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diff --git a/content/articles/ev-crash-course.md b/content/articles/ev-crash-course.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0d817e --- /dev/null +++ b/content/articles/ev-crash-course.md @@ -0,0 +1,439 @@ +--- +title: "EV Crash Course" +slug: ev-crash-course +--- + +## Reading Electric Vehicle Specs + +|Vehicle Type|Efficiency|Capacity|Capacity Unit| +|------------|----------|--------|----| +|Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)|Miles per Gallon (MPG)|Gas Tank Size|Gallons| +|Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)|Watt-hours per Mile (Wh/mi)|Battery Capacity|kilowatt-hours (kWh)| + +**Note:** A lower Wh/mi is *more* efficient than a higher Wh/mi, because +the numerator and denominator are reversed (the ratio is energy/distance +instead of distance/energy). + +Annoyingly, some sites will show energy efficiency using slightly +different units (e.g. kWh/100mi) or even inverted (e.g. mi/kW). So make +sure to pay attention to the units. + +The EPA has a database of EV efficiency, battery capacity, and +standardized test results available at [fueleconomy.gov][epa]. + +For reference, here is the efficiency and range information for [my +car][epa-car] and [Nadine's car][epa-ioniq] from [fueleconomy.gov][epa]. + +|Model|Efficiency|Capacity|Range (miles)| +|-----|----------|--------|-------------| +|[2019 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD][epa-car]|290 Wh/mi|75 kWh|310 mi| +|[2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid][epa-ioniq]|55 MPG|11.9 gallons|650 mi| + +## EV Chargers (EVSEs) +EV chargers (aka [EVSEs][evse]) are grouped into three categories by power +output, measured in kilowatts (kW): + +|Type|Charging Speed (mi/hr)|Power (kW)|Efficiency (%)|Time (50 Miles)|Time (90% SoC)|Time (100% SoC)| +|----|---------------------:|---------:|-------------:|-------:|--:|---:| +|Level 1 (L1)|5 mi/hr|1.2 kW|85%|10 hours|57 hours|63 hours| +|Level 2 (L2)|25 mi/hr|7.2 kW|95%|2 hours|10 hours|11 hours| +|Level 3 (L3)|500 mi/hr|150 kW|99%|6 minutes|45 minutes|1 hour| + +Columns: + +* Type: Charger Type Name. +* Charging Speed: The number of miles of range per hour I gain in my car + for this type of charger. I like to use this instead of kW because + it's easier for people to think about than kW or kWh. +* Efficiency: Energy efficiency for this type of charger, expressed as a + percentage and calculated as the difference between the energy from + the wall minus the energy that reaches the battery, divided by the + energy from the wall (`(Ew - Eb)/Ew`). +* 50 Miles: Time to gain 50 miles of range in my car using this type + of charger. I included this column because [most Americans drive less + than 40 miles per day](https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/passenger_travel_2015/chapter2a). +* 90% Charge: Time to charge from 0 to 90% in my car using this type + of charger. I included this column because you don't charge EVs to + 100% except on long trips. +* Full Charge: Time to charge from 0 to 100% in my car using this type + of charger. + +The [Alternative Fuels Data Center][afdc] has a [great summary of EV +chargers](https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_infrastructure.html#level2). + +Links to related EV forum posts I wrote about this stuff: + +* [Charger Energy Efficiency](https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?noseen=0&threadid=3932649&perpage=40&pagenumber=287#post518013313) +* [Lithium Ion Charging Process (aka why charging from 0-80% is fast, and charging from 80-100% is slow)](https://forums.somethingawful.com/newreply.php?action=newreply&postid=517498168) + +### Level 1 Chargers +Level 1 (L1) chargers use standard wall plugs. Level 1 charging is +very slow, but you can let your EV charge at night just like a cell +phone or laptop. + +I don't drive very much, so this is how I charge my car except on long +trips. + +Home Level 1 charging is billed at the residential energy rate. In +Virginia at $0.13/kWh and 85% efficiency, I pay: + +##### Cost of Charging, Home Level 1 Charger +|Description|Cost|Energy| +|-----------|---:|-----:| +|50 miles of range|$2.22|14 kWh| +|90% Charge (270 miles)|$10.32|67.5 kWh| +|100% Charge (310 miles)|$11.48|75 kWh| + +Here is a cost per mile comparison of [my car][epa-car] using home Level 1 +charging versus [Nadine's car][epa-ioniq], assuming $0.13/kWh for +electricity and [$3.189/gallon](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=VA) for +gasoline: + +##### Cost Per Mile Comparison, Home Level 1 Charger +|Vehicle|Energy Source|Unit Price|Cost per Mile| +|-------|-------------|---------:|------------:| +|Nadine|Gasoline|$3.189/gallon|$0.0580| +|Paul|Home L1 EVSE|$0.13/kWh|**$0.0444**| + +### Level 2 Chargers +Level 2 chargers are 240V, 30A-50A lines with a [J1772][] connector that +all EVs can use. There are: + +* Commercial Level 2 Chargers: Grocery stores, banks, and hotels. These + chargers cost money, bill by charge time or kWh, are invariably a rip + off, and I never use them. +* Municipal Level 2 Chargers: Free public chargers provided by the + some cities. Before COVID-19 I used to use a couple of these + regularly. Example: [Falls + Church City Hall chargers](https://www.plugshare.com/location/248308). +* Home Level 2 Chargers: You can buy and Level 2 charger and install it + at home (see below). + +A home Level 2 charger typically costs about $400 for the hardware, and +$100-$1000 for the wiring and installation. There are federal, state, +municipal, and power company incentives for home Level 2 chargers. The +[Alternative Fuels Data Center][afdc] has a [searchable database of +incentives](https://afdc.energy.gov/laws). + +The installation is probably something you and Steve could do +yourselves, so you would only pay for the equipment, wiring, and an +inspection (if necessary). + +##### Cost of Charging, Home Level 2 Charger +|Description|Cost|Energy| +|-----------|---:|-----:| +|50 miles of range|$1.99|14 kWh| +|90% Charge (270 miles)|$9.23|67.5 kWh| +|100% Charge (310 miles)|$10.27|75 kWh| + +Here is a cost per mile comparison of [my car][car-epa] using home Level 2 +charging versus [Nadine's car][epa-ioniq], assuming $0.13/kWh for +electricity and [$3.189/gallon](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=VA) for +gasoline: + + +<table> + <caption>Cost Per Mile Comparison, Home Level 2 Charger</caption> + + <thead> + <tr> + <th>Vehicle</th> + <th>Energy Source</th> + <th>Unit Price</th> + <th>Cost per Mile</th> + </tr> + </thead> + + <tbody> + <tr> + <td>Nadine</td> + <td>Gasoline</td> + <td>$3.189/gallon</td> + <td>$0.0580</td> + </tr> + + <td> + <td>Paul</td> + <td>Home L2 EVSE</td> + <td>$0.13/kWh</td> + <td><b>$0.0398</b></td> + </td> + </tbody> +</table> + +### Level 3 Chargers +Level 3 chargers, also known as DC Fast Chargers (DCFC), charge EVs +quickly by skipping the vehicle's internal charging circuitry and +pumping energy directly to the battery. + +Level 3 chargers are: + +* Used for long distance travel +* Located along major thoroughfares like I-5 + +Level 3 chargers are more expensive than Level 2 chargers. Some Level 3 +chargers bill by time (for example, in North Carolina), but most bill by +amount of energy used, measured in kWh. + +The Tesla Superchargers near me charge $0.25/kWh. At that price it +costs me: + +* $3.50 for 50 miles of range (14kWh) +* $16.88 for a 90% charge (67.5kWh, 270 miles) +* $18.75 for a full charge (75kWh, 310 miles) + +Cost Per Mile Comparison (excluding taxes, fees, and maintenance) +Vehicle,Fuel Source,Cost per Mile (excluding taxes, fees, and maintenance) +Nadine's Car,Gasoline at $3.189/gallon,$0.0580 +My Car,Home Level 2 Charging at $0.13/kWh,$0.070 + +### Finding Chargers +EV chargers do not need a large fuel tank or pumps, so they are often +tucked away in the corners of parking lots and other inconspicuous +places. + +Alonzo and Christine drove through North and South Dakota a few years +ago, and Alonzo sent me some funny pictures of surprise chargers tucked +just out of view along the way. + +Another example is one of the