EV Drivers – Pioneers and Tiny Minority

Posted on January 28, 2016 by stevegoesgreen

As I look over the pretty white dashboard with the silver rings in my Fiat 500e, I smile when I see another 500e on the road. Most of them have their stickers so they can ride in the car pool lane and skip tolls on the bridges. As a borrowed test car, mine doesn’t.

I enjoy seeing a BMW i3 whiz by. Nissan Leafs are common, distinguished from each other only by color. It’s nice to see the new 2016 Chevrolet Volt is taking off. I see them frequently, with their all-new look. Their unique taillamps flaunt a fresh signature on the way home at night.

But, we EV drivers are still a tiny minority on the highways and byways of America. For every one of us there are 100 Ford F150s or Toyota Camrys or Chevrolet Tahoes. Cheap gasoline has encouraged a boom in larger cars, so even intelligent choices like the Honda Fit or Hyundai Elantra languish.

Sergio Marchionne, head of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, said he’s ramping up production of big Jeeps and reducing production of smaller, more efficient Dodge Darts and Chrysler 200s. Why? Because big Jeeps are the cars that people are buying, and he has to run his company at a profit. It’s a good–even necessary–business decision, but it’s not helping the environment. Marchionne has already stated that FCA loses thousands of dollars on every little Fiat 500e it sells (although the company gets credits towards its Federal clean air obligations).

The people are speaking, and most of them are not EV enthusiasts. They want what they want and like. You can’t blame them. Like the climate crisis in general, if you can’t see it, it’s hard to muster up the energy to do anything about it.

To my left, a giant, black Cadillac Escalade momentarily blocks out the sun. It’s going to be a long haul (but worth it).

Fiat 500e – Range Budgeting

Posted on January 24, 2016 by stevegoesgreen

When you’ve got an electric car and lots of things to do, you need to plan accordingly. Yesterday, I would have taken Fidelio, the little blue Fiat 500e, on my errands around town, but I had to top off his battery so he’d be ready for a 30-mile trip today. Also yesterday, while my wife, son and I drove to a family dinner 80 miles from home, he remained here in the driveway, tethered to the charger. I think he looks a little sad, but it could just be the camera angle and the rainy weather.

Today, he gets a nice freeway cruise into Oakland. I’m expecting little traffic, so there won’t be much chance to regenerate power. With a full battery, this should be no problem.

I’m sure this range business will be part of my life as long as my three-month test lasts, and it takes thinking and planning–something you don’t do with a normal gas-powered car. But I’m already finding that it helps you reduce driving in general, and cleverly combine trips to maximize economy. As long as you have a petroleum-drinking second car around, it’s all possible.

Fiat 500e – Home Charging

Posted on January 23, 2016 by stevegoesgreen

Well, it’s been a great week of commuting and charging at work, but now that I’m home for the weekend, it’s time to plug in in my garage.

I wish my garage wasn’t so full of accumulated junk, but it is, so I have to use the method I’ve used with my other electric test cars–I plug in the charging unit inside the garage, attach the charging plug into the socket inside the “gas” door on the right rear corner of the car (backed in, of course), and then lower the garage door down to about an inch away from the concrete.

This is easy in clear weather, but is less pleasant when it’s raining. I did check, though, and the water doesn’t seem to want to drain into the garage. With Fidelio, my blue 500e, visiting into the springtime, I really need to clean out the garage so he can sit inside.

Since Fidelio came to me new, with just 79 miles on the odometer, I am the first journalist to drive him, so I got to take the charger out of its original plastic bag from the factory.

It came with a slim User Guide, but I’m an old hand at home charging, so I left it in the bag for future journalists.

Fiat provides a sturdy, and long-enough, cord. You’re cautioned not to use any extension cords when charging. Most are probably not rugged enough to handle the job.

When it’s plugged in, you can see it working by the movement of the green lights in the bar above the Fiat logo. There’s also a light inside the car, on the top of the dashboard, that shows an approximate level of charge in the car–kind of like the five dots on a Fitbit Flex.

So, I set it up and that was that. Sadly, home current, at 120 volts (known as Level 1 charging) is very slow. My level 2 ChargePoint chargers at work (240 volts) are much more efficient.

Here’s a record of my four visits to the chargers this week from the ChargePoint phone app. Fidelio had a partially full battery when I plugged in, but was topped off by lunchtime (on Wednesday through Friday).

The first charge, on Jan 19, was in the afternoon, and the battery was 2/3 full. The others were typical, and show the amount of estimated range, time, and cost for the charge for each session. Interestingly, the addresses vary, although the six chargers are all right next to each other. 🙂

Fiat 500e – Small Doesn’t Mean Cheap

Posted on January 22, 2016 by stevegoesgreen

The Fiat 500, in any form, is a very small car. Granted, the 500X crossover and 500L are a little larger, but still, the regular 500 is dinky. But don’t assume that being diminutive means being Spartan or uncomfortable.

Nope, my little 500e, Fidelio, is a very pleasant place to be. Granted, the rear seats aren’t spacious, but I did fit my 5-11 son back there last night (for a short trip). It’s the other things that lift the 500e up.

One thing is the leatherette seats, which are soft and stand up tall. The two-tone black/white look is chic, blended with the overall black/white theme of the entire car (a $395 option, and worth it). Cheap cars are all black or gray. White is a fancy color. The plastic panels on the dash evoke the painted metal of the 500’s 1950’s ancestor, as do the chrome rings around the gauges and round control buttons. Nice.

From a modern point of view, there’s SiriusXM Satellite radio, and it’s easy to manage from the steering wheel controls. They’re on the BACK of the wheel, as in all Fiat Chrysler Automobiles products. I love that feature–you never have to look away from the road. Also, the white leather (with red trim) on the steering wheel itself is upscale. Oh–the sound from the audio system is surprisingly good, too.

A real luxury is how you hear that audio. With no vibration or noise from an engine, the 500e is blissfully quiet. On the freeway, you may get a little noise from rougher road surfaces, but in town, it’s almost eerily silent, and the music comes in sharp and clear.

The 500e has climate control–set it and forget it style. Without a radiator or a hot engine to generate the heat, I’m not sure where it comes from, but it’s a hearty blast when you start out in a 42-degree morning. Heated seats (one level only, though) are common these days, but are often lacking in a “cheap” car. You get ’em here.

Having a display on the instrument panel for each individual tire’s pressure is nice. The Audi A3 I drove recently didn’t even have that.

The 500e may be narrow, but it’s tall, so you don’t feel claustrophobic. The colorful. friendly instrument panel and small but effective center screen convey lots of useful information, and keep the black-and-white environment cheery.

With an electric motor, your car feels more like it’s rolling down the road rather than being dragged along. Stepping on the accelerator (don’t call it “the gas”) generates an immediate push forward. With 111 horsepower and 147 lb.-ft. of torque, the 500e is never poky, even going up the steep hills in my neighborhood.

Here’s to many more great (short) trips in Fidelio, the little blue EV.

Regeneration Gives Extra Miles

Posted on January 20, 2016 by stevegoesgreen

When you’re driving an all-electric vehicle, you probably spend more time looking at the range number than the miles-per-hour indicator. If the number on it is close to the distance you’re planning to drive, it can be nerve wracking. Luckily, regenerative braking adds to that number.

For example, today, I drove 18.6 miles to work in stop-and-go traffic. I started out with 46 miles on my cute little Fiat 500e’s dashboard screen. Amazingly, halfway through the trip, it was at 45–just one mile down. At trip’s end, I pulled into my parking lot and saw 40 on the screen. I regenerated enough juice to take just 6 miles off the battery for an 18-mile ride. Nice!

Conversely, if I had gone the entire 18 miles at a steady 70 mph, it would probably read 28–or lower. It’s all a balance.

Electric cars use MPGe instead of MPG (miles per gallon). I earned 138.6 for this morning’s trip. 🙂

Electric Car Etiquette at Work

Posted on January 20, 2016 by stevegoesgreen

So, here I suddenly have an electric car, and I’m in the mood to top off its battery. Fidelio sits in the lot, waiting his turn. With a total range of about 82 miles, he’s reading 60, which is probably OK, but I want to minimize range anxiety.

I wait for the morning shift to move, but by 1:30 p.m., still nothing. So, I found out that there’s an emailing list at work for #EVDrivers. I sent out a plea, with a friendly announcement of my new, blue ride, and behold! Two EV owners almost immediately responded, and I saw two free spots from my third-floor window.

Down I flew, and drove Fidelio to the ChargePoint array. He tucked in right next to Tesla.

After an hour and 49 minutes, I got a ChargePoint notification text.

So, I went down and unplugged. I had spent $1.12, and had 84 miles on my instrument panel and a full green bar on the left. I was set.

I’ve found out already about at least 10 people at work who have electric cars, and am looking forward to getting to know the ones I don’t know already. Maybe we can lobby for a few more chargers. We can talk about new developments, and share any ideas or thoughts that could help.

The Fiat 500 is a very small car, but tonight, Fidelio carried my upright bass to orchestra rehearsal. The bass had to go in at a bit of an angle for the hatch to close, so the front passenger would be a little squeezed. But we made it. A successful first day for the little blue car.

