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Originally Posted by FarmerFran
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Shockingly, I’m having this same discussion with folks at Mustang6. So I’ll just cut and paste my exact statement from over there (less typing for me)
Interesting article. A few things need to be noted.
1) The writer acknowledged that the vehicle he was driving has an uncompetitive charging system.
“Every EV has a maximum charging rate, expressed in kilowatts (kW), that governs the amount of power it can accept from roadside fast chargers. For the bZ4X AWD I tested, that's an uncompetitive 100 kW.” Most of the newer EVs on the market can take a lot more charge a lot faster than the bZ4X. Since this thread is (theoretically) about GM pulling back on EV, let’s see what they say…
”The Blazer EV will be capable of charging on a DC fast charger and Chevrolet says it can charge at up to 190 kW and add about 78 miles of range in just 10 minutes.”
2) Toyota intentionally designed the battery charging system to favor battery life over charging speed, meaning it will slow down charging under certain conditions. Keep in mind that Toyota is behind GM and others in lithium ion battery development. The Prius only recently started using lithium ion.
“Toyota engineered the SUV to prioritize battery longevity, a spokesperson said, which means putting a damper on fast charging, which can accelerate battery wear.” GM and Hyundai in particular have significantly better approaches to balancing charging time to battery wear. If there’s one thing we know about engines, it’s that they ain’t all created equal, sports fans. Some are demonstrably better than others. This holds true for batteries, electric motors, and charging systems developed by companies that are focused on developing EVs (GM, Hyundai) compared to those that are actively pushing back on the transition (Toyota).
3) Driving range decreases with high speed driving. Where have I seen that happen before? Oh yes…every gasoline car I’ve driven since the beginning of time. Battery range decreases with more usage of the HVAC system. Ditto. That should come as no surprise to anybody. It’s basic physics. The more aggressively you use the energy, the faster it will deplete. Where ICE has an advantage is that you have almost no problem finding a place to refuel. For EVs that is a lot more difficult, though not as crippling as some would have you believe. The good thing, from my perspective at least, is that the better EVs do a really good job of letting you know how much faster range will deplete so that you can plan around it and reduce the instance of butt clenching situations. The Toyota the writer drove is not so equipped. Here’s one of the best examples I’ve seen in the many EVs I’ve had the opportunity to drive. Not the only approach. But the best I’ve seen. Genesis GV60 (Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury brand).
The writer’s experience is what it is and cannot be denied. It can be pointed out though that it is not the typical EV experience, but more likely an experience on the tip of the bell curve. Some will experience this, most won’t. And a significant number of people will say
“9-hour trip? Maybe we should take the <insert name of ICE CUV> instead of the EV”. The same way people today say
“Family trip? Maybe we should take the Edge instead of the Mustang”