vs. all the perks of a BEV.

EREVs like the upcoming Scouts, have a small gas engine that is not tied into the drivetrain, it's a generator, it's only for charging the batteries. So you have, in effect, a pure BEV, but with the option to juice it up using the onboard gas generator. Has the same perks of being able to "gas up" anywhere, though some of the same downsides in that you're dealing with an additional system (and that also reduces the battery size). Apparently a notable majority of the Scout reservations are for the EREV flavor!

thanks for reminding me of the biggest problem with a PHEV - the damned california smog checks. I’ll stick to EV.

 

[DT]

Oh yeah, haven't even considered the need for a PHEV to get an emissions check! I guess that's another check in the "worst case" column.

Huh. I wonder (probably... ?) if that will apply to EREVs[?]

(If it makes the state a buck, I'm sure yes )

 

[Eric]

thanks for reminding me of the biggest problem with a PHEV - the damned california smog checks. I’ll stick to EV.

BMW dealership that couldn't come close to reaching what I wanted for a deal a few weeks back reached out again yesterday and they were actually able to get it close to my same payments on a lease. Convincing my wife is a bit more of a challenge though, we'll have to see how this goes lol.

 

[Cmaier]

BMW dealership that couldn't come close to reaching what I wanted for a deal a few weeks back reached out again yesterday and they were actually able to get it close to my same payments on a lease. Convincing my wife is a bit more of a challenge though, we'll have to see how this goes lol.

I’ve had mixed experiences at the various BMW dealers in the bay. Best experiences have been with Mountain View, fwiw.

 

[Citysnaps]

BMW dealership that couldn't come close to reaching what I wanted for a deal a few weeks back reached out again yesterday and they were actually able to get it close to my same payments on a lease. Convincing my wife is a bit more of a challenge though, we'll have to see how this goes lol.

Which BMW model are you considering? Is it an iX?

 

[Eric]

I’ve had mixed experiences at the various BMW dealers in the bay. Best experiences have been with Mountain View, fwiw.

We have a seemingly decent dealer out here in Sonoma at Hansel.

Which BWM model are you considering? Is it an iX?

It was and i4, I say was because I just heard back that they already leased it. But they know what my numbers are and I won't bend on it, if they can find something in my range then I'll talk with them about it. I will still be taking a loss but not a huge loss, it'll be worth it to get out from under Tesla.