When Do EVs Make Sense?

In this episode, Kendall and Laura talk about how COVID19 is already impacting the automotive industry at large, including EVs. We also chat about low gas prices... How does this impact EVs? And finally, we brighten up the mood and talk about the new Tesla Model Y. Wash your hands and thanks for tuning in!

In this episode, Kendall and Laura discuss why they want to switch over to all electric cars from their current combination of an electric hybrid and a traditional vehicle. We cover efficiency, cost, driving patterns and dynamics, as well as environmental impact. Here are some links we mention in this episode: Dept of Energy's gas vs electric calculator: https://www.energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/saving-fuel-and-vehicle-costs  Forbes article on cost of owning EV: https://www.forbes.com/sites/constancedouris/2017/10/24/the-bottom-line-on-electric-cars-theyre-cheaper-to-own/  Also of note, overview of cost to charge an EV: https://pluginamerica.org/how-much-does-it-cost-charge-electric-car/

This episode, Kendall and Laura discuss a few recent articles that caught our eyes, including a report on maximizing battery life, driving a Kia Niro through the Canadian winter, and a new French start-up with an interesting idea for range extension.  Maximizing Battery Life- Mashable article: https://mashable.com/article/maximize-electric-vehicle-li-ion-battery-life/ Direct link to UM Report: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352152X19314227?dgcid=author#fig0006 Additional article from Electrek: https://electrek.co/2020/02/21/journal-of-energy-storage-studies-ev-owners-manuals-compiles-best-practices-for-batteries/ The Drive covers a Kia Niro's drive through extremely cold temps: https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/32340/a-frozen-500-mile-mad-dash-through-quebec-shows-what-the-kia-niro-ev-can-and-cant-do Jalopnik covers EP Tender's new solution for range extension: https://jalopnik.com/this-french-start-up-has-a-solution-to-range-anxiety-1841894084

In this episode, we explore issues around energy efficiency, battery cost and environmental impact, as well as other aspects that may matter to certain buyers, like towing capacity.

It had to happen. We dive into the Tesla Model 3, the charging network, and weigh whether or not this car is the right fit for us.

Laura and Kendall review several electric vehicles that would interest most average Americans: 2020 Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, Mini Cooper SE, Kia Niro, Hyundai Kona, and then sob into their beers about Honda. Yeah yeah yeah... we'll get to Rivian later!

Laura and Kendall talk about what led them to purchasing an electric vehicle (hint: it's not just about efficiency), what they like about their 2017 Chevrolet Volt, and where they are going from here.