(A fool-writer &his EV are soon discharged> drove too fast, 65mph is better & should have used plugshare.com ) https://www.expressnews.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/electic-car-texas-austin-corpus-christi-tesla-15084123.php Tomlinson: Range anxiety all too real when driving electric car from Austin to Corpus Feb. 26, 2020 Chris Tomlinson
[images / Chris Tomlinson / Houston Chronicle https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/10/64/24/19088696/4/940x0.jpg An electric Porsche on display at "Fully Charged LIVE," an electric vehicle event in Austin, Texas https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/10/64/24/19088697/4/940x0.jpg LiveWire electric motorcycles on display at the Harley Davidson dealership in Corpus Christi, Texas https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/10/64/24/19088699/4/940x0.jpg A new electric vehicle from Rivian, which is producing a pick-up and a SUV, on display at "Full Throttle LIVE," an electric vehicle event in Austin, Texas https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/10/64/24/19088701/4/940x0.jpg Chevy Bolt charging at the [L2 (not DC)] Charging facility at the Harley Davidson dealership in Corpus Christi, Texas ] Some crazy challenges take hold of you and won’t let go, and despite the risks, you feel compelled to take a chance. A few weeks ago, I decided to drive my all-electric Chevy Bolt from Austin to Corpus Christi, where I needed to visit an archive for my next book. I knew I could top off the battery with a quick charge in San Antonio, but then came the big problem: there are no compatible charging stations between the Alamo City and the coast. The distance is only 143 miles, and the Bolt has an maximum range of 230 miles, but that’s city driving under perfect conditions. When I consulted the official Chevrolet app, it calculated that at 75 mph, my battery would be -1 percent on arrival. In other words, I wouldn’t make it. I rolled the dice anyway. Under normal circumstances, I would have rented a car for a road trip, which is what I told people when I bought my EV. But I’d just attended “Fully Charged LIVE,” an electric vehicle extravaganza at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack in Austin. Electrify America, an EV charging network, was hosting the BBC television show “Fully Charged,” which reports on the electrification of transportation. For two days, electric vehicle nerds geeked out on the latest tech, from new electric bikes to the latest charging infrastructure. The expert speakers and enthusiastic audience were inspiring. I saw Porsche’s new all-electric Taycan, a four-door, designed to steal market share from Tesla. I was charmed by a 1968 Porsche 912 that Austin-based Moment Motors had retrofitted with an electric powertrain. The game-changers, though, were Rivian’s pick-up and SUV. These are not esoteric sports cars or hobbyist fantasies; they are the kind of vehicles Americans want to own and drive every day. Unlike the futuristic Tesla pick-up, the Rivian is something any good-ol’ boy in Texas would be proud to drive. The grill is suitably aggressive and futuristic at the same time, and the cargo capacity and interior features rival the finest Fords and Chevys. In Africa, I drove a 1976 Range Rover, and I saw that classic designs reflected in Rivian’s SUV. The interior was wood and fine leather with plenty of leg room, and an exterior design that will turn heads in River Oaks and Alamo Heights. Rivian’s no-compromise vehicles are full-sized, with towing capacities of 11,000 pounds for the pick-up and 7,000 for the SUV. Their size provides plenty space for batteries capable of delivering 400 miles between charges. As I walked back to my car, I saw two dozen people lined up to test drive a Chevy Bolt. As I got into mine, I decided then to drive it to Corpus the next day. I reached San Antonio, 90 miles way, and plugged into an Electrify America DC Fast-charger. Fast chargers use 440 volts of direct current and can get a drained Bolt battery to 80 percent in two hours. A 220 volt home charger, using alternating current, takes twice as long. With my battery topped up after an hour-long lunch, I set out on I-37 at the 70-mph speed limit. Within 30 minutes, it became clear I needed to slow down if I wanted my battery to last. I slowed to 65 mph as other cars whizzed by me. But by taking it easy on the throttle, I had 10 miles to spare when I reached the only [L2 (not DC] charging station in Corpus, located at the Harley Davidson dealership. I plugged in, went inside, and found six all-electric Harleys lined up at the door, the reasons for the charging station. The owner and staff showed me the LiveWire’s, and as a motorcyclist, I was impressed. Two days later, I set out for the return trip to San Antonio and turned into a nor-wester producing a 40 mph headwind. My range plummeted within the first 45 minutes, and the calculator said I’d need a tow truck to reach the nearest charging station in San Antonio. Then I remembered a trick my mother taught me on road trips during the 1970s energy crisis. I spotted a semi-trailer truck going 65 mph, and I tucked in behind it. I’d let it cut the wind for me and pull me along in its draft. I made it to downtown San Antonio with 15 miles of range to spare. That was my first experience with range anxiety in 2 1/2 years, and I’ll think twice next time. But the EV industry is working hard to make sure I won’t need to worry in the future. Battery makers are coming up with new formulations, including solid-state electrolytes, that will extend range and speed charging. Computer engineers are programming charging stations to work quicker while protecting the battery. Companies are installing more fast chargers in more locations. I remain convinced Americans will adopt electric vehicles much quicker than most analysts think. While I will never buy another new petroleum-powered car, I could see a new two-wheel EV in my future. [© expressnews.com] (half-way-point) https://www.plugshare.com/location/60501 Tres Hermanas Restaurant ... NEMA 14-50 outlet $5 1994 Nueces St George West, TX 78022 361-449-3141 + https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/141907/how-safe-is-an-ev-in-a-flood---would-people-be-electrocuted- Q- How safe is an EV in a flood - would people be electrocuted? 27 February 2020 A- It would be no more dangerous than being caught in a flood in a petrol or diesel car. The batteries are sealed ... For EVLN EV-newswire posts view: http://www.evdl.org/archive/ https://mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html {brucedp.neocities.org} -- Sent from: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/ _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub ARCHIVE: http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html INFO: http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
