Zero E-Michigan: Recent Episodes
Karl Bloss
On this show we try to explore and simplify what’s happening with electric vehicles, energy generation, and zero emissions topics with a focus on our home state of Michigan. Together with our guests we demystify topics related to driving electric in Michigan and how you can select, charge, maintain, and get the maximum value out of your EV.
A team of reporters from the Bridge MI publication took an EV Road Trip in a rented Chevy Bolt EV. I caught up with 2 of them to do a post-trip discussion about lessons learned and their perceptions as EV newbies.
Show Notes and Links
- Bridge MI - https://www.bridgemi.com/
- Kelly House - https://www.bridgemi.com/about/kelly-house
- Paula Gardner - https://www.bridgemi.com/about/paula-gardner
- The Road Trip - https://www.bridgemi.com/tags/2024-michigan-ev-road-trip
- Wrap up article - https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/five-days-1180-miles-lots-headaches-and-fun-driving-michigan-ev
- Snowmobile Museum article - https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/michigan-history-and-ev-future-collide-snowmobile-museum
- EV Evangelists article - https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/michigans-ev-evangelists-luring-fence-sitters-away-gas-cars
- SS Badger Ferry - https://ssbadger.com/
- Michigan EV Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
- National Drive Electric Week - https://driveelectricweek.org/attend
- Grizzl-E Mini Portable EV Charger - https://amzn.to/4fKPuIe
Gear we use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
We've been busy and traveling, so while we haven't had any guests for a while, here's a quick update from Zero E-Michigan.
Show Notes and Links
- Electrics at the Dragon overview - https://youtu.be/5CdhRfdS4fc
- Boondox Motorsports - https://www.boondoxmi.us/
- Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures - https://www.hamiltonsnorthcoast.com/
- KEVA Monthly Meeting at the Gilmore - https://www.facebook.com/events/1441335859854994/
- Consumers Energy Ride and Drive - https://xpeventreg.com/ceevdrive
- Tesla Summer Meetup - https://teslamichigan.org/summer-meetup/
Please consider making a one-time donation to our channel of a coffee. We would be grateful! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zeroemichigan
Gear I use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
While Karl is away on his motorcycle journey (see the videos on the YouTube channel 0 link below), Larry and Walter from The Network Architect Channel chatted about what's going on with Fisker and Tesla.
https://www.youtube.com/@0e-michigan
Bethany Tabor, the Manager of Commercial Electric Transportation Programs at Consumers Energy, shares the latest on the PowerMIDrive and PowerMIFleet programs. PowerMIDrive includes public charging projects in the Consumers Energy electric service territory.
The PowerMIFleet program helps customers consider and execute fleet electrification.
In addition to build-out of DC Fast Chargers, there's considerable activity in the Level 2 charging space including overnight accommodations, multi-family units, workplace, and community charging.
Show Notes and Links:
- Consumers Energy commercial EV programs - https://consumersenergy.com/businessev
- Consumers Energy EV programs - https://consumersenergy.com/ev
- PlugShare (tool for finding EV chargers) - https://www.plugshare.com/
- Red E Charge network - https://www.redecharge.com/
- Podcast with Abass El-Hage at Red E Charge - https://youtu.be/zXNulR03EpU
Please consider making a one-time donation to our channel of a coffee. We would be grateful! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zeroemichigan
Gear I use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
After a Spring Break pause, we're back with Red E Charge CEO Abass El-Hage. The Red E Charge network of DCFC and Level 2 chargers is growing here in Michigan and reliability is one of Red E's focus points.
Learn more about how Red E got started, how to charge on their network, and what's next for this growing network of chargers.
Show Notes and Links:
- Red E Charge - https://www.redecharge.com/
- Red E Charge Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/redecharge
- Spring Lake EV Charger - https://www.plugshare.com/location/540038
Please consider making a one-time donation to our channel of a coffee. We would be grateful! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zeroemichigan
Gear we use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
The 2024 Tesla Summer Meetup in Muskegon (Musk Elon?) promises to be THE Midwest EV event of the season! Project Manager Kelli Beth Sloan from the Tesla Owner's Club of Michigan and her husband and aide de camp Burt give us all the details. Listen to the end to get a few surprises!
- Tesla Owner’s Club of Michigan (TOCM) - https://teslamichigan.org/
- TOCM Event page - https://teslamichigan.org/summer-meetup/
- Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/763PmIbZf
Gear we use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
Please consider making a one-time donation to our channel of a coffee. We would be grateful! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zeroemichigan
Karl is solo today and gives a few updates related to his retirement and near future plans. Also, April with Earth Month is just around the corner. EV drivers in Michigan should consider getting involved.
Show Notes and Links:
- Your Money Or Your Life book - https://amzn.to/49NAIN0 (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
- Drive Electric Earth Month - https://driveelectricearthmonth.org/
- Kalamazoo DEEM event - https://driveelectricearthmonth.org/event?eventid=4179
- EVRider - https://evrider.tv/
- eMoto Designs DJ Rapid Charge - https://www.emotodesign.com/product-page/dj-rapidcharge
- WMEAC - https://wmeac.org/
- Sierra Club Michigan - https://www.sierraclub.org/michigan
- EV Association - https://www.myeva.org/
Gear we use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
Please consider making a one-time donation to our channel of a coffee. We would be grateful! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zeroemichigan
EV charging can be complicated and cryptic for new drivers. Chargeway demystifies electric fuel customized for each vehicle and driver with simple color and number icons.
We speak with Chargeway's founder and CEO Matt Teske about how it works and the value it can add for EV drivers, auto dealerships, and utilities.
Links:
- Chargeway - https://www.chargeway.net/
- Chargeway app - https://www.chargeway.net/mobile-app/
- PlugShare - https://www.plugshare.com/
Gear we use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
Please consider making a one-time donation to our channel of a coffee. We would be grateful! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zeroemichigan
Joe Kliewer didn't wait for an Aptera to take a solar road trip. He use a portable solar panel system and a Tesla Model Y to make the first self-contained electric Cannonball Run.
Show Notes and Links
- Solar Cannonball Run YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@solarcannonballrun
- System overview - https://youtu.be/pFWs6LJTYpY
- 4x4 Electric - https://4x4electric.com/
- Aptera solar electric vehicle - https://aptera.us/
- The Martian (book) - https://amzn.to/3UAsXp4
- Link to the solar panel stands - https://youtu.be/9Exf6YVUXLw
- Tesla Michigan 2024 Summer Meetup - https://teslamichigan.org/
Gear we use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
Please consider making a one-time donation to our channel of a coffee. We would be grateful! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zeroemichigan
Larry and I share our thoughts of the Michigan International Auto Show in Grand Rapids.
