555
submitted 1 year ago by boem@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago

I think this is ignoring the fact that the average americans daily milage is so little (around 30 miles)that an electric car can be topped up off a Level 1 charger. Even more if you can get a level 2 charger.

So for most americans average driving, an electric car would be a boon, even if no independent in the wild infrastructure/charging facilities existed.

[-] cantsurf@lemm.ee 22 points 1 year ago

OK, but if you live in an apartment, where do you plug in that level 1 charger?

[-] shadowSprite@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago

I would love to consider getting an electric car whenever I can afford a new(er) vehicle. But there's no way my landlord will let me run an extension cord from my 3rd story apartment around the building and around the pond between my building and the parking lot. It's sad that an EV would be so great, but its really a mark of privilege to own both in initial affordability and just having the place to park and charge one. Not that it matters, I can't afford anything other than my 24 year old Honda.

[-] Alpha71@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

TBH if your daily mileage is only 30 or so miles, then you can do all of that on an electric bike.

[-] marx2k@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Electric bikes suck in the Wisconsin winter

[-] m0darn@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago

I hear that biking in the snow isn't actually bad. This is hearsay because it doesn't snow much where I am.

You wear your winter coat and snow pants, and get studded tires.

You don't have to worry about getting stuck going up an icy hill (because if its too icy to drive up, you can walk up it), granted not likely to be a problem in Wisconsin.

You don't have to worry about getting stuck due to low clearance (like the snow between the ruts that hatchbacks and minivans get stuck on) because you can just pick up your bike.

Also if a pedestrian slips while crossing the road, you probably won't kill them if you can't stop in time.

I guess the wind could be intense. What's your experience been?

[-] marx2k@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Consider doing any of this in -20F even without the wind chill. Now consider the battery on that bike in those temps.

I've had it be so cold outside that the door lock latch on my entryway door for my garage was growing ice crystals. This isn't a door that's on the outside. This is the door on the entry from the garage to the house.

Now imagine trying to bike anywhere with that and what is essentially a salt/beet sugar slurry in the roads with no one giving you right of way it even being able to see in front of them because they're either drunk, on the phone, only cleared a 3" hole in their windshield or "you just came out of nowhere" ;)

But hey, the summers here are kickass

[-] m0darn@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Hey thanks for more context I appreciate it.

-20F (-30C) is quite cold. How often is it that cold during commuting hours? It's hard to read too much into anecdotes re house latches freezing because there are so many peculiarities of individual houses. Range will definitely be reduced though.

I could see the ice melt slurry being messy and gumming up the bike's mechanics for sure. Not something I have experience with.

Yeah separate infrastructure makes biking a lot safer and so more attractive.

[-] marx2k@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

It's actually not as bad on average as I conveyed

https://weatherspark.com/countries/US/WI

I think a lot of it is wind chills, especially where I am since Madison, WI sits between two lakes.

It might be better on a regular fat tire bike and not EV here, though in the last few years EV has become insanely popular around here.

[-] niucllos@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

You should be able to, but US non-car infrastructure is so abysmal that there's a strong chance you can't safely unfortunately

[-] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 1 year ago

I currently bike or walk most places, but I also know that's not a common situation in the US. For me the car is only used for anything far enough away.

[-] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago

Ignoring how that would work even under ideal circumstances, do you propose that large portions of the country use a bike when it's below freezing? Because that's a non-starter, and no one will take you seriously.

[-] Waraugh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 year ago

I replaced 90% of my driving with an electric golf cart

this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2023
555 points (94.0% liked)

Technology

60123 readers
2781 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS