Author Topic: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car  (Read 4178 times)

ergophobe

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9255
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #15 on: March 28, 2021, 02:35:37 AM »
About that VW bus that is in some thread I can't find

https://www.engadget.com/vw-electric-microbus-release-date-us-europe-id-buzz-173557828.html

It looks like it will arrive in Europe on time as promised in 2017, though it will be a year late in the US (2023) and the fully autonomous version is only scheduled to be released "eventually"

If a microbus feels too hippy or too suburban parent for you, you could indulge in an electric midlife crisis fantasy and get a Jeep Magneto (electric Wrangler)
https://www.engadget.com/jeeps-all-electric-wrangler-concept-has-a-six-speed-manual-transmission-122031458.html
« Last Edit: March 28, 2021, 03:54:01 AM by ergophobe »

Brad

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4137
  • What, me worry?
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #16 on: March 28, 2021, 10:29:47 AM »
That VW bus will sell at least in the Eastern US where distances are shorter.  It's the first EV that looks like it has some headroom plus room for stuff.  The retro crowd will like it and those considering an EV for the first time will be reassured by the VW dealer/service network.

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16268
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #17 on: March 28, 2021, 01:24:31 PM »
Get it to open road L5 and 300 mi range and we're in!!

ergophobe

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9255
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #18 on: March 28, 2021, 03:55:45 PM »
Get it to open road L5 and 300 mi range and we're in!!

Despite my "true L5" pessimism, I think "open road L5" and longer ranges are coming fairly soon. One thing about some of the ideas for increasing energy density in batteries is that it's a double win. If you double density and cut the battery size by 40% (so 60% of the original), that's 20% more capacity, but it should increase the range by more than 20% because of the weight savings, right?

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16268
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #19 on: March 28, 2021, 04:51:11 PM »
>right?

Sounds right to me.

To my shock, Louise wasn't agog at this VW EV bus.  She apparently want something as big as a Sprinter with the above specs.  I'll buy the VW anyway.

ergophobe

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9255
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #20 on: March 28, 2021, 06:12:13 PM »
This could be a winner. AWD is key. 270 mile range is a bit of a bummer though
« Last Edit: March 28, 2021, 06:14:11 PM by ergophobe »

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16268
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #21 on: March 28, 2021, 06:21:49 PM »
AS flat as Kansas here. AWD isn't necessary or worth the money.

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16268
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #22 on: March 30, 2021, 01:28:29 PM »
specs look decent. no pricing.

Kia officially debuts its EV6 AWD electric crossover | Engadget
https://www.engadget.com/kia-officially-debuts-the-ev-6-awd-electric-crossover-080006032.html

<+>
"the EV6's 800 volt system keeps things moving. It takes only 18 minutes to go from 10 percent to 80 percent battery. And the charging system doesn't just charge the car. It can be plugged into another EV or into a generator. It can provide up to 3.6 kilowatts"

Kia reveals new details for its EV6 electric car with 315-mile range — except for the price
https://mashable.com/article/kia-ev6-gt-line-electric-car/
« Last Edit: March 30, 2021, 01:32:38 PM by rcjordan »

ergophobe

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9255
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #23 on: March 30, 2021, 07:07:55 PM »
>>no pricing

Well, now, that's one of the things about the AWD EVs. If I look at my options, let's say I have two criteria only

 - has to be AWD or 4WD**
 - want to lower my carbon footprint, which an EV should do in CA given the mix of electricity sources in the grid and how that will evolve over the life of the car. Different calculation in Indiana or, even worse, Poland.

The lowest-end AWD EVs are about $45K, plus I need to put in a charging station at my house, which the neighbor says cost her $5K = $50K

So option 1 is I get a car that
 - uses a mix of fossil and renewable fuels, a mix which will bias more and more toward renewables, but not reach 100% over the life of the car.
 - With no commute, I don't drive that much anymore, so we're looking at putting maybe 8,000 leisure miles on it (which seems high, but it's a gorgeous new EV so driving is more fun so I do more).
 - when it sits there, all that massive carbon footprint of building that car is going to waste 90% of the time.
 - I'm out $50,000

Option 2.

 - Assuming that I am allergic to buying a used car (not true, but for the sake of argument), I spend $20,000 on a Subaru Impreza (actually, starting price is under $20K, no hidden BS like Tesla hiding the real price and subtracting $7000 based on supposed TCO over the life of the car).

