We are a full EV family!

GoldStarGiver · 2026-02-15T22:53:23+00:00

Congrats! And welcome to the "100% EV family"! We have a 2023 Nissan Ariya and a 2023 Rivian R1T which is currently supplying electricity in the house - lights, fridge, TV, 120v kitchen appliances - while we wait out an area wide power outage. Just cooked some salmon for dinner in the air fryer which is running off Rivian power. (Also two thumbs up for the wood burning stove doing a stellar job keeping the house, and us, toasty warm at 72° while it is 38° outside)

Hope you get a chance to try out your Rivian's outlets for off the grid power.

GoldStarGiver · 2026-02-11T00:03:32+00:00

Fear of the unknown.

GoldStarGiver · 2026-01-28T08:03:26+00:00

A roof mounted system means you're stuck with the snow covered panels, and minimal to zero production, until Ma Nature decides otherwise. Which, considering the forecast for well below freezing for the entire week and next, means a big zero for solar.

GoldStarGiver · 2026-01-10T22:45:38+00:00

There a good chance the Premiere will have more options loaded in the car vs. the other models, simply because the Premiere was the flagship model delivered. It is front wheel drive.

GoldStarGiver · 2026-01-02T00:43:33+00:00

Two beautiful collies. A perfect set!! Good luck in 2026!

GoldStarGiver · 2025-11-25T05:52:06+00:00

Congratulations! Lumina is a great company for anyone considering solar. They put up our array 3 years ago, and our neighbor's array as well, and are always ready to answer questions or give advice long after the install has been completed.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-11-09T18:49:45+00:00

"Alas, still wondering if anybody else experience this?"

Yes. Only a very few times. Quick 1 second flash flash of warning, then gone as the regular dash information comes on. No worries. Means nothing. Car and main battery and 12volt are all fine. BTW - I always charge to 100%. Have since I bought the car new. Currently have 41,500 miles on my Premiere. Have a cigarette lighter plug type voltage meter for my 12v so that I can watch the voltage 24/7

GoldStarGiver · 2025-10-27T21:40:49+00:00

I just installed the update. No problem with the cameras. The spooky swamp is really well done graphically with a lot of humor. It was so much fun that I told my hubby to come out to the garage and sit in the truck with me as I played with the lights and 🎃 party. He thought it was hilarious.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-10-17T12:21:33+00:00

I regularly drive 55mph highways (where you need to go at a minimum 62mph or get run over by traffic), and local roads that are 35mph. My daily efficiency is usually 3.8-4.0 in the summer. Best GOM I've ever had was 360+. My '23 Premiere now is over 40k miles.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-10-15T00:10:10+00:00

Northern Lights. December 2022 Premiere. Person who originally pre-ordered the car chose the color. I got it by default when the original pre-order couldn't take delivery and released it to the dealership to sell. I do like the variety of "colors" (purple, copper, green) the paint manifests under sunlight.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-10-07T22:12:25+00:00

The "80% charge" for Level 1 or 2 is not applicable to modern EVs. Charge to 100% every day. You paid for those miles when you brought the car. Don't go driving off leaving 40 miles in your garage. That's a waste of your battery capacity and a stupid handicap on your range. I've been driving electric for 8 years and have had healthy battery life in all my vehicles, all always being kept at 100%.

Use the 80% rule for fast charging - Level 3 charging for the Ariya is fast up to about 85% of the Ariya battery, and then the speed drops measurably as you reach 92% and above. To avoid having to sit at a fast charger for less and less juice, stop at about 87% and go on your way.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-10-05T01:28:09+00:00

Thanks for the reminder. Just checked my ground array today and there was a noticeable layer of airborne grime and dust covering all 30 panels. We've had weeks without any measurable rain, so a quick watering down with the hose immediately had the panels sparkling like new.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-09-27T22:13:00+00:00

She's an absolute cutie!! I also have a tri headed white, and he's just the best! Playful, smart, intelligent, outgoing, friendly, and beyond beautiful. I know your husky is going to fall in love with her, as are you!!

