While filling up with fossil fuel, I paid attention to the several EV charging stations available.
Half expecting to see some waiting, either at the station or inline, I observed what I did not expect.
Nothing, not one EV charging customer. For most of a half hour during what should be a prime charging time, and a large distance between cities, meaning no charging alternatives for substantial miles.
Take away?
Nobody wants to take an EV on a road trip, and a corollary..
EVs are for buzzing around town and impressing your woke friends, cars are for both around town and also road trips. Most folks know this, I learned, some lie about it.
I used an EV from 1999 through 2016. It was excellent experience, much better than similar ICE alternatives.
Of course, I am talking about riding golf carts. Longest trip was 10 miles on days I played 27 holes.
I have been in and out of a destination town all weekend. All the chargers were empty. All weekend.
Yup. Strictly short commutes in and about the suburbs. City folks and renters have no way to charge, and those of us in the boondocks wouldn't go near one in a million years.
Strictly a soccer mom's vehicle. She drives the kids around in hubby's Suburban, while he tools off to work in "her" electric gaymobile.
I just got back from a 650 mile trip. Stopped at two Buc-ees. For those who don’t know Bucees are giant all in one travel plazas typically 100 or more gas pumps with a large store selling a wide variety of quality eat on the go food as well as just about anything else you might need on a trip and whose bathrooms are the cleanest in the industry. Definitely worth visiting if you have one near you.
With that background the two Bucees where I stopped also have a dozen Tesla charging stations. In the first one there were four idiots sitting and charging. They were there when I got there and it took about 5 min to fill the tank and about 15 for the family to buy food and shop etc. they were still there when I left. Same with the second Bucees except there were 5 Tesla’s charging. In the amount of time I was at each station I’m estimating at a conservative minimum 200 to 300 real cars came filled up and went. (100 pumps almost all of them continuously busy, 5 min average to fill, 20 minutes of activity). This was a stark view of the reality of just how egregiously impractical EVs are and how completely inferior battery technology is compared to ICE technology.
I reached two conclusions:
1. Bucees is a great place to stop on a trip and
2. The vast majority of people prefer gas/diesel powered vehicles. So in spite of what the official Democrat media would have you believe I have hope that the EV insanity is not really taking root in the American populace.