raylo32
100 kW
I am looking at what my next vehicle might be and a BEV is compelling... and Level 2 home charging would more than fulfill my local driving needs. IIRC fully loaded residential electricity cost here is ~ 15 cents per KWh. The Ford Mustang Mach E with the extended battery I am looking at is rated to consume at about 2.5KWh/mile so driving 200 miles locally would cost ~$12, like driving almost for free.
But then I started looking at road trips and that's where this all falls apart. My usual 1050 mile trip to FL would use ~420KWh in that Mach E. Electrify America fast charge rate is $0.41 per KWh so the trip would cost ~$170 and require at least 4 stops. Compare that to my 2009 Toyota Tacoma, not a particularly efficient vehicle, that gets 21 MPG on the highway... that would use 50 gallons of gas at about $3.50 per gallon for a cost of $175 and require only 2 stress free fuel stops. Now EA has a slightly lower rate ($0.31) for members but that comes with a monthly fee and if you only make one or 2 road trips a year it wouldn't be worth joining. And even that still costs too much, IMO. And regular hybrids like the RAV4 and/or more efficient gasoline cars like a Honda CR/V will actually cost far less to make that same drive than the EV.
So, maybe it's still just me but I see zero advantages and many disadvantages to using EVs for anything except local commuting and daily driving. Unless this pricing dynamic changes I just don't see how we convert over to an electrified fleet anytime soon, other than by mandate. Since there is no cost advantage it sure won't be by choice.
But then I started looking at road trips and that's where this all falls apart. My usual 1050 mile trip to FL would use ~420KWh in that Mach E. Electrify America fast charge rate is $0.41 per KWh so the trip would cost ~$170 and require at least 4 stops. Compare that to my 2009 Toyota Tacoma, not a particularly efficient vehicle, that gets 21 MPG on the highway... that would use 50 gallons of gas at about $3.50 per gallon for a cost of $175 and require only 2 stress free fuel stops. Now EA has a slightly lower rate ($0.31) for members but that comes with a monthly fee and if you only make one or 2 road trips a year it wouldn't be worth joining. And even that still costs too much, IMO. And regular hybrids like the RAV4 and/or more efficient gasoline cars like a Honda CR/V will actually cost far less to make that same drive than the EV.
So, maybe it's still just me but I see zero advantages and many disadvantages to using EVs for anything except local commuting and daily driving. Unless this pricing dynamic changes I just don't see how we convert over to an electrified fleet anytime soon, other than by mandate. Since there is no cost advantage it sure won't be by choice.