tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81119411447450760502024-03-05T16:32:52.557-08:00ActiveE in the I.E.A Discussion of the 100% Electric BMW ActiveE from the "Inland Empire" region of Southern CaliforniaKeith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-19803673053061938902013-05-07T09:33:00.002-07:002013-05-07T09:33:45.626-07:00One Year Anniversar…E<br />
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One year ago today, I became
the proud new owner (well lessee anyway) of the BMW Active E. It’s been the best year of my automotive
life. And the start of what I hope is a
long and happy life driving electric. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For me, the E has been the most
reliable car I have ever had (knock on electrons). It just works. I plug it in, I go, sometimes I go fast, and
I stop without brakes. Quiet, clean, fun
mobility. I have had one error message
that prevented me from starting the car (about two months ago), but it cleared
after about ten minutes and never brought it up again. When I took the E in for service last month,
BMW decided to change the battery pack due to that single error. Didn’t seem like a big deal to me, but I have
no problem with new batteries either.
Since getting the car back, it has run like a charm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And the infrastructure for
electric cars is improving too. Over the
last year, I have seen a number of charging stations installed in locations
near where I work and shop. With this
influx of new charging infastructure, the future looks bright for EV ownership.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The best part of driving
electric: EVERYTHING. I have written
about the pros and cons of EV’s many times before, but it never gets old. EV’s just drive better in every way than gas
guzzlers. Smooth acceleration, easy braking,
no shifting gears, quiet operation, easy “refueling” (I don’t miss the gas
station stops). The ease with which a
person can simply go is far superior to gas-powered cars…well not in every way
I guess. There is one small drawback to
quick smooth acceleration: speeding tickets.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Objects in Mirror are more expensive than they appear</td></tr>
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I got my fist speeding E ticket
last month. While flying by a “slow”
minivan, I was suddenly reminded how hard it is to tell how fast you are going
in an electric-powered car. There is no
engine revving up, or multiple jolting shifts between gears to remind you that
you may be going 62 in a 50 mile per hour zone.
The E keeps its speed a secret as you whiz down the road. But that secret was suddenly revealed to me
by an outside influence—hello officer. Luckily,
it was my first time speeding (caught?) in the E, so after promising never to
do it again, and insisting that I had learned my lesson…the officer issued me a
ticket anyway. Lesson learned, my fault
for not buying a fuzz buster.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Not every E owner has had
smooth sailing unfortunately. There have
been a few problems along the way with motor replacements and software
errors. All to be expected on a field
trial, but still not pleasant when you’re the one being tried. Luckily, my experience has been more wide
open field than trial. Like a kitchen
appliance, the E just works for me. And
it seems the same is true for a majority of my fellow Electronauts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall, I love driving
electric and can’t believe the first year has gone by so quickly. I look forward to the launch of the BMW i3,
which should be a far superior car to the E in terms of technology and
weight. The E’s 4,000 pounds is its one
big draw back. Not only does it suck
power to move that much mass, but it limits the E’s handling in corners. Whenever I have a loaner 3 series BMW, the difference in cornering becomes immediately apparent due to the substantially decreased weight of any 3 series over the Active E.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tipping the scale between good and evil</td></tr>
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The i3, by comparison, is expected to weigh
in around 2,700 pounds—1,300 pounds lighter than the Active E—thanks to
extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum.
That change alone will make the i3 an attractive ride. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For now, I’ll keep enjoying my
electric bliss in the Active E and hope that the second year doesn’t pass so
quickly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-3165546236684824622013-01-19T15:03:00.000-08:002013-01-19T15:03:05.529-08:00Active "E"asy Service<br />
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Three months or 5,000 miles,
that’s the service schedule for the ActiveE—I always bump up against the three
month requirement. And while I would
like to sneak by a service, my E is a big tattle tale—calling the dealer behind
my back to request a service visit (“Mr. Davidson your car contacted us to
schedule a service visit.” “Really? He didn’t talk to me about that…”). Last week marked another three-month window,
so into the dealer I went.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYjYOvozDTUv8JkmwIIwKpTFNkbxATuCgA7GvHbp7n6Hh2suLk-Q7HVqHpJYhUXNuuuMofk2TWEeCucx_TMeEhBB-ef_xqrlHPcjorMc6s_-9btB3549vFkTtT9LHUiRuP8yCNWBfO2C_/s1600/batteries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYjYOvozDTUv8JkmwIIwKpTFNkbxATuCgA7GvHbp7n6Hh2suLk-Q7HVqHpJYhUXNuuuMofk2TWEeCucx_TMeEhBB-ef_xqrlHPcjorMc6s_-9btB3549vFkTtT9LHUiRuP8yCNWBfO2C_/s320/batteries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I go through the same cycle
each time I take my E in for a service visit and pick-up the loaner car (poor
me, I have to drive a new 328i around for three days—the agony). First, I hate the loaner car—its noisy,
vibrates, and shifts…a lot. With an
eight-speed transmission, it ticks through the gears like a kid through candy. Then I begin to appreciate the handling of
the lighter than my E 328i—wow this takes corners nicely. I start to grudgingly appreciate the great
gas mileage the car receives—not as good as electric, but impressive for an
ICE’d car. And then I become acclimated
to the new environment and make the best of it—I think I like this car.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well what’s not to like, it is
a BMW loaner after all. But then, my E
is discharged and the minute I get in and drive away I suddenly remember
everything I love about driving EV. It’s
hard to explain, and much easier to demonstrate by a test drive, but my
electric BMW drives better in every possible way than the ICEy alternative—and
it does so with such quiet and finesse. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x5IsVu0Q3plQZf-tVF9QdDXK-CjQOlSraEXolSBJG1XphL66nu0GBYJxozks7qGDkD3IuIZNKevwk5z9QoRIU-xEm3ZF87xuSYxFWOLc4JnuhsDU3PWxBCttl-2mw6Dmie-IPl307y4j/s1600/Activee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x5IsVu0Q3plQZf-tVF9QdDXK-CjQOlSraEXolSBJG1XphL66nu0GBYJxozks7qGDkD3IuIZNKevwk5z9QoRIU-xEm3ZF87xuSYxFWOLc4JnuhsDU3PWxBCttl-2mw6Dmie-IPl307y4j/s200/Activee.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
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Luckily, I was told by my
service advisor that this would probably (big probably) be the last service
visit where they will have to pull the motor.
For the last several visits, BMW has required the dealers to pull the
electric motor from the car and inspect the “splines.” Those are the gears that connect the motor
and the “transmission.” Some motors have
experienced moister seepage into the gears, causing rust and ultimately spline
failure. I have been lucky, so far, in
that I have had no problems with moisture or splines. Apparently some new fangled lube is being
applied and then the whole thing is bundled up tight against the elements—not
that there are many “elements” in Southern California, but still….<o:p></o:p></div>
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The problem with pulling the
motor is that the entire backend of the car has to be dropped out since the
motor resides between the two rear wheels.
Makes the car efficient from a power delivery standpoint, but a bit difficult
for motor pulling. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And don’t forget the software
upgrade, each service visit comes with a new set of codes to download into the
car. The E is really a large, rolling
computer, requiring a reboot and software update each time it is serviced. Although most cars today are heavy on
electronics and software too, the E takes it to a whole new level. Makes me wonder why we still call the service
people “mechanics”—more like electricians and techies since there’s not so many
mechanical parts left under the hood…or under the trunk…or wherever they keep
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNxtuih_NQzRAmMYit_Jk-G7STgaM-wZja5aaLcJtWPEOjK4X2m2V0v2FVLgeRo02cVI1Bpkpn1HuBssmaA6awQEgWXmM-qki2R3g7o0aF-aItTF_RhaFzjmtEUCH6om8KCobfY25YVvo/s1600/IMG_1660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNxtuih_NQzRAmMYit_Jk-G7STgaM-wZja5aaLcJtWPEOjK4X2m2V0v2FVLgeRo02cVI1Bpkpn1HuBssmaA6awQEgWXmM-qki2R3g7o0aF-aItTF_RhaFzjmtEUCH6om8KCobfY25YVvo/s200/IMG_1660.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvABQL5k44-DSIcaj9h5DQQ-cpnCZn-T82XdpeuVr5QJQFlwkYWRgzTHnjbK6aDKrFUFoBG8Td6N-yEJYCPvSDe6YXiYRkb2biF36Ur8-wLwhfi2z-_aP8sfxHNcJpCiL2wb9_zbgmPTKa/s1600/IMG_1665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvABQL5k44-DSIcaj9h5DQQ-cpnCZn-T82XdpeuVr5QJQFlwkYWRgzTHnjbK6aDKrFUFoBG8Td6N-yEJYCPvSDe6YXiYRkb2biF36Ur8-wLwhfi2z-_aP8sfxHNcJpCiL2wb9_zbgmPTKa/s200/IMG_1665.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Anyway, all’s well that ends
well. The E is back in my garage and
tranquility is back in my heart. Even my
home EVSE is happy to have my E back, someone to talk to on cold California
nights. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-15089576241030742032013-01-12T07:05:00.000-08:002013-01-12T07:05:01.825-08:00It's Cold in California<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27FcdR75HBYheiUqg1oQPGUj9ellZ-SlMAtykCjV7V-zWsJwE8mcZMBEbGYA7UTKqpeSVRPnVbNuRAu5vYSg614esOvCrog22e9o0nOrGejZe88KCvwbBJmaju3EtdbDM0ak4vx0NuEWj/s1600/IMG_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27FcdR75HBYheiUqg1oQPGUj9ellZ-SlMAtykCjV7V-zWsJwE8mcZMBEbGYA7UTKqpeSVRPnVbNuRAu5vYSg614esOvCrog22e9o0nOrGejZe88KCvwbBJmaju3EtdbDM0ak4vx0NuEWj/s320/IMG_1250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cold is a relative term of
course. Yesterday the high temperature
was 56 degrees, which in California we call “freezing.” It may not be anywhere near the actual
freezing point, but when we have to stop wearing shorts and put on a longer
pair of shorts—that’s cold. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Cold and battery life don’t mix
well, neither do extreme heat and battery life, but cold seems to zap a battery
faster than heat for some reason. The
ideal battery temperature is in the low 70’s.
Recently, the outside morning temperature has been in the low
40’s—meaning the battery has to be heated in order to operate at its maximum
capacity. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Active E has an active
battery management system that both heats and cools the battery when
needed. The only problem is that the
battery management system is powered by the battery. So the more it’s used, the less power for
driving. That means fewer miles on each
charge. Preconditioning the battery
before leaving home can help tremendously in these situations. The E has the ability to use the power from
my home charging unit to warm the battery before I unplug. This gets me started on a warm note, without
having to deplete battery power to do so.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The other power drain in cold
weather is the heater, and the wipers when it rains. Unfortunately, when I use Eco Pro mode in the
E, the heated seats are disabled—presumably to save power. But the cabin heater is a big power drain on
efficiency. It seems as though the
heated seats would be a better alternative than the cabin heater to keep me
toasty warm, but that’s not going to happen in Eco Pro mode. Instead, the heater stays on and the
efficiency falls short of the mark. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So far I have seen my
efficiency drop from around 3.1 to 3.2 miles per kilowatt hour, to 2.5 or 2.6
miles per kilowatt hour. That translates
into 13.5 miles I can’t drive when in cold weather. Truth be told, I’m not all that efficient to
begin with. But when my meager
efficiency dips, it is a noticeable difference—but not unmanageable. I still drive roughly the same routes at
somewhat slower speeds, and have not been stranded yet. That’s because I have learned how to manage
my driving. I am either driving well
within range, or I know where to charge mid-trip when needed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It could be worse, I hear some
Electronauts are living with snow back on the East Coast—I bet they wear really
long shorts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-9265453651345947572012-12-08T06:50:00.000-08:002012-12-08T06:50:40.649-08:00Staying Alive at 35...Percent SOC
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<br />
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It’s a comfortable feeling starting your day with a fully
charged EV. Even though every EV has its
range limit, a full tank of electrons gets the day off on the right foot. But lately, I have picked up the annoying
little habit of forgetting to plug in.
So I decided to experiment yesterday when I only had 35% state of charge
when I began the day—can I survive my day on 35%?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPSAeUw43Iaik7Uhgvi4_bYuiS64QFWhSCVx1zlIkv6j9GjUJi6ERyq-vzFCthPlCXgeKBbCtZ2kwOaZTb_se4LaLdAxrU-llplz9nuTGqVttmtmS042BDdc-lWBtY1fnVzWU77QdSaAf/s1600/IMG_2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPSAeUw43Iaik7Uhgvi4_bYuiS64QFWhSCVx1zlIkv6j9GjUJi6ERyq-vzFCthPlCXgeKBbCtZ2kwOaZTb_se4LaLdAxrU-llplz9nuTGqVttmtmS042BDdc-lWBtY1fnVzWU77QdSaAf/s320/IMG_2143.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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I had a little extra distance to travel because I had
meetings in various places. I was not
going to make it without some charging along the way, and some highly efficient
driving too (which is not my strong suit).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first leg of my trip took me from Corona to Riverside, a
distance of about 16 miles all on surface streets. I usually burn up 20% to 25% of my battery making
this drive when not trying to be efficient.
Instead, I hunkered down, kept the accelerations slow and steady and
stopped well in advance to collect as much regeneration power as possible. I made it using only 17% of juice—leaving me
with 18% of battery in the tank.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next leg of my trip would take me from Riverside to
Ontario, a distance of about 22 miles.
18% wasn’t going to cut it, but I know all the EVSE’s in downtown
Riverside so I juiced up during my meeting.
After about an hour and 20 minutes I was back up to 45% state of
charge—more than I had hoped for.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hit the road, mostly freeway travel this time, and paced a
few big rigs along the way to increase efficiency—and increase the risk of a
rock chip in my windshield. Upon arrival
in Ontario, I had 28% state of charge left—meaning I used 17% of my battery on
this leg of the trip also. Luckily this
stretch of freeway is mostly flat and the day had warmed up. Combined with a little drifting behind big
rigs, it really boosted the efficiency.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time for lunch and another 6% to 7% drain. I tried charging at my usual lunch spot, but
two Chevy Volts ruined that plan. So I
plugged in at Kohl’s across the street.
The problem is that I don’t really like to shop. So what to do while the car charges? Wait…and wait…and wait. After what felt like an hour, but in
actuality was only 15 minutes, I had to get back to the office. My state of charge was back to 28%.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, time to go home, Ontario back to Norco, about 15
miles, all freeway. Usually I can burn
up 25% making this drive when I am carefree.
But a Friday night commute in Southern California saved the day because
of the excessive stop and go (charge and go) traffic. I made it home with 16% state of charge—meaning
I used 12% of the battery on the way home, a personal record.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While it’s never enjoyable to start the day with a drained
battery, it is possible to survive. If you know where EVSE’s are located, and you
know how to squeeze out the efficiency when needed, you can survive at 35…percent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-77484166016177021462012-12-01T05:47:00.000-08:002012-12-01T05:47:30.657-08:00Clear Sailing in the Carpool Lane<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKFAxjhiSIvnquGuO4sr0vYwC-Npr-Pf1gXKZVI2GFHupYUnBU7Re9UEAvU6HvBnKXcxBI8VkcTYfIpENDF3XgK0SwX4qtS3uJOvtG9rt0nJZyCbA2r3I2JW-gSC0rqbMcaqVHwnPgX-4/s1600/IMG_1723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKFAxjhiSIvnquGuO4sr0vYwC-Npr-Pf1gXKZVI2GFHupYUnBU7Re9UEAvU6HvBnKXcxBI8VkcTYfIpENDF3XgK0SwX4qtS3uJOvtG9rt0nJZyCbA2r3I2JW-gSC0rqbMcaqVHwnPgX-4/s320/IMG_1723.jpg" width="240" /></a>I spend a good deal of time driving on the freeway in Southern California--as many of us do. And I really enjoy occupying the carpool lane whenever it is available. Funny how a little lane change can brighten your day. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the car pool lane is not all wine and roses--there are some unwritten rules. In california, people seem to believe that the carpool lane has an unlimited speed limit. So if traffic is moving along at 75 or 80 in the regular lanes, then the cars in the carpool lanes have to be going faster than that. That's a problem when trying to drive the ActiveE efficiently--anything over 70 is not efficient. <br />
<br />
Also, people seem to think you can enter or exit the carpool lane whenever you like. However, crossing the double yellow line to get into or out of the carpool lane prematurely is a moving violation--complete with points on your license. As opposed to driving in the carpool lane with only one occupant (for cars without our lovely white stickers), which is a civil fine but not a moving violation so no points. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmm9nEsif1Ye_Hgav8MeGOZK49eG-jGskQ8OzCjBY_U3poSJcdFsSj-ca1uLSx6camsHjWoOj9zSUvWXXIzvgR1oFp_znHJNFYAneRabkUYowfT8LdcnnQgwKk_HoD2FmaO_Gf5eM007V/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmm9nEsif1Ye_Hgav8MeGOZK49eG-jGskQ8OzCjBY_U3poSJcdFsSj-ca1uLSx6camsHjWoOj9zSUvWXXIzvgR1oFp_znHJNFYAneRabkUYowfT8LdcnnQgwKk_HoD2FmaO_Gf5eM007V/s320/IMG_1590.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
The point is, you have to choose wisely. It is great to be able to enter carpool land, but not so great to be pushed down the freeway by an impatient driver while trying to maintain an efficient speed. But on days when the regular lanes are stopped, or nearly stopped, then its clear sailing in the carpool lane.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-73681797914553761632012-11-11T06:30:00.001-08:002012-11-11T06:30:06.097-08:00The Mystery of Miles per Gallon Electric MPGeWhat does gasoline, Kilowatts, and British thermal units have in common? They all are used to determine miles per gallon electric (MPGe)--whatever that means.<br />
<br />
MPGe was devised by the EPA to explain the level of efficiency electric cars have to the motoring public. We have become accustomed to miles per gallon (MPG) being the universal standard of efficiency as listed on the window of every new car. But the efficiency rating of EV's doesn't naturally translate into MPG because there are no gallons of anything being consumed per mile.<br />
<br />
Once you drive an EV, you get used to the term of miles per kilowatt hour (Mls/kWh). For example, in my ActiveE I commonly achieve 3.2 Mls/kWh. Whereas someone else may achieve 4.0 Mls/kWh, which tells me they're a far more efficient driver.<br />
<br />
But Mls/kWh doesn't have a universal meaning outside the EV world, so MPGe was invented instead. I find MPGe to be a confusing standard, but here goes with an explanation: it starts with a gallon of gasoline, which when burned generates 115,000 British thermal units of heat. If using electricity, it would take 34 kWh to produce the same amount of heat. So one gallon of gas equals 34 kWh in terms of the energy generated. The EPA then determines how far an EV can travel on 34 kWh under differing conditions and that distance is reported as MPGe.<br />
<br />
The problem with this conversion is that not every EV has a 34 kWh battery. The ActiveE has a 32 kWh battery and an MPGe of 102, but its range isn't always 102 miles on a single charge (although the BMW is probably closest to the 34 kWh mark). Other EV's (aside from Tesla) range from a low of 16 kWh in the Volt to around 24 kWh in the Leaf. So the MPGe reported for those cars is not the distance they can travel on a single charge, but rather the distance they could travel over multiple charges until using 34 kWh. The Chevy volt for example is reported at 98 MPGe, but it can only travel about 35 to 38 miles on pure electric on a single charge. The Honda Fit EV has an MPGe of 118, but has a range of 80 miles or less on pure electric. <br />
<br />
Also, while a gallon of gas may cost less than a "gallon" (or 34 kWh) of electricity--it doesn't last nearly as long. A gallon of gas in Southern California may cost $4.00 to $4.50 on any given day, whereas a typical kWh when purchased through Southern California Edison costs between 16 to 25 cents, making a "gallon" of electricity (34 kWh) cost $5.44 to $8.50. It sounds higher, but not when you consider how far each gallon will take you.<br />
<br />
Since EV's are far more efficient with the energy they use, a "gallon" of electricity goes a long way. In a gas-powered car, a single gallon will allow you to travel about 25 miles. In contrast, a "gallon" of electricity will take you 100 miles or more. So $5.44 in electricity is roughly the same as four gallons of gas, or $16.00 in gas costs. Why aren't they the same? Because MPGe only measures the amount of energy <b><i>generated</i></b> by gas versus electricity. It does not measure the cost of each energy source when put into practical use driving down the road.<br />
<br />
Is MPGe a helpful measure? Not entirely once you know the right questions to ask about EV's. But it does look impressive to have 100 or more MPGe on the window of every new EV and hopefully it helps the gas-driving public understand just how powerfully efficient EV's can be. <br />
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<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-82607275286228642112012-11-03T08:28:00.003-07:002012-11-05T13:46:46.316-08:00Pure Energy--The First 6 Months of EV Bliss<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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November marks my six-month anniversary with my Active E. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love this car! And I have learned how to drive electric--really not that hard. Best of all, I think BMW is doing EV's the right way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love at first sight!</td></tr>
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Right Stuff</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For example I drove the Ford Focus EV and found it to be a
nice EV, but not great. Unlike my ActiveE there was no regenerative breaking
engaged when releasing the accelerator. Why not? I was told by the
Ford representative that they want the Focus EV to drive like a "regular"
car. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bad answer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EV’s are NOT regular cars. They are way better
than gas powered jalopies, and EV’s should be considered the new “regular.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a car offers something better, use it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don't do away with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This is where BMW has gotten it right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By using the characteristics of electric
driving to the best advantage possible, the car is a joy to drive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can literally be controlled with just one
pedal most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has the
strongest regenerative breaking that I have experienced so far and it’s a great
attribute when driving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Creepy EV’s</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And BMW did NOT build in any creep into their vehicle.
