What would an EV Users convention have?

would this be aimed at users or skeptics?

 

I’d love a conference where experts explain all the nuances of ev ownership, driving and charging, with all the data for available models, pricing and government incentives, for the general interested public

 

The Fully Charged Live shows are very much like that. I went to the one in Sydney this year, and it was good.

There's one in Vancouver on September 8-10 (I'm going to @ in @Mendel Leisk here so he knows), and one in San Diego (not, I admit, all that convenient for @bisco or @bwilson4web ) on October 27-29.

Here's a link... https://fullycharged.show/events/

You'll have seen me link to Fully Charged's YouTube EV reviews. They're very good.

 

I thought this was a decent convention type gathering for Prius Enthusiasts.
It might not be the every mans cup of tea.
TGB4 2014 - To Go Before 2014, Boston - A National Owners Celebration | September 18-21 2014 | PriusChat
Here's to a long life , cheers !

 

we need independent objective information to make an informed decision. i have been seriously researching ev's for a week now, and the more research i do, the more questions i have.
there's so much misinformation on the net, both positive and negative, and even places like the tesla boards (and like priuschat) it's hard to wade through the differing opinions and experiences.

 

Yes. I too test drive a M3 and have figured out what features I want and what I don’t. I’m going to install my own Level 2 charger so parts will be under $1k for me. This savings over labor is big. I see tires last 30k in a Tesla. But they vary in price and aren’t as bad as my wife’s new car. Just something to plan for. I’ve looked at mods for convince and extra cargo room if we take a trip. Now just to save for a down payment before I buy in Q4. I’m hoping the new Gen M3 will be released and drop the price even further. seats are very comfortable, floorplan up front is not flat and a little Wierd. And the rear view mirror is annoyingly tiny. But these are minor grips. Center touch screen has a learning curve as does one pedal driving. But every rental car I get in for work has that.
mid love to learn more from other EV users. I would be interested in attending an event.

 

If you want user experience info, stick to posts from actual users, or ex-users.
Try to separate opinion from fact.
YouTube videos with hard numbers from the manufacturer can be a good resource.
Your local EV owners club may also be a good reference (assuming there is one in your area).

 

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a price increase.
You may want to consider buying the current gen once the announcement comes out.
Those will likely be discounted in order to clear the inventory.

 

have youlooked into insurance cost yet? i'm waiting to hear back from my insco.

 

The cost and environmental benefits do depend on where you live and how you use the car, so there can't really be a definitive answer there.

One thing I would say, though, is that while all your desk research is a good idea, real-world experience is critical.

I've rented several EVs (two VW ID.3s and a BYD Atto 3 - and a Model 3 next week in Brisbane) and had a full day in a BMW iX3 and test drives of a Volvo XC40 electric, Mercedes EQA and EQB and Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Test drives are critical: these cars feel very different to their ICE equivalents, and to each other.

All the desk research in the world won't tell you whether you like them or not. I thought the ID.3, for example, was a fundamentally good car ruined by awful software and ergonomics that I couldn't live with (and, I think in that case it was not just me, but a lot of people, which is why VW is running into serious trouble). Perhaps a better example is the Model Y: I loved the space and the feel of it, and the driving position, and the light, but I don't think I can live with the lack of an instrument binnacle or buttons. But I know other people are absolutely fine with it: it really is down to how it feels for you.

And a rental for a few days is a good thing. I had the ID.3 for two weeks in Britain, with long drives to Scotland with my parents, lots of day-to-day shopping, and some longish tourist drives. It showed me what life with an EV would be like - how charging worked for me at a house and at rapid chargers, and using fast chargers in malls, and what charging would cost (it turns out that if you're parking it at your parents' house, charging is free!). While the ID.3 is a flawed car, that experience showed me that an EV would work for me. Similarly, with the Atto 3, which I rented at home while my car was getting serviced, I found that there was free fast charging at the mall next to my kids' school, where I pick them up after school. So I could park, plug in, go to the supermarket to get stuff for dinner, meet the girls, and unplug, having stuck an extra 150km onto the car for free. But you may find that things are less convenient for you.

So I'd really recommend both test drives and rentals. In the US, Turo can be good for this. It's like Airbnb, but for cars, so it means you can choose the exact model you're interested in finding out about. It will give you a good feel of whether you want an EV, what you like and don't like, and what model works best for you.

 

good tip, thank you

 

You're welcome. It'll even give you an idea of just whether you like EVs or not. I know some people miss the sound of a growly V8 or whatever. I don't. I love the silence. And I love the instant response - coming from a turbodiesel with an auto transmission, I've grown to expect the car to have a bit of a think between the time I press the accelerator and the time something actually happens: with an EV, it almost seems like I just have to think about going faster and I am. I love that, but some people find it stressful. On the other hand, I know Bob really likes one-pedal driving, and I don't really like that. So much of it is about understanding what you do and don't like, and that's very personal.

 

what are you driving?

i have plenty of experience driving 90% ev with the plug in, i love it, and i only expect a full ev to be better.
i'll test drive a tesla, bolt and ariya.
everything else is more than i want to spend. only tesla, id4 and bolt qualify for the $11,000. tax credit, and ariya is discounted $5,000., might make it worthwhile.
id4's are all loaded beyond what i care to spend, even after the credit. that being said, tesla is really the only one available around here.

 

A diesel X3 still.

I have a lot of disruption going on at home, so I'll wait until the dust has settled before I buy a new car. My next car will definitely be an EV.

If I were buying one today, it'd probably be a BYD Atto 3, but I know that's not an option in the US. Given that it's going to be next year, a BYD Sea Lion or BYD Song Plus might be the way to go, but only if they're not much dearer than the Atto 3.

These sound like good options.

I haven't driven the Ariya, but I've been in one and it was lovely.

The Bolt isn't available here.

With the Tesla, my tips would be:

- See whether you like the central display (like Bob) or hate it (like me). It's really important.
- Because of the lack of buttons, see whether you can use the voice controls. I had no problem with voice controls in the BYD, but the Tesla did not understand my accent.

EDIT -

Those Tesla tips are from someone who didn't like them. @bwilson4web has already given you some really useful tips on these thread, but it might be worth him saying what "surprise and delight" features you should try out that could cause you to love it.

 

i may test drive a kia niro phev as well. no tax credits, but the price is reasonable