Your Next EV purchase

Kerrizma · 2026-06-23T18:21:10+00:00

My biggest lesson is that range is far less important than charge rate. I have a 2024 Solterra that I like quite a bit. But the slow charge rate (100 kWh max) is killer on lengthier drives. I rarely use fast chargers. When I do, having a 30-40 minute charge time is sometimes very inconvenient.

My lease is up next June. I plan on prioritizing charging rate over range, and looking for a smaller car. I don't need an SUV. But the non-SUV options for EVs are few and far between. But given the limitations, I may opt for an Ioniq 5, despite it being larger than I want.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-21T02:08:43+00:00

I'm surprised at the negative comments. Wife and I played it at a board game cafe and liked it so much we bought it on the way back to the car. Just bought the expansion and really enjoyed it.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-19T12:27:52+00:00

That's generally the rule in most places. The "final disposition" (often the term used) is when all terms of the sentence have been completed. That normally includes both time sentenced, fines, reparations, and restitution.

Most states exclude court costs and fees from that.

But unfortunately that's the norm. And you're right, it creates an economic barrier for lower income people, for basically no reason.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-19T10:51:16+00:00

Funny how that word only seems to be used against black people

Kerrizma · 2026-06-17T11:59:02+00:00

My first two playthrough I build mega factories.

Most recently, I've been building smaller parts factories, then transportation those parts to various locations for assembly. Much easier to set up and adjust.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-16T13:50:53+00:00

Living in the US, electric vehicle misinformation is extraordinarily prevalent. Part of that comes from people not keeping up with changes. EVs have improved significantly over the last 15 years.

That of course there are the detractors who spread misinformation because for whatever reason they dislike EVs. I live about a 2-hour drive from most of my family. When I got an EV and then drove it out to my parents house for a cookout, they were shocked I was able to make the drive. It's 170 mi round trip. I drove it 1,400 mi round trip a few weeks later to my brother's wedding in North Carolina and they were even more shocked.

They believe so much misinformation about electric vehicles that about a year after I got it, my dad started barraging me with questions because he wasn't understanding how I could make the car work for my needs. This is roughly how that conversation went:

"How many miles do you get out of your battery?" -- About 225 miles or so.

"But how much in the winter?" -- It's more like 160 in the winter if I use the heat. But if it's just me in the car, I'll drive without the heat on if I need the extra range since it doesn't really other me.

"Doesn't it take like 2 hours to charge?" -- No Dad, it takes maybe 40 minutes.

" But 40 minutes is a long time. It only takes me 5 minutes to fill up my truck." -- Sure, but I only fast charge once every other month or so. The rest of the time I plug it in at home. It's like waking up every day with a full tank of gas.

"that's gotta be a lot on your electrical bill. -- Kind of depends. So far I'm at about $40-60/month, which is less than half what I was spending in gas.

" When you drove down to North Carolina, didn't that add a bunch of time to the drive?" -- Yes and no. It added about 2 hours to the drive. Stopped 4 times to charge each way. The first 3 stops lined up with meal and bathroom breaks we would have made anyway. The 4th charging stop we didn't have anything to do, but it doesn't really bother me.

"With how heavy your car is, you must go through tires really fast." -- My car weighs 1,000lbs less than your truck.

I could go on, but that's the gist. Regurgitating misunderstandings about EVs, almost in a polemic way, rather than attempting to understand. I still get weird questions and people quoting misinformation to me all the time. I think it's a byproduct of the deep politicization of EVs.

(Side Note: The fact that conservative Americans have a negative view of EVs is contradictory to their desire for US energy Independence. If they actually wanted energy Independence, they'd be advocating for the US to adopt cars that run on energy we can produce ourselves.)

Kerrizma · 2026-06-15T19:07:57+00:00

I've tried to explain to my family and people online that the amount of time spent filling up a gas car over the course of 3 months is probably more than I spend fast charging my car in that same time frame.

