Once you unscrew the filler cap, it takes less than five minutes to load enough fuel for more than 360 miles in this Honda Civic.
For a year and a half now it has been legal to pump your own gas at Oregon stations, and getting fuel now often takes almost no time at all. That makes the contrast even bigger between the convenience of today and what state regulators have in store for motorists a mere decade from now.
You may remember that in order to slow global warming, Oregon, California and several other states intend to outlaw the sale of new gas-powered cars in 10 years. The states want everyone to drive electric cars.
Last week, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced that it had selected three companies to receive federal grants to repair or upgrade electric vehicle charging stations. (Albany is also working on grants for more public charging stations.)
ODOT said the three companies will get $3.2 million to fix 20 public “DC fast-charging” stations. The stations, each with four ports funded by the grants, are in Lincoln City, Arlington, Salem, Portland and Lake Oswego.
The announcement included a link to a page explaining “Level 3 DC fast-charging stations.” At such a station, it said, getting a full charge takes up to an hour. And one hour adds “up to 240 miles” of driving.
So if you’re on a trip and your electric vehicle’s battery is running low, you’re going to have to find something to do while your car stays plugged in for an hour or so. That’s assuming you can get to a fast-charging station that works.
I could be wrong, but motorists are not going to want to wait an hour at a station so they can continue their trip or try to get home again.
Instead, they’ll remember the convenience of fueling their old car with a combustion engine. If they are fortunate enough to have a little car like a Honda Civic, they can fill the tank in five minutes or less and have enough fuel to drive another 360 miles or so.
So, if you expect to live beyond 2035 and value your independence and mobility, and never want to be stuck at a “fast-charging” station, you’ll want to buy a new gas-powered car well before that fateful year rolls around. (hh)
Question: What has more than four arms and four legs and no brain?
Answer: Your state legislature.
Also has a brain.
“I could be wrong, but motorists are not going to want to wait an hour at a station so they can continue their trip or try to get home again.”
Yes, you are wrong. These people will find a local restaurant to have lunch, take a walk through our city, or spend more time and money in our local economy in that hour.
A critical point that’s missed here: you can charge an electric vehicle at home overnight to get you as far as you are likely to go in one day. So over the course of a week you end up saving yourself the 5-10 minutes of fueling time, since it happens while you’re sleeping.
The challenges still present are for apartment complexes and, as you’ve mentioned before, anyone without a driveway (which would force an extension cord to drape over a sidewalk).
Notably, owning a internal combustion engine vehicle won’t be prohibited. And people don’t tend to buy new vehicles super often. And gas powered cars will still be available to purchase used and from out of state. I don’t see this transition happening very quickly even in the face of the looming ban.
I’ve got to tell you, though, as someone who owns an electric vehicle, it’s amazing to not have to care about how expensive gas is.
“I’ve got to tell you, though, as someone who owns an electric vehicle, it’s amazing to not have to care about how expensive gas is.”
Which means everybody that pays their electric bill is supposed to support you. That includes people like me that can’t afford a car. What an entitled piece of crap!
What about your electric bill? What about when you have to fork out a battery replacement?
Unless there’s rolling blackouts, or a natural disaster that halts power. Then what? My gas-powered car will still operate. Also, electric cars are basically the RC cars of our childhoods. Remember how long it took for such a small amount of use each time. Everyone i know played with the RC car for the first few days, and then it became junk in the closet due to inconvenience. Electric isn’t the future, so much as the past. Until we find an alternative fuel, gas is still the best and most logical and convenient option. Perhaps hydrogen in the future- but electric is whack. Especially when Portland General Electric, and other electric companies keep raising rates. Get real logical, and stop trying to act like captain planet. Common sense replacement fuels.
The reality is, “most motorists” don’t drive over 240 miles in a day. You charge your EV at night at home. In ten years the battery range and charge time will be nothing like today. I love never going to a gas station or changing oil, but what do I know.
the election is over. we have a new leader, President Mump.
:) and we did not have to wait until Jan. 20th. we now have $2.93 gas. (in Lebanon) and no waiting for it. the price of toilet paper has dropped for the first time in a long 4 years. Wendy’s now has $1 any size sodas. Walmart is $2.08 for a head of lettuce, down from $2.18. the golden ages are now underway! happy days are here again!
But what about the eggs?!?!?!
My jaw dropped when I saw a carton of 18 for $10.99 at Kroger’s Freddies.
Yep…all ready planning on buying a new vehicle within the next 10 years.
Having lived in states with self-service, it really isn’t all that much faster than having someone else do it for you…even less so if you have to go inside and pay because there is a line inside. And what is wrong with your life that you can’t spend the five or ten minutes sitting warm and dry or nice and cool in your far?
I presume the charging station at the Fred Meyer parking lot is used, but I have yet to see a vehicle using it. An odd coincidence?
Further, just to annoy the estimable Hasso, I rarely see people utilizing Albany’s many bike lanes for their intended purpose, and not at all in winter.
Government planners plan with enthusiasm. It keeps their paychecks coming, no matter the destruction in their wake.
Well, my EV9 will be 1 year old on Dec 28. Have a little over 12,500 miles on it as of today. Taken a few 400 mile one way trips beyond just normal at home driving. Takes longer to pick up a recharge than a gas station would, anywhere from 30 min to an hour depending on how empty I am when I pull in, and whether I want to just do a quick 80% (30 min or less) to a full 100% which may take 45 min to an hour. In the meantime We usually have something to eat while we wait, and just relax.
At home we just plug in when we need to refill, and the car starts charging at 10 pm when the electricity rates are at their lowest and the cost is CHEAP. It’s cheap because electric rates are much cheaper when demand is a fraction of what it is during the daytime.
So there’s no need to ever stop at a gas station when driving locally.
It’s not hard to find a charging station because there are a lot now and a lot more coming. Convenience stores are adding charging station now. Try going to PlugShare.com and you will see how easy it is to find stations.
In 2023 you had consumer choice. It was great…eh?
Unlike in 2035 when the State of Oregon takes that freedom away from every new car buyer.
The faceless oppressor, and its enforcers, strike again.
I agree with Mac I’ve had my electric car for almost 10 years and always charge at night and don’t miss going to the gas station although now with the price of gas it’s almost like they are giving it away
They have discovered several new battery technologies that will charge cars very quickly. They will be brought to market in coming years.