Creep is what an automatic gas car does when in drive, slowly moving forward on
its own volition. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EVs don't creep by
nature because when the car is stopped nothing's moving. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike a gas car where the engine keeps
whirling around when stopped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So if an EV doesn’t creep why add it artificially?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it makes it feel more like a
"regular" car? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bad answer.
Don't do that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let EVs be great for all
the right reasons, there's no need to dumb down these cars to make them feel “regular.”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially since the motoring public is
not stupid (hear that car manufacturers), we get when something is new,
different and better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just drive the
Active E once and you'll get it instantly, it's better to drive. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Efficient and Rage Anxiety</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VSIJD4ptkT-CwK3EBK10Wu7LWbfE-Mqp2rLU2ybznM3R3TXdnt-rZxEw6RhKAhWfzS7-Z3ASGEZNALkg8zqI9uZVqWh3iLJUW_1qDtB8PjovOh3EvZmdMCDZoMtAWbHlAmXADtKA4o_o/s1600/blogger-image-1494052995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VSIJD4ptkT-CwK3EBK10Wu7LWbfE-Mqp2rLU2ybznM3R3TXdnt-rZxEw6RhKAhWfzS7-Z3ASGEZNALkg8zqI9uZVqWh3iLJUW_1qDtB8PjovOh3EvZmdMCDZoMtAWbHlAmXADtKA4o_o/s200/blogger-image-1494052995.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charging Not a Problem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Range anxiety has largely left my conscious mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After driving for just 6 months I have gotten
accustomed to how far I can go and how I need to drive to get there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know that I can squeeze a little
distance just by changing my driving habits. I've learned how to change too.
It's really not that hard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never
ran out of juice or been stranded anywhere. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, range is the number one reason why people say they are
reluctant to try an EV.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Range is a false
concern because it can be easily managed--especially with the installation of
new charging units all over town.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Although, most of the time, I don’t need to charge away from home.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">But when I do, chargers are widely
available.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZSiJi5OGI5M1Szy9HX9FP4HrSnhyGRX8aMfaVFr9KiBVm_wuW4GuaKj0bqEl2SUyR33Rz3C1RvnMJwB218pdegICI-KsletFONQU3Ul4Ew01HdknKx3hkF0mQbBaDULX_bTGHVF5Fg_9/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZSiJi5OGI5M1Szy9HX9FP4HrSnhyGRX8aMfaVFr9KiBVm_wuW4GuaKj0bqEl2SUyR33Rz3C1RvnMJwB218pdegICI-KsletFONQU3Ul4Ew01HdknKx3hkF0mQbBaDULX_bTGHVF5Fg_9/s200/IMG_1294.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charging still not a problem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I like that BMW went with a range of between 80 to 100
miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is just right for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, 200 miles would be nice, but it’s
rarely necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In talking to a few
Nissan Leaf owners, their range of about 75 miles (or a little less) is hard to
live with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The extra 20 to 25 miles that
I get in my E makes a big difference and allows me to travel even beyond 100
miles when I charge during stops in my day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAxUv9AvGJegtEluKQSyDD6lEtsIpTMecIqcEeONtoKxh86Vxlo6rZk-wW2KXhK4cj2Vv0i0cMjA3W43BiDCfA67YQvWc7_O6PdEOexoh_rF-dJzJqNUsn4tt-WZ8inw5EcsjDMHSdJC8/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAxUv9AvGJegtEluKQSyDD6lEtsIpTMecIqcEeONtoKxh86Vxlo6rZk-wW2KXhK4cj2Vv0i0cMjA3W43BiDCfA67YQvWc7_O6PdEOexoh_rF-dJzJqNUsn4tt-WZ8inw5EcsjDMHSdJC8/s200/IMG_1654.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charging some more</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></u></b><br />
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Too Sexy for my Circuit Graphics</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvArxUPjNbkd89wEfse7P3skSJi5fkTGAP3OFVV4HUvis8dQD72TMWKNj3vbgjMcdENnR75pqYTjkcmrL4JgY474jzNxehHHygQqmO3hAZYle66oqwyJcj43WKdRI7t3qNNOLSR83Pd1_s/s1600/IMG_1236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvArxUPjNbkd89wEfse7P3skSJi5fkTGAP3OFVV4HUvis8dQD72TMWKNj3vbgjMcdENnR75pqYTjkcmrL4JgY474jzNxehHHygQqmO3hAZYle66oqwyJcj43WKdRI7t3qNNOLSR83Pd1_s/s200/IMG_1236.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plug me in!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BMW built a good looking EV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whether you like or hate the funky circuit graphics on the side (I’ve
grown to like it), the car looks unlike an other EV out there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when I have had the opportunity to show
it off at the <a href="http://www.activeeintheie.blogspot.com/2012/09/national-plug-in-day-temecula-ca.html" target="_blank">National Plug-in Da</a>y event in Temecula, CA or the <a href="http://www.activeeintheie.blogspot.com/2012/10/alternative-fuels-expo-in-downtown.html" target="_blank">Alternative Fuels Expo</a> in Riverside, CA, people stop and take notice of a good looking
EV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like that I don’t have to drive a
car that looks like an egg, or a shoe, or a dinner roll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This looks like a sporty BMW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EV’s can be great to drive and great to look
at too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No Gas, Mo Money</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In six months I have a little over 8,000 miles on the E’s
odometer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my gas guzzling GMC Yukon
(that gets 15 MPG—or maybe less when I’m driving it) that would translate into
533 gallons of liquid gold in six months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At an average of $4.25 per gallon (which again is being generous) that
equals $2,265.25, or $377.54 per month in wasted money.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgYq7DKlJ6B3t1DFmz8dLCPHx1M3lfLHMOV5TKQ7poBo4LjQooS23nNcUd19b5B8DAKeQCJhJww9IFp4Sg6gKIAyF6UJIZd8qtsah9tLzD2_Pou6zdzt6moZbhCqJNMA07QOAPCvLA4e5/s1600/garage+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgYq7DKlJ6B3t1DFmz8dLCPHx1M3lfLHMOV5TKQ7poBo4LjQooS23nNcUd19b5B8DAKeQCJhJww9IFp4Sg6gKIAyF6UJIZd8qtsah9tLzD2_Pou6zdzt6moZbhCqJNMA07QOAPCvLA4e5/s200/garage+photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Driving the ActiveE for 8,000 miles I spent…let’s see…carry
the one…NOTHING.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I have a home
solar array I generate far more power than the E can consume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, even if I was sipping electrons from
Southern California Edison, it would average somewhere between $50 to $75 per
month—far lower than $377.54.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Considering the E’s monthly lease payment is $499, I’m
getting $377.54 of that back in gas savings, for a net monthly cost of
$121.46.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheapest BMW I’ve ever owned!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not to mention I have yet to do an oil change, injector
flush, use a fuel additive, replace spark plugs, you get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The maintenance is far less cumbersome than
an ICE’d vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it’s largely
nonexistent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That brings me to my final topic: why are you waiting?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Why Are You Waiting???????</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know the ActiveE is not generally available to the public
yet, but when BMW does release its full production BMW i3, why wait to get one?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The benefits of driving electric outweigh a
gas car in every way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait did I say
every way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes I did, and I mean it
wholeheartedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EV’s drive better, feel
better, have more power, are more confortable and take less gas…as in NO
GAS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never have to stop at a crowded,
noisy, dirty, expensive gas station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
“refueling” occurs in the comfort and quiet of my own garage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can safely say that I will never drive an ICE’d vehicle
again, if I can help it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the costs
of owning an EV reduces the overall cost of ownership so drastically that it
actually pays to drive electric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
“no-brainer” all the way around—a better car that costs less overall!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are you waiting for; it’s time to charge up!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEa8PnjpCCDXi81s6_BLGzc31R2pu3UAzR72k2BmgcHgphAVSmhLJEoVwjZMG4aadLevET8ZlVUH8RBo4mysXruRUlv9A1ouMDMosOsWzMcCfgxe-z-Z52Bo1Wglrl-TcVMOG1rz4umcs/s1600/IMG_1238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEa8PnjpCCDXi81s6_BLGzc31R2pu3UAzR72k2BmgcHgphAVSmhLJEoVwjZMG4aadLevET8ZlVUH8RBo4mysXruRUlv9A1ouMDMosOsWzMcCfgxe-z-Z52Bo1Wglrl-TcVMOG1rz4umcs/s320/IMG_1238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-87144605313580838352012-10-26T15:58:00.002-07:002012-10-26T15:58:44.622-07:00The E Keeper: Master Guardian of the ActiveE.In my home we have an ActiveE Guardian, an E Master, the "E Keeper"... my 13 year old son. The "E Keeper" is a friend and guardian to ActiveE's everywhere. While I am very particular when it comes to the condition, both exterior and interior, of my cars, I can't come close to the E Keeper's keen eye for detail. The E Keeper watches over the ActiveE like a momma bear to her cubs. It is sacred territory, especially the interior, and there are some definite rules you must follow when riding with the E Keeper.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIykxhICrgTSBWwyinpjyhHwVkf_wf9JeVdtP7LgP9t-8XNBbWsbeAzHvx-L8QVSvd7YtM567BVxdGeeOGOVwEo1Lp29v9IjWIkdX3y5qDuF-NdZwTOAMBiHwcNi6KSr4ELl0Bh92MWcZP/s1600/IMG_1651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIykxhICrgTSBWwyinpjyhHwVkf_wf9JeVdtP7LgP9t-8XNBbWsbeAzHvx-L8QVSvd7YtM567BVxdGeeOGOVwEo1Lp29v9IjWIkdX3y5qDuF-NdZwTOAMBiHwcNi6KSr4ELl0Bh92MWcZP/s200/IMG_1651.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
