• Thetimefarm@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    I don’t think the vast emptiness that is the US translates well to the UK. By area, New Mexico is almost the exact same size as the british isles, and it’s only the 5th largest state. I’ve done 400+ miles in a single day of driving many times. The furthest I’ve driven in a day was close to 800 miles.

    • No1@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Yeah, someone from the UK lecturing Americans on how EV infrastructure is just fine is rich. There are EVs capable of getting them pretty much anywhere in their country on a single charge. Meanwhile, I wouldn’t be able to visit my parents two states away without needing to charge halfway through. And the options if you have a family are even fewer and more expensive. There are six of us in our household. Which EV should we drop 6 figures on to get us and our luggage 600 miles away for the holidays?

      • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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        11 months ago

        Sure, but we have chargers everywhere. There’s a guy in this thread with 6 chargers in his whole US town of 30,000 people. We have 6 chargers on an office building of 30 people. Get your shitty infrastructure together, and all those distance issues disappear. Nobody is driving 600 miles without a break. What are you all doing, pissing in bottles?

        In the meantime, how about rent a vehicle for that one instance a year where you want to travel more than to and from work. Or heaven forbid, public transportation.

        “But what about that time four years ago where you had to take a fridge home?”

        “Aw gee I’d better buy a Ford F150 monster truck. Thanks Motor industry!”

      • SkippingRelax@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        In fairness many people.in the UK have parents living two countries away in Spain. I doubt that is taken into account when buying a car, particularly an ev .

        Most people would consider flying for such visits, and I thought that was standard in the US too. Don’t most people take a domestic flight when you need to cross more then one state border?

        Family of six is less of an issue in Europe that’s definitely not normal and would greatly reduce your options when buying a vehicle, electric or not.

        • stealthnerd@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          People in the US typically only take domestic flights between major cities and usually only if they are traveling a long distance (across multiple states).

          One reason for this is because you usually have to rent a car when you reach your destination anyway. So if you fly two states away to visit family, land in the closest city to where they live, now you have to rent a car at the airport and drive a couple of hours to their house. You’ve now paid for a flight and a car rental and you probably could have gotten there cheaper and just as quickly, if not faster, if you drove.

      • sugartits@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Yeah, someone from the UK lecturing Americans on how EV infrastructure is just fine is rich.

        I wasn’t “lecturing” anyone. I was sharing my experiences and knowledge. Isn’t that what we’re here for?

        There are EVs capable of getting them pretty much anywhere in their country on a single charge.

        Nope. If I want to go from basically anywhere in Wales to London, then I’m charging partway there.

        Meanwhile, I wouldn’t be able to visit my parents two states away without needing to charge halfway through.

        Correct. Do you normally do 600 miles in one go without a toilet/comfort/food break? You don’t stop at all? If that’s the case then you shouldn’t be driving, as that’s dangerous. And you might have dehydration.

        People seem to think that EV owners have only ever owned an EV. No, I’ve been driving for 20 years and owning an EV for 1. I wouldn’t go back. The EV experience is vastly superior to the ICE experience where it counts. It’s not universally better for every possible measure but I’m more than happy with the trade-offs. I did my homework and it’s been a perfectly pleasant experience.

        It’s fine. Really.

    • sugartits@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      As long as there is a way of charging every 200 or so miles, you’re probably fine… If you’re in Tesla or once the network is opened up enough. Otherwise you’re probably stuck or at least having a shit experience

      This video is worth a watch. Robert does the same trip in a Polestar 2 and a Tesla. The experience was very different between the two: https://youtu.be/92w5doU68D8

      Tweet from the same guy who highlights your concern: https://twitter.com/AgingWheels/status/1722858752569651540 … Unless you’re in a Tesla: https://twitter.com/AgingWheels/status/1723001588388704427

      If you’re genuinely interested there are plenty of apps which show the chargers and you can see how it works for your routes.

      Sadly Tesla is simply head and shoulders above the competition at the moment. So if you just don’t like Teslas then it’s probably best to wait for a bit and see how it plays out. Although they are gradually opening the network to non Tesla cars.