I wasn't expecting a big turnout, partially because there is no such thing as a shortage of electrical vehicle showrooms within the Bay Area and I've read many articles about disappointing sales. But I used to be pleasantly surprised by the big turnout. It looks like lots of individuals are desirous about electric vehicles.
Large selection
As someone who has owned a Tesla Model 3 since 2018, I used to be pleased to see several other automakers displaying electric vehicles. In addition to Tesla, exhibitors included Ford, BMW, Hyundai, KIA, Lexus, Lucid, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Rivian, Toyota and Volvo. There was even a display from an organization I had never heard of. Vinfast is a Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer with 4 models and showrooms in San Mateo and other cities.
I haven't done enough research to explain the differences and relative advantages of the assorted models, but anyone buying an electrical vehicle today has plenty of excellent options. Until recently, Teslas were the one electric vehicles with access to a big network of charging stations, but that’s slowly changing. Tesla has promised to open its network of 30,000 charging stations to other automakers, but based on New York Timesit's not as fast as you would possibly expect. But even without Tesla Superchargers, there are more options from networks like Electrify America, EVgo, and Blink Charging. If you're traveling on major highways, an EV road trip will be relatively stress-free. While it does require some planning and also you'll have to stop more often than you’ll with a gas automotive, my bladder must be emptied much earlier than my battery must be charged, so I don't mind having to stop, especially if the chargers are near restaurants and restrooms, which they sometimes are.
Hybrids save petrol
While many of the cars on display on the Electrify Expo were fully electric, several firms showed off their hybrid vehicles, which mix an electrical motor with an internal combustion engine, leading to significant fuel savings in comparison with pure gasoline vehicles. Plug-in hybrids can run as much as 40 or more miles on electricity before needing to change to gasoline, nearly eliminating the necessity for gasoline for local trips.
Even conventional hybrids will be extremely efficient. My wife drives a 2016 Prius that gets about 54 miles per gallon. At $4 per gallon, that's lower than 8 cents per mile. The Prius is more efficient than most hybrids, but even large hybrid SUVs are significantly more efficient than their gas-powered counterparts.
My Tesla Model 3 uses 226 watt-hours per mile, which is about 149 miles per gallon. At 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, I pay about 4.5 cents per mile. Of course, your consumption will vary, similar to the associated fee of gasoline or electricity. Regardless of which fuel you utilize, driving at moderate speeds, avoiding rapid acceleration, and properly inflating your tires will increase your consumption per gallon or kilowatt-hour. My costs are based on charging at home. Public charging is generally (but not at all times) costlier.
High school students construct electric vehicles
One of the exhibitors on the EV Expo was Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, whose mascot happens to be the “Charger.”
The school runs an automotive program, led by the top of the varsity's vocational training department, Jozef Antolin. The school, which has been in existence because the Sixties, still teaches students tips on how to maintain and repair internal combustion engine vehicles, but now teaches about electric vehicles, using a teaching platform from Change vehicles These include kits that allow students to construct “road-ready” electric vehicles. The school now owns three of those vehicles, which Antolin says “have the basic systems found in any electric vehicle.” While it will be far too ambitious to show students to take apart and repair their parents' electric vehicles, Antolin says they’re learning in regards to the basic components and subsystems present in any electric vehicle.
Small EV learning curve
Although driving an electrical automotive is comparable to driving a gasoline automotive, there are some stuff you'll have to learn, including charging habits that can extend battery life, planning road trips, and using the software that comes with the vehicles. Owners of newer Tesla models may additionally have to relearn tips on how to shift gears and switch. The company has removed the familiar levers from the steering wheel, which has proven to be an unpopular improvement. I also needed to learn tips on how to restart the automotive's computer and needed to relearn things after major software updates.
Test drive
If you're trying to buy a brand new automotive, now may be time to check drive different electric cars from dealers in your area. Prices on many models have dropped in recent months, and plenty of of them may qualify for a $7,500 tax rebate, depending on the particular model and your adjusted gross income.
However, it is necessary to do not forget that every recent automotive also comes with environmental costs, so should you don't need a brand new automotive and don't drive much, it might make more sense each financially and environmentally to maintain the old automotive.
Larry Magid is a technology journalist and cybersecurity activist. You can reach him at larry@larrymagid.com.
Originally published:
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