The problem of finding a place to charge your EV continues to get smaller, with the partnership between DC Fast charger EVGo and VW’s Electrify America program. Details below from Green Car Reports:
Author: Paul Bordenkircher
Fresh reviews of the Kona and Niro
Since both the Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona are recent newcomers to the EV marketplace, stories are fast and furious showing recent drives and initial driver impressions.
This one gives driver reviews of each vehicle and their unique features (spoiler alert: since Kia and Hyundai are sister companies, both rank pretty highly). Here’s the link to review them for yourself:
Kona Electric making waves, more…
Hyundai and sister company Kia have jumped into the EV market with both feet. The Kona is making waves due to the long range and good price point.
Beginner’s Guide to Driving an EV
KQED-FM recently posted an informative article on the things you should think about when considering an electric vehicle for your next purchase.
It begins, “Electric vehicles (EVs) are getting cheaper—so whether you’re looking for a way to save on the hassle and cost of gas, shrink your carbon footprint, or simply zip around in a new Tesla, there are lots of reasons to consider a hybrid or electric car.
But before you go electric, there are a few decisions you have to
make—and some planning you need to do—to make sure the car you buy fits your driving needs. Here are a few things to consider before you make the switch.”
The link to the full article is included below:
https://www.kqed.org/science/1947909/the-beginners-guide-to-electric-cars
Here’s every electric vehicle on sale in the US for 2020 and its range
From CNET’s Road Show section:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/every-electric-car-ev-range-audi-chevy-tesla/
Of course this is the list of new vehicles. But if you’re in the market for another vehicle – and are at least considering an EV – don’t forget to check sites like AutoTrader, Cars.com, TrueCar and others for fantastic deals on used ones.
HERE’S A TIP: If you’re especially concerned about battery capacity, consider a certified pre owned vehicle. Every major manufacturer has a CPO website. They typically come with extended warranties.
National Drive Electric Week 2019 declared “a rousing success”
A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out for National Drive Electric Week for 2019! Springs Preserve was jumping this year, as we had nearly 60 electric vehicles on display, with over 250 people in attendance.
Some of the brands represented at this year’s NDEW event included Tesla, Chevrolet, Honda, BMW, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Zero Motorcycles. EV conversions included a sports car built on a 1965 Ford GT frame.
Our thanks to many of our partners, including Sierra Club, Citizens Climate Lobby, FIRST Nevada Robotics, Green Alliance of Nevada, and NV Energy.
And don’t forget, our next event is just a month away!
The Electric Car Guest Drive
- October 26
10 am – 4pm - Bruce Trent Park
8851 W Vegas Drive
- Presented by Powershift by NV Energy, NV2X and LVEVA.
- RSVP at ElectricCarGuestDrive.com/lasvegas
Nissan and EVgo to add 200 fast chargers as more electric vehicles hit US roads
By Kirsten Korosec, TechCrunch
Nissan and EVgo said Tuesday they will install another 200 DC fast chargers in the United States to support the growing number of consumers who are buying electric vehicles, including the new Nissan Leaf e+ that came to market earlier this year.
The 100 kilowatt DC fast-charging stations will have both CHAdeMO and CCS connectors, making them accessible to more EV drivers. The inclusion of both charger connectors is logical; it’s also notable for Nissan, once the primary advocates for CHAdeMO chargers.
The announcement builds off of the companies’ six-year partnership, which included building out a corridor of EV chargers along Interstate 95 on the East Coast, as well as between Monterey, Calif., and Lake Tahoe.
Nissan says it has installed more than 2,000 quick-charge connectors across the country since 2010.
Plans to add another 200 fast chargers follows the launch of the 2019 Nissan Leaf e+. The Nissan Leaf e+, which came to the U.S. and Canada this spring, has a range of 226 miles and fast-charging capability.
This new version of the Leaf all-electric hatchback has 40% more range than other versions thanks to a 62 kilowatt-hour battery pack. That 226-mile range puts the Leaf e+ just under the Chevy Bolt EV, which has a 238-mile range, the Kia Niro EV with 239 miles and the Tesla Model 3 standard range plus with 240 miles.
“Given the tremendous driver response to the 2019 long-range all-electric LEAF, Nissan and EVgo will accelerate fast charging by committing to a multi-year charger construction program that will continue to expand fast-charging options for EV drivers across the country,” Aditya Jairaj, director, EV Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America said in a statement.
The companies also plan to partner on a marketing campaign to sell consumers on the benefits of EVs, and for Nissan, hopefully persuade more to buy its Nissan Leaf Plus. Nissan’s July sales figures were down compared to the same month last year, a slump that has affected the Leaf, as well.
