Path to electric vehicle success requires lifestyle changes

I am writing this letter to add some personal insight to Tim Kerner's very well done Maine Compass on February 9th (“Anyone Can Buy an EV. There's no need.'') I've had my Tesla Model 3 for over 3 years now and I'm still learning.

This article places the debate around EV ownership exactly where it should be: on the shoulders of well-informed decision makers. So, here is a personal glimpse into the issues raised by the author. To help, I'd like to share my experience driving to church on a Sunday morning, then heading home, and then making an early morning trip to Framingham, Massachusetts.

First, a trip to church. The temperature is 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the mileage is 10.69 miles, and the mileage is 17.83 miles. The trip cost 32 cents. The same thing happened when I got home (TeslaFi data).

Now it's time for a trip to Framingham.

Tesla does a great job of encouraging charging stations while traveling. With EVs, make sure you have enough charge to get to your destination, leave the car for a few hours (the car uses electricity to warm up the battery), and then leave it with enough charge to get to the charging station. There must be a sufficient charge left. On the way home.

During the descent my battery was charged to about 470 miles. The downhill trip took 196.8 miles on the road, but the battery used 272.2 miles and was about 72% efficient. It stopped twice to charge. It was the same on the way back. The average temperature was about 33 degrees.

Mr. Kilner's comparative figures for gas stations and charging stations show that you need to be very careful about the remaining charge and cannot refuel immediately. I have a friend who had his EV towed twice during trips to upstate New York because it didn't have enough charge.

So where exactly does the extra miles spent go? Primarily used for internal heat and preconditioning the battery for fast charging. Additionally, wind, elevation change, temperature, and speed are also important. A driver will be more aware of the influence of all these factors in his EV than in a gasoline-fueled car. Tesla has a built-in app that shows drivers how the battery is being used while driving.

I got home with about 60 miles left on the battery. Luckily, I have a Tesla home charger and it charges at about 75 miles per hour. The garage is insulated and heated, which helps drain the battery. Mr. Kilner correctly addresses apartment dwellers and the lack of adequate charging capabilities. A dedicated home charger is required in Maine.

Driving an electric car requires lifestyle changes. Charging takes time, trips take time to plan, and you have to stop frequently to refuel. Forcing an EV mandate is one thing, but forcing an EV mandate is another. On the other hand, lifestyle changes cannot be prescribed by law. And for EVs to be successful in Maine, hearts and minds will need to change.

J. Gregory Holder

augusta