 - I spend $25,000 on a solar array for the house and a battery sufficient to keep me running for 24 hours. The carbon footprint on this kit is paying off any time the sun is up or the batteries are charged. If I don't want to "drive" the array because the batteries are full and it's producing more than I'm using, then I get to give/sell those electrons to someone else, the societal benefit of the system is maximized, as if my car was on the road whenever the sun's out whether I'm driving it or someone decides to borrow it. The batteries also let me avoid drawing on the grid at night when the grid is NOT clean and in the summer when all the dirty sources are brought online to keep up with A/C load. It also lets me draw on the battery during peak times when power costs more (PG&E is shifting to Time of Use rates with winter off-peak being as low as $0.20/kwh and summer peak being $0.42/kwh). So in return for the also large embodied energy in this system, I am making a big difference in my carbon footprint and potentially saving money.

 - I'm out $45,000, and have a gross savings of $5K in upfront cost, but I also have a system that knocks $1500/year off my electric cost, so over time it nets out to a much bigger fuel savings than Tesla claims I get from an EV vs and ICE.

My sense is that Option 2 is results in a car with more range, a much bigger impact on my carbon footprint, a reduction in up-front cost, a larger reduction in long-term cost, and a solid backup system during our ever-increasing rolling power outages during fire season.

The more I think about it, the more I see one last ICE car in my future and solar panels and battery. And then, some years from now when I don't have any low-hanging fruit like the solar panel option, an EV makes sense.

Now, I know that an Impreza, powertrain aside, is not the joy to drive that a Tesla might be, but as mentioned earlier, I do not get much joy from driving and mostly just want to spend less time in cars when possible.
 

**AWD is a non-negotiable not because it's flat or hilly, but because we don't use salt on the roads and whenever there is any layer of snow, NPS has chain controls in place. So when Theresa was commuting up 1700 feet in altitude, she was taking chains on and off 1-2 times per day and we were going through four sets of chains in a year at $100 a pop. And on very many modern cars, applying chains voids the warranty and there are substantial fines for not having them, independent of whether you feel the conditions merit it or not.
« Last Edit: March 30, 2021, 07:17:46 PM by ergophobe »

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16268
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #24 on: March 30, 2021, 09:13:36 PM »
Option 2 would be the way to go if I lived in the CA semi-wilderness.  IMO, you can't beat Subaru for a solid ride.  (No dealers around here, though.)  And, yeah, AWD too.

Since we're in our 70s, I'm not making the L5 EV jump with many financial considerations in mind.  Mostly, I'm just trying to fill a bucket list while trying to avoid a disastrous purchase. I also have deep concerns that an EV could be a PITA to own.

grnidone

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1638
    • Yahoo Instant Messenger - e
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #25 on: March 30, 2021, 09:56:09 PM »
>"AS flat as Kansas here"

*whispers* Kansas isn't flat.

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16268
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #26 on: March 30, 2021, 10:18:09 PM »
Ok, flatter than Kansas.  Billiard table flat.

Brad

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4137
  • What, me worry?
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #27 on: March 31, 2021, 11:26:28 AM »
> price

> $45K

I'm waiting for the VCR effect to kick in on EV's.  The first VCR machines were well over $2000 (in late 1970's dollars) but the price kept dropping every year until they got affordable.

Also: we need to standardize the high voltage charging systems.

Also, also: EV dealers need to make the installation of the charging station in your home a turn-key option.

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16268
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #28 on: March 31, 2021, 01:43:41 PM »
>VCR

Right.  *AND* you never want to buy the first year of a model's rollout anyway.  It takes 2 years of production to iron out the glitches ---and I expect tech glitches to be a big problem with early EVs.  I told Louise that this one might be a serious contender in 2023 model year.

>$45k

It is going to be hard to get the manufacturers to give up ground on the pricing now that they have the dumbasses trained to buy a damn pickup truck or jeep for $87k.

>we need to standardize the high voltage charging systems.

Debbie says Tesla may have already won that battle.  I'm seeing a few installations of their charging stations pop up in high-traffic places.  The latest one was in a Sheetz gas/convenience store.

Brad

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4137
  • What, me worry?
    • View Profile
Re: Kia's sleek new EV6 electric car
« Reply #29 on: March 31, 2021, 02:30:33 PM »
> glitches

I hadn't thought of that.  Good call.  You have both software plus electronics and either one or both could end up being a nightmare.  The first two years of every new version of Windows was a Bill Gates betafest until they finally got most of the bugs out.