(July 25, 2017 at 9:58 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: I'm seriously considering buying a plug-in EV very soon. The price of late-model Leafs is pretty compelling. Environmental considerations aside - which are nonetheless important - the total cost of ownership is ridiculously low even if I depreciate it to zero in 5-6 years. Electricity is ~.08/kWh. Our current second vehicle is 20 years old and has 180K miles on it and I'd really rather not put any more into repairing it, including what it currently needs.
It seems a no-brainer.
Anyone drive one? What do you like about it? What do you dislike?
I have an ez-go it's great for putting around the yard or checking the mail or even zipping over to the neighbor (about 1/2 a mile away) also does well in the sand. even though it is just rear wheel drive. Battery and battery maintainance is a joke if you listen to the manufacturer (they want to completely dischage the batteries. before recharng them.) this destroys the batteries. I work with/consult with a 'space age' (literally) battery company the lead engineers tell me NEVER copletely dischage a battery. the only people who tell you to discharge the battery copletely are those trying to sell you a battery and those who bought the myth that complete discharge is better.
Batteries work on a life cycle of complete discharges and recharges. it is the action of completely discharging that counts as one charge cycle. there maybe 2000 (about 5 years) built in charge and discharge cycles built in a battery (2000electron exchanges between anode and cathode) before the material can n longer facilitate such an exchange.) at which point you by a 10,000$$$$ battery.
Now if you never let the battery fall below 80% you can potentially stretch out a battery's life 10 to 15 years, but there in lies the problem, you have to plan stops and minor recharges or you need to be able to take a 10K hit in the seat every 3 to 5 years.
