The Owner/Driver

Name: Tim Stevens
Occupation: Retired (previously an environmental scientist with the State of California)
Location: Davis, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle
Type: Fully electric (uses a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity)
Range: 366 miles
MPGe: 68
MSRP: The Honda Clarity FCV is primarily available as a three-year, closed-end, $369/month lease.
Time owned: 2 years (in the second year of a three-year lease period)

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

I was retiring in 2016 and I knew that my (well-used) 1992 Honda Accord should also be retired. For my first-ever new car, I wanted a non-petroleum or reduced-petroleum vehicle. But fully electric cars with adequate range and performance (i.e., the two Tesla models available at the time) were very expensive. While I was considering my options, my Accord was seriously damaged in a hit-and-run accident, so I had to get another car in early 2017.

I initially intended to purchase a plug-in hybrid, and I favored the reliability, handling, performance, and features of the Honda Accord. But in 2017 Honda was offering only the plug-in hybrid option for its Clarity line, not for the Accord. So I turned my attention to the Clarity plug-in hybrid. But when I went to early Clarity promotional events in Sacramento put on by Honda, I was particularly impressed with the fuel-cell model of the Clarity. I also liked the idea of being an early “pioneer” with a fuel-cell electric vehicle. Finally, I figured that if things didn’t pan out, it was only a three-year (lease) commitment. As it happened, the Clarity—with its range, performance, zero-vehicle-emissions, and features—has proven to be a good fit for me at this stage in my life.

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

The Clarity is a leased car. Honda has offered generous financial incentives (e.g., moderate monthly payments and free fuel!) during the three-year lease contract for its fuel-cell vehicle. Plus I received a large rebate ($5,000) from the state and got stickers that allow me to use high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) freeway lanes. So I feel that leasing the Clarity, under Honda’s promotional program, was a good financial decision. So far the car has not required any unusual maintenance, and I hear that Honda has worked to ensure that yearly maintenance costs will be more consistent among dealers.

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

The electric motor powering the Clarity seems excellent. It provides good acceleration and so far is performing reliably. Other features (like air conditioning, heating, and power accessories) all work very well. The one big challenge has been that until recently there was just one hydrogen fueling station in the Sacramento metropolitan area (in West Sacramento).  Fortunately, one of two additional stations planned in the region has recently gone online and a third should be up and running sometime in 2019.

What are the biggest misconceptions of going electric?

When people think electric, they tend to think of either expensive, flashy Teslas or of under-powered, “golf cart”-like vehicles with poor performance and inadequate operational range. The Clarity is neither of those things. And besides the Clarity, there are plenty of new types of electric cars either here now or coming soon from other manufacturers that are or will be (a) affordable and (b) adequate for daily drivers.

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

The Clarity is limited to locations within an adequate distance from hydrogen fueling stations, which are currently in the high population density areas of southern and northern California. The longest trip I have taken so far is to Palo Alto and back.

Do you have any good stories about your experience as an EV owner?

People seem impressed by the Clarity! I personally like the cabin roominess and semi-luxurious features like heated, power-reclining leather seats and the excellent GPS map display.

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go hybrid/electric?

Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) and fuel-cell vehicle (FCV) manufacturers appear to be in competition. I believe there is room for both—indeed, that they should work together instead of in opposition. Most PEVs have to improve operational range, which they could do through fuel-cell technology. Meanwhile, more hydrogen fueling stations are needed if manufacturers are to convince consumers that FCVs are good buys. FCV manufacturers could partner with PEV manufacturers to construct joint fueling stations that can serve both types of vehicles. Also, local government agencies need to address regulatory hurdles that are delaying hydrogen fueling stations. We’ll see within the next 10–20 years whether these obstacles gets addressed and whether PEVs, FCVs, or some new type of car comes to dominate the market.

 

The Owner/Driver

Name: Phoenix Chong
Occupation: Retired attorney
Location: Oakland/San Francisco, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2011 Nissan Leaf
Type: Fully electric
Range: 84 miles
MPGe: 99
MSRP*: $32,780
Time owned: 7+ years
*When new, at time of model release.