Please consider making a one-time donation to our channel of a coffee. We would be grateful! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zeroemichigan
Show Notes and Links
- Consumers Energy EV program - https://consumersenergy.com/ev
- Drive the Lightning - https://www.youtube.com/@dtl
- Interview with Karl - https://youtu.be/ucwT7aLbVjQ?si=rtjcmkt572DSWOki
- Aptera discussion - https://youtu.be/wA-_1ck3VbE?si=TXyhYXSJlgffecnX
- Auto Show summary - https://youtu.be/f6YoWeZ7KPQ?si=AdzJFkbeO0LwAKEr
- Electric Mitten blog - https://electricmitten.com/
- Sinclair C5 - https://electricmitten.com/news/2024/1/26/sinclair-c5
- Gilmore Car Museum - https://gilmorecarmuseum.org/
Gear I use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
In Part 2 of my discussion with Ben Brown, we dive into Ben's insights and questions regarding the Aptera including efficient use of resources, charging, color choice, crosswinds on the Mackinac Bridge, and the knob next to the license plate.
Show Notes and Links
- Ep 46 - Buying a House with EV Savings - Part 1 with Ben Brown
- Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2101329/14354836
- Video: https://youtu.be/QMfBRKPWp2k
- Aptera - https://aptera.us/
- Drive the Lightning - Aptera Right to Repair - https://youtu.be/B7kbl2wmdEc?si=qbejYwVF03TU7Ukh
- Towing and Charging with a Trailer - https://youtu.be/HafWmJeosNE
- Aptera Owner’s Club - https://www.youtube.com/@ApteraOwnersClub
- Get $30 off a $100 Aptera reservation ($70 total cost) with Karl's referral: https://lz953.isrefer.com/go/preorder/mhQKN3QP
- Aptera Investing - https://invest.aptera.us/
Disclaimer: I am not an investment advisor. I invested my own money in this company, but am not advising anyone for or against it. As with all investments, you may lose your complete investment if you choose to invest in Aptera.
Gear I use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
Ben Brown shares his EV story starting with a hybrid, a loaner EV, an EV purchase and resulting in Ben being able to afford a house from the EV savings. We dive into fuel and maintenance savings, short-range EVs, our first EV experiences, Ben's Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and much more.
Ben is also interested in an Aptera, but we ran during this recording so long I decided to keep that for Part 2. See Episode 47 for that discussion (scheduled for 1/31/24 release).
Gear I use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
Aptera - What is it, what are the basics, and why is it significant in the EV space? We dive into efficiency, why it matters, how Aptera got there, investing, price, and what do the next 12 months hold for this innovative company that is poised to bring a Solar Electric Vehicle to market.
Thanks to our new subscribers and listeners from the Drive the Lightning (https://www.youtube.com/@dtl) channel! We love having you here.
Show Notes and Links:
- Aptera - https://aptera.us/
- FAQ: https://aptera.us/faq/
- Drive The Lightning (DTL) - https://www.youtube.com/@dtl
- Aptera Owner’s Club - https://www.youtube.com/@ApteraOwnersClub
- DTL Right to Repair - https://youtu.be/B7kbl2wmdEc?si=irUAGrkbbVWGUAqs
- Aptera 3D Printing Model - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6101159
- CPC Italy (Bodies) - https://www.cpcgroup.it/en/
- Investment - https://invest.aptera.us/
- Accelerator Program - https://aptera.us/accelerate/
- Use Karl’s Referral Code to Get $30 off the $100 Vehicle Pre-Order: https://lz953.isrefer.com/go/preorder/mhQKN3QP
- Arcimoto - https://www.arcimoto.com/
Gear I use for podcasting (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases) :
- Logitech Streamcam - https://amzn.to/3U3HB86
- Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/3HgzzRT
- Microphone stand - https://amzn.to/41ZwcZ5
- Hollyland wireless lavalier mic - https://amzn.to/3Sgyek6
- Ring light and stand - https://amzn.to/48Oeyd6
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones - https://amzn.to/3SleD2l
Larry's back this week and we talk about some issues on his mind like used EVs and adoption as well as the Cybertruck.
Karl talks about his upcoming trip to the Aptera HQ for the EV Association Annual Meeting where he is receiving the EV Advocate of the Year Award.
We also chat about upcoming content like more on the 12V battery issue that received a lot of traction from our audience.
Show Notes and Links
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Nimbus EV - https://nimbusev.com/
- Aptera - https://aptera.us/
- Toyota Prius Prime PHEV - https://www.toyota.com/priusprime/
- Turo car rental - https://turo.com/
- Arcimoto - https://www.arcimoto.com/
- EV Association Award Winners 2023 - https://www.myeva.org/blog/eva-award-winners
- VW ID Buzz - https://www.vw.com/en/models/id-buzz.html
- 12V Battery tester - https://amzn.to/47onh4o (affiliate link)
Larry is off today so Karl gives a quick overview of what we seem coming in the Electric Vehicle space with a focus on Michigan and our sphere of influence.
Show Notes and Links
- Events:
- West Michigan EV Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
- Grand Rapids Auto Show: https://showspan.com/mas/
- EV Association annual meeting: https://www.myeva.org/annualmeeting
- 2024 EV federal tax credit changes:
- PlugIn America: https://pluginamerica.org/starting-jan-1-it-will-be-easier-and-cheaper-to-buy-a-new-or-used-ev/
- Electrek: https://electrek.co/2024/01/03/which-electric-vehicles-qualify-us-federal-tax-credit-ev-2024/
- Chevy Bolt value: https://insideevs.com/news/702789/chevrolet-bolt-ev-19995-dollars/
- Drive the Lightning - https://www.youtube.com/@dtl
- LSVs
- Nimbus: https://nimbusev.com/
- Wink: https://winkmotors.com/
- GEM: https://www.gemcar.com/
- https://electrek.co/2023/06/09/best-street-legal-electric-micro-cars-nevs-and-lsvs-you-can-buy-in-the-us/
- Toyota Prius Prime - Motor Trend Car of the Year: Toyota Prius Prime
- Micah Toll - Electrek: https://electrek.co/author/micahltoll/
- Flying J/Pilot EV charging build out reviews: https://www.youtube.com/@thenetworkarchitectchannel9507
- Hybrid repairs:
- Green Bean Battery: https://greenbeanbattery.com/home-page/
- Ervine’s Grand Rapids: https://www.ervines.com/
- Lakeshore Hybrid: https://www.tricityautorepair.com/
- Kia/Hyundai building EV factory: https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/news/CONT0000000000086002
- Tesla vs. BYD production and sales: https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/tesla-byd-rivalry-is-mostly-manufactured-now-2024-01-03/
Karl is flying solo today, has an announcement and then talks about train travel. He is visiting Kansas City and decided to take the train rather than fly or drive.
