Creating projects because EV maintenance is so boring.

[dogememe]

The focus will then change to range anxiety! Does the charger shown on the maps work, is it busy, does the app work, did I miss my exit, etc. A hybrid is the best of both worlds. At least that's my guess for now. We'll see way down the road.

What is range anxiety? Multiple EVs and never once worried about if I’d make it or where to charge.

I’m that confident that I have no concern about arriving at the charging station like this!

 

[M.F. Horn]

What is range anxiety? Multiple EVs and never once worried about if I’d make it or where to charge.

I’m that confident that I have no concern about arriving at the charging station like this!

View attachment 318093

I know someone that missed their exit in a snowstorm... was dark and they were on a turnpike. Battery died and had to call a wrecker and get towed to a charging station. Was a Tesla. No EV's for me... hybrid better. But I know the EV's are fun to drive, comfortable, etc.

I just looked up "the fate of Ophelia song on you tube... I was searching around for some bubble gum to chew to the song. But she's popular... hey, people need someone to love, I understand. I just hope we get some real songwriters one day again, instead of the cookie cutter repetitive electronic anthem tracks that just get milled out by all these singers. Good song-writing is hard, and it's a lost art.

 

[M.F. Horn]

I know someone that missed their exit in a snowstorm... was dark and they were on a turnpike. Battery died and had to call a wrecker and get towed to a charging station. Was a Tesla. No EV's for me... hybrid better. But I know the EV's are fun to drive, comfortable, etc.

I just looked up "the fate of Ophelia song on you tube... I was searching around for some bubble gum to chew to the song. I suddenly smelled a mixture of perfume and roasted almonds- thought I was in a shopping mall. But she's popular... hey, people need someone to love, I understand. I just hope we get some real songwriters one day again, instead of the cookie cutter repetitive electronic anthem tracks that just get milled out by all these singers. Good song-writing is hard, and it's a lost art.

 

[alarmguy]

What is range anxiety? Multiple EVs and never once worried about if I’d make it or where to charge.

I’m that confident that I have no concern about arriving at the charging station like this!

View attachment 318093

You live in CA to understand, look up the amount of charging stations in the vast majority of the nation.

 

[pezzy84]

I remember back when you bought the ID4 ... I remember looking at them about 2 years ago. Glad it is going well. If you remember wife and I seriously considered it at the time, were some great deals. Reading your post make me still want one sometimes.
I am curious, you mentioned the tires. At what mileage did the OEM have to be replaced? I understand EV tires are more expensive do to the weight of the vehicles? One thing that does bother me is tire cost, even on the current SUV because it came with the optional 20 inch tires.

The factory tires at the time were Bridgestone Alenza's and are well known to not to be good, seems if you replace with non-OEM Alenza they are a little better. I swapped them out at ~17k miles after the front shoulder blocks started shredding themselves to bits and the rears were down to ~4/32's.

CrossClimates allegedly have an efficiency penalty which I am not seeing. Honestly I am still sitting right at ~3 mi/kwh average over the past 23k miles and the tires are lasting longer than I had planned so I am fine with them even if an EV specific tire might eek me out a little bit more efficiency.

If you do keep glancing at ID.4 please note they got new rear motor with much improved efficiency and power as of 2024 (non-standard models), 2025 and up all of them have the new motor. If you look at used models if it is a 2024 and the gear shifter is a stalk sticking out of the side of the steering column it has the new motor and updated infotainment, if its the shifter on the side of the binnacle that is a standard model with all the old stuff and I would not recommend. ID.4 was a basket case for 2024 year, thinking VW was just trying to clear the shelves of the 2021-2023 motors and infotainment so they sold both old and refresh side by side.

 

[pezzy84]

What is range anxiety? Multiple EVs and never once worried about if I’d make it or where to charge.

I’m that confident that I have no concern about arriving at the charging station like this!

View attachment 318093

Yup - I will say I don't like how GM just switches to "low" instead of showing %. We have driven both ID's down to 1% SOC getting to our stop on road trips (2021 was a trip to Paducah, KY - 2022 was a trip to Charlotte, NC) - makes for a great charging session though as we get max charging speed. Despite a stated 135KW max by VW on our LG batteries we see ~150KW on the 150KW EA stations and if we snag a 350 EA station I have seen as high as 170KW in optimal conditions.

