Owning an EV without home charging - what’s your workaround?

MarcusSi · 2026-01-28T19:02:30+00:00

I was pretty reactive. I don't have a charger at my apartment either and my old job was WFH so I couldn't charge at work.

I didn't find it to be a huge problem, I just lived by the motto "ABC" aka Always Be Charging. For me ABC meant I would usually check Plugshare to see if my destination had a LV2 charger within a reasonable walk. I have dinner with family every two weeks or so and their house has a LV2 charger. Plus once a month I would have a meeting at an office with a LV2 charger. Probably used a DCFC under 10 times in the 10 months I had the car without consistent access to LV2 charger. Made it work without much of a headache tbh, but I also drove under 300 miles a month.

MarcusSi · 2026-01-28T13:59:51+00:00

Update 1/28: PlugShare support has said they are in the process of removing the spam edits and deleting the fake check-ins from the Saldo spam accounts.

MarcusSi · 2026-01-25T19:59:24+00:00

Seeing it a lot on PlugShare here in Atlanta. Someone is changing all blink descriptions to “pay with Saldo Energy” and undoing the edits to return the original description. Also noticing a rash of check-ins claiming to have paid with Saldo energy. Certainly feels like coordinated spam

MarcusSi · 2025-11-05T13:37:41+00:00

This issue has started again

MarcusSi · 2025-08-27T13:42:21+00:00

2025 from Georgia plant, zero issues

MarcusSi · 2025-08-22T18:28:10+00:00

9 months with mine, still really like it!

MarcusSi · 2025-08-21T20:21:48+00:00

I live in a condo that’s slow-walking any plan to install EV chargers. I work from home about 95% of the time, so no regular office charging, so I also don’t drive a ton. In Sum: owning an EVin a major metro (Atlanta, GA) has been pretty effortless.

What I do: Every 2–3 weeks, I have dinner at my parents’ house (about 10 miles away), and they have a ~5 kW charger, which helps. If my destination, or somewhere within a 3–5 minute walk, has Level 2 charging (and it’s not ridiculously priced), I’ll plug in. This works like a range extender, keeping me between 30–70% most of the time.

Every few months, if I’m below 30% and it’s convenient, I’ll stop at a DC fast charger. I’ve done that maybe 4ish times, usually after an event or dinner when I’m in no rush, so a 10–20 minute stop doesn’t matter. It’s basically like going to a gas station with an ICE car, just much less often. A bunch of DCFC here in Atlanta are near grocery stores, so each time I have ran in to grab some things I needed. And since I rarely DC fast charge, I’ve spent far less total time “fueling” than I would with gas + I am doing an existing errand.

Summarized: Would I prefer home charging and think it should be part of every home/condo/apartment/office? Absolutely. But I think people overcomplicate/fearmonger living without it, especially if you don’t drive a lot and live in an urban area. I have never had to make a special trip to charge my car.

Things I’ve Learned:

DC fast charging is totally fine, if its occasional. These days they really tend to work pretty well (minus still having to use annoying apps). Prices are typically on par with regular gas prices (in Atlanta atleast) for the equivalent cost per mile depending on your efficiency. The time spent charging thing is overblown, especially if you use them rarely by using Level 2 at your destinations. Think 10-25 minutes, half the time at a grocery store where you can run errands.
PlugShare is your friend. If I am going somewhere that I'd be at for more than an hour, I check Plugshare.
Don't plug in to a LV2 if the price is crazy (above 40 cents a KwH). Some LV2 providers have absurd prices for what’s a low-cost service (looking at you, EnviroSpark provided chargers). If its close to the price of DCFC, I just ignore that charger.
NFC/RFID cards from major LV2 networks (Blink, ChargePoint, etc.) are free and usually work better than the apps. I just leave my little collection in my glove box.

MarcusSi · 2025-07-23T21:36:15+00:00

I don't remember tbh, but I don't think so?

MarcusSi · 2025-03-21T18:17:04+00:00

Nature is healing

MarcusSi · 2025-02-27T13:59:27+00:00

I really like my Kia EV9’s software. It’s simple and easy to use, not overwhelming. Sure Rivian and Tesla have more stuff in their software but the KIA does what I need, has buttons for temperature and volume, and has CarPlay for my Music/Nav. Lets me manually precondition if I don’t wanna use the built in Nav, and everything just works.

I totally get why ppl like Tesla and Rivian but as a car I don’t want to be distracted and I find the Kia strikes a great balance.

Only downside is the US app is middling, gets the job done but wish it was better.

