In most U.S. zip codes, electric vehicles are cost-competitive with their gas-powered counterparts, according to a new study. And regarding emissions benefits of EVs, individual driving patterns matter as much as regional factors like the local electricity mix.
Its not as if this is an insurmountable issue though. Apartment parking lots already have electricity running through them. Where my sister lives in the Midwest, lots already have outlets available at each parking spot so that people can plug their block heaters in during the winter.
I don’t know the answer to this but, how does the power demands for charging EVs compare to block heaters?
Also, how do EVs deal with the cold up there? Heating the cabin would take a ton of power.
I dont have numbers so take this with a grain of salt, but I would guess they’re probably not too far off from one another. With 110V charging, it’ll be slow but effective for overnight charging, and resistive heating elements use an insane amount of power especially when they’re trying to warm something constantly in -10F weather.
I live in the PNW and dont have to deal with much cold weather but from everything I’ve read, EVs handle thr cold just fine.
Last winter in Chicago the chargers could not work. Then the range loss is 40-50%. This is better with sodium battery but they are not common yet.
Range loss is not even anywhere close to 40-50% on a heat pump equipped EV. Even at -20°C I still get 75% range from my Ioniq
Yeah, if it wasn’t heaters I would be confident that the wattage wouldn’t be enough. But it might be fine.
120V will give max 1.5 kwhr, or 30 hours to charge a typical EV.
This is not a thing at any apartment complex I’ve lived in or visited in the south/southeastern US. Also, if you’re renting a house that doesn’t already have a charger installed, it doesn’t make any sense to buy an EV.
Not arguing that it isn’t solvable, but for many people, the infrastructure just isn’t currently extant, nor is the political will to solve the problem.
If you’re renting a house, a lot of people can get away with the standard 110V house plug. I put about 12K miles on mine last year and unless I was on a road trip, then it would charge up at home just fine. Adds about 1.5% per hour and I’m typically not driving it more than that adds back every day.
If you are renting a house, you don’t even need to install any charger, your garage will surely have wall outlets to plug your tools in, they can charge the car perfectly fine.
120V outlets would take days to charge a battery.
Potentially, but its better than nothing as a supplement and most people don’t drive very far very often so it could be enough just charging overnignt.
Most drivers aren’t completely draining their battery each day. I know a number of people that only have 120v charging for their EVs. Their cars are home most of the time on weekends which can frequently fill the car for the work week ahead. Then each day the car is partially charged from the 120v so by Friday night they’re low on charge, but then they’re back charging up more on the weekend. They do occasionally have to high a DC fast charger, but its not often. Maybe once or twice a month for 20 minutes each time.