For example, no feet on the seat. It doesn't matter whether you're wearing shoes or just socks, or barefoot. The seats are made of beautiful white leather, and the E Keeper will do all in his power to keep it that way.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVikogL9xSF0iHKsGuVgcwhOimfe6hwVTByK4hXllx9SFT80fZzYmyqJ3OYeVa0HlR_btSBg9Gj4v-1hmKZREXhpRzCtICvpHNSsr76ED9H2NfxSKDvPYpz0lyXhNG3b1hQI-98X-4cfZ/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVikogL9xSF0iHKsGuVgcwhOimfe6hwVTByK4hXllx9SFT80fZzYmyqJ3OYeVa0HlR_btSBg9Gj4v-1hmKZREXhpRzCtICvpHNSsr76ED9H2NfxSKDvPYpz0lyXhNG3b1hQI-98X-4cfZ/s200/IMG_1650.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The E Keeper keeps 'em white</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Also, no eating, drinking, sneezing, coughing, spitting, or "spraying it" rather than "saying it." The E Keeper does allow us drinks that are in closed containers with straws, but he keeps a watchful eye to ensure no cup is tipped too far. Shoes must be scrapped and cleaned before entering the vehicle, and hands must be washed and dried.<br />
<br />
While the E Keeper annoys all passengers, I can't help but smile and enjoy the extra level of protection the E Keeper affords my ActiveE. And while the passengers beg me to call off the E Keeper, I simply shrug and say "There's nothing I can do, the E Keeper takes no orders from me--he answers to a higher authority."<br />
<br />
The ActiveE is safe and sound so long as the E Keeper is around.<br />
<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-5175268694740785332012-10-20T16:10:00.002-07:002012-10-20T21:37:18.649-07:00Alternative Fuels Expo in Downtown Riverside, CAThe E and I attended the alternative fuel expo in Riverside, CA today where they exhibited a number of different alternative fuel vehicle. There were electric vehicles, CNG, hydrogen electric, and plain old hybrids...plus one diesel Volkswagen. <br />
<br />
Among the electrics were a Honda Fit EV (driven by Chuck who I met at the <a href="http://www.activeeintheie.blogspot.com/2012/09/national-plug-in-day-temecula-ca.html" target="_blank">Temecula plug-in day</a> event) a Nissan Leaf, two Codas, a Chevy Volt, a Toyota Rav4 Hydrogen electric vehicle, and two BMW Active E's. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMo6f8L0TovYlOJBiWIhbyUG4IRlVU63B3s4X5Ki3L1RJGs0Oz0X4XC9QDH-_KpNWvMbOvedbTjZ35MbzU57vFtu3JXHUHjC5ORhYUo-Ej1PkQzP5peHRuhWnfjCIwDiuLzUPRZZ18Ar3/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMo6f8L0TovYlOJBiWIhbyUG4IRlVU63B3s4X5Ki3L1RJGs0Oz0X4XC9QDH-_KpNWvMbOvedbTjZ35MbzU57vFtu3JXHUHjC5ORhYUo-Ej1PkQzP5peHRuhWnfjCIwDiuLzUPRZZ18Ar3/s320/IMG_1797.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my shadow E</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlCnN8uswVzi-1D_mSfgy495gFvYi9RZNRo-psWsPk8oPP4rmb8CT522prZORxo9Ye7swNmlKjtPGJ7mjAV_bx7LixzKbK5ekAOXizxmkFV7voDKx3kJhP137TPQNwgSNkVfvmnbGUNpy/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlCnN8uswVzi-1D_mSfgy495gFvYi9RZNRo-psWsPk8oPP4rmb8CT522prZORxo9Ye7swNmlKjtPGJ7mjAV_bx7LixzKbK5ekAOXizxmkFV7voDKx3kJhP137TPQNwgSNkVfvmnbGUNpy/s320/IMG_1799.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nissan Leaf, Honda Civic CNG, Hyundai hybrid, VW TDI</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1fWuLSLb8v4h-SZNrsThNdz8AdRzqxswo1eosoroLGPoL_FI0fAA4Gmlv8vaXsw4_0cz-ESIJP4NSY7ydukgOSSQOrgcH_AzEu9MPulZBta7Ql3uzY4RMIGryV_DORvw54opGBo-vzA4/s1600/IMG_1800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1fWuLSLb8v4h-SZNrsThNdz8AdRzqxswo1eosoroLGPoL_FI0fAA4Gmlv8vaXsw4_0cz-ESIJP4NSY7ydukgOSSQOrgcH_AzEu9MPulZBta7Ql3uzY4RMIGryV_DORvw54opGBo-vzA4/s320/IMG_1800.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck's Honda Fit EV and two Codas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off</td></tr>
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Chuck was nice enough to let me test drive the Honda Fit EV. It's very impressive. A small car, but with plenty of room, including a back seat that holds 3 passengers. It has all the upgrades, including navigation, heated seats and a back-up camera. And it can go. In fact, when in sport mode, the Fit EV has acceleration that rivals the Active E. The only noticeable difference is that the Fit is front-wheel drive as opposed to the rear-wheel drive Active E. And there's quite a bit less regenerative braking when taking your foot off the accelerator. But all in all, a truly exceptional EV.</div>
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There were also a couple of hybrid vehicles, including a Ford C-Max hybrid and Hyundai hybrid, and a Honda Civic compressed natural gas vehicle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT279Ufvo2tP8ga0zPteTdgdmySNh9OvVkRTgFp2W23YBzzNYsTJug1FnhK89wbRMMRwBgIiF6ndW8mEoPPbER_FFKRUwwcQo6UJI3-dGjTofnU_CBy8_JZOkb2u-hlb7IiSSjwO4mQVC/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT279Ufvo2tP8ga0zPteTdgdmySNh9OvVkRTgFp2W23YBzzNYsTJug1FnhK89wbRMMRwBgIiF6ndW8mEoPPbER_FFKRUwwcQo6UJI3-dGjTofnU_CBy8_JZOkb2u-hlb7IiSSjwO4mQVC/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had a good turn out and talked to passerby's about the joys of driving electric. The BMWs were, as always, a big hit and people loved looking and learning about BMW's EV program.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye to my twin Active E</td></tr>
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<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-3672117398681152342012-10-20T07:59:00.000-07:002012-10-20T07:59:20.523-07:00Efficiency is Not so Easy for Me in the E.Me and driving efficacy have a rocky relationship. In Facebook lingo: "it's complicated." The problem is that I have no interest whatsoever in being efficient. And efficiency has no patience for my aggressive driving style. So most of the time we just agree to disagree.<br />
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But every now and again I need to be efficient to get where I want to go in the Active E. I have been driving more lately, and even having to make some unexpected trips. Learning to be efficient so that I can drive as far as possible on a charge is a necessary evil.<br />
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For example, the other day I had to drive from my house in Corona to my office in Temecula (40 miles). It usually takes me about 50% of my battery power to make that drive without being all that efficient. And Temecula has free public chargers a block and a half from my office, so all is well once I am there. The problem is that the E has a little trouble getting along with Clipper Creek chargers on hot days. That means that the car will detect a fault and stop charging before it is full. On this particular day, I was only able to charge back to abut 74% rather than 100%.<br />
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I then needed to drive from Temecula to my office in Ontario (about 56 miles), drive a bit more for lunch and then drive back home. All told, the day would take another 82 miles to complete and I usually don't drive with an 82 mile range in mind even with 100% charge much less starting at 74%.<br />
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Time to see just how close me and efficiency can get when needed. I hit the road from Temecula and rather than traveling at 70 mph (which is my idea of being efficient), I slowed down to 60, found a diesel and a nice big, box trailer (one that didn't kick rocks in my face) and settled in for the drive. To my surprise I traveled the 56 miles from Temecula to Ontario using only 45% on my battery. 45%!! That's astounding considering I usually use 50% to travel 40 miles. Using 45% to travel 56 miles was a real accomplishment for me. I had plenty of power left over to drive around and then go home.<br />
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The bottom line is that if you want to be more efficient...slow down. 70 is good, but 60 is fantastic. The other point is that I can vary my driving habits. So I might drive with fun in the morning, but if I have an unexpected trip to make, I can simply drive more conservatively and wring out the range for a longer haul. Most of the time, I can just find a charger so it makes little difference how I drive. <br />
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Maybe Efficiency and I will make it after all...Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-26550056781935114362012-10-20T07:39:00.002-07:002012-10-20T07:39:40.952-07:00Charge and Go TrafficI was stuck in some pretty bad "charge and go" traffic the other day. You haven't heard it referred to as charge and go traffic? Perhaps stop and go traffic is more common. But stop and go traffic presumes that you are in a car where you first use the gas pedal to go and then use the brake pedal to stop. That's not the case in the Active E.<br />
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In the E, you simply hit the power pedal to go and then take the pressure off the pedal to stop. As the regenerative power system kicks in, it slow the car and charges the battery at the same time. This means that I can control the speed of the car, all the way to a complete stop, using just one pedal. And I get the satisfaction of knowing that I am regaining power every time I slow down. So "stop and go" traffic becomes "charge and go" traffic, which I don't mind in the least.<br />
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Funny how a little game changer like regenerative braking can make the worst part of driving far more palatable...even enjoyable. Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-33230072036032750052012-10-07T07:03:00.001-07:002012-10-07T07:03:27.122-07:00The Dirty Truth of Clean Air Vehicle Parking...My new favorite restaurant is the Lazy Dog Cafe in Ontario, CA, just across from Ontario Mills Mall. Why is it my favorite? Is it the great food, friendly service, cool ambiance? No...it the clean air vehicle reserved spots. <br />
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They have quite a few of these spots, 6 or 7 of them. And yet, there seems to be a general misunderstanding as to the type of vehicle that qualifies as a "clean air vehicle." I know my Active E qualifies to park there because it says "Clean Air Vehicle" on my carpool-lane-access sticker. But the other cars may be a bit of a stretch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrebcz2f4ZkPzGxlIPATTvXdaA22fRKY1Axi7AsLmNqz550KIkvHEz3v8Xa602IOPz8Ip-zezkZjG6ZR2U-c8V_y6WOlbYaRsSk2WCAEJTMI795XI8owDpcmmp5Bn_cjTUgZq4UBG6HeK/s1600/IMG_1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrebcz2f4ZkPzGxlIPATTvXdaA22fRKY1Axi7AsLmNqz550KIkvHEz3v8Xa602IOPz8Ip-zezkZjG6ZR2U-c8V_y6WOlbYaRsSk2WCAEJTMI795XI8owDpcmmp5Bn_cjTUgZq4UBG6HeK/s320/IMG_1745.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which of these cars do not belong...all of them (except my E of course)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The mini-van is white, like my Active E, but not clean air. Same for the truck and the silver car on the other side of the white truck. The Toyota Prius parked three spaces down is a hybrid (good), but not clean air because hybrids still burn fuel as they go.</span></div>
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Am I sounding like an EV snob again? Well you don't have to read too many of my posts to know I am an EV snob. And I love to take advantage of every special perk that comes with my gas-free car--such as special parking spaces. I'm not really mad that these spaces are ICE'd by gas guzzlers. The bigger disappointment is that we don't have enough clean air vehicles to fill these spots. On most days, even if not ICE'd, these spots would see few inhabitants other than my little E. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX9astbCeNXl5cZn2qsQRy35TcnGIjC8sgGKHLsytDxqu1n_piIifpzN7TCd8NDru71CDMAFCPG8Lbl4_MTBYiBv13d7FsUxi-CaCgqZsqI-zppCrUrs2T_DuH5ujcYynxmDzFwLebTtS/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX9astbCeNXl5cZn2qsQRy35TcnGIjC8sgGKHLsytDxqu1n_piIifpzN7TCd8NDru71CDMAFCPG8Lbl4_MTBYiBv13d7FsUxi-CaCgqZsqI-zppCrUrs2T_DuH5ujcYynxmDzFwLebTtS/s320/IMG_1590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof positive that the E is clean air--in fact it admits no air at all (clean or otherwise)</td></tr>
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Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-70997498475884935002012-09-23T15:19:00.000-07:002012-09-24T06:22:53.165-07:00National Plug-In Day, Temecula, CA Took the Active E to the National Plug-in Day event in Temecula, California. It was a nice turn out of EV's on a hot day in a cool part of town--Old Town Front Street section of Temecula.<br />
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My E joined the ranks of many Nissan Leafs, a couple of Toyota Prius plug-ins, a few more Chevy Volts, and one Honda Fit EV. The Fit EV was exciting to see just because they are so rare--even more rare than the Active E. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_aOmXjEzO_6ndZqeo1nSYshWDFIwNEajpj3ghNBVOEDX9ZX75yYbU3ky-LSf0bF3NCRYgzYWeO_Zq2BcV6CDQOSFN0Dwe3W48sQ9nzdGlKvN106hAm-219I8jOCJ_VU3e1Cw1Te_OcDS/s1600/IMG_1701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_aOmXjEzO_6ndZqeo1nSYshWDFIwNEajpj3ghNBVOEDX9ZX75yYbU3ky-LSf0bF3NCRYgzYWeO_Zq2BcV6CDQOSFN0Dwe3W48sQ9nzdGlKvN106hAm-219I8jOCJ_VU3e1Cw1Te_OcDS/s320/IMG_1701.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wattsnn" a nice looking black Nissan Leaf</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xyrcIIFOj_S7dqLP-1P2BvS2C2tb9XLFeX-NgiVyT-tPMvTLjonkPzOAsVDTvPQYx2GqrjViTpoeYzUitnzXzh9vdhglkzszPH4aBkLfdBlqAVEBSe407-983NFxIFGJQn0kiv2L98FR/s1600/IMG_1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xyrcIIFOj_S7dqLP-1P2BvS2C2tb9XLFeX-NgiVyT-tPMvTLjonkPzOAsVDTvPQYx2GqrjViTpoeYzUitnzXzh9vdhglkzszPH4aBkLfdBlqAVEBSe407-983NFxIFGJQn0kiv2L98FR/s320/IMG_1715.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My E among friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2Xl8LCxa8gapLeCr-hXyKYKtPFCc05lcKY6Gkhyq3XmsYccXNA4TvDDJkaAoPQwtzvhqV_43mDtUehdiMr5jSIsOfVxFmerKgOGj3fPHV-mcR4gdxp9fwZ8BFRt4b_apJWS8VUWwHU0x/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2Xl8LCxa8gapLeCr-hXyKYKtPFCc05lcKY6Gkhyq3XmsYccXNA4TvDDJkaAoPQwtzvhqV_43mDtUehdiMr5jSIsOfVxFmerKgOGj3fPHV-mcR4gdxp9fwZ8BFRt4b_apJWS8VUWwHU0x/s320/IMG_1717.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test drive anyone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixZiby7ahMKtrYHy6dOxv20TtcpCCdOx6CWogfaPLnkS6Np7ePQXp8lsVNJW2UleS2P9-ZO54-hMH7Vz3xyGH_2hHjGnPPsekzZbHEscDg01uho4f3Bv0ydPtjovqCN0RxG54JYAkusPs/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixZiby7ahMKtrYHy6dOxv20TtcpCCdOx6CWogfaPLnkS6Np7ePQXp8lsVNJW2UleS2P9-ZO54-hMH7Vz3xyGH_2hHjGnPPsekzZbHEscDg01uho4f3Bv0ydPtjovqCN0RxG54JYAkusPs/s320/IMG_1705.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare Honda Fit EV sighting--love the blue</td></tr>
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We even drew the attention of the local firefighters who checked out the cars and tried to determine how they would handle an emergency situations involving the various electric cars that were present. One of the Leaf drivers gave them a demonstration of how the cars operate and should be shut down in the event of a crash.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpLlVvuDl43mqbYexUbWQB8MWO5Hj4GmwQ1P2Ai2XnY60gTrtOW0_HcblfCUW_v8FqxHWrOOckRiQGR9XOtJ0shXVc2NYu5hsL-YGgW0nlvnOJMijuWjQlhCoujJDZhUfdsbzk6A4M7gs/s1600/IMG_1709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpLlVvuDl43mqbYexUbWQB8MWO5Hj4GmwQ1P2Ai2XnY60gTrtOW0_HcblfCUW_v8FqxHWrOOckRiQGR9XOtJ0shXVc2NYu5hsL-YGgW0nlvnOJMijuWjQlhCoujJDZhUfdsbzk6A4M7gs/s320/IMG_1709.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always getting attention.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNJdC0Qu9GjzsrKs6ahFrlbPepsSQNhGsVGxpTfB-YyxidDxaLYJZ3aPD367ye1W6foqWScXD-b0hKWO48uhcU0t6Egp7LVqHgybce1ifs1R2k2EQI7QYadwYajI462FjgCc6dqsMDBqH/s1600/IMG_1710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNJdC0Qu9GjzsrKs6ahFrlbPepsSQNhGsVGxpTfB-YyxidDxaLYJZ3aPD367ye1W6foqWScXD-b0hKWO48uhcU0t6Egp7LVqHgybce1ifs1R2k2EQI7QYadwYajI462FjgCc6dqsMDBqH/s320/IMG_1710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHQeC4Q2B3GngfqygyxB9s1U56Pc8GLg5-I8txgYmarYcACgDaccHe3n2vKVvCUY9O2r-IQxzHo7AuWRyyLXZhFVoOlBB_klQj6RGi8sj6_MVPRSSxvOR-doymBwpxDuIxdMWHpaMsV1Z/s1600/IMG_1711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHQeC4Q2B3GngfqygyxB9s1U56Pc8GLg5-I8txgYmarYcACgDaccHe3n2vKVvCUY9O2r-IQxzHo7AuWRyyLXZhFVoOlBB_klQj6RGi8sj6_MVPRSSxvOR-doymBwpxDuIxdMWHpaMsV1Z/s320/IMG_1711.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must have something interesting in the trunk???</td></tr>
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The event was <a href="http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/temecula-city-holds-first-electric-vehicle-expo/article_759cde45-6ae4-513e-9aca-d072a2882866.html" target="_blank">reported in The Californian</a> as Temecula's first ever electric vehicle expo. Overall, it was a rather small event, but we talked to quite a few people and sang the praises of driving electric. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4ydjsuZX-Ra7ziCxakFBLodUyK53kMpoD7hJ077SjoWCQ5cOMY9DBDZlxFJLXVaJWqp7YOJ7gl9V7uDO0meVLRcMeQT0xP0kjFvUaISNTIGzA8Uuow75XM4GmAY8mQNHjAmOL4UEPI8t/s1600/IMG_1713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4ydjsuZX-Ra7ziCxakFBLodUyK53kMpoD7hJ077SjoWCQ5cOMY9DBDZlxFJLXVaJWqp7YOJ7gl9V7uDO0meVLRcMeQT0xP0kjFvUaISNTIGzA8Uuow75XM4GmAY8mQNHjAmOL4UEPI8t/s320/IMG_1713.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-46597225461193017102012-09-20T16:07:00.000-07:002012-09-20T16:07:37.007-07:00No Junk in My Frunk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the trunk of the ActiveE. Not at all roomy, but still technically has storage space. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvABQL5k44-DSIcaj9h5DQQ-cpnCZn-T82XdpeuVr5QJQFlwkYWRgzTHnjbK6aDKrFUFoBG8Td6N-yEJYCPvSDe6YXiYRkb2biF36Ur8-wLwhfi2z-_aP8sfxHNcJpCiL2wb9_zbgmPTKa/s1600/IMG_1665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvABQL5k44-DSIcaj9h5DQQ-cpnCZn-T82XdpeuVr5QJQFlwkYWRgzTHnjbK6aDKrFUFoBG8Td6N-yEJYCPvSDe6YXiYRkb2biF36Ur8-wLwhfi2z-_aP8sfxHNcJpCiL2wb9_zbgmPTKa/s320/IMG_1665.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what's under the hood--both with and without the front cover.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdzAm5UjRR5vJ-zXS_tPPAe7n4RJuPx7BcNY8V8vavi4pk2ULieTXpbRxkH0WFw91yhtmzLOn6dyI4h8tgzlEsqqPphl1QeFucA18BMqGQsdJVBgPMidvM70O2RQQ1aWeyUnavLX8FRXr/s1600/IMG_1664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdzAm5UjRR5vJ-zXS_tPPAe7n4RJuPx7BcNY8V8vavi4pk2ULieTXpbRxkH0WFw91yhtmzLOn6dyI4h8tgzlEsqqPphl1QeFucA18BMqGQsdJVBgPMidvM70O2RQQ1aWeyUnavLX8FRXr/s320/IMG_1664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8N0Nn3Pcno424_mGkGO1wiV3l375A0hvrIYh6_zP_RtsdIIu54f5zXiyciRhLhR45Sp_03CnhLCdT_7rpeBJzLX3GZdLdAk9yF3MrIbtZxS2NYSiAv5Pagoihyphenhyphen_MpVjxazZspewPk50i/s1600/IMG_1661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8N0Nn3Pcno424_mGkGO1wiV3l375A0hvrIYh6_zP_RtsdIIu54f5zXiyciRhLhR45Sp_03CnhLCdT_7rpeBJzLX3GZdLdAk9yF3MrIbtZxS2NYSiAv5Pagoihyphenhyphen_MpVjxazZspewPk50i/s320/IMG_1661.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-3iVcnoaeml9RtyLwZjaI-tgHM2ny6fMrn3u2BxpaLJl1tgOw5KhWrNyU4KwChIL9ZBN-Hw-1_OXw3QQAn4OtV5R6bzPRZpYlRFYTLXuk6fukUQ85bZmrFbDbY_xJqWOVLog4xHKXP3k/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-3iVcnoaeml9RtyLwZjaI-tgHM2ny6fMrn3u2BxpaLJl1tgOw5KhWrNyU4KwChIL9ZBN-Hw-1_OXw3QQAn4OtV5R6bzPRZpYlRFYTLXuk6fukUQ85bZmrFbDbY_xJqWOVLog4xHKXP3k/s320/IMG_1663.JPG" width="320" /></a>This open space where the gas engine would reside in an ICE'd vehicle is now being converted by most EV's into an extra storage space. Not so on the E, but will be so on the next generation BMW EV, the i3. </div>
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The current trend is to call this front storage area a "frunk"--mutilating the words "front" and "trunk" in the process. I hate the term "frunk." It makes me cringe every time I hear it. Just because the rear storage is called a trunk does not mean that we need to reference the front storage area by making up a hideous new word.</div>
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Besides, there's many car parts with names having nothing to do with their functionality. <br />
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For example, the storage space located on the passenger side of most cars is called a "glove box," but when was the last time anyone put gloves in there. My sweet, old (98 years old) great-aunt once gave me a fabulous pair of white, leather driving gloves, and I never put those in any "glove box." Of course, I don't put them on my hands either. Although...white, leather driving gloves may match the E's white leather seats nicely:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQI2iZGZiK_wWNEbYsAuMJxEfSJGgBnsftgYpW6AdMHsxUr8JnL7lbV-R1NUdqassaFvtn8LRfHN-rmR-GtiIgZgDEinCX_bWP_zP6_ewmrJiTMCZNAqp7sGVRH9NII3HMTS-tvizP5bIL/s1600/IMG_1688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQI2iZGZiK_wWNEbYsAuMJxEfSJGgBnsftgYpW6AdMHsxUr8JnL7lbV-R1NUdqassaFvtn8LRfHN-rmR-GtiIgZgDEinCX_bWP_zP6_ewmrJiTMCZNAqp7sGVRH9NII3HMTS-tvizP5bIL/s400/IMG_1688.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Honey, where's my cane and top hat?"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXNOOGeBVKtsxpCfv3c1yjKLmMWAp4b9329DeR7_8iaQw8LiBKa2tUqVzk2A1S7LadSYTgX4NLEfz13mjNOiHu7hvLNSN6cQkZOU14zj0OtFKk6xA6mwTfZ009oLXLnimVyNZiSMAcUKD/s1600/IMG_1680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXNOOGeBVKtsxpCfv3c1yjKLmMWAp4b9329DeR7_8iaQw8LiBKa2tUqVzk2A1S7LadSYTgX4NLEfz13mjNOiHu7hvLNSN6cQkZOU14zj0OtFKk6xA6mwTfZ009oLXLnimVyNZiSMAcUKD/s200/IMG_1680.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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No, no, never mind. The point is, a box for gloves it's not.<br />
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And the rear storage is called a "trunk," but there hasn't been trunks on the back of cars for nearly a century. This isn't a classic Duesenberg, it's a modern BMW and that rear storage is no trunk. (In the case of the ActiveE, it's no storage either, but that's the subject of a different rant.)<br />
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There's also two-word terms that we don't combine. A "steering wheel" is not a "swheel." And the "turn signal" is not called a "turgnal." <br />
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The solution is to either create a completely new name or stick with the full-on descriptive term "front trunk." Personally I vote for the new term "Hood Hide-y." But I'm open to suggestions. Just don't be putting junk in my frunk. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIMcrTYqb4IK1g14Dym3j8zgEV1tpH7qt9zXqZkbtbY2fV9SIcTgA30XAMP0jT6YcCsi4yQ-seYPz4euCtswonJjFejJEHB52JDB5F4M4EGQV_3DNPM68h6OqPX50xQs-lJWfr1YUT55h/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIMcrTYqb4IK1g14Dym3j8zgEV1tpH7qt9zXqZkbtbY2fV9SIcTgA30XAMP0jT6YcCsi4yQ-seYPz4euCtswonJjFejJEHB52JDB5F4M4EGQV_3DNPM68h6OqPX50xQs-lJWfr1YUT55h/s320/IMG_1666.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ActiveE's "trunk"--plenty of space for a pair of gloves</td></tr>
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<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-59284111712835105412012-09-16T05:59:00.001-07:002012-09-16T17:35:56.513-07:00Lone Wolf-E: The relaxing benefits of slow.As much as I hate going slow in my ActiveE (meaning 70 on the freeway) there's times when efficiency is required to go the extra mile. Surprisingly, my wife doesn't like me driving slower than the speed of traffic because she thinks it gives the car a bad impression--"I want people to know what this thing can do!" she says.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXs78VvHZUYtUQDmJGUsUru-INrCBd4V7n6X60bs3OGs2j9eDQkp5HVLD53oovjzYWSCn_vJsHpjmvrF2j6d0RbP69e-IT78lcQKS6Kng_N7LTF-fsM3AZGj25D-wjZlZcshwl0ZFccT5V/s1600/IMG_1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXs78VvHZUYtUQDmJGUsUru-INrCBd4V7n6X60bs3OGs2j9eDQkp5HVLD53oovjzYWSCn_vJsHpjmvrF2j6d0RbP69e-IT78lcQKS6Kng_N7LTF-fsM3AZGj25D-wjZlZcshwl0ZFccT5V/s320/IMG_1672.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All clear once this rat pack races ahead</td></tr>
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Of course, there are plenty of times when I show just what the car can do, which gives my E a bad impression for different reasons. But on days where I need to stretch every mile, traveling over 70 mph is a real battery drain. So I hunker down and set the cruise control at 70 on the dot.<br />
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I never knew what happened when a car travels at a fixed speed of 70 miles per hour on a wide-open stretch of California freeway. It gets lonely.<br />
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In fact, when I set cruise control at 70 or so (and pull into the far right lane--not trying to make a statement, just want to be efficient) all the surrounding traffic charges on and leaves me alone. Every 10 minutes or so another knot of speeding cars catches up and passes, and then its quite once again. This wave of moving metal continues for the entire trip, leaving me driving lone wolf style for most of the trip. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI7JOYO5KV-SxZ8Bi0cClYkMkwT_ISvR5hfTuYpDlh3N18ioMCDamvXEOfsYdgrfZhAqbBSh3ysRvZpsglA0JIAtnifB8C3-TEQmRMQmaMpQizcSzIWiTNrsO5qWIhHbBpKL4GTOa6Khv/s1600/IMG_1673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI7JOYO5KV-SxZ8Bi0cClYkMkwT_ISvR5hfTuYpDlh3N18ioMCDamvXEOfsYdgrfZhAqbBSh3ysRvZpsglA0JIAtnifB8C3-TEQmRMQmaMpQizcSzIWiTNrsO5qWIhHbBpKL4GTOa6Khv/s320/IMG_1673.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wide open behind too</td></tr>
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It is quite relaxing to be humming along (and the E barely even hums) without a care in the world or a car by my side. Another hidden benefit to being efficient.<br />
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Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-71858596040613220902012-09-16T05:28:00.000-07:002012-09-16T05:28:47.631-07:00EV Friendly Sports AuthorityI shop where I charge. That's my moto, and should be the moto of every EV loving driver to help encourage retail stores to install more EVSE units.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFwdIYkMlmQYdbcJJazWDeo2VqsLdEtfbivzYmHQwMCizoFjhY-3Ct3Xr9a9sUrZkIcOo0gHmM2nTD4vcpp_QGpJPHIFQtqYM0SUMVMZM3ldbKoUvmavwV2w7rSN-pzOK6sb59V9VCGvA/s1600/IMG_1656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFwdIYkMlmQYdbcJJazWDeo2VqsLdEtfbivzYmHQwMCizoFjhY-3Ct3Xr9a9sUrZkIcOo0gHmM2nTD4vcpp_QGpJPHIFQtqYM0SUMVMZM3ldbKoUvmavwV2w7rSN-pzOK6sb59V9VCGvA/s320/IMG_1656.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Check out this nice little EVSE installation outside Sports Authority at Ontario Mills Mall, in Ontario, California. Sports Authority is located just down from the AMC movie theater. These two units are right up front. Close to the mall, the movies, and many eateries. The best part is that these two units are FREE and do not require any type of card or payment to activate. Just park and plug. <br />
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<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-86055988543555117792012-09-06T23:33:00.003-07:002012-09-06T23:36:10.044-07:00It Pays to be Green!As of September 6, 2012, I have logged 5,185 gas-free miles in my ActiveE. Actually, 400 of those miles were driven by any number of strangers before I took delivery of the car. That leaves me with 4,785 gas free miles from mid May to now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCIZDzGrXPsevU7ytb3nKjE6fNIJXXYZNj9wP6EV1LwMVzvCRadRBEmQEgg7885e1J2_ULxHj9J1t4h6xd2BZ4W0PuG2Qiv0ZkJbIUnxaXseSZQe9DQfdlEUOFYjdPEiioz1tYiYjYaor/s1600/IMG_1657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCIZDzGrXPsevU7ytb3nKjE6fNIJXXYZNj9wP6EV1LwMVzvCRadRBEmQEgg7885e1J2_ULxHj9J1t4h6xd2BZ4W0PuG2Qiv0ZkJbIUnxaXseSZQe9DQfdlEUOFYjdPEiioz1tYiYjYaor/s200/IMG_1657.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />
Had I driven those same miles in my GMC Yukon, which gets around 15 mpg when I'm driving it, I would have used 319 gallons of gas. At an average of $4.25 per gallon, that comes to a whopping $1,355.75 over three and a half months. Or $387 per month that I am not spending on gasoline. <br />
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If I subtract the $387 I am saving per month against the E's monthly lease payment of around $538 (with taxes), that leaves me with a net monthly car payment of about $150. Not bad for a BMW.<br />
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What does it cost me to charge my E at home you ask? Nothing because I have solar power. I am credited with .54 cents per kWh during the day for the solar power I produce, but I only use power at around .15 cents per kWh by charging the E between midnight and 6:00 a.m. So I can charge the E and have some power left over to offset my home utility usage. <br />
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It really does pay to be green.<br />
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<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-32422129290333395482012-09-05T19:07:00.001-07:002012-09-05T19:10:11.593-07:00Good...And Bad...Vibrations.The Active E is smooth, as in <a href="http://www.activeeintheie.blogspot.com/2012/07/from-mouths-ofteens.html" target="_blank">groovy smoothy</a>. It has very little vibrations because there is no gas engine whirling around under the hood. The only noticeable vibration is from the road, which is slight most of the time. So a smooth ride in the E is a sign of all systems go. But when a vibration creeps in, that's a sign of something not so go.<br />
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Last week I pickup up a hitchhiker in my front left tire--a rather large screw.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArUw1X6Z_224HW7jU0unz56jDN3JQMMnK_pgaI_4VlNkZ3MsYbE_Ome_u4lC8SIPXKOzdoqCNM3K_OgltU_E_1p199cLK0BNhE4VEYQ-p5ysUVew_6BDDMJ3RVeCZsgMmm87mh4gYW0UX/s1600/IMG_1619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArUw1X6Z_224HW7jU0unz56jDN3JQMMnK_pgaI_4VlNkZ3MsYbE_Ome_u4lC8SIPXKOzdoqCNM3K_OgltU_E_1p199cLK0BNhE4VEYQ-p5ysUVew_6BDDMJ3RVeCZsgMmm87mh4gYW0UX/s200/IMG_1619.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpCyB0g2oSGIa8NnimxA-DbKoeUS0HCIGz3xWrNxglmGo5Am06GJHAxtxj5v-cVISv821h2WAF_i56OR8qRLQxaALQ1QP0JFH2N1C41vWWYsTnNBKxG_TtTHSbdxldFhSqD84FU2f4P1T/s1600/IMG_1620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpCyB0g2oSGIa8NnimxA-DbKoeUS0HCIGz3xWrNxglmGo5Am06GJHAxtxj5v-cVISv821h2WAF_i56OR8qRLQxaALQ1QP0JFH2N1C41vWWYsTnNBKxG_TtTHSbdxldFhSqD84FU2f4P1T/s200/IMG_1620.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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In hindsight, I knew exactly when I picked up the screw because I felt a noticeable vibration coming from the front left part of the car. I checked the tire sensors and nothing was amiss so I brushed it off as excess vibration from the road--it was a rough bit of asphalt. When I stopped the car I couldn't find anything (the screw was on the inside part of the tire--very hard to see). So I did what you shouldn't do with a screwball tire, I drove home on the freeway. <br />
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The screw held tight, and so did the vibration, so I checked again. Sure enough I found the unwanted passenger lodged deeply in the tire. The tire didn't lose pressure until the next morning--so apparently there was a slow leak. A quick trip to the tire store, the tire was patched and put back in service (whew--no new tire needed).<br />