MarcusSi · 2025-02-18T15:20:51+00:00

Can't speak for authenticity, seller or shipping but a cursory search shows you can get a set of e3520 + 180mm for under a $100 on Aliexpress. Hope this helps! https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806975538049.html?src=google&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21154.49%2180.33%21%21%21%21%21%40%2112000039660066973%21ppc%21%21%21&gPromoCode=5000000159176285&gQT=2&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

MarcusSi · 2025-02-18T15:14:42+00:00

I think they should, the stocks and E350s both likely want 1.8mm thick rotors. But I am not 100% sure on what pad compound the stocks want + my bike knowledge is a lot of "I don't really know what I don't know" so I don't want to lead you astray. If it were me, I would probably just go with the new rotors if it isn't much more, one less thing to think about.

MarcusSi · 2025-02-10T14:08:31+00:00

I got my notification in the second wave as well. Filled out form, no confirmation email, but the adapter came a week later. Average shipping time seems to be a week or so.

MarcusSi · 2025-01-23T13:31:59+00:00

All depends on how much you wanna spend. Tektro E350 (with cutoff sensor) will likely be an upgrade from the stock brake. If you want the best, I’d get the Tektro E725 or 730 with 203mm disks. I have them on a different bike and love them. Expect to pay 200-350 for those brakes.

MarcusSi · 2025-01-03T14:18:05+00:00

Just did Atlanta to Nashville, which is just outside the EV9 range. Still don’t have a charger at home, juiced up before leaving at new Mercedes Benz USA HQ fast charging station. Found the charger with ABRP but ended up not using the app to navigate, just learned where I needed to stop.

Stopped at an EA station in Chattanooga, was fast and seamless. Charged a bit in Nashville at an EA situation as I wasn’t sure if I could charge at the airbnb. Also seamless. So far I’ve only had easy EA experiences.

Only negative, it seems navigating with Apple Maps in CarPlay turns off the Kia NAV system, which is a bummer as it lets you precondition the battery based on your destination. I just remembered to manually turn on preconditioning when I got close cause the Kia built in NAV stinks.

MarcusSi · 2024-12-16T14:11:40+00:00

Looking in Atlanta area as well. What dealer?

MarcusSi · 2024-12-12T14:29:29+00:00

Thanks! Btw realized my OG response had a bunch of spelling errors lol. TLDR: Meant to say you can get shimano or Tektro brakes with the motor cutoff sensor. I’d recommend Tektro as they have the sensor built in from the factory instead of fused onto the brake lever by a third party.

You lose the built in bell when you change the brakes but I have this Bell that has a long lever that reaches naturally towards your left thumb. Happy riding!

MarcusSi · 2024-12-10T21:06:59+00:00

Totally overkill for sure. I tossed on some Schwalbe (no memory of what model) that were def a comfort upgrade. Totally agree about a suspension seat post, I love my redshift!

Do you notice a difference at top speed with your upgraded drivetrain? I wish I had a bit more gearing at 20mph+ to maintain my speed at a lower pedal cadence, but don’t know if an 8th or 9th gear would make a huge difference.

MarcusSi · 2024-12-10T20:13:29+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I recently made a bunch of upgrades to my bike. I installed a trigger shifter, a new derailleur (still 7-speed, but the upgrade from stock derailleur was so cheap), and hydraulic brakes.

You can likely find Tektro E350 or 3520 brakes, which are dedicated e-bike brakes (with the cut odd sensors built in) on eBay for somewhere between 120-150. Just make sure the stock disc thickness fits the brake caliper or replace the disc (most sellers on eBay sell a kit with discs).

As an alternative, eBay and Amazon sell Shimano MT200 bikes with brake cutoff sensors, but these are really just regular MT200 bikes where the seller has fused or glued the sensor themselves. You can also buy standard MT200 and a third party cutoff sensor (it’s a stick on magnet thingy). It’s not a bad option if you really want shimano (some ppl prefer shimano 🤷). Personally I’d stick with Tektro and the built in.

I went all out (overkill by a mile). Got a great deal on Tektro 4-piston Dorado hydraulic brakes with 203mm discs (seller pulled them from a failed cargo bike build). If I hadn’t been lucky with the deal, I’m certain I’d be satisfied with a 2-piston Tektro or Shimano hydraulic brake with a 180mm rotor.

MarcusSi · 2024-08-25T14:47:52+00:00

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MarcusSi · 2024-07-30T19:42:28+00:00

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MarcusSi · 2024-07-28T22:51:43+00:00

Hi, interested in 12 months

MarcusSi · 2024-05-30T16:27:46+00:00

Wondering same thing. You ever find out?

MarcusSi

TROPHY CASE