200 Mile Electric Range Means Progress

Posted on January 7, 2016 by stevegoesgreen

Chevy Bolt

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, two important electric cars are making their debut now. One, the Chevrolet Bolt, has been teased for months, but now it’s slated for arrival at the end of this new year! The exciting thing? It boasts a 200-mile range–a game changer in the everything but Tesla electric car field. That could make the difference in choosing electric over gas.

160106-volkswagen-budd-e

The other intro was VW’s BUDD-e, which disappointed some by not being the next Microbus, but with its sleek boxiness, it could be trendy, and it’s supposed to get well over 200 miles per charge. It’s not a 2016 or 2017 model, though, sorry, but it demonstrates a platform that will underlie numerous other VW electric products. Great timing, with the “Dieselgate” crisis still on folks’ minds.

As eager as you may be to buy an electric now, there’s a real incentive to wait, if the Bolt is as good as it looks. With the new Volt beside it in the showroom, this is a strong set of green rides from a surprising source.

Paris Is Just the Beginning

Posted on December 14, 2015 by stevegoesgreen

I’m excited about the Paris Climate Agreement, and think it’s a great start. But that’s just it–a start. In itself, the agreement won’t solve the problem.

My personal focus on carbon reduction is car-related, so I’ve been thinking more about what we can do now to make an impact.

You can buy an electric car, if you want to. There are lots of choices, and lease rates are cheap. Unless you opt for the super-luxury-priced Tesla, though, you’ll be out of luck if you want to drive your e-car everywhere you take your current gas model. Range is less than 100 miles, except for the 2016 Leaf, which is claiming 107. Still, the point is made.

But I was wondering. What if we got, say, even half of the driving population to switch to electric? We still need to create the electricity. Where we get it would make a big difference. If it’s from a coal-powered plant, we’re still pushing out CO2.

And what happens to all of those old gas cars? Someone else would buy them and drive them. That just transfers the problem to a new owner.

Not too long ago, the Federal Government instituted a “Cash for Clunkers” program to buy up old superpolluters for more than they were worth and give the seller a few bucks to go buy a newer, cleaner car. What if there was a program for folks to turn in their old car and buy an electric (or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, when available)? Then, the old car gets crushed and all the materials in it are recycled. That might help a little. The cars that don’t get crushed will have to be retired, too, as soon as possible.

It’s hard to see ahead 35 years to 2050, when we will need to have succeeded in our Paris commitments to limiting the temperature increase since pre-industrial times to 2 degrees Celsius (3.7 Fahrenheit). 1.5 degrees would be even better, scientists say, but it’s a really tough goal, according to what I read.

We need to start now, and not wait around. But I’m just like everyone else. I like my lifestyle and I don’t want to be limited or have to make changes. But, if I don’t, how can I expect anyone else to? And if WE don’t, the temperature will just keep on rising.

Seeking Green at the San Francisco Auto Show

Posted on November 30, 2015 by stevegoesgreen

As always, I made time during the Thanksgiving long weekend this year to attend the San Francisco Auto Show. The 2015 version was no different than last year’s event. It’s essentially a huge showroom without pesky salespeople–where you can look at all the cars, sit in them, grab a little information, and get exhausted.

This year, I focused on electrics, hybrids, plug-ins, and alternative fuel vehicles, while looking at what’s new, too, and strolling nostalgically past some classic treasures.

The first thing I noticed in the far-ranging Moscone Center was that most cars are none of the above. If you’re lucky, there’s one per brand. Some, like Ford, offer multiple options, but you still have to seek out the environmentally friendly models, and the areas around them were generally not busy.

The big news this year comes from a new Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius. Both were there in multiples.

The Volt (above) has been totally redesigned, and is both more attractive and more efficient. While the old model was loosely based on a radical concept car, this new Volt looks more like other new Chevys–which is better. It’s also has a bigger range in pure electric mode.

I first saw the Volt as part of the PG&E display, and wore its logo on the side. PG&E wants consumers to understand what buying and living with an electric car means, as the friendly utility that supplies their car-charging juice, and they featured some helpful displays and take-aways.

The company also got a chance to display their hybrid Ford work trucks. According to the PG&E spokesman, who actually works on one of the trucks, the guys just love them.

Over in Toyota land, several Prii (Priuses) sat next to one Toyota Mirai, the company’s entry in the hydrogen fuel cell segment. The Mirai, for lease to a tiny group of early adopters willing to be beta testers for a car with virtually no places to fill it up, is one of the least attractive vehicles I’ve ever seen, but if and when hydrogen becomes a viable fuel to power automobiles, Toyota hopes to lay claim to the “Prius” of hydrogen cars by starting now.

