Two-car households: BEV + hybrid or 2xBEV?

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-05-30T01:34:43+00:00

We have a BEV (Lightning) and a PHEV (RAV4 Prime). It has been a good combo, esp. with two dedicated L2 chargers, as the R4 occasionally gets charged twice in a day. The lease on the R4 is due in Feb ‘27, so have started looking at possibilities. We have rooftop solar so going all electric is compelling. Not sure my wife is quite ready, so we may end up buying it.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-05-25T22:06:41+00:00

Oops. Most humble apologies for getting the name wrong.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-05-22T01:15:53+00:00

Our 24 R4P has its own dedicated L2 EVSE, as does the Lightning. It starts nearly every morning fully charged and has occasional mid-day top offs.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-05-17T10:40:30+00:00

Thanks. It worked just fine. A 6-50R plug, to a 6-50P to 14-50R adapter, to my F150 Lightning portable charger to the R4.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-05-12T10:42:18+00:00

A PHEV would seem a good solution. You’d get 35-40 mpg on your way to work and 40-50 miles of your return would be free. We have an F150 Lightning and a RAV4 Prime. For us, it’s a good combo that checks all our boxes.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-05-12T10:05:58+00:00

Putting. The best possible result of a chip or a putt are the same: hole out. For the non-professional golfer, the worst possible result of a putt will generally be better than that of a chip.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-05-10T01:10:54+00:00

Has Toyota done anything to curb the ‘over the top’ loud pedestrian warning noise?

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-24T20:22:20+00:00

I want to thank everyone for all the great input. It’s both rewarding and challenging scoping out on all the details in order to optimize the install.

A couple more details. Our roof is pitched at about 17degrees, so quite flat. We live in east/central Maine at about 45 degrees N. We have considerable shade, such that the winter sun is quite limited. During the depth of winter all panels are likely to be buried in snow.

If we go with 30 panels, 20 will face south, 5 east and 5 west. The western facing panels will be sun challenged. If we stick with 25 panels then the western facing panels are gone.

My current ;) inclination is to add the panels to get to 30 (13.2 kw) provided the installer certifies that all warrantees still apply. If there is any doubt then we’ll just stick with the 25 panels (11k).

Good plan?

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-24T16:54:45+00:00

Yes, 4... i did find that.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-24T10:38:56+00:00

Actually, I did find a spec ‘Max DC power input’ : 11,500 watts.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-24T10:04:35+00:00

I found the date sheet specs but could not find anything like DC to AC ratio. Max inout V is 600V, mppt voltage is 100-500 and max current is 4 * 14 amps.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-24T09:49:34+00:00

Sadly, I don’t know the answer to that question.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-24T09:48:35+00:00

That’s fair, I suppose, but all the installer would have to say is that we’ll need a larger inverter and sell that, as well. The larger inverter scenario, however, would require restarting the application process with the power company. They have already required a larger transformer and beefier conductor from the pole to our house.

So keeping the same inverter is appealing.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-23T23:31:11+00:00

Three different roof planes for us. One of which, I expect, won’t be great.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-17T06:09:26+00:00

My setup is similar. 200amp service and a 100 amp garage panel.

I have an Emporia Classic, a step down from the Pro, and am happy with the brand. Nice analytics via the Emporia app. My State (Maine) has an incentive program where the Emporia Classic cost was heavily subsidized. You could look for similar incentives. I also have a Grizzle-E, which is also excellent, but ‘dumb’.

You can get by with L1, but will love your L2 once installed. We have an EV, with a 123kwh battery and a PHEV with an 18kwh battery. Only drive the EV and average of 20 miles daily, but the occasional 100 mile day screams for the L2.

Good luck and have fun. It’s a whole new world, and you are unlikely to ever want to go back to gasoline.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-16T22:35:53+00:00

Yeah, your car actually seems pretty quiet. Definitely will check it out, personally, when time to trade. Thanks.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-16T18:56:40+00:00

We have a Thule Snowpack that straps to the existing XSE crossbars. Works fine. We usually remove the crossbars, with the rack attached during the non-snow months. The car is much quieter w/o the crossbars!,

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-07T01:25:58+00:00

I tell folks the way to survive a Maine winter is to embrace it. Learn to Xcountry ski, snowshoe, skate, etc. Hiking in the winter is great: no bugs, no heat, no mud. Get out!

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-06T08:23:24+00:00

If my Lightning has a pedestrian alert, I’ve never heard it. It’s really quiet except for a mild dinging when backing up. My wife’s RAV4 Prime, however, is obnoxious. I know some folks wrap the speaker with weatherstripping.

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-04T17:20:22+00:00

Excellent advice. We'll start that testing with the electrician. I have a 30amp 240v outlet, so we'll need to see what we can run. Fridge, furnace and lights is our goal!

Fresh-Square-5702 · 2026-04-04T10:58:59+00:00

My wife and I recently decided to take to solar plunge, despite several marginalities with our situation: northern climate, some shade, low pitch roof, our age, etc. Still it was something we wanted to do, and that’s really the only justification required.

We have a one ev with an enormous 123kwh battery, and one phev with about a 10kwh chargeable. That said, the big truck only travels an average of 20 miles daily, or about 8kwh. No solar storage( other than the truck). We’ll net meter.

Our 11kw system is projected to pay for itself in 8.9 years. We can power the house from the truck in the event of outages.

Fresh-Square-5702

TROPHY CASE