Show Notes and Links
- Consumers Energy EV programs - https://consumersenergy.com/ev
- Zero E-Michigan Blog:
- Direct: https://zeroemichigan.blogspot.com/
- Vanity URL: https://0em.org (that’s a leading zero, not an O)
- Vanity URL: https://zeroemichigan.org
- Archived Consumers Energy EV e-Newsletters: https://zeroemichigan.blogspot.com/2021/07/consumers-energy-ev-e-newsletters.html
- Amtrak - https://www.amtrak.com/
- Southwest Chief Train - https://www.amtrak.com/southwest-chief-train
- Amtrak Greenhouse Gas Footprint - https://www.amtrak.com/travel-green
- Hertz EV Rental - https://youtu.be/WRu9KEbOnVA
- Bird rental scooters - https://www.bird.co/
- Diesel trains are hybrids - https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/diesel-locomotive.htm
This week's guest is Walter Schulze from the Network Architect Channel. He has been following the build-out of the EVGo Flying J and Pilot travel centers, so we wanted to catch up with him to see what prompted him to follow that so closely. Along the way, we discovered how he got into EVs including a Tesla, a Volvo, and a Cadillac Lyriq.
Show Notes and Links
- The Network Architect Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thenetworkarchitectchannel9507
- EVGo pricing plans - https://www.evgo.com/pricing/
- Volvo - https://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/xc40-electric/
- Cadillac Lyriq - https://www.cadillac.com/electric/lyriq
- EVGo Charging Network - https://www.evgo.com/
- Pilot Flying J EV Charging - https://www.pilotflyingj.com/ev-charging
- PlugShare - https://www.plugshare.com/
- EVGo Autocharge - https://www.evgo.com/autocharge/
- White Zombie Datsun Electric Dragster - https://youtu.be/apoeGMWF17c?si=XLI_EjYhBoVPGTtf
- Electrify America Pricing - https://www.electrifyamerica.com/pricing/
- Zero SR/S Electric Motorcycles - https://zeromotorcycles.com/model/zero-srs
- Energica Electric Motorcycles - https://www.energicamotor.com/us/
- Lightship RV Travel Trailers - https://lightshiprv.com/
- Bucee’s Mercedes EV Charging Partnership - https://electrek.co/2023/11/09/mercedes-taps-largest-convenience-store-operator-ev-charging/
- Hy-Vee - https://www.hy-vee.com/
- Meijer - https://www.meijer.com/
- Meijer EVGo Partnership - https://www.meijer.com/
The CleanTechnica Article "EV Charging: We Have A Lot To Be Thankful For" gave me food for thought on this episode topic. We sometimes like to complain about things not moving faster in the EV space, but if you look back where we were just a few short years ago, we have to acknowledge that things are pretty good!
Show Notes and Links:
- Thankfulness vs. Gratitude - https://www.psychmc.com/blogs/difference-between-gratitude-and-thankfulness
- CleanTechnica - EV Charging: We Have A Lot To Be Thankful For - https://cleantechnica.com/2023/11/25/ev-charging-we-have-a-lot-to-be-thankful-for/
- Michelin Cross Climate 2 Tires: https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-crossclimate2
- EVs need winter tires - https://youtu.be/cSa4_at869U
- Charge Deals - https://www.chargedeals.us/
- Adopt A Charger - https://adoptacharger.org/
- PlugShare - https://www.plugshare.com/
- BP Boosts EV Charging with Tesla Hardware - https://www.bp.com/en_us/united-states/home/news/press-releases/bp-boosts-ev-charging-network-with-100-million-dollar-order-of-tesla-ultra-fast-chargers.html
- Flying J and Pilot EVGo Build Out Reviews - https://www.youtube.com/@thenetworkarchitectchannel9507
Taking a holiday road trip with your EV? A little bit of preparation goes a long way.
We spoke with seasoned Ford Mustang Mach E road tripper Luke Wilson about pointers for how to find charging along the way, etiquette for Level 1 and Level 2 charging at hotels as well as what to do and what to avoid at your destination.
Ordering a new Tesla? Use my referral code to get 6 months of free Supercharging (2023 offer): http://ts.la/karl5062
- Ford Mustang Mache E - https://www.ford.com/suvs/mach-e/
- A Better Route Planner - https://abetterrouteplanner.com/
- Plug and Charge - https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a35044132/plug-and-charge-ev-charging-mustang-mach-e/
- PlugShare - https://www.plugshare.com/
- EVGo - https://www.evgo.com/
- Electrify America Pass + Pricing - https://www.electrifyamerica.com/mobile-app/
- Tesla Destination Chargers - https://www.tesla.com/destination-charging
- Tesla Tap adapter - https://www.umc-j1772.com/
- Stormcloud Brewing Taproom - https://www.plugshare.com/location/155656
- Lucid Motors - https://lucidmotors.com/
- Spring Lake DCFC - https://www.plugshare.com/location/540038
- Red E Charging - https://www.redecharge.com/
- Travel Centers of America - Electrify America partnership - https://media.electrifyamerica.com/en-us/releases/204
- Flying J - EVGo partnership - https://pilotflyingj.com/press-release/19335
- Buc-ee’s - Mercedes charging partnership - https://electrek.co/2023/11/09/mercedes-taps-largest-convenience-store-operator-ev-charging/
The Dodge RAM and Ford Ranger pickup trucks have recently been announced coming out as plug-in hybrids (PHEV) versions. Larry and I talk about PHEV use cases to see what makes sense. There are also quite a few used PHEVs on the market.
If you're considering a plug-in vehicle, this might be a good way to get into EVs without the range anxiety or needing to find public charging on a road trip.
Show Notes and Links
- How does a plug-in hybrid work? https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-plug-in-hybrid-electric-cars-work
- Plug-In America Vehicle Guide - https://pluginamerica.org/learn/guide/
- Which plug-in vehicles qualify for the federal tax credit? https://electrek.co/2023/11/07/which-electric-vehicles-still-qualify-for-us-federal-tax-credit/
- CleanTechnica: “The PHEV Era Needs to End, Now” - https://cleantechnica.com/2020/06/10/the-phev-era-needs-to-end-now/
- RAM PHEV
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/07/new-ram-pickup-ev-has-gas-powered-electric-generator.html
- https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1141355_2025-ram-1500-ramcharger-plug-in-hybrid-pickup-ev-range
- Why a V6? https://insideevs.com/news/695698/2025-ram-ramcharger-v6/
- Ford Ranger PHEV - https://www.drivingline.com/articles/ford-introduces-ranger-plug-in-hybrid-is-this-a-game-changing-alternative-to-full-electric-pickups/
- Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid uses a 3.6 L Engine - https://www.caranddriver.com/chrysler/pacifica
- Hybrids vs. PHEVs - https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1137409_phevs-are-no-longer-a-no-brainer-vs-hybrids
- Used EV tax credit
- Electrek overview - https://electrek.co/2023/08/07/here-are-all-the-used-evs-that-qualify-for-the-new-4000-tax-credit/
- IRS - https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/used-clean-vehicle-credit
Dave Stein joins us to talk about the Portage MI Celebrations Cinema whose EV chargers were taken off-line. Larry has been arguing that they should be reactivated, but we take a deep dive whether that makes sense.
What makes a good Level 2 charging location? What's the business case for the site host?