The new Prius still looks something like the generation two and three models, but has gone wild, much as the latest Camry has, in an effort to refute any accusations of being boring.

Mind you, the Prius is fabulous for getting there on minimal fuel (an honest 50 miles per gallon), but has never been a sporty ride. The new car, with floating roof, head- and tail lamps that are splattered across the corners of the car, and a dash panel that hides the information away from your eyes, will be polarizing. According to reports I’ve read before getting my hands on one, it is more fun to drive, intentionally. I can’t wait to find out.

If you simply want to save fuel by driving a tiny car, the all-new Smart is here. Looking a bit more substantial, but still like half a car, it is not the highest in fuel economy (although an electric is offered). It is simply the best to park, and is still very cute.

Where it gets more interesting is in places like Volvo, that now offers a hybrid version of its handsome, all-new XC90 crossover. Winning Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year competition places it more directly in front of potential buyers. The young woman showing it off told me that a pure electric is in the future, pending availability of more powerful batteries for longer range.

The Porsche 918 was there, as was the BMW i8, proving that you don’t have to drive a regular car to conserve fuel. The Porsche will set you back at least half a million dollars, while the BMW is a more “modest” $125K or so. Both surely occupy some teenage boys’ walls next to the Ferraris and Shelby Mustangs.

One note on regular cars. The new Honda Civic was there, and I was looking forward to seeing if it is as huge in person as in photos. The answer is Yes. The sweet little CVCC of 1973 has ballooned into a big sedan that looks like an Accord. Its styling is so bold and carefully rendered to not look cheap that it appears overblown and is hard to remember.

We need Honda to not just give us the Fit (pun avoided), but an even smaller model to compensate for this scary development. Of course, they’ll sell the usual 300,000 Civics to Americans in 2016, anyway. And, if it’s more efficient than an Accord, great! There isn’t a hybrid or electric model available yet.

With my family in tow, we wandered through other areas, including a huge ballroom full of customs, which included late-model BMWs and Subarus as well as a glorious low-riding 1959 Buick and some exquisitely customized muscle cars. Also, on the main floor, behind the Chryslers and Jeeps, the selection of new and historic Aston-Martins was dazzling. The Academy of Art University brought a fabulous assortment of fine classics, from a Stutz worthy of film royalty to a sweet Austin-Healey that looked exactly like one treasured by my dad in the 1960s.

And that is what makes it so challenging, and exciting, to be searching for an automotive answer to our climate problem while appreciating the beloved old internal combustion vehicles. When will a new car show include no more ICE models? Will we still love a 1941 Lincoln Coupe or a 1966 Porsche 911 25 years from now, even if they are part of what’s got us into this mess in the first place?

Europe’s Efficient Little Cars

Posted on November 14, 2015 by stevegoesgreen

I just returned last week from 12 days in London and Paris. The world’s eyes are on Paris now after the horrible terrorism that struck the French capital yesterday. I was walking those areas,– my hotel, and much of my wandering, were in the same part of town. It hurts me deeply to think of those beautiful streets being the scene of such an atrocity.

In this blog, though, it’s all about cars. When I was in Paris and London from October 27 to November 7, I saw lots and lots of small, fuel-efficient vehicles that never make it to American shores.

The argument for these smaller, more efficient vehicles across the pond has always been the high cost of fuel and also the old, narrow roads. Seems reasonable enough, but today, the world needs these cars, and some of them do find their way here. But a lot of them don’t.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to buy the VW Polo, or the cute little Audi A1 or BMW 1 Series hatchback that I saw on London streets? In Paris, it was nearly all French cars from Renault, Citroen and Peugeot. Seeing generations of these cute little cars zipping around was heartwarming.

In Paris, I found numerous installations of the Autolib system.

Like Zipcar, the Autolib vehicles are part of a car sharing system for members, who can claim them at the street and then drop them off at another Autolib location. What’s different is that they are all identical tiny, silver electric hatchbacks.

Here’s a closer look. Made from aluminum, they have a flat surface appearance–and not all of them were especially clean. But I saw them all over the place–charging and in motion.

I recently read about an American city, I believe Indianapolis, that was instituting an Autolib system. Read more about Autolib and car sharing.

Of course, in both London and Paris, we used the highly efficient public transit system–London’s Underground and Paris’ Metro trains. San Francisco’s Muni system and the Bay Area’s BART network can only dream of this kind of efficiency. We also sampled intercity trains in France, visiting Versailles, and the international Eurostar, which took us from London to Paris in a brisk two and a half hours!

One other note. I captured this all-electric Renault Kangoo at the Grand Trianon, part of the surprisingly extensive grounds of Versailles. Cute, huh?

stevegoesgreen

Time to move to a more environmentally conscious life

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