I害羞草研究所檝e had my eye on an electric car for a while now. I害羞草研究所檝e driven four Honda Civics into the ground (and past 300,000 miles) and was intending to do the same, until I met Sarah Bond. Sarah is in grade 11 at Pen High. She害羞草研究所檚 learning to drive in an electric car, specifically a Nissan Leaf, and she害羞草研究所檚 an electric vehicle (EV) enthusiast, with the facts to back her arguments. You should know that Sarah is so enthusiastic, her teachers had to ban the topic of EV害羞草研究所檚 from further papers or presentations!
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Sarah害羞草研究所檚 family has three vehicles: A 2013 Nissan Leaf, A 2019 Tesla Model 5, and a gas-powered truck to tow their RV. Sarah says that her family tries to do things that are good for the environment: they take glass to the bottle depot to be recycled, they compost in their yard (they do not yet have urban chickens but her mom wants to get chickens).
However, Sarah says the biggest reason they own two electric cars is because they are a good value. She told me a story about their last vacation: when they bought the Tesla, it came with six months of free charging, so they carefully planned to get maximum value for those six months. They took a vacation, driving down to San Diego, charging for free along the way and staying with relatives. The charging went completely without a hitch, but afterwards her father calculated how much it would have cost without the free charging. From Penticton to San Diego charging costs $80 CAD one way. They really didn害羞草研究所檛 need the 害羞草研究所渇ree charging害羞草研究所� to make the trip.
From Penticton to San Diego charging costs $80 CAD one way.
I asked her about the car they had had the longest, the Nissan Leaf which was purchased used five years ago. What kind of repairs had they done? Sarah said 害羞草研究所淭ires and windshield wiper fluid害羞草研究所�. I found this hard to believe. What about recalls? My Honda has had several in the last five years. Her mother confirmed: No repairs, no recalls.
害羞草研究所淏ut this is why you have to buy an electric害羞草研究所� Sarah explained with enthusiasm 害羞草研究所測ou may think it would be better to have a hybrid, but electric engines are really simple. They are cheaper to drive and there are hardly any repairs 害羞草研究所� you don害羞草研究所檛 have to change the oil.害羞草研究所�
You may think it would be better to have a hybrid, but electric engines are really simple
Sarah害羞草研究所檚 dad elaborated: 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no pistons, there害羞草研究所檚 no rings, there害羞草研究所檚 no muffler, there害羞草研究所檚 no clutch. In fact the engine is so simple, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 take up much room. The Tesla has a surprising amount of storage害羞草研究所�.
It害羞草研究所檚 not just the engine itself that is better designed. In a combustion vehicle we take for granted the continual war between acceleration and braking. In my conventional Honda it would be most efficient to drive across town without stopping (although it might result in a trip to visit Sarah害羞草研究所檚 mom at the hospital). New EVs take the superiority of an electric engine and go one step further by adding regenerative braking: slowing down for a light actually charges the batteries.
Sarah害羞草研究所檚 father tells this story: (Note that in place of a fuel gauge, EVs report the range 害羞草研究所� how far they can drive on the current charge.)
害羞草研究所淲e drove this year to Lost Moose Lodge [2200 ft/635m elevation above Penticton ??]. When we got there the Tesla was down to a range of 40 km. By the time we returned home, regenerative braking brought that up to 80 km害羞草研究所�.
Sarah chimed in: 害羞草研究所淲e drove to up to Apex this winter, arrived with an 11 km range, and back home that night we had 80 km.害羞草研究所�
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I asked her about day-to-day charging. Sarah said 害羞草研究所淲e have a normal charger [i.e. Level 2, 240 volts which which requires the same wiring as an oven or a clothes dryer] and the Tesla came with an adapter so we can charge that too.害羞草研究所� But as a matter of fact they don害羞草研究所檛 do much charging at home. Sarah害羞草研究所檚 mom works at the hospital, where there are free EV chargers, so when a vehicle needs charging, Sarah害羞草研究所檚 mom uses it to get to work.
Sarah says they drive from Penticton to Vancouver (420 km) several times a year, something that would take planning in the 2013 Nissan Leaf. 害羞草研究所淲ith the Tesla, there害羞草研究所檚 one quick stop [at the Hope Supercharger] for lunch, which we would do anyway害羞草研究所�.
Sarah害羞草研究所檚 dad ended with a stern warning: 害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 go test drive a Tesla unless you are ready to buy.害羞草研究所�
Missed last week害羞草研究所檚 column?
Dyer: DIY energy audit with solar bonus material
About Kristy Dyer:
Kristy Dyer has a background in art and physics and consulted for Silicon Valley clean energy firms before moving (happily!) to sunny Penticton. Comments to Kristy.Dyer+BP@gmail.com
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