EV Driving, EV News

Does Supercharging Cut Battery Capacity?

tesla-supercharger

Just saw an article over on Green Car Reports that gives some anecdotal analysis on the effect of Supercharging on the MS battery. I have not had his experience but I will be watching my numbers in the coming months. One of the primary reasons I bought my CPO MS 85 was for the range. The author of the article claimed a 9% reduction in battery capacity over 35,000 Miles. I can only hope that his experience is atypical.

Peace,

Father Bill

Source: Life With Tesla Model S: Does Supercharging Cut Battery Capacity?

EV News

Drive Act to impose use fee on EV’s

tax

The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works issued a press release on July 21st that details the outline of the DRIVE act.

From the Senate Press Release

The bipartisan, multi-year Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act would help modernize the nation’s infrastructure and transportation systems to better allow America to compete in the 21st century.”

The upshot of the draft legislation is to update the roads, bridges and other transport infrastructure  for the future. As part of the this act there will be levied a user fee for Electric Vehicles ( I expect this to include any vehicle with an electric drive component, PHEV or Hybrids.)

  • Extends new user fee to electric vehicles: The DRIVE Act ensures all users of the roads and bridges pay their fair share with a new federal share program initializing new state controlled user fees.

In theory I have no problem paying my fair share for use of the roads. But the track record of Federal and State governments is not good on using new money to improve. What happens more often is old funds allocated for infrastructure repair are repourposed when the new money comes in. The old Social Security Shell game used by the Department of Transportation.

Only time will tell if this act passes. I fully expect to be levied a fee (TAX) at some point. I just hope that it is no more that I used to pay in gasoline taxes.

You can read the full press release here.

EV Driving

Illinois Bill To Fine Car Owners Who Park In Electric-Car Charging Spaces Waits For Governor’s Signature

Well for once my lousy state does something right. ICE’ing EV Charging spots has been a real problem in my little area ( Even at the Local Nissan Dealer). Now we need to get Missouri to do the same thing (Not Likely). It will be interesting if the Governor, who cancelled the EV car rebate, will sign this bill. Time will tell I guess. You can read the whole article with the link below.

 

Source: Illinois Bill To Fine Car Owners Who Park In Electric-Car Charging Spaces Waits For Governor’s Signature

EV News

CA Fuel-Cell Car Drivers Say Hydrogen Fuel Unavailable, Stations Don’t Work

 

Apparently the alternative drive Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle(FCEV) is going through a teething phase. Battery Electric Vehicle’s(BEV) EVSE Charging infrastructure is much easier to build up with Level 1 /Level 2/ Level 3 DC Fast Charging popping up all over the U.S. and indeed the world.

Time will tell if the FCEV will ever take off.

Source: CA Fuel-Cell Car Drivers Say Hydrogen Fuel Unavailable, Stations Don’t Work

EV Buying

Well now I’ve gone and done it….

Debtinator

I can truly say that I have lost my mind. Years after hearing about the Tesla Model S and knowing it would someday become my daily driver, it’s day has come. Meet Debbie, my Model S85. I could only hope to have purchased it because of the new Certified Pre Owned Program begun two weeks ago. I picked her up last Thursday and have been enjoying every moment since.

Today I just took my car for the first time to a Supercharger. This is a DC Fast Charger that can get the battery for 10% to 80% in just over 30 minutes. I am planning a trip to Huntsville, AL in early June and wanted to test out the hardware before I left.  I drove from my home in Brighton, to Springfield where there is a Supercharger. Whilst I was getting fueled (Lunch at the Engrained Brewery) Debbie was filling up her battery. Indeed before I had finished my lunch I got a message via my iPhone that Debbie was fully charged.

I will comment more on the economics of this in a later post but for right now I am one very happy driver. Now I get to drive home, what a great day off!