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A 9-hour drive in Toyota's new electric SUV showed me how brutal EV road trips can be with the wrong car
msn ^ | 04/15/2023

Posted on 04/15/2023 9:07:38 AM PDT by devane617

Electric cars are quick, quiet, and kind to the planet, but limited range and lengthy charging times mean road trips aren't exactly their strong suit.

That's what I learned when I took Toyota's new bZ4X SUV from New York to Washington D.C. one weekend in early April. The 500-mile journey wasn't some epic coast-to-coast adventure, but rather the kind of long-haul drive someone might casually take a few times per year and not think twice about — if they're behind the wheel of a regular gas car.

Let's nerd out for just one moment to establish some basic concepts.

Every EV has a maximum charging rate, expressed in kilowatts (kW), that governs the amount of power it can accept from roadside fast chargers. For the bZ4X AWD I tested, that's an uncompetitive 100 kW. The higher an EV's rating, the faster you can hypothetically charge — so long as you find a charging plug whose rating is equal or greater.

But you don't always achieve that max charge rate due to the charger, the temperature of the battery, or, in my case, settings built into the vehicle itself. During my trip, the car never got close to 100 kW, leading to some excruciating charging times.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: automotive; electric; ev; hybrids; toyota; twofaced; youaskedforit
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To: irishjuggler
I counted no fewer than 3 Teslas in distress on the side of the road

You would think by now the rationale of hybrids outweigh the EV only vehicles. I'll keep my $10k 11 year old used chevy volt thank you.

81 posted on 04/15/2023 12:07:28 PM PDT by redcatcherb412
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To: Parley Baer

If I lived I. Florida Ina small town or city I would have one’s a second vehicle.


82 posted on 04/15/2023 12:09:37 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Genocide is here. Leftist extremists are spearhheading the Genocide against conservatives. )
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To: moovova

Do highlander hybrid get plugged in?


83 posted on 04/15/2023 12:11:36 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Genocide is here. Leftist extremists are spearhheading the Genocide against conservatives. )
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To: Reno89519

There is no plan. They don’t care. Loser.


84 posted on 04/15/2023 12:13:48 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Genocide is here. Leftist extremists are spearhheading the Genocide against conservatives. )
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To: Parley Baer

Fits nicely in to their 15 minute city plan. Heck a old Nissan leaf will do you just just fine with 40 miles or range.


85 posted on 04/15/2023 12:23:28 PM PDT by cableguymn
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To: Magnatron

Evie’s fail miserably when it comes to moving large amounts of weight


86 posted on 04/15/2023 12:27:50 PM PDT by cableguymn
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To: devane617

Kind to the planet? Except for the toxic batteries (manufacture and disposal), fire hazards, child slave labor, etc., they’re fine.


87 posted on 04/15/2023 12:28:28 PM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: Zathras

I did 800 miles in one day on a Harley. Since I had to get gas every 125 miles, it was more like a series of shorter trips all taken in one day. At least that’s what I kept telling myself.


88 posted on 04/15/2023 12:33:09 PM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: odawg

My son just bought a Tesla SUV for my daughter-law. She’ll use it for commuting purposes. He has Toyota Tundra and the granddaughters drive a Lexus 570. So far they’re loving the Tesla. I guess it’s a rocket ship.


89 posted on 04/15/2023 12:52:25 PM PDT by surrey
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To: devane617

if there was not a climate emergency

evs would be stupid

there is no climate emergency


90 posted on 04/15/2023 1:05:51 PM PDT by joshua c (to disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives, cut the cable tv)
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To: higgmeister

Whoops. One of these I’ll proof read a post... Yeah probably not.


91 posted on 04/15/2023 1:09:25 PM PDT by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
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To: devane617

Electric cars are kind to the planet?

Porcine shampoo!


92 posted on 04/15/2023 1:12:34 PM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedys-Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat-But they know what's best for you.)
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To: Osage Orange

True. And most of the electricity is produced using oil products.


93 posted on 04/15/2023 1:14:19 PM PDT by Revel
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To: Paladin2
Yeah, like a 19 hole circuit at the local Country Club.

This is the kind of material I expect on FR, Paladin2!

94 posted on 04/15/2023 1:16:44 PM PDT by HonkyTonkMan ( )
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To: devane617

this discussion is moot

it will be shut up and get on the bus

the real goal is to get everyone on public transportation

only the rich and powerful will have personal transportation


95 posted on 04/15/2023 1:16:49 PM PDT by joshua c (to disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives, cut the cable tv)
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To: odawg

One of my kid’s family has two. They will rent a van for long trips.


96 posted on 04/15/2023 1:28:35 PM PDT by KC Burke (Diversity, Inclusion and Equity is not another way to spell GOD but it is a way to spell DIE.)
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To: Magnatron
Yeah....those babies are dangerous...when they burn up.

And burn they will

97 posted on 04/15/2023 1:39:40 PM PDT by Osage Orange
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To: Chickensoup

I don’t believe they do plug in.

Also, I was wrong about the quote...I was looking at the “Limited” hybrid. That’s a step our two above the LE. Still, the LE with several options totals around $48,000. That’s a lot.


98 posted on 04/15/2023 1:43:26 PM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT election is the most importan.t election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: USS Alaska

I am NOT talking about the damn GOLF CRATS!! i KNOW they are EVs....geeshLouise! I LIVE in Florida!


99 posted on 04/15/2023 2:01:08 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: devane617

Part of the point of the push toward battery-only EVs is to limit personal mobility.

When the roards start getting crowded with BEVs, you won’t be able to travel more than half a charge’s range from home on weekends and holidays because you won’t be able to count on finding a working charging station. And those you CAN find with have an hours-long queue.


100 posted on 04/15/2023 2:30:32 PM PDT by Paal Gulli
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