2020 Chevy Bolt to boast 259 mile range
By Jon Fingas, Engadget
Chevy hasn’t tweaked the Bolt EV much since its introduction, but an impending refresh could be welcome by giving drivers what they often crave: more range.
The EPA has rated the 2020 Bolt EV as delivering 259 miles of range, up substantially from the 238 miles you’ve seen since the start. As Car and Driver observed, that would give it greater longevity than the Tesla Model 3’s Standard Range Plus trim (240 miles), the Kia Niro EV (239 miles) and the Hyundai Kona Electric (just shy at 258 miles).
It’s not certain just how Chevy wrung out that extra 21 miles of driving, but C&D understood that new battery chemistry was the key. Don’t expect a drastically upgraded car beyond that. The Bolt order guide only makes reference to new color and minor feature options. If you’re not fond of the design, this won’t change your mind. Having said that, added range could be enough of a selling point by itself.
It can make the difference between having to recharge mid-route and making a non-stop trip, and that could reel in buyers who’d either look at other EVs or (gasp) consider a gas- powered car instead.
EV Cost to Drive #5: Service Locations
As a new first-time owner of an electric vehicle, I thought it would be helpful to do a series of posts on some of the questions I had getting my first EV, a 2016 Chevy Spark EV, in January 2019.
Our last topic on the EV front concerns getting your vehicle serviced, should any problems arise with the electric propulsion system.
For EV enthusiasts (these are the ones that buy the cars new), availability of service is less of a problem. EVs called “compliance vehicles” are sold only in states with stricter emissions laws (typically places like California, Oregon and Maryland) and are therefore serviced there. But now that a lot of EVs are coming off leases, they are being shipped all over the country. The question becomes: can I get someone nearby to work on it if I have problems?
One of the criteria before purchasing my vehicle was availability of service by a local dealership. In Nevada, EVs aren’t that common yet, especially compliance vehicles. In order to get an EV serviced, a garage or dealership needs technicians who are trained to work on them. Quick example: I got into a fender bender within a month or two of getting my Spark, and had to have a fender fixed. A few body shops simply refused to service my car, saying their techs were not trained to work on EVs. The same goes for dealerships.
Nissan’s Leaf and Chevy’s Volt and Bolt are sold nationwide, so their dealerships have trained technicians in all 50 states. Other brands I looked at did not have certified shops anywhere in Nevada, so for me, I had to take them off my list.
Long story short, there is a lot to consider when it comes to electric vehicles. The good news is, there are a lot of compelling reasons to look into getting one for yourself, and the reasons NOT to do it are getting fewer and fewer. And for some people, their driving habits, needs and geographic location may make an EV purchase very difficult. But through this series, I hope you have good information to make your own informed choice. But our hope is you’ll look at EVs a little closer the next time you’re car shopping.
EV Cost to Drive #4: Range
As a new first-time owner of an electric vehicle, I thought it would be helpful to do a series of posts on some of the questions I had getting my first EV, a 2016 Chevy Spark EV, in January 2019.
Next on the EV discussion, let’s talk about the biggest factor besides the initial cost, and that’s range.
The #1 reason people don’t purchase EVs – even more than price – is range anxiety. The question is always, “Will this car get me where I’m going without running out of juice?” This is a legitimate concern, and depending on your answers to these questions, plus factors like your budget, may tip the scales for – or against – an EV. Let’s hit them quick.
1. Distance. How far is your drive? Is it a daily commute across town, or are you a sales guy traveling city to city? You need to factor in what your driving habits require. In my case, my commute is 25 miles round trip on surface streets. Even a short range commuter car like my Spark EV handles it well.
2. Terrain. My drive is all downhill to work, all uphill back home. I use very little capacity getting there, and a lot more coming back. For me it evens out, but if you’re in very hilly terrain, it can affect your range.
3. City vs. highway. Gas vehicles get better mileage on the highway. EVs are exactly the opposite: Range is better in city driving. This is due to lower speeds and lots of stop lights, which engages regenerative braking.
4. Access to charging stations. If your business has charging stations on site, you may be able to charge each time you get to work. Or there may be places on your route to charge should your battery start to run out of electrons. Even in a long-range version, factoring in where stations are along your route can decide whether an EV is right for you.
5. Weather. Wet or dry weather doesn’t affect EV’s, but cold weather especially shortens battery range. Hot weather can also affect it, and may hurt battery life in the long run. Which brings us to our last factor.
6. Liquid temperature management system. Living in an extreme environment like Las Vegas, having an active temperature management system for the battery was critical. A liquid cooled (or heated) battery becomes more important the more extreme your climate. In the desert, it’s very important, in order to keep capacity loss to a minimum.
In our last installment, we’ll talk about getting your vehicle serviced.