As someone who drives a truck that gets 19mpg I too understand feeling like getting gas is a waste of time but I don't think I could live without having a truck.
Sure there are more efficient trucks and electric ones but how much gas would I have to use to justify spending the money to upgrade? Plus you cant bring a 2x4 from the big box store on the bus.
My best solution so far is take as few of trips as possible to minimize how much fuel I use and never leave the tank empty when I know I have to be somewhere important the next day.
STM317
PowerDork
11/2/23 9:35 a.m.
You should be able to easily replenish a PHEV's range in a typical overnight charging situation with a standard 120v outlet, and the EVSE should come with the vehicle to enable just that.
That being said, mass transit, cycling, an ebike, etc should all be considered as potential options to reduce your fuel consumption when appropriate.
Yep, the real answer is drive less. But we have a car-dependent society, so realistically your only options are gas stations or EVs (hybrids included).
In reply to STM317 :
Agreed on the alternative forms of transportation. I know I could do better about utilizing them.
As for the car charging, I have to street park. The only way I could get my car plugged in is to run a lengthy extension cord, which I've been led to believe isn't a good idea.
In reply to maschinenbau :
I hear you, it's an unfortunate reality for a lot of people.
Colin and I were discussing this yesterday. In theory, he could take a train all the way to and through Orlando–but only Monday through Friday because we don’t have weekend service.
I’d love to be able to take a train to Orlando or even all the way to Tampa. Basically, put a rail line down the middle of I-4, please, and give us seven-day service. But I also realize the challengers there.
Of all the first world problems today lol.
I have one car that does everything very well. It's a 2014 Touareg that was bought for about $23k. It's a diesel. Gobs of torque, decent fuel economy, 7700 pound towing capacity, seats 5, is comfortable, and semi-sporty. Beating around town in the daily grind, I have to fill it every 2 weeks. That's not much time a the gas station.
I have looked hard a the EVs in the world. There really isn't one that will fill the shoes of the above vehicle without spending a boatload of cash. The Lightening, in reasonable trim with the extended battery, is $66k+ after the tax credit. That buys a little over 15k gallons of diesel, or enough to push the Touareg another 329,000 miles. That's about 21 years of driving for me. I would probably still need another vehicle because I really don't like driving a truck all the time. BTDT.
I seriously looked at EV trucks hard recently and didn't buy one because of bed size and price. I bought an F150 Ecoboost instead. It was $44k cheaper than the Lightening. That buys almost 14k+ gallons of gas or 266,000 miles. That pushes my break even out 7 years and probably past the useful life of the truck.
Yes, I know I didn't figure in oil changes. I also didn't figure in the cost of electricity for charging which will probably be more than the cost of oil changes.
The EVs are a viable alternative, but at the end of the day, buy-in just costs too much for me to play and I don't break even until long after both vehicles are dead. Maybe in the next few years, the used prices will come down and I'll do the math again.
Until then, it's gas stations for me.
Edit to add, our public transportation is a joke and isn't a viable alternative for anyone. The nearest bus stop to my house is 4 miles of congested and dangerous roads away. That is an express bus that only goes downtown so I'd have to catch another bus back out to the hub to catch another bus that goes past my office. Travel time shouldn't be more than 2-3 hours.
David S. Wallens said:
Basically, put a rail line down the middle of I-4...
They've not even been successfully able to put I-4 down the middle of I-4 for about eight years now, so...
In reply to JG Pasterjak :
A boy can dream!
