Driving/Charging Habit Changes Over Time

I don't take the EVSE with me anymore either.
There's simply no place other than home where I would feel safe using it. I'm not going to risk losing a $800+ cable to get 65 cents of electricity for free!

That being said- I'm ecstatic with the PIP's long term mpg- 95+ over the past two months with about 1,500 mi driven per month!

 

Ours changed for the better. If we have choices, we pick closer to home. As PiP has no short trip MPG penalty, covered by EV miles and no gas engine warm up, doing a lot of things locally is great.

 

i'm doing a lot more 15 mile 'sunday drives'. probably a waste of energy, but i love the thrill of crusing around beautiful areas at 15-25 mph, just enjoying the quiet and the scenery.

 

What does "probably" mean? I really, really, am not trying to be a wise-guy, but I have seen this a lot of times in posts, and guessed it means "probably". Is it a regional phrase, or Internet shorthand?

 

it's all inside my head man. and yes, more than likely.

 

"probably"

 

I've never taken my charging cord with me, and have never charged anywhere except at home. I plug in just about every night on the timer, and sometimes will add a charge during the day if I'm doing a lot of local driving.

 

+1
Same thing here!

 

I only take the EVSE with me to work as there is no L2 charger there. Otherwise it stays at home.

I used to try to maximize my EV range and mileage toggling the HV/EV button. My meddling didn't make the car more efficient, so these days I just drive it. I do save EV on the commute home through traffic when I know there is opportunity to go slow.

I used to charge at every opportunity but I switched to an EV night charging rate plan which is $0.05 kWh instead of $0.30 kWh as before.

I used to go to the Target 10 miles away for free L2 charging. Then I realized the Target 3 miles away with no free charging leaves me with more EV when I get home. That was pretty boneheaded of me.

 

Take my EVSE to work because we have old paddle chargers. I do not use it in public for fear of theft, but I have seen other people use their personal EVSE's when the public charger is in use but the adjacent spot is also EV only and a 120 plug is available.

I charge religiously. I work on a hill so usually stop at a garage with public charging spaces to grab lunch or coffee in the morning and get a charge before heading up the hill (which is a huge drop in mpg if done with gas).

Sometimes stop at a station on the way home (midway) to get mexican food and charge before heading home. Good for the local businesses because I would never stop in Downey otherwise.. who goes to Downey, CA?

I love it when people ask me about my car when I stop to charge. There are always people interested in the mpgs and how the electric works… and you meet nice people in the process. All in all, I'd say the PiP has been a great investment for me.

My driving habits have changed. I drive less on the freeway. Changed my route to work so it is 20 miles surface streets (EV/HV) and 10 miles freeway (HV). Get about 90 mpg on the way to work (uphill from the beach to Pasadena) unless I charge before heading up the hill -- then I usually get about 110 mpg. Return trip I get about 180 mpg, unless I charge midway then I get 999 mpg.

 

Hey, at least you figured it out. Las Vegas was built with money from people who can't do math...and it keeps getting bigger and bigger!

What Target is that? I'm 20 miles away, I might have to go check it out.

Mike

 

Yes the PiP has changed the way I drive. Or should I say reminds me the best way to drive as I already knew how to hypermile.... For instance, I will constantly match my speed (slow down usually) long before I get to a red light so I will not have to stop. I take my EVSE with me going out to my son's and a couple other places where I can get a free charge and not have to worry about the cable disappearing on me. The rest of the time I only charge at home.

Best way to save money at stores like Target, Mall Wart, Home Cheapo and the rest is to not shop there.... LOL

 

Brand new Target at Pacific Commons in Fremont. Some 10+ EV charging spots. Even has a pair of handicap EV charging spots. Just changed to 2 hours free and $2/hr thereafter. New Century Theatres next door is pretty nice too for Star Trek.

 

Holy crap, 10+ EV spots? How many individual chargers?

 

I never really counted but if memory recalls. 4 Chargepoint stations, each with a pair of L2's. 3 in the middle of the lot far from the doors so it's rarely ICE'd and 1 that is handicap only.

 

That's so awesome. Hopefully target starts to do this nationwide.

 

For the PIP that is $4 to get 3 kwh. Or about $1.33 per kwh...which is more than 10x the national average rate.
The Leaf and Volt can charge at a higher rate and use a full two hours so they are maybe only 5x the normal rate. (PIP is full in 90 min with L2). At these rates it makes no sense for any car to charge unless they really need it to get home...and that is never the case for PIP or Volt.

Mike