Show Notes and Links
- Celebration Cinema Crossroads, Portage, MI - https://www.celebrationcinema.com/cinemas/celebration-cinema-crossroads
- Loss Aversion Behavior - https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedia-of-be/loss-aversion/
- ChargePoint - https://www.chargepoint.com/
- Blink Charging - https://blinkcharging.com/
- Orange Charger - https://www.orangecharger.com/
- Orange Charger review - https://youtu.be/k5ca_JcHUY0?si=oTI2gzxzi2kaAIy4
- Red E Charge - https://www.redecharge.com/
- Electrify America:
- https://www.electrifyamerica.com/
- EA location at Sam’s Club Portage, MI -https://www.plugshare.com/location/171112
- Consumers Energy
- Residential EV Charging - https://www.consumersenergy.com/ev
- Commercial EV Charging - https://www.consumersenergy.com/business/products-and-services/electric-vehicle-support-for-business
- Adopt a Charger - https://adoptacharger.org/
- Grizzl-E chargers - https://grizzl-e.com/products/grizzl-e-classic/
- Grizzl-E Duo - https://grizzl-e.com/products/grizzl-e-duo/
- Enphase (former Clipper Creek) EV chargers - https://enphase.com/store/ev-chargers
- Charlotte MI Community Library EV charger - https://www.plugshare.com/location/322556
- LEED building certification - https://www.usgbc.org/leed
Big power hungry RVs are already causing power overloads at campgrounds, but charging EVs at the site adds to that issue. We speak with seasoned camper and EV owner Ken Mol about how to charge at campgrounds, how to minimize power shortages, and the etiquette surrounding EV charging in an RV Park.
Show Notes and Links
- KOA - https://koa.com/
- PlugShare - http://www.plugshare.com/
- Difference between 30A and 50A RV Outlet - https://koa.com/blog/30-vs-50-amp-rv-service/
- What is an EVSE? - https://www.evconnect.com/blog/what-is-evse
- Angled extension cord with switch - https://a.co/d/dA9AcYv
- EV Charging Adapter NEMA TT-30P to 14-50R - https://a.co/d/fKHYhKA
- WORKERSBEE Level 2 EV Charger, 110V-240V 32Amp, NEMA 14-50 Plug, 25ft Extension Cord, Indoor/Outdoor Portable EVSE Electric Vehicle Charger, Compatible with J1772 EVs - https://a.co/d/2OjzCHL
- Parkworld 692095 RV 50 AMP Splitter Adapter, 240V Splitter 14-50P Male Plug to Dual 14-50R Female Connector 3FT (Black) - https://a.co/d/6xmObjW
- RV Park Energy Metering - https://www.ekmmetering.com/pages/rv-parks
- Should RV Parks Meter Power? - https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electricity-rv-park-meter-power-rvt-1045/
- Mackinaw City KOA Charger - https://www.plugshare.com/location/318744
- RV Trailers with Batteries - https://cleantechnica.com/2023/04/21/a-self-propelled-battery-powered-travel-trailer-from-tesla-other-auto-tech-alums-a-cleantechnica-exclusive/
- Ludington Pumped Storage - https://www.consumersenergy.com/company/electric-generation/renewables/hydroelectric/pumped-storage-hydro-electricity
- Transport Evolved - How The Ford F150 LIghtning Home Integration System ACTUALLY Works - https://youtu.be/a6a6MYmks7A?si=wlfva2BiazaooW68
- Claybanks Township Campground - https://www.claybankstownship.org/claybanks-township-park/camping-at-claybanks-township-park/
Hertz store manager Oren Danino spoke with us about his experience renting out Teslas, Polestar, Volvos, Kias, and many other EVs from his location at 640 28th Street Southeast in Grand Rapids, MI.
He shared some fascinating facts and experiences of how the EV rental business is progressing.
Show Notes and Links
- Hertz EV Rentals - https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/rental-car-deals/electric-car-rentals/
- Hertz 28th Street Grand Rapids location - https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/location/unitedstates/michigan/grandrapids/GRRC20
- Activating Shell Recharge with ChargePoint app - https://youtu.be/gyOOvRVFIzY
- Tesla “Magic Dock” Charge your non-Tesla - https://www.tesla.com/support/non-tesla-supercharging
- SparkCharge EV roadside charging - https://www.sparkcharge.io/
- GM EV1
- Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1
- “Who Killed the Electric Car” - the GM EV1 story - https://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/
- EV1 display locations:
- Studebaker National Museum, South Bend, IN - https://www.studebakermuseum.org/
- R.E. Olds Museum, Lansing, MI - https://www.reoldsmuseum.org/
- Volvo C40 - https://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/c40-electric/
- Polestar - https://www.polestar.com/us/
Today we just have a brief update on upcoming West Michigan EV events and a sneak preview of next week's podcast.
The latest is always on the West Michigan EV Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
Specifically, the events page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/211692479643336/events
This week we have a fun and lively conversation with Brad and Erik - aka Teach and Spark. These two convert small EVs like golf cars, shuttle buses, and pontoon boats to be powered on solar panels so those vehicles never need to be plugged in. They also add an inverter to allow vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology so the excess energy can be used for other useful purposes.
Show Notes and Links
- ZSR Solar: https://zsrsolar.com/
- Zynoc Foundation: http://www.zynoc.com/
- Aptera: https://aptera.us/
- Polaris GEM EVs: https://www.gemcar.com/
- National Drive Electric Week: https://driveelectricweek.org/
- Rivian Amazon delivery van: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/everything-you-need-to-know-about-amazons-electric-delivery-vans-from-rivian
- 4x4 Solar Electric across Africa: https://4x4electric.com/
Dave Stein was a Subaru guy. He dipped his toes into the EV world with a 2nd generation Chevy Volt and then made the leap to a Kia EV6 AWD.
As a software engineer in the auto industry he also “hacked” his Chevy Volt with a switch to avoid the combustion engine (ICE) from starting just to heat the cabin.We also give into AWD performance and winter tires for Michigan driving.