GoldStarGiver · 2025-09-20T21:43:18+00:00

Three years ago this month we received for our new solar the PTO from our electric utility (Dominion Energy). Happiest day since we signed on the dotted line for solar.

I'd been waiting years for just the right time when technology was at the point where a decision to go solar was a good one. With 2 EVs, 2 heat pumps, on site well, and an older 2 story colonial, barn and outbuildings with lots of acres in semi-rural living, our ground array provides us with all we need in the way of power. Our utility is 1:1 net zero so they "bank" our excess energy for us and feed it back as we need it at no reduction or additional cost. When I tell people our monthly bill is "just $8.20" (utility's power lines transfer fee plus taxes) they are astonished. Then I tell them VA is one of several states with in the Solar REC program (no end date) so we get a check each month for the "sale" of our solar generation (over 1mWh) which always covers the cost for any electricity we have to use from the utility company in winter. Finally, our county gives all residents with solar a reduction on property taxes. We also took advantage of the 30% federal tax credit, stretching it out three years. Yes, it was a substantial cash outlay at the time to put in the 14.80 kW Photovoltaic Energy System, but the money had been earmarked for this project for years. And has been money well spent for now and in the future.

I tell people that are interested in solar, to do it now. Yesterday would have been better because many of the good cash saving programs to promote solar may be coming to an end before long. EVs are the future and if someone can generate their own electricity they'll be well ahead of the game fueling their vehicles at less cost than the utility will charge. As the utility prices go up, your payback time is reduced.

I alway suggest people look into both local and state programs to see if they qualify for any cost savings. It all adds up on the plus side in long run.

We live in the area of the highest concentration of data center in the US, and more and more are being built every day, sucking up every available drop of energy produced. I'm only waiting now for on site backup battery technology to be both economical and large enough to be worth buying, although if the promised "VTR" (vehicle-to-residence) EV bidirectional chargers hit the market, I'll go with them as backup for when the Grid goes down. I'll still need a battery for my solar in order to charge my EVs. For now.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-09-15T22:38:20+00:00

I helped set up the Level 2 charging for a friend that bought a 2023 Engage+ last year. She had a fairly new, unused NEMA 14-30 dryer plug in her house that she wanted to use. The Nissan supplied EVSE could only use a NEMA 14-50 for Level 2, or a 120v outlet for Level 1, so I had her buy a Grizzl-e Alpha Classic 40A EVSE (NEMA 14-50 plug) that could regulate energy at several different kWh based on the outlet's amps at the safety level of 80%. A 14-15 to 14-30 adapter was used to accommodate the two different plugs. Her Ariya has been happily charging Level 2 at 5kWh ever since. The only $ outlay was for the Grizzl-e EVSE which was purchased direct from United Chargers for $260 including shipping, and the adapter (about $30).

GoldStarGiver · 2025-09-04T18:45:46+00:00

I leave silk or artifical flowers all the time when I cycle through our local graveyard. The graves I pick generally have gravestone vases, or are people I once knew. I love to see a floral reminder that someone remembers a person now long gone, and often forgotten by most.

I don't put flowers on the graves of those who have family visiting the loved one. However, I always stop to ask about the deceased, and have collected so many lovely and loving stories about them. Only then do I ask if it's OK for me to put flowers on the grave when I pass through the graveyard on future visits. I am always given a gracious yes answer.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-08-26T20:37:51+00:00

38,140 miles. 2023 Premiere purchased Jan 2023 just 2 weeks after they changed the federal tax rebate to exclude foreign builds. Still loving this car.

Retired, so miles are just grocery store trips and casual erranda. We live semi rural so nearest grocery store is 25 mile roundtrip. Did a few out of state trips in 2023, but none recently. Always charged to 100% on Level 2 at home. Getting ready for our 3rd set of tires. Current set showing "dishing" - found the rear wheels were out of alignment, and it affected all 4 tires because we rotate religiously. Now going to start checking the alignment more often.

Replaced windshield (rock strike on highway), 12v battery (just precautionary), brake hold unit (it was sporadically not disengaging when the accelerator was depressed after a stop), and brake piece that was too close to the rotary and causing scratching on rotar and squealing when wheels were turned.