How do you like your Equinox? We are Equinox fans and we glanced at them quite a bit before we picked up the '22 ID. We shut down the Equinox conversation because of the hoops and $$$ GM wants you to pay to have Super Cruise, have been hugely spoiled by VW Travel Assist which is standard on every single vehicle they offer even the base models. While it is not a total hands off system like Super Cruise it works incredibly well - basically just have to squeeze the steering wheel every 12-15 seconds or just keep your hand resting on the wheel. I really wish GM would just make it standard and let me pay the monthly/annual subscription, basically any way you cut it you are paying $7-8k up front if you want Super Cruise on the Equinox.

 

[dogememe]

Yup - I will say I don't like how GM just switches to "low" instead of showing %. We have driven both ID's down to 1% SOC getting to our stop on road trips (2021 was a trip to Paducah, KY - 2022 was a trip to Charlotte, NC) - makes for a great charging session though as we get max charging speed. Despite a stated 135KW max by VW on our LG batteries we see ~150KW on the 150KW EA stations and if we snag a 350 EA station I have seen as high as 170KW in optimal conditions.

How do you like your Equinox? We are Equinox fans and we glanced at them quite a bit before we picked up the '22 ID. We shut down the Equinox conversation because of the hoops and $$$ GM wants you to pay to have Super Cruise, have been hugely spoiled by VW Travel Assist which is standard on every single vehicle they offer even the base models. While it is not a total hands off system like Super Cruise it works incredibly well - basically just have to squeeze the steering wheel every 12-15 seconds or just keep your hand resting on the wheel. I really wish GM would just make it standard and let me pay the monthly/annual subscription, basically any way you cut it you are paying $7-8k up front if you want Super Cruise on the Equinox.

So under 15 miles it just says LOW but the percentage is right there always

On my Model 3 I also keep it on % displayed. Don’t remember last time I toggled that to miles.

Both are fantastic vehicles. I’m spoiled by the great software, sound system, and automation of the Tesla.

But the driving position of the Equinox EV and practicality of the cargo space is more to my liking.

I’ve been driving the Equinox for the last two days (for the first time since we bought it new 7 months ago) and wow it is weird having to drive myself haha. Usually my Tesla drives me around

It’ll be interesting, my ex drives a lot and we’ve estimated the Equinox EV will have about 175K miles on it by the time it’s paid off although he intends to pay it off early. No issues so far.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

You can obsess over the gearbox oil and change it excessively.

I've changed mine (7) times in 33,000 km, partly in the interest of research of course but also because the gear reducer can fail in all Hyundai-Kia EVs made prior to the Ioniq 5, perhaps up 20% according to (2) polls.

I've also been experimenting with a thicker grade to quieten it down, a 75W-80 GL4. No measurable loss of efficiency.
If that's not enough fun the motor bearings can fail as well due to unreliable shaft grounding.

 

[Astro14]

The below stuff smells and cleans incredibly not to mention easy to dose as the top is a measuring cup - only bad is during winter you have to figure out a good isopropyl alcohol mix to suppress the freeze point. For 1 gallon I calculated 16 oz bottle of 91% will put me down into high-teens F freeze point, yeah it pushes up the cost but we don't deal with salt/slush so that 1 refill should last me the freeze season. I just pour the alcohol in then top off with my home mix.

Nextzett Kristall Klar concentrate

I add it to a jug of the cheap blue stuff - makes it far more effective. No worries about freezing. At 20ml/gallon - the bottle of Kristall Klar lasts a very long time.

 

[dcd]

That maybe was a thing as shortly as 1.5-2 years ago but not really so much anymore. Sure some desolate areas might still have some holes in the network but these are also the places they have signs warning you the next gas station is XYZ miles away.

I see you are in Chattanooga. Ever travel to Asheville via the Nantahala Gorge? It’s a little over 200 miles with only two 60kW DC fast chargers in Murphy, NC in between. Don’t ask me how I know.