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

I had been looking for an electric car ever since roughly 2003, when conflict in the Middle East made me decide that I wanted to do everything I could to decrease my reliance on fossil fuels. For a while, I used biodiesel powered by recycled potato chip oil to fuel my car. But after becoming a solar household in 2004, I began searching for an affordable electric car. I had bought a vintage vehicle that I planned to convert to electric when Nissan announced it was finally coming out with an all-electric vehicle. At the time, the only other all-electric option was the Tesla, which cost more than I wanted to spend. So it was a no-brainer—Leaf it was!

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

The quality of the Leaf is high enough that I am very satisfied after 7 years of ownership. I love the low maintenance of the Leaf. As a low-mileage driver, the only maintenance I’ve had to do is replace all the tires last year at about 35,000 miles. I’m not thrilled that the battery capacity has diminished somewhat as the car has gotten older, but c’est la battery vie. I save by not buying gas, but I need to pay to charge now and then when I’m on the road and need to top off. But generally, if I charge at home, I get free power from my solar panels.

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

Insufficient charging infrastructure. Chargers aren’t always available where you need them, and as more folks adopt EVs, there will be a longer wait for the public chargers that do exist.

What are the biggest misconceptions of going electric?

Range limitations really aren’t that big a deal once you get familiar with how far your car can go. Just like with any car, don’t push your limits. You wouldn’t use a small sedan to haul a trailer, and so you shouldn’t plan a long-distance car trip in a lower-range EV (but if you’re a Tesla owner with lifetime supercharger access, go for it!). Other misconceptions are not realizing how liberating it can be to never have to go to a gas station again. Your car refuels while you sleep!

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

In my early years as an EV owner, I did 3 quick charges and drove almost 200 miles in one day to push the Leaf’s capabilities. But going far isn’t the holy grail of EV transport. I mostly drive to do office catering in central SF, and the Leaf does a stellar job of meeting my needs. Nowadays you can get an EV with a 200–300 mile range. But if 80–90% of your daily driving is under 50 miles, it might be worth it to get a cheaper, lower-range EV and use the savings to just rent a car or carshare for those few days when you are traveling farther.

Do you have any good stories about your experience as an EV owner?

I have a good story about someone else! I read about someone who modified a Leaf with an electric outlet so that he was able to use the power from his Leaf’s battery to power his fridge and other necessities when a hurricane struck and took down the electric grid. I’m planning to similarly modify my Leaf so that I can use it to live off grid for a little while if necessary.

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go hybrid/electric?

I’m so much more aware of the smog and stink caused by gas emissions when I’m sitting in traffic jams in San Francisco. High-density cities could decrease the health and environmental effects of traffic by creating incentives to encourage EV use in congested areas. For instance, EV delivery vehicles should be allowed to park in yellow zones despite not having a truck loading permit.

Also, I wish there was a way to apply residential energy credits at public charging stations. With our residential solar photovoltaic system, we generate more electricity than we use at home. It would be great if we could just enter our PG&E account number and PIN at a public charging station to apply our net metering credits instead of paying with cash or card.

 

The Owner/Driver

Name: Jered Sneesby
Occupation: Civil engineer
Location: Sacramento, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2014 BMW i3 REx (with range extender)
Type: The BMW i3 is available as a fully battery-electric vehicle, but adding the range-extending gasoline engine (as my car has) makes it a plug-in hybrid. The REx is a unique hybrid in that a very small gasoline engine generates backup power for the battery but is not directly linked to the drivetrain.
Range: 72 miles (battery only); 150 (battery + gas)
MPGe: 117
MSRP*: $45,200
Time owned: 0.5 years of ownership; but before this, we leased a 2015 model for 2.5 years. So almost 3 years of experience.
*When new, at time of model release.

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

I saw all the negative external costs of using oil, such as pollution and conflict, and wanted to reduce that. At first I was interested in Audi’s A3 e-tron, but I changed my mind after reading an online review comparing the e-tron with the BMW i3. We also considered other plug-in hybrids such as Ford C-Max and Honda Accord, but BMW was the only dealership that seemed interested in promoting their EVs over their gas-powered vehicles, and the i3 has a very nice interior compared to other EVs. And our lease started on the last day of 2015, so we were offered a pretty good deal.