Show Notes and Links
- Chevy Volt - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt
- Kia EV6 - https://www.kia.com/us/en/ev6
- Kia Niro - https://www.kia.com/us/en/niro
- Subaru Solterra - https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/solterra.html
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 - https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/ioniq-6
- EV Community
- Electric Vehicle Association - https://www.myeva.org/chapter-list
- Kalamazoo EV Association - https://www.facebook.com/KalamazooEVA/
- West Michigan EV Enthusiasts Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
- Mastodon - https://mastodon.social/explore
- The Social Dilemma - https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/
- Tires
- Consumer Reports - “Why You Should Be Driving on Winter/Snow Tires” https://www.consumerreports.org/winter-driving/why-you-should-be-driving-on-winter-snow-tires/
- Bridgestone Blizzak - https://www.bridgestonetire.com/our-tires/tire-brand/blizzak/
- Nokian - https://www.nokiantires.com/
- Michelin Cross Climate 2 - https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-crossclimate2
- Finding free charging - https://www.plugshare.com/
- LEED certification and EV charging - https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-core-and-shell-retail-new-construction-data-centers-new-construction-1?return=/credits/New%20Construction/v4.1
- Speed and EV range - https://www.geotab.com/blog/ev-range-impact-of-speed-and-temperature/
- Wind drag formula - https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/rocket/drageq.html
- EV brake maintenance - Tesla brake clinic: https://youtu.be/CNz122uqBqE
- Chevy Volt cabin air filter replacement - https://youtu.be/5-c-0hutT3w?si=b5Km7wmDv1pGZGLw
- Chevy Volt ERDTT Hack - Hack achieved! ERDTT is
Anil Verma tested both a generator and a battery backup system to charge his Tesla, but his EV charger faulted. Using this simple gizmo, a neutral ground bonding plug, he was able to make it work. We talk to Anil what prompted this test, how fast and how many miles per hour can you get with this method and why would you want to.
Anil also shared the details of his home solar panel system and battery backup. From there were nerded out a bit more about solar charging, vehicle to load, and a few other upcoming technologies.
Show Notes and Links
- Tesla mobile connector: https://shop.tesla.com/product/mobile-connector
- Southwire neutral-grounding plug: https://a.co/d/2es5zqT
- Multi-outlet extension: https://a.co/d/e9IEXY8
- Making a neutral grounding plug: https://youtu.be/iFpm04iJdGw?si=McT4bACfgadVW-aW
- Jackery portable power packs and solar generators: https://www.jackery.com/
- Aptera solar electric vehicle - https://www.aptera.us/
- What is a power inverter? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_inverter
- Camper EMS - https://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-pt50x
- Mobile EV charging: https://www.sparkcharge.io/
- Tow charging a vehicle - Marc Travels: https://youtu.be/kw9MohZi3lk?si=ryc168K1SVlZrgcs
- Enphase Energy: https://enphase.com/store
- Clipper Creek EV chargers: https://clippercreek.com/
- LiFePO4 vs Lithium Ion batteries: https://www.jackery.com/blogs/knowledge/lifepo4-vs-lithium-ion-batteries
- National Drive Electric Week - Attend National Drive Electric Week
Jeff Myron, the Director of Transportation Electrification Programs at Consumers Energy, joins us to talk about his personal journey to EVs including his home installation. He used the electrician network provided by Consumers Energy to install his home charging that included a panel upgrade and a dual J1772 EVSE (charger).
Jeff also gives some insights into Consumers Energy's other EV programs including PowerMIFleet, PowerMIDrive charging at overnight accommodations, as well as upcoming Community Charging locations.
Show Notes and Links
- Jeff Myrom LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-myrom-036b218/
- Consumers Energy EV programs: https://consumersenergy.com/ev
- Find an electrician: https://ev.consumersenergy.com/electricians
- Smart Charging Incentive ($10 for 12 months for off-peak charging): https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/programs-and-services/electric-vehicles/smart-charging-incentive
- Multi-family property incentives: https://www.consumersenergy.com/business/products-and-services/electric-vehicle-support-for-business/multifamily-property-ev-charger-rebate
- Community EV charging: https://www.consumersenergy.com/business/products-and-services/electric-vehicle-support-for-business/community-ev-charging-rebate
- PowerMIFleet: https://www.consumersenergy.com/business/products-and-services/powermifleet
- Kia EV6 - https://www.kia.com/us/en/ev6
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 - https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/ioniq-5
- Clipper Creek EV chargers: https://clippercreek.com/
- Heat pump water heaters: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-water-heaters
- Ventless (condensing) clothes dryers: https://reviewed.usatoday.com/laundry/features/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ventless-dryers
- Grizzl-E EV chargers: https://grizzl-e.com/product-category/usa/chargers-usa/
- Grizzl-E Duo: https://unitedchargers.com/products/grizzl-e-duo
- Ford Pro Charger: https://chargers.ford.com/ford-charge-station-pro
- Vehicle to Load adapter: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/hands-on-hyundai-kia-v2l/
- Smart splitter:
- NeoCharge: https://getneocharge.com/products/neocharge-smart-splitter
- Splitvolt: https://splitvolt.com/
- Lectron: htt
Repeat guest and SW Michigan EV Association president Paul Pancella walks us through the upcoming EV events for August, September, and part of October. National Drive Electric Week is the big one with multiple individual events throughout late September and early October.
Show Notes and Links:
Organizations:
- KEVA - https://www.facebook.com/KalamazooEVA/
- West Michigan EV Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
- Electric Vehicle Association chapters: https://www.myeva.org/chapter-list
Events:
- 8/16, 5 - 8 PM - Gilmore Museum EV Cruise-In: https://gilmorecarmuseum.org/events/wednesday-night-cruise-in-08-16-2023
- 8/17, 6 - 8 PM - West Michigan EV Facebook Group - EV Driver Social Event at Bier Distillery - https://fb.me/e/4wSyoTYU7
- 8/24, 5 - 8 PM - Ervine’s EV Car Show Grand Rapids - https://fb.me/e/30WK3Pqfm
-
8/25 and 8/26, 2pm-9pm on Friday, 11am-9pm on Saturday - 28th Street Metro Cruise - Woodland Mall: https://28thstreetmetrocruise.org/
-
National Drive Electric Week
- Organized by Plug-In America: https://pluginamerica.org/
- Main events page: https://driveelectricweek.org/attend
- 9/22, 5 - 7:30 PM - Hastings, MI: https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=4006
- 9/23, 10 AM - 3 PM - Kalamazoo, MI: https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=3894
- 9/28, 7 - 8 PM: “Is an Electric Car Right for Me?”, Portage Public Library: Is an Electric Car Right for Me? | Demco Software (evanced.info)
- 9/30, 10 AM - 3 PM - Grand Rapids, MI: https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=3920
-
10/1, 10 AM - 3 PM - East Lansing, MI: https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=3974
-
10/21, 11 AM - 3 PM: Tesla Tunnel of Trees Ride:
- Event description (Facebook): https://fb.me/e/RZIgnVtS
- Eventbrite tickets (free): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-tunnel-of-trees-fall-drive-tickets-655225847147
Got an EV? You'll want to download these smartphone apps to make charging and managing your EV much easier. If you have a flip phone, there are a few workarounds, but you'll run into some limits.
We dive into which apps make the most sense with a focus on Michigan EV drivers.
