GRA
Well-known member
WetEV said:GRA said:BTW, one of the reasons I'm partial to PHEVs at this time is that, aside from being the only AFV tech that currently provides a complete replacement for ICEs, and their lower purchase price, they can pretty easily be fully charged overnight via L1, even at say 8 instead of 12A, which is not only safer if using a non-dedicated circuit (if still illegal), but also eliminates the need for and cost of a 240V EVSE and its circuit.
As cost of PEVs is usually the biggest reason given for lack of purchase, anything we can do to reduce the price and hassle is critical. As you say, L1 is cheaper than L2, if less efficient.
For you, I'd recommend an ICE (or hybrid ICE) for at least the next decade. You will not be happy with a BEV with no home charging, your trip profile and your expectations. As you don't have home charging, you gain nothing from the extra cost of having the plug. A FCEV can't go to places far beyond subsidized fueling stations. No trips to Arches for a decade or more, perhaps never, as hydrogen is far too expensive to produce and to handle.
A PHEV is useful for someone that has lots of short trips than can be all EV, and occasional long trips. You don't fit that profile.
As batteries get cheaper and longer lasting, the value of a PHEV is getting harder to find.
Until the charging infrastructure approaches that of the gas station network, we'll still need PHEVs, and as they can stretch out what remains a limited battery supply over 4-8 cars instead of one, and at lower cost per car while seriously reducing if not totally eliminating tailpipe emissions in local driving, they still have considerable value. The problem with PHEVs had always been explaining them to the general public, not their usefulness. They are a perfect example of the '80% soonest rather than 100% later' approach that I favor.
I've had the 'to go or not go PHEV for now' discussion with myself numerous times, trying to convince myself that the ability to control local emissions where I want to was worth the extra money up front, but it doesn't pencil out. I had my highest hopes for the Niro, whether BEV or PHEV, until I learned they weren't available with AWD. Still tried to convince myself to lease a BEV Niro for a few years, as I liked it when I drove it despite it falling well short of my needs, but seeing the dealers were slapping big ADMs on them ($5k where I test drove one) soured that.
The RAV4 Prime, despite being too big and having a few other issues, comes closest to meeting my needs at the moment, but dealers are putting an even bigger ADM on them, so screw 'em. My hope is that one of the regular rental agencies in town will start to carry BEVs as they become more mainstream, so that I can ditch car ownership altogether, as my need for a car is so limited and intermittent, but requiring ICE-level range and refueling times when I do. They can worry about degradation, as long as I've got enough guaranteed range to meet my need. Someday.