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0 pointskaydub3d ago0 comments

I've only had an EV 3 months now, but it'll never see a charging station.

I pay around $.12/kw and get 4 miles per kw. So my "energy" costs are $.03/mile. I have a Mazda cx50 as well, it gets about 20-22mpg, with the gas prices here in Seattle that's around $.30/mile. Even where gas is cheaper that's still $.20/mile. Literally 10x the cost to run a gas car vs an EV.

I'm honestly shocked at how many people have EVs and rely on charging stations. I mean, I think it's a low number, but the fact that it's more than zero is shocking to me.

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12 comments · 2 top-level

mercutio23d ago· 9 in thread

The pacific northwest’s vast hydro capacity makes it maximally attractive to own an EV. The rest of the country isn’t nearly so lucky.

robocat2d ago

Is the hydro power already mostly consumed?

What actually matters is where extra generation occurs to handle the marginal new load of new electric vehicles.

Everyone fools themselves because they look at the current percentage of hydropower and think that is what powers their car - when it rarely is.

kaydubOP2d ago

I don't think most people care where their electricity comes from, just the price.

sarchertech3d ago

Neither Oregon nor Washington are in the top 10 states for cheapest residential power. Everywhere except for the Northeast and California has prices within a few cents per kWh of the Pacific Northwest.

Danox3d ago

One of the reasons Norway can go all electric (EV’s), but most of the world doesn’t have the hydroelectric resources they have.

acdha3d ago

Maybe it’s not as much cheaper but it’s cheaper than gas anywhere in the country.

sitkack2d ago

Seattle City Light owns a sizable chunk of its generating capacity.

rayiner3d ago

I’m at $0.11 in Maryland which gets 40% of its power from nuclear.

tadfisher2d ago

Doesn't make electricity much cheaper

jwr3d ago

I'm in the EU and the factor is 3-4x.

redwall_hp3d ago· 1 in thread

More people own cars than houses. I live in an apartment, and the only ways I'd be able to charge an electric car are expensive charging stations or plugging in an extension cord, leaving a sliding door cracked all night and hoping the property's management doesn't throw a fit, pets don't sneak out, somebody doesn't break in, etc.

I've got a hybrid now, at least.

sarchertech3d ago

There’s plenty of cheap charging to be had in parking lots you’d otherwise park in. Many employers have charging stations. Plenty of apartments offer charging.

But even if you can’t find any of those, L2 charging at stations is half as expensive as fast charging.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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12 comments · 2 top-level

mercutio23d ago· 9 in thread

The pacific northwest’s vast hydro capacity makes it maximally attractive to own an EV. The rest of the country isn’t nearly so lucky.

robocat2d ago

Is the hydro power already mostly consumed?

What actually matters is where extra generation occurs to handle the marginal new load of new electric vehicles.

Everyone fools themselves because they look at the current percentage of hydropower and think that is what powers their car - when it rarely is.

kaydubOP2d ago

I don't think most people care where their electricity comes from, just the price.

sarchertech3d ago

Danox3d ago

One of the reasons Norway can go all electric (EV’s), but most of the world doesn’t have the hydroelectric resources they have.

acdha3d ago

Maybe it’s not as much cheaper but it’s cheaper than gas anywhere in the country.

sitkack2d ago

Seattle City Light owns a sizable chunk of its generating capacity.

rayiner3d ago

I’m at $0.11 in Maryland which gets 40% of its power from nuclear.

tadfisher2d ago

Doesn't make electricity much cheaper

jwr3d ago

I'm in the EU and the factor is 3-4x.

redwall_hp3d ago· 1 in thread

I've got a hybrid now, at least.

sarchertech3d ago

There’s plenty of cheap charging to be had in parking lots you’d otherwise park in. Many employers have charging stations. Plenty of apartments offer charging.

But even if you can’t find any of those, L2 charging at stations is half as expensive as fast charging.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse