[Caevlist] What's next?

[Alan Batie]

Now that I'm back to gas-only, the question is "what now?"  Everything 
that I really want, namely long range with active cruise control is a 
year out.  I would save a bundle by sticking with gas, as I'll only use 
about $100/mo in gas in the RAV at 24mpg.  But I really like driving EV...

2018 Leaf:
   Not out of the question, I really like the new leaf, but...
   * 40kWh without active cooling is too little too late
   * leasing has an up front cost that is prohibitive for something with 
a one year or less lifetime until the 60kWh Leaf w/active cooling comes out
   * the forums say that AV fast charge stations aren't working with the 
2018 Leaf, which would be a serious limitation around here, particularly 
if I wanted to go to Eugene or Seattle.  Ironically, the Bolt may have 
more charging options for a trip to Seattle!

Bolt:
   I really liked the one I test drove a couple years ago; back then the 
CCS charging network was too limited to be useful, but that has changed. 
  However, it doesn't have active cruise control.  I got a chance to use 
that in a rental in Sweden last fall, and it's *really* nice in 
congested traffic, and would likely have prevented the accident last 
December.  The Bolt is also a little more difficult to get in/out of as 
I don't fold up as well as I used to, and a friend who works with a 
local solar panel installation company that has one hates it for that 
reason.  It's also rather expensive - I was considering leasing one for 
a year to wait for the new Leaf, but they want $450/mo on a 3-year lease 
minimum, plus $5k up front.

Used Model S:
   I need to talk to a friend and give one another try: what I recall 
from sitting in one a couple years ago was that they also are hard to 
get in/out of, and in fact, in back, I hit my head on the roof 
(relatively tall torso and short legs).  There's also the question of if 
one will fit in my garage, which barely fits the Leaf (surprisingl, the 
RAV seems to fit slightly better).  But if I could get a used 90D, I 
could get rid of the RAV and be fully electric from now on.

Model 3:
   Still waiting to get a chance to get in one, but I'm really skeptical 
of the center-only dash and the limited rear access for hauling "stuff". 
  Big plus is the 90kWh battery option and the Tesla charging network, 
but to get one in the next few months ("Mar-May" says Tesla about my 
reservation), I have to pay for the "premium package" I have no interest 
in, and to get the 4wd, which I *do* want, is a year out.

Kia Plug-in Niro:
   A friend got a regular hybrid Niro last fall, and I really like it. 
I test drove the plugin at Salem Kia a month or so ago, and my only 
complaint is the waste of space in the dash with an analog speedometer 
and the fact that the gas engine starts up too easily (but there is a 
power gauge that marks where that happens, so you can easily control 
it).  It has enough range that all of my in-town driving would be 
electric, and at 40-50mpg*, cross country driving would be a lot better 
than my RAV.  *it's rated at nearly 50, but my friend drove me back from 
Salem in it today, and his indicator said 40.7, though I'm not sure of 
his driving mix - mostly in town I think.  The biggest drawback to the 
Kia is that though etrailer has hitches for the Niro, they all say 
"excluding plugin hybrid".  I looked under both the regular hybrid (my 
friend's) and the plug-in I test drove, and they look identical, so I'm 
not sure that that's about, but I have a small utility trailer to haul 
things from the lumber store or landscaping, and would like to get a 
small boat.  With my arthritis, I'm not sure how much I'll really need 
that capability though.

At half the price of the Tesla options, and with battery technology 
changing so rapidly over the next few years, it's really tempting to 
throw in the towel and go with the Kia, however one of the sales guys at 
the Nissan in Salem is looking into options for a 2018 Leaf - if I can 
get a decent deal, I may yet be talked into that, as I really liked the 
test drive.

Decisions, decisions...

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