Links
- PlugShare -
- Main: https://www.plugshare.com/
- App: https://company.plugshare.com/plugshare.html
- A Better Route Planner - https://abetterrouteplanner.com/
- Google Maps:
- https://support.google.com/maps/answer/9773205?hl=en
- https://electrek.co/2023/02/08/google-maps-enhances-ev-experience-with-new-charging-options/
- Marc Travels: https://www.youtube.com/@MarcTravels
- ChargePoint: https://www.chargepoint.com/
- Electrify America: https://www.electrifyamerica.com/
- Shell Recharge: https://shellrecharge.com/
- Blink: https://blinkcharging.com/
- EVGo: https://evgo.com/
- Enel X: https://www.company.enelxway.com/en/our-offer/enel-x-way-app-charging-service
- Circle K: https://www.circlek.com/charge
- 7-Eleven: https://www.7-eleven.com/7charge
- Red E Charge: https://www.redecharge.com/
- Electrify Canada: https://www.electrify-canada.ca/
- Flo: https://www.flo.com/
- Circuit Electrique: https://lecircuitelectrique.com/en/
Today we focus on the joy and positives about EV ownership and advocacy. Kudos to Tesla fan, owner, and employee Yanik Dhont for coming up with this concept.
Notes and Links:
EV Zen Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/938608853881847
Fully Charged podcast: https://fullycharged.show/podcasts/
Zero SR/S Motorcycle: https://zeromotorcycles.com/model/zero-srs
EV Noire: https://www.evnoire.com/
WKTV “Plug In West Michigan” podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6slyY5cVOv71rTw785mFHk
Prof. Paul Pancella on Plug In West Michigan: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7CKWHjKm4k2s67B82S0nok?si=saka3WeRQhmDrfcGjA5l5g
Paul Pancell in WMU News: https://wmich.edu/news/2022/11/69761
Detroit Electric car: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Electric
Cartier Mansion B&B Edison Suite: https://www.cartiermansion.com/carriage-house
Help make life easier for other EV drivers and ultimately yourself by following a few basic etiquette tips.
Larry and I talk about the most common ways to interact with other EV drivers.
After a few recent encounters with EV novices, we thought a quick primer on charging basics was appropriate.
We dive into range, charging and road trip planning with a view towards new EV drivers.
Links:
PlugShare https://PlugShare.com
App: https://company.plugshare.com/plugshare.html
ChargePoint https://ChargePoint.com
App: https://www.chargepoint.com/drivers/mobile
Electrify America https://www.electrifyamerica.com/
App: https://www.electrifyamerica.com/mobile-app/
Blink Charging https://blinkcharging.com/
App: https://blinkcharging.com/corporate/blink-mobile-app/?locale=en
Red E Charge: https://www.redecharge.com/
Shell Recharge App: https://shellrecharge.com/en-us/solutions/ev-drivers
Using EV Charging RFID Card When App Fails - https://youtu.be/V6an8rvRaKw
PlugShare Trip Planner: https://www.plugshare.com/trip-planner.html
PlugShare Trip Planner example: https://youtu.be/IOX--IYjxjA?t=431
A Better Route Planner (ABRP): https://abetterrouteplanner.com/
ABRP example: https://youtu.be/IOX--IYjxjA?t=618
Level 1 home charging: https://youtu.be/Tewby4m0_FI
Level 2 home charging - contact your utility: https://consumersenergy.com/ev
Home charging outlets versus hardwired installation: https://youtu.be/_JlMOzx44ss
My Tesla Weekend with Zero E-Michigan: https://youtu.be/Geel5mLoPFM
In this episode we discuss materials needed for EVs, our collective blindness to those needs, how EV efficiency is related, and how we can respond as consumers and EV drivers.
Links:
- Union of Concerned Scientists - Driving Cleaner - How Electric Cars and Pick-Ups Beat Gasoline on Lifetime Global Warming Emissions - https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/driving-cleaner
- Rocky Mountain Institute - The EV Battery Supply Chain Explained https://rmi.org/the-ev-battery-supply-chain-explained/
- Cleantechnica - Are There Enough Materials To Manufacture All The Electric Vehicles Needed? https://cleantechnica.com/2022/11/19/are-there-enough-materials-to-manufacture-all-the-electric-vehicles-needed/
- Charged EVs - EU study examines shortage of critical metals for EVs https://chargedevs.com/newswire/eu-study-examines-shortage-of-critical-metals-for-evs/
- The Great Simplification - https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/
Dr. Simon Michaux: “Minerals and Materials Blindness” | The Great Simplification #19- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0pt3ioQuNc - Electric Vehicles: Arthur Berman, Pedro Prieto, & Simon Michaux | Reality Roundtable #1- https://youtu.be/5stPFdegJpg
- Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet - Tom Murphy: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9js5291m
- You don’t need an SUV. You need a (much) cheaper electric cargo bike. Here’s why - https://electrek.co/2022/12/30/you-do-not-need-suv-electric-cargo-bike/
- Aptera solar electric vehicle - https://aptera.us/
- Arcimoto electric 3-wheeled vehicle - https://www.arcimoto.com/
For EV drivers in the Consumers Energy electric territory, ready to save $620? The updated PowerMIDrive rebate program now lets you double dip on the home charging rebate and the Smart Charging Incentive that pays you to charge during off-peak periods.
My EV Specialist colleagues Carson Seal and Justin Stowe dig into what the EV Specialist role does, how the program works and how to get started.
- Consumers Energy: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/programs-and-services/electric-vehicles?utm_campaign=electric-vehicles&utm_medium=vanity-url&utm_source=ev&utm_content=ev
- Home charger rebate application: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/programs-and-services/electric-vehicles/home-charger-rebates/rebate-application
- PowerMIDrive Terms and Conditions: https://www.consumersenergy.com/-/media/CE/Documents/residential/programs-and-services/electric-vehicles/powermidrive-residential-terms-and-conditions.ashx
- Residential electric rates: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/rates/electric-rates-and-programs/rate-plan-options
- Nighttime Savers Rate: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/rates/electric-rates-and-programs/rate-plan-options/nighttime-savers
On this week's podcast, we have a treat for you. Saturday June 18, 2023 was the Michigan Tesla Owners' Club 3rd annual Tesla Summer Meetup. We have for you the entire recording of the panel from the event and it includes some pretty big names.
Our distinguished panel includes:
Mike Lichterman - MI Tesla Guy - Moderator
Yours Truly Karl Bloss - Consumers Energy and Zero E-Michigan
Brian White - My Tesla Weekend
Cory Steuben - President Munro and Associates
Chris Joe - Dirty Tesla and President of the Tesla Owner's Club of Michigan
Topics:
- Reasons for Tesla's success
- Biggest changes in FSD
- Reasons for Munro Live and Sandy Munro's success
- Advice for YouTubers and other content creators
- Tips for EV drivers regarding home charging, rebates, and other incentives
- Solutions for those in multi-dwelling units like condominiums and apartments without a dedicated garage
- Q & A
Links:
Mike Lichterman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlichterman/
Consumers Energy EV - https://consumersenergy.com/ev
My Tesla Weekend - https://www.youtube.com/@MyTeslaWeekend
Munro Live Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@munrolivepodcast
Dirty Tesla - https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyTesla
Tesla Summer Meetup 2023 - https://www.teslamichigan.org/2023-summer-meetup
Ford and GM have decided to outfit future vehicles with the NACS or Tesla connector and get access to the Supercharger network. We take a crack at what this means for our audience.
- https://youtu.be/4b5MSBjYaCQ - Two-Bit DaVinci NACS Review
- https://youtu.be/BfrgG8MmrLI - Out of Spec motoring NACS Review
- https://electrek.co/2023/06/09/white-house-throws-cold-water-tesla-nacs-victory/ -
- https://youtu.be/KrXpqRVuKUg - Ep 06 - EV Motorcycle Touring on a Harley-Davidson LiveWire with Ben Marshall
Bob Raymond wanted peace and quiet on the lake, so he pulled out the noisy stinky outboard and replaced it with an Elco outboard, batteries, and charging system. We spoke with Bob on the parts and cost associated with the conversion.
Details and links:
- 12 volt / 200 Ah (200A BMS) Lithium Batteries: www.amperetime.com
- Elco 20 HP electric outboard motor: https://www.elcomotoryachts.com/product-category/electric-outboards/
- NOCO Battery charger (4 channel): https://a.co/d/fMT1Dva
- NOCO Battery charger (1 channel): https://a.co/d/imYO92v
- Victron Bluetooth battery monitor: https://www.elcomotoryachts.com/shop/batteries-accessories/battery-monitors/victron-bmv-712/#gref
- Livorsi side mount remote throttle: https://www.elcomotoryachts.com/shop/batteries-accessories/livorsi-side-mount-remote-throttle/#gref
- Google Photos album for Bob's conversion: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yjR4dyctMHM4YG8WA
In the US and China, women typically make up less than a third of new EV buyers according to CleanTechnica. Cristina Muñoz stopped by the Grand Rapids Drive Electric Earth Day and so we thought it would be fun to have her on the show for the topic of women and EVs.
Henry Ford’s wife Clara drove a 1914 Detroit electric car. Kate Cartier, the wife of Warren Cartier, a prominent Ludington businessman, drove a 1917 Detroit Electric Car.
Automakers around the world are having a tough time getting women to embrace EVs. It’s hard to understand, as studies show that environmental issues and climate change are more important to women than men.
Join us as we dive into how Cristina got started with EVs and her thoughts on the subject.
CleanTechnica - Why Women Are Slow To Embrace EVs - https://cleantechnica.com/2022/08/01/why-women-are-slow-to-embrace-evs/
Cartier Mantion B&B Ludington - https://www.cartiermansion.com/carriage-house
Historic White Pine Village Museum (houses Kate Cartier’s 1917 Detroit Electric - https://historicwhitepinevillage.org/
Tesla Supercharger map - https://www.tesla.com/findus
EVJect Break Away EV Charger - https://youtu.be/8EoWpEIxXJ8
Michigan Tesla Club volunteers have adopted Superchargers by providing trash cans, windshield squeegees, and by cleaning up the areas around Tesla Superchargers and adjacent EV chargers.
We speak with Casey Loring as well as Kelli Beth and Burt Sloan about how the Adopt A Supercharger got started as well as future plans. Since most Michigan Superchargers are in Meijer parking lots, the group has formed a relationship with Meijer store directors and staff.
Show Notes
- Tesla Owners Club of Michigan: https://engage.tesla.com/clubs/michigan
- Coming soon: https://www.teslamichigan.org/
- How to Get Involved: info@teslamichigan.org
- Michigan Adopt A Supercharger Information: https://engage.tesla.com/articles/1258-tesla-owner-s-club-michigan-proud-roll-adopt-supercharger-program-2023
- Tesla Adopt a Supercharger Discord Server: https://discord.gg/uykAPc2d
- Summer Muskegon Beach Meetup: https://engage.tesla.com/articles/1290-rsvp-3rd-annual-tesla-summer-meetup-pere-marquette-beach-muskegon-mi-june-17-2023
- ChargeDeals: https://www.chargedeals.us/
- Consumers Energy home charging rebates: http://powermidrive.com/
Brian Martindale is in search of kidney donors for kids in need of a transplant. To raise awareness and funds, he is planning to drive a Chevy Bolt EV on a 15,000 mile trip around the US with multiple press events.
We spoke with Brian to find out about the program, his own journey to becoming a kidney donor as well as the upcoming EV journey in the Bolt.
Links:
Kidneys for Kids - https://KforK.org
Gofundme- "Driving For Life" - https://gofund.me/e572dbc5 [gofund.me]
Charitable Giving Fund (PayPal) - paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/4762105 [paypal.com]
Podcast Ep 05 - Solar Electric Trailer using a Bolt EV - https://youtu.be/Bz3Wl2iLMh8
Podcsat Ep 06 - Ben Marshall “You don’t get stuck, you get delayed.” https://youtu.be/KrXpqRVuKUg
Michigan Secretary of State - organ donation: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/resources/initiatives/organ-donation
Non-Tesla Supercharger Pilot - https://www.tesla.com/support/non-tesla-supercharging
Karma Apparel - https://karmaincapparel.net/
Chevy Bolt EV - https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/bolt-ev
Kia EV6 - https://www.kia.com/us/en/ev6
Media Coverage on Brian's Efforts:
https://www.wjtv.com/living-local/focused-on-health/kidneys-for-kids-kicks-off-national-tour/
https://www.wlbt.com/video/2022/09/12/kidneys-kids/
https://www.wnem.com/2022/09/16/bay-city-man-taking-advocacy-kidneys-kids-across-country/
https://www.whsv.com/2022/10/21/11-year-old-elkton-boy-need-kidney-donor/?fbclid=IwAR0CBnwzvRhTeCBzsCBt3eQ6LcZD1bzdIJOLAYLEDeLmTFTsR-MyKDNCed0
https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/hampton/hampton-toddler-needs-kidney-donor/?fbclid=IwAR2qexIQRRzO062qREwpSipVBMb6EsLzReqJXi4pHSIpzFIetBEA6XybvPo
https://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/2012/09/bay_city_girl_jessica_schwerin.html
https://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/2013/01/10_year-old_jessica_schwerin_a.html
https://nbc25news.com/news/local/burt-watson-chevy-donates-car-to-kidneys-for-kids
The Sports Car Club of America is embracing EVs into its programs. We spoke with Bolt EV driver Dayle Frame, the chair of the Electrified Vehicle Advisory Committee about what's new in this area of the SCCA.
