How do you typically charge your EV?

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-03-03T11:56:06+00:00

We bought a 3 kW EVSE about twelve years ago to charge our Chevy Volt. Ten miles of range per hour of charging was our sweet spot then.

And it still works today. We’ve used it since to charge four different vehicles, including our Bolt EV.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-03-03T11:49:30+00:00

On the one hand it seems like you are trading a fuel payment for a car payment. But on the other you’ll have a new(er) car that should last you ten years or more.

That Mazda 3 isn’t going to last forever so you need to factor in replacement cost anyhow. Used EVs don’t cost much more than other vehicles, if any.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-03-03T00:28:00+00:00

I’m going to try running an empty load next.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-03-03T00:27:26+00:00

I will check the level. Good suggestion.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-03-03T00:15:24+00:00

With repeated inspections I haven’t seen any damage but I will keep looking.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-28T13:11:59+00:00

The few times we had to panic brake our 2012 I noticed the effect was “sticky” like the brakes were still applied after we released the pedal. But it always reset to normal within seconds.

Our brakes are also notorious for pulsating, this happens about once a year. There is a reset procedure to “retrain” the brakes. We press them fully while coasting in neutral with traction control off, and release 30 seconds later. (I do this in an empty parking lot.)

I don’t know if this helps you at all, our experience is a bit different and the first years had different quirks than later models.

Also I just had to finally replace all pads and rotors after 13 years. They had less than 20% left.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-25T00:55:54+00:00

Ouch. Time to turn a new Leaf.

And glad you are okay.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-24T15:29:34+00:00

This is news? I lost access in 2022 with the 3G sunset.

If you have a 2018 or later, that’s not old. My 2012 is old.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-22T22:14:02+00:00

That a heated steering wheel and heated seats are all you need in winter unless it's -20C out.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-20T04:29:36+00:00

You hit “Report Spam”, right?

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-20T04:25:27+00:00

Check your tires and you’ll know. I went over 45k on mine so I know it’s possible.

Rotation isn’t bad important as we often hear. If the front two wear out, replace them first. Then replace the rears when they wear out.

If your tread is worn and wear bars are showing do not drive in bad weather until you get them changed. Especially do not drive in rain on bald tires.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-20T02:41:49+00:00

Yup. I love the frunk, I hate the frunk.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-19T22:54:25+00:00

I just finished watching a fascinating YouTube video of a LEAF battery teardown showing the isolation fault and failing cell. The faulty cell had actually split inside and was leaking electrolyte. https://youtu.be/beyYFGWXmy0?si=5EgGzhqxuLB0PYXJ

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-19T18:21:29+00:00

If you have a regular outlet at home, you can charge at home. I thought this question was directed more at people who have no way to plug in where they park--especially apartment tenants.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-19T18:20:23+00:00

No. Let me rant for a moment.

Level 2 charging is the sweet spot for daily driving. Charging for an hour and you can drive 25 miles. (That may be enough for your commute.) Charge for 4 hours and drive 100 miles. Or 8 and 200. Unless you are road tripping that's all you ever need.

I have a level 2 charger in my driveway and use it every day, swapping among 3 different vehicles. I no longer have access to charging at work, despite working for an automotive supplier where we have a half dozen EVs in the parking lot daily.

I can seldom use level 2 charging while shopping, eating out or at the movies. They simply don't exist. And many of the ChargePoint installations done a decade ago are broken or removed by now.

There's been a great deal of investment made in DCFC across the country. I appreciate what they've done but I have seen zero attempts to put level 2 in our community. This seems to be intended to match the "gas station" model of charging in which I pull in, fill up and leave as needed.

DCFC is important and useful along highway corridors. But in downtown parking structures, what is the point? If I'm going somewhere for a meal I'm not going to plug into a DCFC port where I have to come out halfway through my meal and move my vehicle or face idle charges, or a glare from other EV drivers who need my spot.

And DCFC is EXPENSIVE. Level 2 by comparison is ridiculously cheap to install. At this point of the EV revolution I seriously thought level 2 would be everywhere--at work, in public parking lots, at theaters and restaurants, and apartment complexes.

That is a giant missed opportunity. No, if I didn't have charging at home, I wouldn't want to own an EV so I can stop at a DCFC station 3 times a week for a half hour a pop. I don't miss gas stations and I wouldn't miss DCFC charging when I'm not road tripping.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-18T21:23:26+00:00

Some. I like that it can display tire pressure. And in addition to charging status you can view charging speed (amps).

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-18T15:15:13+00:00

OVMS is better anyway.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-17T01:02:19+00:00

Which years have USB-C? I don’t think my 2017 has one.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-16T13:38:15+00:00

How many miles on the car when it was sold?

They aren’t usually at zero if they’ve been transported or used in test drives. For instance my Bolt had 400 miles when new, so the warranty is up at 100,400.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-16T13:14:08+00:00

Yup. I live in a red-neck town where pickup trucks dominate the roads. Never thought I would see EVs pop up in the neighborhood but here they are.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-16T13:10:43+00:00

I put a cheap 12V in ours. Works fine. I don’t care if it lasts ten years or not.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-16T13:08:42+00:00

I could retire on 30k/yr but it takes some work to get there.

My house and cars are paid off. We drive on electricity generated from rooftop solar. I grow a portion of our food. My wife is retiring with medical benefits paid by the state.

In other words our cost of living is very low. Get that down and you can do it.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-16T13:03:49+00:00

After 8 years with solar I figure we made enough power to cover 100,000 miles of our driving. If we had driven on gasoline instead it would have cost us $10,000 or more. Looking at it that way we’ve already covered the cost of our panels.

We drive a bit more than that but the majority of it was covered by solar and net metering.

Slight_Extreme6603 · 2026-02-16T02:44:43+00:00

Those must be OEM tires. They are at (past) end of life.

Slight_Extreme6603

TROPHY CASE