The following brilliant analysis is submitted by RH Meyers.
As the world eagerly eyes the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), a recent road trip adventure undertaken by a 22-year-old medical student sheds light on both the promises and pitfalls of this burgeoning technology.
The journey, spanning a 305-mile stretch along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, was an intriguing test for a 2023 Chevy Bolt, highlighting the realities of long-distance EV travel. The traveler, a student at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, provided a comprehensive breakdown of the experience through a series of text messages.
Efficient City Driving vs. Long-Distance Challenges
The EV showcased its prowess in city driving, boasting exceptional mileage, a serene and maneuverable drive, and whisper-quiet operation. However, the tables turned on the highway. The vehicle’s efficiency plateaued at around 65 mph, forcing them to maintain a speed below the posted limit. This limitation significantly impacted their journey time.
Furthermore, locating suitable charging stations emerged as a constant concern. Not all stations had the necessary adaptors, and some were either out of order or congested with waiting users. Charging times and the diminishing rate of charge after hitting 80% capacity posed additional challenges. Realistically, longer drives without overnight charging accommodations limited the usable capacity to about 80%.
Charging Challenges and Costs
Charging stops at Carlisle and Bedford offered valuable insights into the process. At Carlisle, the charging session delivered 41.3040 kWh of energy at a cost of $19.68, while Bedford provided 14.8680 kWh for $6.72. These stops revealed the varying speeds of charging and the impact on the end state of charge, highlighting the disparities in charging efficiency and speeds between locations.
Optimal Speed for Range
The EV’s ideal speed for range hovered around 45-50 mph, showcasing the potential for increased mileage by lowering speeds from the standard 65 mph highway limit. Although the range numbers didn’t increase, maintaining a slower pace allowed for consistent mileage over extended distances.
Cost Analysis and Concerns
Comparing the road electrical rates of $0.48/kWh to the consistent $0.12/kWh paid by the traveler to their local provider highlighted significant disparities. The stark difference in costs prompted contemplation about the government’s role in driving EV adoption. The traveler expressed dissatisfaction with the imposition of “immature technology” using citizen taxes, emphasizing the inefficiency they believed was inherent in such bureaucratic pushes.
Final Thoughts
While EVs showcased remarkable potential in urban settings, the road trip unveiled a host of challenges, from charging infrastructure limitations to cost disparities and efficiency constraints. These insights from firsthand experience offer valuable considerations for both policymakers and consumers as the world navigates the transition toward electric vehicles.
The journey exemplifies the ongoing evolution of EV technology, showcasing both its advancements and the hurdles that necessitate further refinement and adaptation for seamless integration into daily life and long-distance travel.
Here are the final notes and text receipts from the trip:
Overall, the EV was really good for city driving, it had great milage there and was quiet and easily maneuverable, but very poor for long distance. The efficiency topped out at about 65 mph, so we were driving below speed limit on highways. Finding a charger was also another complication to think about during the trip, not every charging station had the right adaptors and some were out of commission or had a couple people waiting.
We had the Chevy Bolt 2023, which charged in about an hour. It’s the slowest charging EV. Also, the rate of charge was very slow after 80%, so for long drives without a place to charge overnight you were realistically limited to about 80% capacity for time’s sake.
80% was about 170 miles, and vehicle charged at a max of about 75kW, slowing down as it got more charged.
—————- charging receipts first stop…
Thank you for charging with Electrify America.
For assistance, call us 24 hours a day at 1-833-632-2778.
08/19/2023 9:21:35 AM
Sheetz 191 (Carlisle, PA)
1098 Harrisburg Pike
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Charger: #100601-02
Session ID: 17732314
Total paid: $19.68
Plan: N/A
Charging pricing: $0.48/kWh (pre-tax)
Idling: $0.00 ($0.00/min)
Sales tax (0.0%): $0.00
Discount: $0.00
End state of charge: 84%
Total energy delivered: 41.3040 kWh
Energy Billed: 41.0000 kWh
Power Type: DC
Max charging speed: 55.00 kW
Charge Start Time: 8:20:39 AM
Charge Stop Time: 9:21:32 AM
Charging time: 01:00:52
Grace period: 00:00 min
Idle Start Time: 00:00:00
Idle Stop Time: 00:00:00
Paid idle time: 00:00
Thank you for charging with Electrify America.
For assistance, call us 24 hours a day at 1-833-632-2778.
——————. 2nd stop
08/19/2023 11:38:37 AM
Sheetz 352 – Bedford, PA
4354 Business 220
Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522
Charger: #100602-03
Session ID: 17738657
Total paid: $6.72
Plan: N/A
Charging pricing: $0.48/kWh (pre-tax)
Idling: $0.00 ($0.00/min)
Sales tax (0.0%): $0.00
Discount: $0.00
End state of charge: 70%
Total energy delivered: 14.8680 kWh
Energy Billed: 14.0000 kWh
Power Type: DC
Max charging speed: 53.00 kW
Charge Start Time: 11:17:50 AM
Charge Stop Time: 11:38:28 AM
Charging time: 00:20:38
Grace period: 00:00 min
Idle Start Time: 00:00:00
Idle Stop Time: 00:00:00
Paid idle time: 00:00
—————.
EV display expand to read
The sweet spot was roughly 45/50 mph, and going from over 65 to around 50 would definitely increase the range (the range numbers wouldn’t get larger but they would stay at the same range for over that amount of miles as kept by the tripmeter)
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FYI, COMPARE the road electrical rate $.48/kWh (Carlisle is definitely PPL, Bedford not sure)to what I pay consistently to ANEC total of all costs & tax per kWh= $.12 (generally between 1500 to 1800 kWh/mo) and that has varied only by $.02 one month with all the huge inflation in groceries and gas. Kudos to all ANEC employees and the fact we are on a coop system with superb management.
Bottom line, the gov’t pushing this is AFU and does not belong competing with business imposing immature technology on its citizens using the citizens taxes as inefficiently as bureaucracy constantly demonstrates.
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In other words, a tax subsidized “Liberal Limousine”. Do note, no comments on where the overnight accommodations are for recharging. And when and where you get to take your turn to go out in the middle of the night to hook up your car, if others have moved on. Fantasy at its liberal best. The fossil fuels needed to mine, manufacture and delivery the liberal limousines is unaccounted for, and tips the scales in favor of EV’s, with the government’s thumb on the scales hidden from the ignorant public’s view.
Just play The Stones 19th Nervous Breakdown and that will sum up todays world of thinking.
Electric vehicles don’t even qualify as a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist. It’s just another enrichment phase by the Global Elitists to fortify the climate change false narrative.
Electric cars have been around before 1900…..There is a reason gasoline has been the prime source of fuel for over 120 years………If a LIBERAL had their way we would all be walking. VOTE VOTE VOTE!