Emission of diesel is still higher than gasoline in NOX and PM. Even in hybrid it is still a higher emission one, plus it is much harder to keep a diesel engine hot with the way hybrid works by shutting off the engine as need. If you have a mild hybrid and just use electric motor for eCVT and acceleration, it may work for bigger vehicles with a small diesel, but small car diesel hybrid can be keeping it cold too often, literally like running diesel in the winter cold start problem.
EVs on Long Road Trips
- Thread starter buster
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Standheizung (usually from Webasto) would be almost a must in colder areas of the country. It doesnt use much fuel to get the engine and cabin up to temp. Very common and a much in demand OE option in the old country.
Running a small TDI is cheaper than electricity for an EV where I am.
I'm sure that it is if your power is expensive. I just don't want to deal with one. It would break even with our current diesel prices and electric prices at about 160mpg. Not a single diesel gets that.
My sis in law in Western Ma drives 30k/year/car owns Golf TDI and Tesla model 3. Each has its merits however for kids regional sports for them it’s all on if you have range to make it there/back on single charge. Or you use Golf. They have solar panels which to me were $$$$ especially given they don’t use electric heat/lack central air so pay back is long . It’s a whole thing to go into “cheap” electric.
After my first EV road trip I just made sure I always had an ICE car or flew. Screw road-tripping them unless it's a familiar stretch.
@andrew_j @The_Jeff @JeffKeryk I travel through western Massachusetts frequently and find it surprising how much solar power one can see. It is interesting to note that a small state like Massachusetts has nearly twice the installed solar capacity as my home state of Pennsylvania. This begs the following question:
Is there that much installed solar capacity in Massachusetts because electricty prices are high or are those prices high due to all of that solar capacity?
That may seem like an odd question to any of you who do not already have or have never contemplated solar power but is is not. My solar array generates 12,000 kWh per year which allows me to avoid over $1300 per year in transmission and distribution expeneses. The costs associated with that didn't go away, they were just shifted to other ratepayers who do not have solar. The more of us who intall solar the more of the rest of you will end up paying until the rules of the game are changed. I believe they did that in California once a certain level of solar adoption was achieved.
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I quick online search of Massachusetts electric rates state they are among the highest in the USA.
From what I see we are looking at around 30 cents a kWh. I assume you have to add months charges to that too. Il try to find some reliable links
Source https://electricityrates.com/massachusetts/
I guess I dont have to search very hard
"At over 30¢ per kWh, Massachusetts electricity prices are nearly double the U.S. average. High wholesale costs in New England and rising delivery charges mean customers pay some of the highest bills in the country. Even with competitive suppliers, default service rates remain elevated."
https://eletric.net/ma-rates/
I suspect they are higher than posted kWh because there is always base charges. I would love to see an actual MA electric bill. Very interesting. Ahh, from the above link;
"Policy costs: Aggressive renewable portfolio standards, offshore wind contracts and energy‑efficiency programs add surcharges to supply rates."
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My wife would never accept a diesel, no matter what cost savings were involved. She wants silent.
The best I could probably do was a hybrid, but she even complained about the Camry hybrid we rented in Oregon, which is a pretty quiet vehicle. I think she's an EVer for life.
I loved my TDi but these days I don't think I'd want one. Not sure I want the smell in the house as I now have an attached garage, and I've gotten spoiled by walking out of the kitchen into the garage. Also after driving automatics for a bit, and now CVT or eCVT, I'm starting to like them.
But for a spare vehicle it might be nice.
But for a spare vehicle it might be nice.