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The interesting point in all of this is that driving a car that is groovy smoothy allows you to notice almost immediately when something is amiss. In a gas-powered car I would not have felt the difference in vibration coming from the tire, most likely, because the car has so many of its own vibrations. My only problem is that I ignored the vibration.<br />
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Now if only I can pay attention to my feelings....Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-69945266735684561012012-09-02T09:39:00.000-07:002012-09-02T09:39:32.727-07:00Back in Good Graces: Return of the EI'm glad to say that I have my E back. It went in for service last week, which now requires that they pull the back end out of the car in order to check the motor and transmission. There was a "crease" running down the entire length of the battery cover underneath the car--apparently I had hit something. Actually, I went into a peaked driveway and it scraped pretty good.<br />
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Anyway, the car was sent to Oxnard, CA for a full inspection. It passed the test, whatever that was. There was no damage to the battery--just a quick bit of touch-up paint to the undercarriage to be sure it didn't rust where the paint had been scraped off. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishf4e24T2idbiwC9ayACOXatmwlzLybKMlCcjGyloleCkRs2sjjp7bIiWWWbYPY1cROqPcM1aCcGlt8lrFrXHjnFvYeQ-KzfA3F00oMgOscmYlUSETYC8LaOqzE1zuVTchIIru0L-lSkn/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishf4e24T2idbiwC9ayACOXatmwlzLybKMlCcjGyloleCkRs2sjjp7bIiWWWbYPY1cROqPcM1aCcGlt8lrFrXHjnFvYeQ-KzfA3F00oMgOscmYlUSETYC8LaOqzE1zuVTchIIru0L-lSkn/s320/IMG_1627.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got it made in the shade now that my E is back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now the E is safely back in my garage. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder...and I really love being back in my electric driving seat. The car feels faster, smells fresher, runs smoother, even the a/c cools the car faster than ever before. O.k., it's all probably the same, but it feels like a marked improvement over my ICE loaner. Plus, I no longer have to stop at gas stations!! Welcome home.<br />
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Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-20053799844188539152012-08-30T15:22:00.001-07:002012-08-30T15:24:26.288-07:00Join ActiveE in the I.E. at National Plug in Day in Temecula, CaliforniaSeptember 23, 2012 is National Plug-In day all across America. Here in the Inland Empire, the Western Riverside County Clean Cities Coalition (that's a lot of "c's") is hosting an event in Old Town Temecula at the 6th Street parking lot. We know that place well, it's where I park and plug my E every time I am in Old Town Temecula (<a href="http://www.activeeintheie.blogspot.com/2012/06/park-plug-play-free-electrons-in-old.html" target="_blank">see post here</a>).<br />
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The event lasts from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be EV enthusiasts there showing off their cars, and some real live EV's that you can test drive. If you haven't driven an EV yet, now's your chance and I highly recommend it. <br />
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Here's a <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4228417310/efbnen" target="_blank">link to register</a> for the event and below is the event flyer. Hope to see your there!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LY307zMIAxLv3nkZtW698brb-dFB1VRHwuOev7a2wHbviubynkd55qQs-EUX7ksxM0yf8l9HzeYBfVAhzm68d8uhWLU88zahVPHSthULzw7qKkn5jf68PywEnEaqTTd9zJAhbKIdzmvt/s1600/webbannerjpg-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LY307zMIAxLv3nkZtW698brb-dFB1VRHwuOev7a2wHbviubynkd55qQs-EUX7ksxM0yf8l9HzeYBfVAhzm68d8uhWLU88zahVPHSthULzw7qKkn5jf68PywEnEaqTTd9zJAhbKIdzmvt/s400/webbannerjpg-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-48444317712175868862012-08-28T08:07:00.001-07:002012-08-28T08:07:21.370-07:00From an E to a 3: My luxurious fall from grace.I hate driving ICE'd vehicles. I have been driving gas-powered jalopies for 25 years, and I have been driving my purely electric Active E for 3 months, but there's just no comparison. The E is faster, quieter, and far more comfortable to drive. Not to mention it takes no gas--saving me time and money.<br />
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Last Tuesday I took my Active E in for its regular service interval. BMW is now pulling the electric motor out of every car during servicing to be sure that the connection between the motor and the transmissions (called a spline gear) is in good shape. (See <a href="http://activeemobility.blogspot.com/2012/08/activee-technical-issuespart-1-splines.html" target="_blank">Tom M's post</a> on the spline problem.) Some Active E's have experienced a failure of the spline gear (causing the electric motor to spin, but not move the car). Unfortunately, the entire back end of the car must be taken out to access the electric motor and transmission, so it takes a couple days to do the servicing, leaving me to drive this lovely, light blue 328i loaner:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pxh03dQw0VAFOAfmTIIDufwwxy4_SxkiSa8yWsjNzPMh3rKVqppHEFyQZEmx_QP9oVgunkgnD-GNxnvd_bcUas0HeZyabsYEpvg_k3h9y_-btZt-ka6XkKdh0KiajLYOUOdTEYTPlnAm/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pxh03dQw0VAFOAfmTIIDufwwxy4_SxkiSa8yWsjNzPMh3rKVqppHEFyQZEmx_QP9oVgunkgnD-GNxnvd_bcUas0HeZyabsYEpvg_k3h9y_-btZt-ka6XkKdh0KiajLYOUOdTEYTPlnAm/s320/IMG_1622.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My blue ICE loaner</td></tr>
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The good news: I have no spline damage, the motor looks good. The bad news: there is a crease running the entire length of the battery cage underneath the car. Apparently I hit something and the battery cage must be inspected. They don't think there is any permanent damage, but the dealer is not allowed to open the battery cage, only BMW can do that. Which requires a trip to Oxnard, CA, where BMW's vehicle distribution center is located for the West coast. They have specially trained Active E Wizards on staff to work their magic on the battery. Hopefully nothing major, but we'll see.</div>
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In the meantime, I have an ICE'd BMW to drive around. This time it's a 3 series (see <a href="http://www.activeeintheie.blogspot.com/2012/05/electric-1-vs-gas-1-smooth-comfort-of.html" target="_blank">my previous comparison</a> of my E to a 1 series loaner I received last time). Don't take me wrong, I am grateful that my dealer (<a href="http://www.bmwofriverside.com/index.htm" target="_blank">BMW of Riverside</a>) provides loaners, and BMW loaners no less--a luxurious alternative to my graceful E. But nothing cools me off faster than ICE'd cars.</div>
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<b>A FEW COMPARISONS</b></div>
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<u><b>The Good:</b></u><br />
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The 3 series is a bigger car than my E, which is based on the smaller 1 series. In fact, I can't believe just how big the 3 series has gotten. It has grown over the years, and it feels much larger inside, and out, than past 3 series.</div>
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The 3 handles great, and even with its bigger size, it feels much lighter than my weighted down Active E. This allows it to handle very well in curves (what you expect of a BMW of course). And the car is really at its best on the freeway, where it has no problem speeding up to pass when needed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigasbFsxpVC-fPI4CBtbPGI14HIFpTqX333mwfSuy2QZJ1owbRLK1D0gYrrDgQpOwBfxwv_ZSWca-SBiel_g1qBaWbwAj8Y2rh_o0vkyATTZtOzQdQoicZ3qxQVKlz7fekrGZbt5r2jy3j/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigasbFsxpVC-fPI4CBtbPGI14HIFpTqX333mwfSuy2QZJ1owbRLK1D0gYrrDgQpOwBfxwv_ZSWca-SBiel_g1qBaWbwAj8Y2rh_o0vkyATTZtOzQdQoicZ3qxQVKlz7fekrGZbt5r2jy3j/s200/IMG_1624.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<b><u>The Bad:</u></b><br />
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Around town, however, that's another story. After driving my E for three months I am used to a car that accelerates immediately, never shifts, is quiet, and slows before braking thanks to the regenerative energy system (I rarely hit the brakes in my E). The 3 series is another animal altogether. </div>
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The 3 has 6 (yes 6) gears in its automatic transmission. And it shifts very quickly from 1st to 3rd when going 0 to 35 or 40. The off-the-line torque and power is abysmal compared to my E. The 3 may feel great off the line compared to other cars in its class, but it feels downright lethargic compared to the E's electron fueled powerhouse. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBVvOXI9rr8zpKCMVzbYk9-1Ivpf8IBFseXfLKs-IvUS0SEWFJSXfNBtS-iQ3YcGa25zywkYKmQPmnZXUYxWnY-V-yZnknfdqxCprFK8qBWvUa95YnW9VWwj5XjHPKxN_v-WNcRVLvncy/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBVvOXI9rr8zpKCMVzbYk9-1Ivpf8IBFseXfLKs-IvUS0SEWFJSXfNBtS-iQ3YcGa25zywkYKmQPmnZXUYxWnY-V-yZnknfdqxCprFK8qBWvUa95YnW9VWwj5XjHPKxN_v-WNcRVLvncy/s200/IMG_1625.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiny wheels for a loaner car</td></tr>
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<b><u>The Ugly</u>:</b><br />
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There's really nothing ugly about the 3, except for its thirst for fossil fuel. I have really enjoyed NOT stopping at gas stations over the past three months, and it's an unwanted interruption to my day (and to my wallet) to have to do so now.<br />
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When I first drove the 3 series off the lot I hated it. Nothing personal 3 series, but you vibrate, your slow off the line, you give me whiplash shifting a million times per second, and you don't have any way to stop without hitting the brakes (very rudimentary). Now that I have driven the 3 for a week, I am starting to appreciate some of its more positive attributes, such as handling, lighter feel, and great freeway acceleration when needed. </div>
