Another CL laugh - Never seen BLUE car ramps

[polo1665]

Oops, meant to include a descriptive link. Th!nk It's my daily commuter.

I have to wonder......is it a prerequisite that most electric cars must be hideous (no offense davrow). The Teslas are nice looking cars, but those seem to be the exception to the rule.

 

[davrow]

... is it a prerequisite that most electric cars must be hideous ...

Actually it's just that the hideous (to me, cute) ones are more visible. The Toyota RAV4-EV is identical to the gas version. Most people don't know Toyota has sold EVs for 13 years (off and on).

They advertise a range of 100 miles. How much does running headlights, windshield wipers, AC, radio, change that? How about the speed that you travel at, will it go the same distance on a charge at 25 or 60? When the battery starts running down does the performance suffer?

This one will not get 100 miles except downhill with a tailwind. It will get 70 if you are careful. It will get 50 no matter how you drive or what accessories you use (except heater). note: my 2002 RAV4-EV went 105 miles on the freeway using NiMH batteries. Chevron bought the battery company and sued Toyota to halt their usage of those batteries.

Headlights, wipers, radio... they are small drains and won't noticeably affect mileage. A/C takes more, but is not much. It is the resistance heater that is the killer, that is why they mostly offer EVs on the west coast.

Speed you travel does affect mileage, but my car tops out at 75 (and will still easily go 50 miles) so I don't baby it. My round trip commute is 16 miles, so I charge twice a week (cost about $22 month).

Car provides full performance until you get below 10%, then it is slower on grades and acceleration. At 3% it goes into 'turtle mode' allowing you to limp about 3 more miles at 10-15 MPH.

 

[chad22]

I've seen blue car ramps. 20 years ago when I was 7 my dad painted his rusting car ramps blue.

I like to jack the car or truck up and sit the wheels down on a set of rims that sit on the ground.