So I drove an electric car


 
BMW made what is IMO sort of the ultimate irony BEV with the I3. It's a BEV with a BMW boxer twin motorcycle engine under the rear floor. So when the battery drops down low, the little twin, fires up, and charges the battery while you drive.
Sort of a crude take on the Chevy Volt. Which IMO was genius. The driveline being completely electric. IRIC has a BEV range of about 100 miles. If exceeded the engine kicks on and produces electricity to drive the traction motor(s) and charge the battery pack. Similar to a diesel electric locomotive.
IDK why GM didn't further refine that idea. I know folks who have/had them and they absolutely love them. Toyota has done the best interpretation with their "Prime" vehicles IMO. Sales of them show just how well they've done it too. The wait because the demand is so strong, is a year plus!
I know a couple who flew all the way to California because a dealer had gotten one, paid for it online up front, took delivery and drove it home out here to Delavan WI! They LOVE it. Saying it's amazing because they rarely need the gas engine.
I love my BZ so far, but I believe the future for more widespread use will be the Toyota type electric
 
That was a real belly laugh you made me do there Dan.
She used to terrorize our wine stash when we weren’t here and just used this place as a vacation house.
I’m probably not the only one with in-laws and outlaws though 🙂.
 
So far a little over a month in to my BEV "adventure". And I gotta say I am lovin' it. True it's not a X Country vehicle. It was not bought for that. It's doing exactly what I want from it. Saving a lot of gas $$$$, and Maint $$$$. Carting my big fine body is comfort, peace and quiet.
They're not for everybody and maybe some are better than others for certain uses. I.E. if you can get past the "weird and ugly" a Tesla is still a better bet to live with. From a technological standpoint and so on. And actually I could have gotten one cheaper than the Toyota. But, I'd have to blindfold myself to even approach it, and re-learn everything about driving.
So, for me to make this jump, it just feels good. Yeah, there are things I wish it could do better. Like: Easier to find charge stations, charge a little faster if I needed an outside station, maybe another 50-75 miles more range. But, overall very happy with it.
 
LMichaels said:
BMW made what is IMO sort of the ultimate irony BEV with the I3. It's a BEV with a BMW boxer twin motorcycle engine under the rear floor.
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In many ways this is also the idea hybrid, because you can have an optimized/specialized motor (which could also be an alternative fuel too) which does not have to work a transmission or other mechanical mechanism - 100% designed around producing electricity. This is the only hybrid I would ever purchase. If/when I go electric/hybrid I do not really want another gasoline engine to maintain alongside the electric side of things unless it is maintenance easy.
 
GrantT said:
In many ways this is also the idea hybrid, because you can have an optimized/specialized motor (which could also be an alternative fuel too) which does not have to work a transmission or other mechanical mechanism - 100% designed around producing electricity. This is the only hybrid I would ever purchase. If/when I go electric/hybrid I do not really want another gasoline engine to maintain alongside the electric side of things unless it is maintenance easy.
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Honestly (at least speaking for the Toyota hybrid) there is no "extra" maint. over and above a standard ICE power train and if anything actually less overall maint because the drive train is a simplified electric motor/CVT and brakes last an incredibly long time. Many reports of people driving Toyota hybrids to over 200k miles with no brake repairs/replacements needed.
As long as you stick to a quality product they save you tons of $$$, but again there are only 2 I'd go with. Toyota or Honda. Would not go near anything else
 
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