My first drive of an EV

[taiwan_girl]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-04-22/unpacking-catl-s-five-minute-ev-charging-video

Today, both CATL and BYD claim to have batteries that can charge electric vehicles in as little as five minutes. However, CATL raised the stakes earlier this week in Shanghai when it revealed that the 320-mile range of its new Shenxing battery is around 70 miles longer than BYD’s claimed 250-mile range, and it can charge that range in 5 minutes. By contrast, Tesla's Superchargers are only capable of providing 200 miles of range in around 15 minutes.

[jon-nyc]

Second rental of an EV. Against my will. I reserved a standard car. They gave me a Ford Mach E (mustang branded).

Probably trying to get rid of it, as I was renting in LA and returning in Sandy Eggo.

It drives well and more like a regular car than the Tesla with the auto-brake like regeneration. I had no issues finding stuff but the boy was in the car with me so I could ask him to figure out the defroster or whatever.

Couldn’t avoid a charge though. As I write this I’m at a Starbucks as the ‘fast charger’ charges my car for the next 30-40m. I still think these are only acceptable if you have a charger in your garage and never drive out of range.

[jon-nyc]

Fucking hell. I get back the car and it had only charged from 23% to 46% in 41 minutes.

That’ll tie me over until I leave tomorrow morning, but I’ll still pay an exorbitant fee upon return.

[89th]

Luckily I've avoided EVs for every rental I've done so far. Wouldn't know shit about fuck for how to use them or charge them or whatever.

[jon-nyc]

Turns out there’s a slow charger at my hotel. It’ll be full by the time I leave at 5am.

[taiwan_girl]

@jon-nyc said in My first drive of an EV:

I get back the car and it had only charged from 23% to 46% in 41 minutes.

That's doesn't seem right. I think those "superchargers" are much quicker than that. #shrug.

[jon-nyc]

Literally never again will I accept one of these.

My charging cost was reasonable. But it finished charging around 10 and charged me an ‘idle fee’ which was more on an hourly basis than the charging fee.

I doubt I would have paid $50 had I returned it half full.

[Mik]

I wouldn't count on the slow charger to fill it overnight. My friend has a plug-in in his garage and it only charges like 40 miles a night. Not ready for prime time.

[jon-nyc]

Yep. It stopped charging at 75%. It was 73% by the time I got to Avis.

I may well get hit with their exorbitant refill fee anyway.

[jon-nyc]

All for a car I specifically didn’t request.

[Mik]

I think EVs explain the rise of the godawful Buc-ee's. It takes half an hour to get out of there.