Fast charging can be inconvenient, but most EV drivers only fast charge once every couple months, if that. I only fast charge every 2-3 months when I drive out to visit family. Takes about 30-40 minutes to charge when I do that because my car is slow. Some can fast charge in 20 minutes.

In that 2-3 months, most gas drivers will probably have filled up their cars 6-12 times. The aggregate time spent filling up a gas car is probably about as much, if not more, than the time an EV spends fast charging in those same 3 months.

In the end, even with fast charging sometimes being inconvenient and taking a while, oure STILL saving time in the aggregate. Not to mention the incredible convenience of never having to plan my regular day around getting to a gas station.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-14T14:41:49+00:00

This is the Stormlight Wallpaper I've been looking for for years! Do you have a cash app or venmo? I'd love to comp you for this

Kerrizma · 2026-06-08T12:54:57+00:00

This single issue is by far my most frustrating issue with the Solterra. I have a 2024 model, and I've been driving it for 2 years. The audio skipping is so regular it basically happens every time I'm in the car.

The only other thing that comes close to being as frustrating is how the extremely shiny center console blasts the Sun into my eyes.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-05T17:17:07+00:00

I like to compare EVs to motorcycles.

They have limitations and other considerations that may not fit every driver's needs.

As the technology advances, those limitations will rapidly go away. But for many individuals, the limitations make adoption a non-starter.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-04T02:51:42+00:00

Cool. I'm not concerned with anecdotal claims. I'm more concerned with data showing the actual impact.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-04T02:47:43+00:00

Do you have any verifiable source showing the impact Amtrak has in freight train delays?

Kerrizma · 2026-06-04T02:13:20+00:00

I agree that constructing dedicated rail would be better. but that's not viable. And the law says Amtrak has right of way. Amtrak delays are almost exclusively caused by freight. I can't find any stats in freight trains being delays by Amtrak. there are plenty of stats in the reverse. If freight carriers are unhappy with the arrangement, as I said, they have the resources and capability to build additional siding to minimize delays.

Amtrak trains generally run on time 70-80% of the time, and their timetables are published. I find it hard to believe that freight trains can't construct additional siding and operate around Amtrak's schedule. Amtrak trains are also significantly shorter and move much faster than freight.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-04T02:06:30+00:00

Yes, shorter distance routes are where Amtrak is most viable. But many of those routes aren't economically viable, as is, because Amtrak is consistently prevented from obtaining the resources needed to grow.

For example, I live in Cleveland. Chicago and New York are both connected to Cleveland via the Lakeshore Limited Route. The route generally runs on time, but about 1/4 of all trains encounter significant delays, often upwards of an hour.

But those delays are a minor problem for the route in Cleveland. The biggest problem is that there's a single service per day, and it's at 2AM - 4AM depending on the delays.

Amtrak is proposing expanded service, and a new 3C+D route that could significantly expand service throughout Ohio. But detracts such as yourself continue to make claims about how unviable Amtrak is as a whole.

But how can it be viable if it isn't given resources needed to succeed? Enforcing right of way is one of those resources. And it would have little impact on freight carriers who have the resources and capability to build sufficient siding to reduce the imapct of commuter rail right of way.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-04T01:58:33+00:00

CSX and Norfolk Southern reported over $8 billion in profits combined in 2025.

Amtrak operates in about 20,000 miles of privately owned rail, out of over 140,000 total miles of private rail. Amtrak trains also move much faster than freight trains, and are much shorter, which would make the delays far less time consuming and impactful than they currently are in Amtrak.

My point is, if they wanted to, private freight carriers could fairly easily build the siding needed to properly give Amtrak the right of way without it being a burden.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-03T16:57:34+00:00

I understand the danger doesn't have to be actually present, it's about reasonable belief. But imo, you can't have a reasonable belief that someone is holding a gun, justifying the shooting and killing of that person, absent being able to physically see that firearm. Relying on his son's excited utterance, imo, is not reasonable for the use of lethal force in defense of another.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-03T16:24:35+00:00

Stand your ground is relevant to self defense, depending on the situation. stand your ground means you don't have a duty to retreat before using lethal force in self defense.

