Helpful Tesla Driver

Because MPG doesn't factor in other sources of energy. We need to look at total energy consumed, not just how much gas is burned. My guess is there are a few regular Prius owners out their that use less energy per mile on average than some PiP owner. Actually, I don't guess that, I know that.

 

I understand that, I really do.
but personally what I'm most happy about is that I was spending $150 a month on gas and now I'm spending $7
(ok I spent another $19 on charging)

 

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w545/golfx15/photo_zpsd1466d0c.jpg

The above also shows why I was being flip (don't care about MPGe)
I do obviously - but I can easily quantify the savings to my wallet - $120 / month so far. Only slightly tricky thing was figuring out what I spent on charging but now Chargepoint sends a nice statement so I net out those freebies and I've got a really accurate figure.

MPGe not so much - as was mentioned by some (you?) - doesn't work so well for very high EV drivers.
my pic above shows 99% EV, 380 miles for about 165 MPGe

ICE kicked in 3 times over the 380 miles thus the 3 gas miles.
The Formula says I should then call those 3 miles.... 1/2 gallon all of a sudden knocking that 165MPGe to 136 !
Really ?
The Formula would however allow me to switch and drive on gas for another 50 something miles to improve MPGe
(just keeping that gas under the 1 gallon reading)

An analytical person would call those 3 miles what they are - pretty much nothing or 5/100 of a gallon
Note too that 15% charge loss is an assumption but even more so the assumption that electricity is equal
We're counting some pretty dirty grids the same as pretty clean or someone using solar

Sorry, really don't want to ruffle feathers but that's why I care more about the numbers I know I can rely on !

 

MPGe is an energy equivalency. It has nothing to do with how clean or dirty the electricity it.
Everyone's goal in driving efficiency is different. Some care about MPGe, some care about carbon intensity, some could care less about one or both.

 

I agree with your philosophy but I if I had a PiP I might take the cord in case there was low stress place to charge up. But I would not feel like I had to. That's where PiP is the best plug-in, if you have that philosophy.

 

As I've told other people, possibly you as well...that is why we require 1000 miles. Those errors and inconsistencies are much less impact on the final number when there are more miles to work with.

And remember, that is just the standardized formula we use for that given Top 10 list. It obviously isn't 100% accurate, but it is 100% fair to everyone. We are not saying you should use the same formula on numbers like you list above.

 

In NYC and surrounding suburbs, I am aware of no free or paid chargers. I'm sure some exist, but the only ones I know of are in paid parking lots, or at a Nissan/Mitsubishi dealer.

For me...the only option remains home charging.

 

That doesn't surprise me given the free ones up here are at drive-in lots at The 99 or Whole Foods or as you mentioned - Nissan dealers. NYC is a different animal but nice that so many garages seem to have them (if available)

I did find one :
CITY OF NEWYORK / FDNY9METROTECH3
9 Metrotech Center, New York, New York 11201, United States
Port 1: (208/240V, 30A, J1772) Available - Free $

and have charged at Nissan before - there's a couple down there incl one in Manhattan

 

On the point of shopping vs. getting gasoline, lots of Costco and Safeway (large grocery store chain) stores around here have gasoline pumps, so you CAN get gasoline when you go to get bread. The Safeway stores here also offer discount Chevron gasoline coupons when you buy groceries. So why not electric fuel?

 

I consider public charging is a privilege of owning a plug-in car (BEVs or PHEVs). You pay up the premium to have this capability.

I think it's a personal choice whether you want to charge at public station or whether you want to yield to a BEV like Leaf for emergency charge.

In a few years, there will be more EV cars fighting for charge stations. PIP is really nice in the way that it maintains good MPG without charging. The stress level is low

 

I "liked" the "free charging" bit.

Even if the happy day comes with "charge it where you park" meaning there's a charger in every spot, free charging will still be a bad thing. When consumers don't pay the proper price of the product you end up with distortions and a market functioning suboptimally.

The best and cheapest time and place to charge is at home, at night. Free public charging messes with that.

 

I suspect you might think a bit differently about the PiP if you and everybody else had to pay per gallon for gasoline + strategic resource protection tax + respiratory health tax + cancer treatment tax.

 

I would consider buying a BEV if the battery/electric range is long enough, accessibility to public charge station is everywhere, and charging time is short. Otherwise, i wouldn't want to create higher anxiety level to myself. Probably in 10 years, when all the conditions for BEVs are optimal, I will get a nice BEV.

 

I was referring to the comparatively low electric range for a PHEV, not the presence of the engine.

 

I totally agree.
However, until we get 5 or 10% of all cars on the road using electricity (all or part time) I think we "need to mess with that" to urge the fence sitters and those that will be swayed by free stuff. EVs are expensive. Most people think they are golf carts. Their longevity is still in question. The repairability once the battery isn't useful is unknown.

So the field is tilted against them. We need to press our thumb on the scale in the other direction a bit for 5-10 years. All the charging station makers have very flexible systems. The owners can make them free today and charge later. They can have a fee M-F 9-5 and free other times. They can provide one hour of free charging, then have a fee after that. It is just software...they can get very creative. Everyone can have a free phone app that gives them all the info.

Mike

 

I disagree. By your logic Google (and Wikipedia) have messed up a lot of things.