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

Lease returns on i3s are amazing deals for a car of this quality. I bought mine used from Select Motors in San Mateo. They regularly have available 10 to 20 i3 REx cars loaded with options (upgraded interior, rear camera, adaptive cruise control, and parking assist), starting at $18,000. Charging the car at home is low cost, especially when combined with solar net-metering. I’m looking forward to the future, when electric utilities might offer financial incentives for EV owners to limit charging at peak hours to flatten the demand curve and/or for EV owners to connect their vehicles and send energy back to the grid when costs are high and to avoid brownouts. Finally, our i3 has been very low maintenance so far. EVs have fewer internal components than gas-powered vehicles, so maintenance usually doesn’t involve much beyond changing tires when they wear out.

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

Range anxiety, but the range extender really alleviates that. Many i3 owners rarely use the range extender, but appreciate it being there as a convenience. Also, we were concerned that the battery wouldn’t last long, which is why we leased our first one. But after leasing for a while we became comfortable enough to transition to ownership.

What are the biggest misconceptions of going electric?

The few cases when EV batteries have caught fire have been way overblown in the media. EVs are just as safe as gas-powered vehicles, if not more so. Also, it’s very easy to charge overnight at home. For a couple years, we were just using a regular 120-volt outlet for Level-1 charging. About a month ago, I added a 240-volt outlet to an existing 30-amp circuit for faster Level-2 charging.

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

We visited the hostel at Point Montara Lighthouse, between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.

Do you have any good stories about your experience as an EV owner?

EVs and rooftop solar go well together. Since we had been charging our car for a few years, our energy use was up. Because of our increased energy use, our electric utility approved us to install a larger photovoltaic (PV) system at our house than we would have gotten otherwise. We’ve been able to use our PV to support our EV!

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go hybrid/electric?

Going electric is a lot easier when you realize you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. There are plenty of online forums where you can find out more about other people’s experiences—both with EVs in general and with specific EV models—as well as ask questions of your own. The Fully Charged YouTube channel is also a helpful resource to learn more about different types of EVs.

 

The Owner/Driver

Name: Edgar Wong-Chen
Occupation: Researcher
Location: Davis, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2018 Nissan Leaf
Type: All-electric
Range: 151 miles
MPGe: 112
MSRP*: $29,900
Time owned: 0.5 years
*When new, at time of model release.

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

We lived in San Francisco for many years and I had been hoping to move back to my hometown of Davis. When the opportunity came to move back to Davis, my wife and I agreed that we would get an electric car so that I could use the HOV lane for my daily commute to Oakland. Another factor in our decision was the gas savings, which cover over 70% of my monthly car payment. We also like being able to help the environment. We installed solar panels on our house so we can directly supply my car with power produced at home.

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

The gas savings have been substantial, but the upfront cost of the car was still significant. The 2018 Nissan Leaf has an MSRP of about $30,000, while a similar gas-powered sedan can retail for close to half that. Nevertheless, the Nissan Leaf is one of the cheapest fully electric vehicles with a high range. And with state and federal purchase incentives, I will receive a $10,000 rebate from the government ($2,500 from state incentives and $7,500 from federal). PG&E offers its customers an additional $500 for purchasing an EV. Finally, EVs do not require as much servicing as cars with combustion engines, so that provides additional cost savings.

The other factor to take into consideration is that if you drive a significant amount, you will want regular access to a Level 2 (higher-speed) charger. In California, there are a lot of Level 2 chargers that are accessible to the public, and many offices (including mine) provide Level 2 chargers to employees. But as EVs become more popular, competition for Level 2 chargers is increasing. I decided to install a Level 2 charger in my house powered my new solar panels, which was expensive. I had to upgrade the electrical panel (about $3,000), trench a new higher gauge cable to the panel (about $4,000), purchase a Level 2 charger (about $400–$800), and install a new outlet and connect the charger (about $500). Most people will not have to replace their panel or trench, but if you do it will add substantial costs to your project.

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

The biggest challenge is making sure that my car has a full charge daily. My daily commute is 134 miles round-trip. While the Leaf is supposed to get about 150 miles per charge, the actual range is never the advertised range: road conditions and the use of heating, air conditioning, and the radio can all affect vehicle performance. I rely on my office garage charging station to recharge and make sure I can complete the trip home. I’m lucky that our garage has a valet service that rotates EVs on the chargers. I’m also glad that my Leaf (and most other EVs) allow you to monitor charge status via a phone app. If my car did not have this, I would have to walk down to the garage to make sure the valet service was rotating my car in with enough time to charge for the trip home.

One benefit of the Leaf is that if you work or live near a Nissan dealership with a “supercharger”, or Level 3 charger, you can use it to charge your car up to 80% in about 20–30 mins. I am fortunate to work near a Nissan dealership and use their Level 3 charger if I cannot get my car fully charged at work by the end of the day. If charging at my office was not available or there was not a Nissan dealership near me, I would NOT have bought the Leaf because the range isn’t enough for me to comfortably make my roundtrip commute.

What are the biggest misconceptions of going electric?

A large misconception of going electric is the potential cost of replacing a battery. Only time will tell how long batteries in today’s EVs will last. But to my knowledge, many cars that utilize battery technology and have been around for many years—like the Toyota Prius—have rarely had their batteries replaced. I only know one person who had to replace their Prius battery, but even that was only after driving well over 200,000 miles. And they replaced it for less than $1,000.

***Editor’s note: In California, automakers are required to warranty EV batteries for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Click here to read more on this topic.***

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

Right now, I only use my EV for my daily commute. For longer trips we utilize our gas car. If I were to take it on a “trip”, the furthest I would go is from Davis to the Bay Area, but knowing that I’d have to recharge to get back is anxiety-inducing. As EV charging infrastructure improves, I believe that taking longer trips in my Leaf will become more convenient.

Do you have any good stories about your experience as an EV owner?

We were very excited to be one of the first owners of the 2018 Leaf in Northern California.  The dealership literally had to unwrap the car since it and the other 2018 Leafs had just arrived from the manufacturer. The nicest experiences are the conversations that many people like to have with my wife and I about the Leaf and going fully electric. I tell them that it’s not an easy decision, but in the right scenario it’s a no brainer. For us, it’s a huge win-win-win financially, for the environment, and for letting me use the HOV lane in my daily commute.

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go hybrid/electric?

I think there are different motivators for different owners. I’ll throw out two ideas.

For commuters, having access to the HOV lane is a daily game changer. Depending on the day, I estimate that using the HOV lane saves me about 30–40 minutes in my morning commute from Davis to Oakland and about 30–60 minutes in my evening commute from Oakland to Davis. That allowed me to move back to Davis, a place where I can afford to own a home and where I want to raise my family. Expanding HOV lanes in and outside of the Bay Area would likely encourage more people to go electric.

For penny pinchers, having an EV can lead to big cost savings on gas and maintenance. But right now, federal and state incentives are key to making the upfront costs of EVs competitive with gas vehicles. We need these incentives to stick around until technology improvements drive EV costs down. The incentives were definitely key in our purchase decision.

 

The Owner/Driver

Name: Mollie D’Agostino
Occupation: Policy Director, 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program
Location: Davis, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2018 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Type: Plug-in hybrid
Range: 26 miles (battery only); 560 (battery + gas)
MPGe: 105
MSRP*: $27,900
Time owned: <1 year
*When new, at time of model release.

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

We’re big bicyclists so after giving away our 13-year-old car we went car-free for about 6 months. But over time we felt we were missing out when it came to camping trips or visiting our friends in far-flung suburbs. So we gave in to needing a four-wheeled option. I am a committed environmentalist, and I work in sustainable transportation at UC Davis, so a plug-in seemed like a great purchase.

Cost was also top-of-mind. I’d been hearing all these stories from my family and colleagues at UC Davis about how tax incentives and fuel savings made going electric a “good deal” financially. John, my husband, was resistant to going full battery electric, but he was compelled by the “good deal stories” too. So after much discussion, we compromised on a plug-in hybrid.

After test driving the Kia Niro, we were sold. The Kia Niro doesn’t have as much of an electric range as I would like (only 27–30 miles per charge), but it’s a good lookin’ hatchback (meaning we can fit our bikes in!) and delivers a super smooth and comfortable driving experience. It felt so much safer than our old clunker. It also has a lot of automated features, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, that make me a better driver.

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

Federal and state refunds were a big factor in deciding to lease an EV. We made out pretty well despite going for a plug-in hybrid rather than a full electric car: we received ~$6,500 off the sticker price after combining state and federal incentives. Even though we rely on the gas engine more than we could/would if we restricted our travel to shorter trips, we average about 60 MPG, which is quite good mileage. It feels like a win-win to get a good deal from both an economic and an environmental perspective!

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

Since we have a plug-in hybrid we are not challenged at all. I try to charge whenever possible to save gas, but the fact that we can rely on gas when we need to means that it’s no problem to go on longer trips in the Niro.

What are the biggest misconceptions of going electric?

Even though I work in transportation, I believed the rumors that battery life depletion issues affect the long-term value of an EV. But after finding out that in California, EV batteries are under warranty for 150,000 miles and 10 years I realized this is a non-issue.

Also, I think people don’t realize that you can charge an EV using a regular household plug. The dealership gave us a free convertor with the lease. It’s like plugging in your phone.

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

We’ve never driven on a long trip without using gas. But we went to Patrick’s Point in Humboldt County for a camping wedding and the car did great capturing lots of electric charge on the downhills and keeping our MPG pretty high.

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go hybrid/electric?

A plug-in hybrid is a very easy way to enter the world of EVs, and can be a good option for people not yet ready to take the plunge of going fully electric. I would suggest everyone thinking about getting an EV do it sooner rather than later because the public incentives available now may not last forever. You’ll save at the dealership, at the pump, and in your conscience, so it’s a win-win-win!

 

The Owner/Driver

Name: Ying Wu
Occupation: Health-related
Location: Davis, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
Type: Plug-in hybrid
Range: 33 miles (battery only); 570 (battery + gas)
MPGe: 84
MSRP*: $41,995–$44,995
Time owned: 1 year
*When new, at time of model release.

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

We (my husband Ryan Stevenson and I) commute daily into Sacramento for work and wanted to decrease money spent on gas and also decrease our carbon footprint. We also wanted a minivan to accommodate our children, but the fuel economy is generally less on minivans given their large size, so that is what led us to consider an electric/hybrid minivan. The Chrysler Pacifica is the first plug-in electric hybrid minivan ever made.

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

We were deciding between the Honda Odyssey and the Chrysler Pacifica. The federal and state rebate on the latter greatly reduced the price difference between the conventional car and the EV, and the long-term savings through special electric rates at home through PG&E made the investment worthwhile.

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

The hardest part is finding more electric chargers, but we have noticed increasing numbers of charging stations in many places including shopping centers, work, and other public parking areas. Some chargers are even free to use.

What are the biggest misconceptions of going electric?

The biggest misconception is that you may have less power in acceleration or more mechanical problems. We have not encountered either of these issues.

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

We recently had a fantastic family vacation driving down to Monterey/Santa Cruz in our electric/hybrid minivan with our two toddlers. One hotel we stayed in even had free charging stations!

Do you have any good stories about your experience as a EV owner?

We love our electric hybrid minivan so much that we have given her a name because she is a part of our little family. Her name is Khaleesi (yes, we are Game of Thrones fans!). Our three-year old refers to her as a living being, often asking “Where is Khaleesi? Is she waiting for us?”

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go hybrid/electric?

We need to have more free or low-cost charging stations available all over. This would help significantly in encouraging more EV purchases.

 

The Owner/Driver

Name: Suresh Ram
Occupation: Program Manager
Location: Davis, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt
Type: All-electric
Range: 238 miles
MPGe: 119
MSRP*: $36,620–$40,905
Time owned: <1 year
*When new, at time of model release.

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

I needed a new car back in 2013. As I was researching options, I knew I wanted certain things. Reliability, fuel efficiency, and low maintenance were important to me. I was attracted to the benefits of using electricity as an alternative to gas and the possibility of less regular maintenance. I read everything I could about EVs and what it would mean to drive an EV as my only vehicle. I then did a lot of personal research into my driving habits and needs, to see if I could live with so-called “limited range.” I drove my usual routes and stopped to take a look at the public charging stations that I would need to use if I went electric. I collected a month’s worth of data on my driving habits and realized that an EV could work well for me. So I got a Nissan Leaf. Driving my Leaf for more than three years, I learned a lot about what goes into driving electric. Unfortunately, expansion of public charging locations was not keeping pace with the number of new EV drivers using them. The wait times at charging stations were getting longer and longer. That’s when I decided I needed to consider a longer-range EV. As luck would have it a few months later the Chevrolet Bolt became available. I researched pricing and real world performance for another 11 months before finally making the switch. The added range allowed me to almost completely eliminate my need for public charging! The practical hatchback design appealed to me since the Bolt is my only vehicle and the performance was excellent during my test drive. The safety features were good and crash testing performance was great. Also, it fits nicely in my garage with plenty of room to spare.

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

Although my EV had a higher upfront purchase price, federal and state incentives made it affordable. The cost of charging has been lower than what I would have been spending on gas and the time and “stress” savings of not having to ever go to a gas station are much appreciated. No oil changes means I don’t need to pay for the service or supplies. The recommended maintenance is low and infrequent. However, purchasing new tires at the moment would be much more expensive as normal cheap tires don’t seem to be an option without sacrificing some range performance. The lack of a spare tire also means I will have to call a tow truck if I get a bad flat that cannot be repaired by sealants, but Chevy includes five years of roadside assistance with purchase of a Bolt. There were also some upfront expenses to set up a charger at my home, but this isn’t necessary if you don’t need faster charging and can do with charging on a 110-volt outlet. Overall, my estimated long-term cost will be a bit less than if I had purchased a conventional vehicle.

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

The higher upfront cost of the vehicle was a problem, since it is hard to make the switch when conventional vehicles can be purchased for less. Other than that I haven’t really had any other issues. Frequent charging on longer trips may be an issue for many people, but I’m fine with it as it allows me to avoid fatigue and get some exercise or run errands while charging.

What are the biggest misconceptions of going electric?

People often ask if I can drive at freeway speeds or far enough to leave town. I think that a lot of people don’t realize that EVs can function like conventional vehicles—they seem to view them more like golf carts. It also seems like many people think waiting 30 minutes for a charge would be unbearable. But when some of those people have traveled with me in my Bolt, they’ve been surprised at how fast 30 minutes passes. Another thing people often bring up is the fear that an EV will “freeze up” like smartphones and computers sometimes do due to software issues. I have not had any issues of “freezing up” that cause my Bolt to be non-functional.

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

The furthest trips I have done so far are regular trips to visit my family, which is about 220 miles round trip (mainly freeway driving). In warm weather, I can do the trip on a single full charge with a few miles to spare. In cold weather, I do a single 30 minute quick charge session just to be safe, but I usually end up with plenty of charge remaining.

Do you have any good stories about your experience as an EV owner?

A couple of years ago while at a charging station in Vacaville with my Nissan Leaf a man and his kids walked up to me and asked what I was doing with my car. I told him I was charging it. He got really excited and exclaimed, “What?! You’re charging it?! It runs on electricity, no gas?! I didn’t know they could do that! That’s so cool!” The look on his face was priceless.

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go electric?

Prices need to come down. I noticed a significant number of new Nissan Leafs on local roads and around town when visiting my family once the 2017 Nissan Leafs were discounted in advance of the release of the longer-range 2018 Nissan Leaf.

Also, if there was a way to make people aware of how much driving they actually do on a daily basis. I think many people would realize that they could easily manage with the 200+ mile range on newer EVs (and maybe even shorter-range EVs) or that they could even reduce some of their daily mileage with a bit more planning.

 

The Owner/Driver

Name: Diana K.I. Lucas
Occupation: Retired
Location: Davis, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2014 Ford CMax Energi
Type: Plug-in hybrid
Range: 20 miles (battery only); 550 (battery + gas)
MPGe: 88
MSRP*: $31,635
Time owned: 3.5 years
*When new, at time of model release.

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

I have always been interested in energy conservation. We had had solar panels installed on our roof and it was clear that at the end of the year, we would come out significantly ahead. PG&E does not reimburse you for the extra energy you send to the grid, so we had extra electricity to support electric vehicle (EV) charging at home.  As it was time for me to get a new car, we decided to investigate plug in hybrids.

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

We were pleasantly surprised at the purchase price. In addition, at the time of our purchase there were sizable federal and state tax rebates. With the solar panels, driving around town is virtually free.

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

Trying to keep the smug look off my face. I love my car!

What are the biggest misconceptions of electric?