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If it was BMW's plan to force me to keep the 3 for a while so it would grow on me (it wasn't there plan), then it's working. I no longer hate the 3 series. I appreciate its more positive attributes, but I still pity it for not being electric. If BMW made an electric 3 series, I'd run down to my BMW dealer and buy it tomorrow. Unfortunately, there is no electric 3. And I understand why, the added size of the car compared to the 1 series means added weight, which is the last thing the Active E needs weighing in at over 4,000 pounds. But still, I can dream. </div>
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So BMW, if you're listening, the 3 has grown on me as much as it's going to, you can have it back now. I can't wait to once again feel the thrill of excitement when rocketing off-the-line in my electric E. </div>
Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-60270334010248843202012-08-26T08:22:00.001-07:002012-08-26T08:22:22.891-07:00Going the Distance...and BeyondThe Active E's range is around 80 to 100 miles on a full charge. The response I usually hear after saying that is "but I drive more than 100 miles per day." Well so do I. In fact, there are days when I will go well over 100 miles. But with a range of 80 to 100, how do I do it? By plugging-in during the day of course.<br />
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In a typical day, your car sits idle a majority of the time, unless your a traveling salesman or work from your car. But for a majority of us, we drive to work, park the car, and then it sits for 8+ hours. Or at least for a few hours until lunchtime. <br />
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While idle, an electric car can be charging. And since the E can be recharged back to full in about 3 to 4 hours (depending on how depleted the battery is), the car is ready to go another 80 to 100 miles by lunchtime, or quitting time. <br />
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For example, I have two offices, one in Riverside and one in Temecula. I can drive from my house to Temecula and log about 40 miles. Luckily for me, Temecula has free (FREE!) public chargers a block away from my office, so I park and plug. After a couple of meetings, my E is full (and <a href="http://www.activeeintheie.blogspot.com/2012/08/to-pre-or-not-to-pre-theres-no-question.html" target="_blank">pre-conditioned</a>). I then drive to my office in Riverside, another 40 miles. On the same day I can drive to a meeting in Ontario (about 20 miles away) and then back home (another 20 miles). So for the day, I can log 120 miles--well over the range of the E. But because I charged during the day, that kind of range is no problem. I don't even have to drive all that efficiently.<br />
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So the question is not whether you drive more than 100 miles per day, but do you drive more than 100 miles at a time. If your commute is less than 100 miles, then you simply charge between driving and that doubles the E's range for a single day.<br />
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I know what you're saying "but I don't have a charger at my work." Well that needs to change. And soon will change. And once it does, the range of an EV no longer factors into the state of denial so many people have towards adopting EVs. Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-81706528999080760882012-08-17T05:47:00.001-07:002012-08-17T09:34:56.069-07:00To Pre or Not To Pre: There's no question about the Power of PreconditioningRight now it's hot in the Inland Empire--110 degrees for multiple days. But hot days don't burn me up because my E knows how to precondition itself. Preconditioning is a handy little feature of this electric car and it's made possible because the cooling system (the one used to cool the battery and the cabin air conditioning system) can run independently of the electric motor. Since every system in an electric car is...well electric...they can be activated independently without the motor running (as opposed to a gas-powered car where the engine must run to power the other systems, include the a/c). And preconditioning can either be used immediately or set to begin at a future time, so the process can happen without me be anywhere near the car; provided that, the car is plugged into an EVSE (the car will not precondition when not plugged in).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9oNCTdMIV3KaxXxVeKf7ordrtiHhqSL3NFLvJtKHlmS2e0euj8f58z9asmKnc5f0L6VQzVHjVrIKVa3UyDK5eQFTKfM5uis4I-tsb9O8WsjWBYsZvZ6tBkNRTmu2YWZJ2MduKVDflxOk/s1600/IMG_1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9oNCTdMIV3KaxXxVeKf7ordrtiHhqSL3NFLvJtKHlmS2e0euj8f58z9asmKnc5f0L6VQzVHjVrIKVa3UyDK5eQFTKfM5uis4I-tsb9O8WsjWBYsZvZ6tBkNRTmu2YWZJ2MduKVDflxOk/s320/IMG_1614.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Precondition setting screen--it can be activated immediately or at a set time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So rather than climbing into a preheated oven of a car, and scalding my fingers on the steering wheel, my E is a comfortable 72 degrees when I'm ready to go. And the battery can be cooled down to the low 90's or high 80's, which is cool when the ambient temperature is 110 degrees and the temperature on the asphalt is a million degrees (well feels like it anyway). Preconditioning also works in the winter months to warm the battery and the cabin to optimum temperatures before departure.<br />
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The real benefit of preconditioning is the power saved cooling the car and the battery. Without it, the car has to cool itself using power from the battery pack. And it takes much less energy to keep a cold car cool than it does to cool it down in the first place. So not only is it a pleasure to get into a cool car, it also means more miles for my drive.<br />
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<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-26929558741175531422012-08-11T06:51:00.003-07:002012-08-11T07:43:06.732-07:00I Feel Special: Changing the world one BMW at a time.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Driving the E around nearly
everyday makes me feel…well…special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds
strange, I know, but it’s true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
look at this thing:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvArxUPjNbkd89wEfse7P3skSJi5fkTGAP3OFVV4HUvis8dQD72TMWKNj3vbgjMcdENnR75pqYTjkcmrL4JgY474jzNxehHHygQqmO3hAZYle66oqwyJcj43WKdRI7t3qNNOLSR83Pd1_s/s1600/IMG_1236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvArxUPjNbkd89wEfse7P3skSJi5fkTGAP3OFVV4HUvis8dQD72TMWKNj3vbgjMcdENnR75pqYTjkcmrL4JgY474jzNxehHHygQqmO3hAZYle66oqwyJcj43WKdRI7t3qNNOLSR83Pd1_s/s200/IMG_1236.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27FcdR75HBYheiUqg1oQPGUj9ellZ-SlMAtykCjV7V-zWsJwE8mcZMBEbGYA7UTKqpeSVRPnVbNuRAu5vYSg614esOvCrog22e9o0nOrGejZe88KCvwbBJmaju3EtdbDM0ak4vx0NuEWj/s1600/IMG_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27FcdR75HBYheiUqg1oQPGUj9ellZ-SlMAtykCjV7V-zWsJwE8mcZMBEbGYA7UTKqpeSVRPnVbNuRAu5vYSg614esOvCrog22e9o0nOrGejZe88KCvwbBJmaju3EtdbDM0ak4vx0NuEWj/s200/IMG_1250.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />
It tends to stand out in a
crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s quieter, faster, and has
more circuit graphics per square inch than most cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when driving it, I can go anywhere,
including the carpool lanes, the toll lanes without paying, and
special little EV parking spots created just for me (I let other EVs use them too, but
I know they did it for me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does this
make me a self-centered, egotistical, EV snob?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, yes it does. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I wasn’t always this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, before the E nearly every car I
owned was black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have gotten
along fine with Henry Ford (who famously said you can buy a Model T in any color
you want, so long as it’s black—thanks Henry, exactly the color I had in
mind).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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But when you drive around in an
electric car that looks different, sounds different, and does everything a
gas-powered car can do only better, you start to get accustomed to standing
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So on those unfortunate days
when I am forced to drive my ICE’d vehicles (I’m still learning how to share
the E with my wife, it’s been a tough lesson to learn), I suddenly feel not so
special at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am no longer quiet, I
can’t accelerate quickly and effortlessly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t have any circuit graphics, or special emblems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t travel in the carpool lanes, I have
to pay for toll roads, and there are no special parking spots for a GMC
Yukon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fame fades quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I could have had the circuit
graphics taken off the E when I received it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some Active E drivers did so, and I can understand why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the whole point of the car, or at least
our point in getting the car, was to show others that EVs are real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can do everything a gas-powered car can
do on a daily basis, only do it better, faster, quieter, and far cheaper (See
fellow Active E driver <b><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2012/07/our-two-electric-cars-are-cheaper-than.html" target="_blank">Peder’s post</a></b> on how EVs really are cheaper).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, this is about raising awareness so EV
acceptance can spread far and wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
more people embrace EVs the better. <br />
<br />
The unintended side effect is that I feel oh so special driving the E. But what's the harm in feeling good about doing good?<o:p></o:p><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111941144745076050.post-85733623015601457142012-08-08T16:35:00.001-07:002012-08-08T16:35:34.248-07:00Go Battery!Finally got the personalized plates for me E. Stands for Go Battery, but it could also be read as Go B-Try. Not sure what that would mean. So if you see GO BTRY, just know it stands for Go Battery. And know that it's me!<br />
<br />
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<br />Keith A. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704979381640824705noreply@blogger.com2