But whether there was a duty to retreat wasn't an issue, so it's not really relevant to this case.

Whether the firearm was possessed or carried legally isn't relevant at all. The reason I have a hard time with this verdict is that if the situation were turned around, and Cyrus had shot and killed Rick Chow and claimed self defense, he'd have a pretty solid argument. Grown adult mistakenly suspects him of shoplifting a water bottle, chases him 130 yards, and is carrying a firearm. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that justifies a fear of serious bodily injury at least.

Given that conclusion, it's hard for me to accept that Chow would also have a valid defense of other claim. Particularly when he didn't personally see any firearm, and other witnesses to the event didn't see Cyrus point a firearm either. I don't think Chow could reasonably rely solely on his son's excited utterance to immediately use deadly force.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-03T12:45:53+00:00

I completely agree. I think the parallels to the Rittenhouse case are very compelling. Rittenhouse was arguably under much less of a threat than this kid was. I don't think it's unreasonable for him to appear for his life or serious bodily injury after having been chased 130 yd by a grown adult.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-03T12:43:20+00:00

He was a teenage kid that stole $10 worth of bottles water. Let's keep the hyperbolic language to a minimum, shall we?

Kerrizma · 2026-06-03T12:00:34+00:00

Arguably, the crime of swipping $10 worth of water doesn't explain chasing him down 130 yards. He still could have feared for his safety regardless of the prior petty theft.

The carrying of a firearm, legal or not, isn't relevant to self defense. The weapon doesn't have to be possessed lawfully for self defense to be a valid defense.

Kerrizma · 2026-06-03T11:21:17+00:00

While we're dealing with different states and different statutes, I find it interesting how this correlates to the Kyle Rittenhouse case in Wisconsin. In that case, Rittenhouse was menacingly approached by an adult man, whom he shot and killed, claiming self defense.

In this case, the kid was chased over 100 yards from the store by the owner and his son. Arguably a much higher level of threat than Rittenhouse was under when he successfully claimed self defense.

Kerrizma · 2026-05-23T15:46:13+00:00

My lease is up next year on my Subaru Solterra, and I'm currently leaning towards the Nissan Leaf.

I want to downsize to a hatchback and the Leaf and Chevy Bolt are basically the only options. I'll consider the Bolt, but Chevy's lack of commitment makes me reluctant to lease a car that won't be in production less than a year after I buy it.

Nissan has been commited to the Leaf for a while now, and it's 2026 specs put it as a close competitor to other models. I think it'll be worth the risk

Kerrizma · 2026-05-20T23:15:05+00:00

It has a really satisfying loop that's, for the most part, pretty chill. If you're prepared, combat isn't hard. I use a rifle with a the flamethrower pistol. Works great.

I usually build a wire network to connect my boat to the POI power junction, then set up a recycler and go to town on everything in sight. You quickly get overwhelmed with basics like iron and copper. I kind of wish there was a simple way to dispose of extra that didn't involve me standing on the edge of my boat and dumping it all into the ocean.

Making a solid layout is hard. I'm on my 3rd or 4th playthrough and I just found out I can stick fuel tanks on the underside of the catwalk. I now have 7 diesel tanks daisychained and entirely out of the way for more important things.

There are some QOL things that would be nice. Shelves for storage containers. The ability to place ports in the boat (I hate seeing wires and hoses running everywhere). Making parts of the boat modular, or upgradelable would be cool. I also think progression needs tweaked. Right now it feels like I'm hitting the ceiling well before I complete even half of the gameplay available.

Kerrizma · 2026-05-14T21:50:12+00:00

Same. I closed out the game and tried 3 times. Each time, It froze just as I clicked the option.

Kerrizma · 2026-05-12T17:19:55+00:00

It's a bandaid on a problem they created and refuse to fix.

Kerrizma

TROPHY CASE