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0 pointsogre_codes5y ago0 comments

> And the once in a blue moon they do have to drive more than 300 miles, they'll need to have a spare car to do it. They'll buy their new shiny very expensive Telsa and still have to keep a gasoline-powered car around.

I don't think this is the way EV owners deal with long trips.

Most Tesla owners seem to just use the Supercharger network and deal with waiting 20 minutes instead of 5 minutes. After 4 hours driving I usually take a lunch or dinner break regardless.

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xirbeosbwo12345y ago

That's the way I, an an EV owner, deal with long trips. I would never try to plot a course from charger to charger. That sounds annoying and dangerous.

I also highly doubt that charger networks would scale. Right now there are already busy gas stations by every exit on the highway. Imagine how overloaded they would be if it took an hour to fill up the tank.

A plug-in hybrid still makes more sense. They're far cheaper than any electric car, have all the advantages of an electric car for short trips, and have all the advantages of a gasoline car for long trips.

Electric cars are usable. They are not yet practical.

(By the way, as you may see from my other comments, I consider Tesla a criminal enterprise. It is possible I am dismissing the Supercharger network a little too easily.)

ogre_codesOP5y ago

This is why Tesla has such a big emphasis on range. If a car has a 300 mile range, I think dealing with charging stations is tolerable. Few people drive more than 500 miles a day so you just have 1 stop, not a bunch.

> Right now there are already busy gas stations by every exit on the highway. Imagine how overloaded they would be if it took an hour to fill up the tank.

How much of that traffic would be eliminated because EVs start the day full charged?

It only takes 20 minutes for the supercharger stations (And most newer entrants are pushing for faster charging with mixed results). It will certainly be interesting to see how well these networks hold up to increasing traffic over time. I've heard the super charger network can get pretty bogged up already on holiday weekends.

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