Comment by tzs | Hacker News Reader

Comment by tzs | Hacker News Reader

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< I'm really excited about the new PHEVs (plug-in hybrids) coming out of Asia. I think that there is a much better chance that PHEVs are the road to mass adoption than pure electric in the short term (ie. 10-15 years)

OT: I have a question about PHEVs that I haven't been able to find a clear answer too. Maybe someone here knows.

It is generally considered bad for an ICE car if you go too long without driving it [1]. That article says you should drive it for at least 10 minutes at highway speeds every two to three weeks.

If I had a PHEV, I could easily go for months where I drive a few times a week, but always entirely for trips that can be done without using the ICE engine. That would prevent the problems mentioned in that article that aren't specific to the ICE engine, but the fuel and fluid problems could still be an issue.

My question is do the PHEVs handle that automatically, such as by keeping track of ICE usage and automatically running the ICE engine occasionally on trips that could normally be done without it? Or is this something I'd be expected to keep track of, and say, skip plugging it in every now and then to force it to use the ICE engine?

[1] https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-long-can-a-...

My PHEV ICE engine turns on from time to time and keeps on running for short periods of time.

I believe it last happened on Friday when I started the car and it was on for roughly 10 minutes. Have to say I was really wondering "what's wrong with the car" :)

Another thing that car is having is pressurized gasoline tank to avoid degradation of the fuel. If I'm correct this is reason behind it https://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/238063...

Sounds like they do keep track and will invoke special modes if the gas is gonna go “stale”: https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/can-gasoline-go-...

The Chevy Volt (or Opel Ampera in my case, but same thing essentially) keeps track of fuel age somehow and will run the engine to burn fuel if it sits in the tank too long. The other points in that list don’t seem applicable.

You really don’t need a PHEV in the US at least.

Tesla charging options are so plentiful…

I say this to people and they say “but Teslas are so expensive.” And then they end up buying an Audi or BMW, and when they later test drive a Tesla, they regret their decision.

It will be interesting to see what opening up SuperChargers to non-Tesla vehicles is going to do for availability though. I often see the sites near me full or near-full as it is.

They are adding stations at a fast clip. I suspect Tesla is going to own this space if the other companies don’t up their game.

> You really don’t need a PHEV in the US at least

You misspelled "California". In major US cities, you are lucky to have one super-charger per million people. If you live in an apartment (as many people do) and cannot charge your car in the parking lot (which, due to power load requirements, most people cannot), you don't have a great way to keep your Tesla filled up.

Superchargers are not the only way to charge a Tesla though.

And about apartments… you’re replying to someone who managed very well with two Teslas in an apartment for two years with no at home charging options. We rarely used the local supercharger, although it helped when fast charging was needed. J1772 chargers are plentiful and cheap (sometimes free).

Nowadays we found a way to make a 110 cord reach, and while slow, it easily keeps two cars well charged.

This is real life experience for me. It’s worked great.

> J1772 chargers are plentiful and cheap (sometimes free).

And where do you live that that's the case? Because they're probably far more common in California (or the PNW) than elsewhere in America.

Currently living in one of the poorest and least populated states in the US, where EV ownership is near nil, and there are plenty if chargers in my town. If this isn’t the case where you live, you could always help encourage your local businesses, government, and other entities to consider installing chargers. They sometimes just don’t know there is any interest.

Tesla charging options are only plentiful is some parts of the US. In other regions of the US they are sparse even along interstates. In some regions with this property, like the mountain west, road closures that incur very long unplanned detours are a thing you have to plan for even as an ICE driver. Those detours can take you a long way from a charging station but you can find a gas station in just about every podunk town of 300 people.

There is a chicken and egg problem here. In parts of the country that rely on sparse networks of gas stations for their cars, few people would buy a BEV unless all of those gas stations simultaneously added chargers in the complete absence of local demand.

You don’t need a supercharger to charge or even to fast charge. Other chargers work too. There are CHAdeMO chargers in a lot of places (need an expensive adapter, $450, but very worthwhile purchase). Mountain west? I’ve been seeing CHAdeMO all over the place… Grants, NM. Pagosa Springs, CO. Santa Fe, NM. Lewiston, ID. Taos has a surfeit of Tesla (non supercharger) connectors, most free! Or there’s J1772, everywhere practically, a slower option best for when you need to stop for other reasons, and the adapter comes with the car. Chargers are popping up everywhere. And electrical outlets are in every building pretty much so sleeping in the right place helps too.

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