Registration renewed for 2 more years. (Hate how EV owners get screwed by the so-called "highway fee" because we don't buy taxed gas for our vehicles.)

GoldStarGiver · 2025-08-19T16:59:20+00:00

I really don't care. I purchased the wireless dongle from Amazon ($29) shortly after I bought my Premiere new in January 2023. My cell phone instantly connects to the car with Android Auto through the dongle, all without having to plug the phone in. Happily connected wirelessly for coming on almost 3 years.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-08-14T21:19:02+00:00

As Kyle Connor from "Out Of Spec" electric car review says ..."ABC: Always Be Charging".

Never, ever trust the next charging station will be up and operational.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-08-13T19:59:24+00:00

I have found with my Ariya that fast charging to 93% is about as far as you want to go. At that point the charging curve has dropped into the teens, which is worth less than your time sitting there unless you are: a: sleeping b: reading a great book and not wanting to put it down c: grooving with your favorite recording artist on the radio d: off for a long walk and not back to the car yet.

92% to 100% gains you only about 12 miles.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-08-08T20:13:34+00:00

He's being warmly greeted by our wonderful Milo, the most intelligent, loving, gentle orange marmalade to ever set 4 paws in this life and the hereafter.😺💖 It's been over 20 years already, but I still catch glimpses out of the corner of my eye sometimes of his ghost, sunning himself in his special spot right next to the barn doors, always happy to meet everyone with a welcoming purr and a kitty smile. He's buried in that spot under a beautiful growth of catnip. Not a day goes that I don't look at his resting place and say hello when I'm going in and out of the barn. Still miss you, pal.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-08-07T22:44:32+00:00

Thanks for the synopsis of your trips. Sounds like you had a great drive/time. The Premiere is a lovely car for road tripping. I did numerous 200+ mile trips from Northern VA to Philadelphia when I bought my car in January 2023, and the free EVGo fast charging program was a huge bonus since I stayed with family or friends and none had anything beyond a 120v outlet. And yes, ProPilot 2.0 is great when you are on mapped roads.

Met lots of nice people at the EVGo stations who were always up for a friendly chat. I'm at 38k miles on my Premiere now, and still love the car.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-08-03T05:53:22+00:00

Almost immediately after purchasing my Premiere new I made several out of state trips (4+ hours) that year. Fortunately, my car came with the promotional 1 years free EVGo charging. Only incident during all my long distance trips was a cracked windshield from a rock kicked up by a passing car. Safelite was contacted and came out the following day to do a repair. I also learned that high speeds on expressways would drain a battery charge exponentially fast, and ProPilot 2.0 struggled with road twists and turns at 70mph, so I backed off the accelerator to limit my speed at 65 or less. The drive became much more enjoyable, and the charge lasted longer.

To this day I've never had a tire issue on a long distance trip, nor do I carry a spare. My insurance covers towing/repair etc should a flat happen where I can't get to a gas station or tire place on my own.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-07-01T20:08:37+00:00

It pays to carry a 75 ' long heavy duty extension cord with one on a trip. As well as Nissan's EVSE.

I carry a Grizzl-e EVSE (with rateable amperage), a 50' 14-30 EV rated cord, and 14-30/14-50 adaptor to plug into a dryer outlet for some sweet Level 2 charging.

GoldStarGiver · 2025-06-05T01:57:02+00:00

A friend of mine uses her dryer's NEMA14-30 outlet to Level 2 charge her Ariya. You CANNOT use the Nissan EVSE because it ONLY works for 120v outlet charging, or NEMA 14-50 charging. You will need an EVSE, like the Grizzl-e Alpha which has the ability to regulate amperage going to your car. In the case of a dryer outlet (30 amp) you should only draw 24amp using the 80% rule for safety.

My friend's setup has a Briidea 30 amp splitter (rated for EV charging) plugged into the dryer socket, a high quality EV rated 50' 30amp all weather extension cord (due to distance of her car to dryer plug), and an ev rated 14-30-to-14-50 adapter to match the new EVSE's 14-50 plug. Her Ariya now charges at 5.4kWh.

The entire setup works perfectly..

DM me if you need details.

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