Electric car thread

[Dromond]

Mine is RWD, it weighs about the same as my Tacoma so it should be pretty solid in the snow with some good rubber. It has snow mode, I think it limits the torque. Turn off traction control and it could be fun, I'll know in a few months. Just put my first full charge in it and it said 470km range driving as it has been driven, my wife would probably get over 500km.

That range is pretty sweet. I was reading that you can't get the heat pump with RWD, making for an interesting tradeoff in summer vs. winter range. The internet suggested that the reason to get AWD was for extra traction and power rather than just for the heat pump, since the cost savings of the heat pump aren't huge and while it gets you a bit better winter range, the RWD range is better in most temps unless you live somewhere with very long cold winters. Purchase price of any new car these days is high enough that only 5-10% more for AWD seems worth it, but in reality the extra power is probably not needed and most EVs aren't dedicated snow vehicles for most people.

[WMD]

Do either of you have the AWD or RWD versions? Curious to hear snow driving and winter range experiences.

I got the AWD but got it the end of February and we had a bad snow winter so I didn't drive through a lot of snow. At 65mph and 0-5 degrees F (and wind) I gave up about 20% range. I really wanted both the heat pump and AWD as winter is long here and I have to drive cold snowy passes to get to skiing. The car is awesome and has enough range to get me where I want to go.

[Dromond]

I got the AWD but got it the end of February and we had a bad snow winter so I didn't drive through a lot of snow. At 65mph and 0-5 degrees F (and wind) I gave up about 20% range. I really wanted both the heat pump and AWD as winter is long here and I have to drive cold snowy passes to get to snow. The car is awesome and has enough range to get me where I want to go.

That’s nice. Do you use a roof box or put skis inside? What tires do you run in winter?

[adrenalated]

I got the AWD but got it the end of February and we had a bad snow winter so I didn't drive through a lot of snow. At 65mph and 0-5 degrees F (and wind) I gave up about 20% range.

20% reduction seems to be pretty typical of most newer EVs. That's about what I was seeing in my Bolt at highway speeds, near zero temps, snow tires, nothing on the roof.

[WMD]

Skis inside the car and with stock tires. I'm getting snows this year and will see how they do. On my previous Kia Niro plug-in hybrid we actually got better mileage with snows, which didn't make sense. No idea how or why.

[Dromond]

FWIW, I think I read that X-Ice roll faster than some other popular snow tires. Might be something to pay attention to if you are trying to preserve winter range.

[Mustonen]

we had a bad snow winter so I didn't drive through a lot of snow.

Had to put my TGR filter on for that one. Everywhere else I hear that it means we got a lot of snow.

Appreciate the reversal.

As you were.

[WMD]

Had to put my TGR filter on for that one. Everywhere else I hear that it means we got a lot of snow.

Appreciate the reversal.

As you were.

Haha, yes, bad snow winter on here means not enough snow!

[Beaver]

That range is pretty sweet. I was reading that you can't get the heat pump with RWD, making for an interesting tradeoff in summer vs. winter range. The internet suggested that the reason to get AWD was for extra traction and power rather than just for the heat pump, since the cost savings of the heat pump aren't huge and while it gets you a bit better winter range, the RWD range is better in most temps unless you live somewhere with very long cold winters. Purchase price of any new car these days is high enough that only 5-10% more for AWD seems worth it, but in reality the extra power is probably not needed and most EVs aren't dedicated snow vehicles for most people.

Must be a USA thing, mine has a heat pump. In Canada the trims are: essential, preferred, preferred long range and preferred awd long range. Only the essential has no heat pump.

The awd is only another $3000cad but I went 2wd for the longer range. I've been driving BC winter roads all my life in 2wd cars and have rarely had any issues that awd would have made a difference.

I suspect tires on awd would wear more evenly. On my rwd I don't touch my brake pedal so all my braking is regen braking through the rear wheels. I can see tire rotation being more important on rwd.

Today I got in with a full charge and my range said 502km, I turned on the ac and the range dropped to 498km. I drove 280km and have 194km left. I probably could have gotten the predicted range but I've got a heavy foot.

[NWFlow]

I'll ask here before even attempting to Google:

Are roof boxes too much drag and range reduction to really be a viable option for EVs?

Seems for short trips well within the vehicles range it could be a good option, assuming it can be removed easily for longer trips.

[Mustonen]

Probably not too useful, but I saw a Tesla 3 with a roof box the other day who had license plates from the next state over; a few hundred miles from home, at least.

He was a younger dude driving below the speed limit. I imagined due to roof box induced range anxiety, but maybe he just wasn’t in a hurry.

[frorider]

This forum (probably this thread) discussed roof box impact on ev range.

[muted reborn]

Probably not too useful, but I saw a Tesla 3 with a roof box the other day who had license plates from the next state over; a few hundred miles from home, at least.

He was a younger dude driving below the speed limit. I imagined due to roof box induced range anxiety, but maybe he just wasn’t in a hurry.

I have a roof box, it doesn't give me any anxiety or make me drive slow. You just get in the car and go. If you are traveling in remote areas with no charging, the box may have to come off.

[Mustonen]

I have a roof box, it doesn't give me any anxiety or make me drive slow. You just get in the car and go. If you are traveling in remote areas with no charging, the box may have to come off.

How much do you find it reduces your range?

[muted reborn]

I don't know, I don't pay attention because it doesn't matter to me. I plug it in every night and I never come close to running out of miles during the day. On road trips I take a gas car 99% of the time.

[frorider]

I’ve read some Tesla 3 user reports over the years. Naturally the data vary, since it’s hard to control all variables, but if you assume 70+ mph then a 10% reduction in miles per kWh appears to be about right.

[WMD]

Consumer Reports studied the effects of roof racks and hitch racks on gas mileage: https://www.consumerreports.org/fuel...-fuel-economy/

Here is one graphic from the articles:
Attachment 406653

Bottom line - both affect mileage, but roof rack takes the bigger hit. Racks affect the sedan more than a small SUV.

Here is some of the info from earlier in this thread on the range hit from racks and boxes.

[frorider]

Holy shit, 7.8 miles per kWh! https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ototype-drive/

Obviously hi tech lightweight stuff might not make it to production version, but pretty cool nonetheless.

[PB]

Wow; and stylish too. Solar panels instead of a moon roof ...... who'd a thunk!

[jackstraw]

That's cool.

The prototype Zero I rode was using new battery tech. The battery barely drained ripping around mountain roads. I was not trying to conserve at all, but the regen was strong in "canyon" mode. I think we did just under 40 miles and I was at 89% battery life.

[riser4]

Fuckin Chevy: https://www.wcax.com/2022/08/29/elec...interstate-91/

[muted reborn]

Why post? Do you post gas cars in fire in all the car or truck threads? Do you think it's news?

[skaredshtles]

Fuckin Chevy: https://www.wcax.com/2022/08/29/elec...interstate-91/

That dude's pornstache!

[J. Barron DeJong]

Why post? Do you post gas cars in fire in all the car or truck threads? Do you think it's news?

Yeah, there really should be a ‘Fucking Chevys, Man!’ thread where all types, gas and electric, are ragged on.

[toast2266]

The Kias and Hyundais discussed up thread seem like pretty compelling options, but my understanding of the new federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act seem to imply that those cars won't be eligible for tax credits because their final assembly isn't in North America. Anyone know the scoop on that?