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?
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?