People do not understand how an electric hybrid works. It’s easy to confuse a plug-in hybrid like my car with a hybrid like a Prius. Both are powered by a combination of an electric battery and a gas-powered engine. But a plug-in hybrid can be connected directly to an external power source to charge the battery (so you can take short trips without using gas at all) while the battery of a non-plug-in hybrid only charges through regenerative breaking or while running off of the gas engine.

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

My dog and I regularly drive to Salt Lake City and back (approximately every 2–3 months). I love to drive and I like that drive in particular. It is a distance of 660 miles and I only need to fill my car up once en route.

Do you have any good stories about your experience as an EV owner?

I have green stickers on my car. The green stickers enable you to drive in the carpool lane no matter how many people are in the car. One day I was happily tootling along in the carpool lane when a huge SUV passed me, with the SUV driver leaning on his horn aggressively. The driver was clearly telling me that I had no business in the carpool lane (he hadn’t seen my green stickers or didn’t know what they meant). He passed me and pulled into the car pool lane just ahead of me. I figure that my electric hybrid probably had two to three times the fuel economy of his behemoth.

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go electric?

There should definitely be sizable tax rebates from both the federal and state governments for not only vehicles with an electric component but also for solar panels that can support them.

 

The Owner/Driver

Name: Alf W. Brandt
Occupation: Attorney in the California State Legislature
Location: Davis, CA

 

The Vehicle

Year/make/model: 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Type: All-electric
Range: 62
MPGe: 112
MSRP*: $29,125–$31,125
Time owned: 5+ years
*When new, at time of model release.

 

The Experience

What made you decide to go electric and how did you decide what car to get?

We had wanted to go electric since I served as General Counsel at CALSTART in the 1990’s. We got a hybrid Prius in 2008. and we had dinner with the first owner of a LEAF in Yolo County on the day it arrived, so I was following the developing market. We looked at several options, but needed a four-door car. I also wanted a car that looked distinctively electric. We drove a i-MiEV with the whole family at a City of Davis event in 2012. Ultimately, we chose the i-MiEV for its 4 doors and its distinctive look.

How has the cost of purchasing and owning your EV compared to the cost of purchasing and owning a conventional car?

The initial higher cost ($32K) was offset by federal and state incentives, which brought the i-MiEV down to the price range of a Prius. Our gas costs went way down and initially I had free charging at work. For a while that free charging went away, but then my parking lot offered free 110V charging. I was disappointed in the first year when I started hearing the deals that some colleagues had gotten when the competition increased and prices decreased. I probably should have leased this first EV. The difficulty of getting it serviced (I had to travel a full day to get to Concord for service) increased indirect costs.

What have been the biggest challenges of going electric?

Our Prius became the vehicle we used for many uses, while the i-MiEV was primarily my commuter car. I also drive it to the airport, 20 miles away. When the charge would go 60 miles, it was fine. But as the battery has worn down and my range has decreased, I’ve had to be careful. I only go to the airport when I’m fully charged. I probably travel less mileage overall in my i-MiEV than I would in a conventional car.

What are the biggest misconceptions of going electric?

A limited mileage range does not make use of an EV impossible. An EV satisfies many daily uses and a second car can be used for other purposes.

Describe one of the farthest/coolest/most ambitious trips you’ve ever taken in your EV.

For a few years, the dealer where I bought the car (in Fairfield) had no EV technician, so I had to drive 55 miles to Concord for service. At first I could make it on one charge, although I still stopped in Fairfield just to be safe. Once this year it took me three charges (not full charges) to get back from Concord because it was raining and windy on the way. I made it to a UC Davis parking lot with a charger, and had to hang out in Shrem Museum while it charged, as I was not sure I could make the final four miles to my home. It was a bit nerve-racking.

Do you have any good stories about your experience as an EV owner?

When I put a photo of me in and out of my EV on Facebook, I had people around the world questioning how I could fit in that little car. Also, EVs have the same issues regular cars do. I was driving by Playfields park earlier this year and a home run of a men’s softball game destroyed my windshield. (But sometimes even regular problems can be more difficult with an EV. The windshield company had never heard of a i-MiEV, so they arrived without the necessary materials and had to reschedule the appointment.)

What is the number-one thing you think could be done to encourage more people to go electric?

Have more chargers obviously available everywhere (e.g., signs on highways showing chargers at exits). The more people see chargers where they go (e.g., shopping centers), the more confidence they will have that an EV will work for them.