Tesla Superchargers near my house, which +is [located the parking lot behind a convenience store](https://www.plugshare.com/location/251943). + +Here are a few good resources for finding chargers: + +* [PlugShare](https://plugshare.com/): Web site and phone app that + allows you to search for chargers and filter the results by plug type + billing. Other users regularly check in with updates and pictures if + there are service problems (examples: a broken charger or a non-EV + car blocking one of the spots). I have the PlugShare app installed on + my phone and set to only show free Level 2 chargers by default. +* [Alternative Fuels Station Locator](afdc-stations): Searchable + nation-wide database of chargers. Not as useful as PlugShare. +* [Tesla Supercharger Map](https://www.tesla.com/findus?v=2): Tesla's + map of Superchargers in the United States. **Hint:** Click the icons + at the bottom to exclude "Stores and Galleries", "Service", + "Destination Charging", and "Collision Centers". + +Most EVs also have built-in software to find and route to the nearest +Level 3 charger, so you don't have to fiddle with your phone while +you're driving. + +## Long Distance Driving +I'm breaking this into a "Tesla" section and a "non-Tesla" sections, +because the answers are different. + +### Long Distance Driving (Tesla) +You do have to worry about charging on long distance trips, but in +practice it is not that big of a deal with Tesla EVs unless you are +traveling more than 100 miles from a major travel route. + +Tesla has been building their Supercharger network since 2012, and as of +2021 Superchargers are located every 100 miles or so along most major +travel routes in the United States. + +You can see that yourself by doing the following: + +1. Go to the [Map of Tesla Superchargers][supercharger-map]. +2. Click the buttons at the bottom to filter out everything except for + "Superchargers". +3. Zoom the map out to see the entire United States. + +#### Falls Church, VA to Spring Lake, NC +For example, in 2019, Nadine and I drove to visit Robert and Jenn in +Spring Lake, NC, which is 320 miles from Falls Church. + +We stopped at two Superchargers on the way there: + +* Chester, VA +* Smithfield, NC + +We didn't even need the second stop to make it to Spring Lake. I made +the second stop because Spring Lake is a small town with no Level 3 +chargers and very few Level 2 chargers, so it was easier to charge +before we drove in, then forget that we had an electric car for the +weekend. + +On the way back we stopped at three Superchargers: + +* Fayetteville, NC +* Rocky Mount, NC +* Fredricksburg, VA + +The third stop wasn't necessary for charging, but I needed a break from +driving and Nadine was hungry. I remember that stop, because Nadine +decided that eating clam chowder from a convenience store was a good +idea. It was not a good idea. + +#### Eugene, OR to Port Angeles, WA (Tesla) +On the phone you asked about: + +1. Driving from Eugene to Port Angeles. See the notes below. +2. Driving from Eugene to rural Idaho. I can't answer this question + without a more specific destination. + +I said that I was sure driving to from Eugene to Port Angeles in an EV +would be fine, and listed several fast charging stations along I-5. + +You can see what the route for a trip from Eugene to Port Angeles would +look like in [my car][epa-car] via [A Better Route Planner (ABRP)][abrp] +at the following URL: + +<https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=e5c6eab0-e5fc-41e5-b730-4e808d8d4777> + +So fastest way to travel from Eugene, OR to Port Angeles, WA in [my +car][epa-car] is: + +* one 6 minute stop in Vancouver, WA, and +* one 11 minute stop in Tumwater, WA. + +The total cost would be $10.48. + +(Realistically If I made that trip, I would probably wait an additional +30 minutes at the Tumwater, WA charger and charge to 90%). + +For comparison, [Nadine's car][epa-ioniq], could make the trip from +Eugene to Port Angeles without stopping for gas. + +(I can't drive for that long in one sitting because my legs cramp up, so +realistically I would need to stop at least once to relax and stretch my +legs for 30 minutes). + +Anyway, the given the [average cost of gasoline in Lane County +($3.746)](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=OR), and a distance of 339 +miles: + +<table> + <caption>Eugene, OR to Port Angeles, WA</caption> + + <thead> + <th>Car</th> + <th>Stops (#)</th> + <th>Stops (min)</th> + <th>Cost</th> + </thead> + + <tbody> + <tr> + <td>Nadine</td> + <td>0</td> + <td>0</td> + <td>$23.09</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>Paul</td> + <td>2</td> + <td>17</td> + <td><b>$10.48</b></td> + </tr> + </tbody> +</table> + +### Long Distance Driving (non-Tesla) + +You can still make long distance trips in non-Tesla EVs, but it's more +complicated because: + +* there are fewer non-Tesla Level 3 chargers, +* non-Tesla Level 3 chargers are more expensive, and +* non-Tesla Level 3 chargers have screwy billing rates (in other words, + they are a rip off) + +#### Eugene, OR to Port Angeles, WA (non-Tesla) +Here is route for the same trip from Eugene, OR to Port Angeles, WA in a +[Ford Mustang Mach-E Standard RWD][epa-mach-e], according to +[ABRP][]: + +<https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=44fcd81d-435f-49f8-af0c-d72d9b51af45> + +So fastest way to travel from Eugene, OR to Port Angeles, WA in a +[Mach-E][epa-mach-e] is: + +* one 22 minute stop in Vancouver, WA, and +* one 29 minute stop in Olympia, WA. + +The total cost of energy would be $23.27 (more expensive than Nadine's +car). + +Here is the same trip in a [2020 Hyundai Kona EV][epa-kona], according +to [ABRP][]: + +<https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=733972f4-e90b-457a-9ad6-2ebf4dfe57fb> + +The fastest way to travel from Eugene, OR to Port Angeles, WA in a +[Kona EV][epa-kona] is: + +* one 14 minute stop in Portland, OR, and +* one 24 minute stop in Olympia, WA. + +The total cost of energy would be $18.55 (less expensive than [Nadine's +car][epa-ioniq], but still not as good as [my car][epa-car]). + +Here is how all the cars stack up: + +<table> + <caption>Eugene, OR to Port Angeles, WA</caption> + + <thead> + <th>Car</th> + <th>Stops (#)</th> + <th>Stops (min)</th> + <th>Cost</th> + </thead> + + <tbody> + <tr> + <td>2017 Hyundia Ioniq Hybrid</td> + <td>0</td> + <td>0</td> + <td>$23.09</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>2019 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD</td> + <td>2</td> + <td>17</td> + <td><b>$10.48</b></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD</td> + <td>2</td> + <td>51</td> + <td>$23.27</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td>2020 Hyundia Kona EV</td> + <td>2</td> + <td>38</td> + <td>$18.55</td> + </tr> + </tbody> +</table> + +Tesla Model Y LR AWD: +<https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=fc1707aa-ef81-42db-a4f6-4991ff43224d> + +[epa]: https://fueleconomy.gov/ + "EPA fuel economy" +[epa-car]: https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=41190 + "2019 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD (my car)" +[epa-ioniq]: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/38484.shtml + "2017 Hyundia Ioniq Hybrid (Nadine's car)" +[evse]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charging_station + "EV car charger (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)" +[afdc]: https://afdc.energy.gov/ + "Alternative Fuels Data Center" +[j1772]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772 + "J1772 standard level 2 EV charger plug" +[afdc-stations]: https://afdc.energy.gov/stations/#/find/nearest?fuel=ELEC + "Alternative Fuels Data Center Station Locator" +[supercharger-map]: https://www.tesla.com/findus?v=2 + "Map of Tesla Superchargers" +[abrp]: https://abetterrouteplanner.com/ + "A Better Route Planner (ABRP)" +[epa-mach-e]: https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=43604 + "2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Standard RWD" +[epa-kona]: https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=44444 + "2020 Hyundai Kona EV" |