I think instant torque, silent drive, less pollution, dual fuel sources and less maintenance are big benefits.So there's little benefit now.
Your Volt takes 17.28kWh to go 50 miles? That's less than 3miles/kWh. You have 4 variables. Your electric rate, your gas cost your electric mileage and your gas mileage, so you're saying your electric mileage is less than 3miles/kWh, very low, but your gas mileage is 42mpg, very high? That doesn't seem right. They're usually both low or both high.The cost of electric and gas is virtually the same. If you look at PG&E in Northern California, the tier 2 rate is .17 cents per kwh, using the formula of 16 amps x 240 volts = 3,840/1000 = 3.84 kwh x 4.5 hours = giving you 17.28 total kwh x .17 cent rate = of $2.93 for 50 miles. That works out to .0588 cents per mile. At gas here at 2.59 per gallon at 42 miles a gallon, the cost is .0617. So there's little benefit now.
In the winter gas is a lot cheaper, in the summer gas an electric are about equal. I pay 21.4 cents/KWh, assuming 90% charging efficiency that's 23.73 cents/KWh. I paid 2.49 per gallon today, I bought 2.5 gallons for my snow blower and 2 gallons for the Volt. My MPGe today (25 degrees) was 84 or about 2.49 miles/KWh. In summer I get about 4 miles/KWh. Yesterday I went to Boston and used gas so I have a figure for winter, 40 MPG, in summer I get around 45 MPG (the difference is attributable to snow tires vs OEM tires). So the figures are,The cost of electric and gas is virtually the same. If you look at PG&E in Northern California, the tier 2 rate is .17 cents per kwh, using the formula of 16 amps x 240 volts = 3,840/1000 = 3.84 kwh x 4.5 hours = giving you 17.28 total kwh x .17 cent rate = of $2.93 for 50 miles. That works out to .0588 cents per mile. At gas here at 2.59 per gallon at 42 miles a gallon, the cost is .0617. So there's little benefit now.
The OP seems to be estimating a 50 ev mile AER using a Gen 2's 14 kWh of useable power (= 3.57 miles / kWh). He then estimates grid power need to refill the battery based on time needed for L2 charging (4.5 hours x hourly draw = 17.28 kWh = 2.89 miles / kWh). Seems wrong to me to base Volt per mile electric costs on a rough estimate of time needed to recharge the battery.Your Volt takes 17.28kWh to go 50 miles? That's less than 3miles/kWh. You have 4 variables. Your electric rate, your gas cost your electric mileage and your gas mileage, so you're saying your electric mileage is less than 3miles/kWh, very low, but your gas mileage is 42mpg, very high? That doesn't seem right. They're usually both low or both high.
I think we have the highest gas prices in CA in the SF Bay Area. However, I don't recall gas at or above $5 a gallon for extended periods of time. Maybe my memory is fading since I have driven a LEAF since 2011 and didn't pay attention to gas prices.Where I am gas is $3.79 a gallon and if you have an electric vehicle you can get off peak pricing. Not really that close, with electric driving being less expensive. But yes, you will always be able to find a situation here and there where gas will be cheaper than electricity. However, currently gas prices are low. Over the years I've owned the Volt gas has been at or above $5 a gallon for extended periods of time.
Oh yes. Prices in 2011-2013 were brutal. Gas prices may actually be higher is SoCal, at least where I am. Same high land costs -- gas is cheaper inland and south -- as where you are. Plus there are very few independent stations, which is one reason I've seen cited as to why the prices are so high.I think we have the highest gas prices in CA in the SF Bay Area. However, I don't recall gas at or above $5 a gallon for extended periods of time. Maybe my memory is fading since I have driven a LEAF since 2011 and didn't pay attention to gas prices.
Sorry meant to tag this...I'm with you no going back for meI think instant torque, silent drive, less pollution, dual fuel sources and less maintenance are big benefits.
Where in Australia are you paying $10/gallon? I just Googled the gas price in Melbourne, it was $1.24/Liter. Multiply by 4 to get gallons and then multiply by .76 for the exchange rate and you get $3.76 a gallon. That's not bad, it's a buck more than the US but it's not 3-4X.Australian petrol usually costs 3 - 4 times American gas, electricity can be volatile though, but the Volt is a good bet here, despite the government offering no incentives.