Show Notes and Links:
- Sports Car Club of America (SCCA): https://www.scca.com/
- Dayle Frame contact: dframe@scca.com
- SCCA Board of Directors: https://www.scca.com/pages/board-of-directors
- SCCA Electrified Vehicle Advisory Committee: https://www.scca.com/articles/2014954-announcing-new-electrified-vehicle-advisory-committee
- MPGe calculator: https://www.inchcalculator.com/convert/mile-per-gallon-equivalent-to-mile-per-kilowatt-hour/
- Gingerman Raceway: https://www.gingermanraceway.com/
- Grattan Raceway: https://grattanracewaypark-mx.com/
- Michigan Racetracks: https://www.michigan.org/racetracks
- NFPA Emergency Response Guides for Alternative Fuel Vehicles: https://www.nfpa.org/Training-and-Events/By-topic/Alternative-Fuel-Vehicle-Safety-Training/Emergency-Response-Guides
- Electric GT (Note: this seems to not have taken off.): https://youtu.be/kvJIEIzIm0c
- FIA’s all-electric future for GT racing: https://jalopnik.com/the-fias-outlined-its-all-electric-future-for-gt-racing-1846729429
- Compact mobile DC Fast Charger: https://autelenergy.us/pages/maxicharger-dc-compact-mobile
- Nürburgring: https://www.nuerburgring.de/en.html
Overnight EV charging is super convenient and even better when you’re at a comfortable and secluded cabin in Up North Michigan. We talk to Sleepy Bear Cabin’s owner Brandon Walsh. He installed Level 2 charging with a Consumers Energy PowerMIDrive $500 rebate for his own use and now chooses to share the cabin with others by renting it out.
We also talk about Brandon’s journey to EVs including a Pacifica Hybrid, several Teslas including Model S and Model X vehicles plus his most recent acquisitions of a Rivian R1T and R1S.
If you’re looking for a secluded spot near Boyne Falls, Michigan with easy access to Petoskey, Charlevoix and even Mackinaw City, consider Sleepy Bear Cabin and spend more time relaxing and less time charging.
Show Notes:
- Sleepy Bear Cabin link: http://sleepybearcabin.net/
- Boyne Mountain Resort video short: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7oLkLXwIKGE
- PowerMIDrive EV charger rebate: http://powermidrive.com/
- ChargePoint Home Flex: https://www.chargepoint.com/drivers/home/chargepoint-home-flex
- Tesla J1772 adapter: https://shop.tesla.com/product/sae-j1772-charging-adapter
- Nespresso: https://www.nespresso.com/us/en/
- Tesla Model X: https://www.tesla.com/modelx
- Tesla Model S: https://www.tesla.com/models
- Rivian R1T: https://rivian.com/r1t
- Rivian R1S: https://rivian.com/r1s
- Zero E-Michigan podcast with Chris Lawrence: https://youtu.be/gPnI_79dIzY
- Drive Electric Earth Day events: https://driveelectricearthday.org/attend
- Toyota Prius Prime (PHEV): https://www.toyota.com/priusprime/
- Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (PHEV): https://www.chrysler.com/pacifica/hybrid.html
- Charging Non-Teslas at Tesla Superchargers with “Magic Dock”: https://www.tesla.com/support/non-tesla-supercharging
- PlugShare: https://www.plugshare.com/
Drive Electric Earth Month is here and there are quite a few events in Michigan this year starting with Grand Rapids.
Day: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm EDT
Location: Meijer Cascade, 5531 28th St Ct SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Details - https://driveelectricearthday.org/event?eventid=3734
Other events: https://driveelectricearthday.org/attend
DEED2023 #evcharging #evroadtrip #tesla #zeromotorcycles
This week we take a break from EVs to talk to the co-owner of Tortoise and Hare Farm. Brett and his partner Krista own and operate a certified Naturally Grown produce and flower farm in North Muskegon. In addition to selling their products at the Muskegon and Fulton Street Farmer's Markets, they offer their produce via a CSA share.
CSA or Community Supported Agriculture allows customers to subscribe to a weekly box of produce that help a predictable outlet for the farmer as well as provide an array of seasonal products for the customer.
We dive into how Brett and Krista got started, how Certified Organic and Naturally Grown produce is defined, the benefits of no-till farming as well as what's next for Tortoise and Hare.
If you're in the Muskegon area and are interested in a CSA, act soon since shares are running low. If you do miss out, their Farm Card is another great way to help support the farm or simply visit their stand.
Show Notes and Links:
- Tortoise and Hare Farm Links:
- Web: https://tortoise-hare-farm.square.site/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tortoiseandharefarm/
- Facebook Recipe Share: https://www.facebook.com/groups/725900747954784
- Online store including CSA: https://tortoise-hare-farm.square.site/s/order
- Farmer’s Markets:
- Muskegon Farmer’s Market: https://www.muskegonfarmersmarket.com/
- Fulton Street Market Grand Rapids: https://www.fultonstreetmarket.org/
- What is a CSA: https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/community-supported-agriculture
- Certified USDA organic: https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic
- Naturally Grown: https://www.naturallygrown.org/
We get a little nerdy this episode about Level 1 charging, use cases, and how it fits into the EV charging landscape. We dive into "use case" quite a bit which means how each vehicle is used and what the resulting charging needs are.
While trying to stay focused on Level 1 charging, we naturally diverge slightly into topics like solar, charging connectors, electric rates, as well as home vs. road trip vs. apartment charging needs.
Show Notes and Links
- Gasoline energy equivalent: https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Miles_per_gallon_gasoline_equivalent
- EV connectors (including J1772): https://insideevs.com/news/538888/different-electric-car-charging-connectors/
- Tesla J1772 adapter: https://shop.tesla.com/product/sae-j1772-charging-adapter
- NEMA connectors chart: https://www.americord.com/nema-charts
- DC Fast Charging curve: https://www.chargepoint.com/blog/how-dc-fast-charging-really-works-and-intro-charging-curves
- Consumers Energy electric rates: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/rates/electric-rates-and-programs/rate-plan-options
- CE Nighttime Savers rate: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/rates/electric-rates-and-programs/rate-plan-options/nighttime-savers
- Time of Use Rate FAQ: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/rates/electric-rates-and-programs/frequently-asked-questions
- The Duck Curve: https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/confronting-duck-curve-how-address-over-generation-solar-energy
- Consumers Energy Distributed Generation (Net Metering): https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/renewable-energy/distributed-generation
- Zappi EVSE (UK): https://www.myenergi.com/zappi-ev-charger/
- Emporia EVSE: https://www.emporiaenergy.com/emporia-ev-charger
- Level 1 Airport Charging: https://youtu.be/wrjZc1XYuGU
- Level 1 Destination Charging: https://youtu.be/OI8V8VHX4sM
- Orange Charger Smart Outlet - https://www.orangecharger.com/oro-products/orange-outlet
- F150 Lightning EV Pickup Truck - https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/f150-lightning/
- Aptera Solar Electric Vehicle - https://aptera.us/
EVs are usually a gateway for home solar panels. For Ryan Pringnitz, solar came first, then he added a Tesla Model Y Performance.
Regarding the Tesla: “It is a life changing experience. It isn't often you get to try something that you instantly know is going to change the world. It was like switching from a flip phone to your first smart phone. The Tesla isn't even 1 year old, and it already has over 13,200 miles. We really enjoy it. Dog mode is a game changer for us.”
Solar, dog mode, vehicle to grid, road trips, battery swapping... We cover a bunch of ground in this episode.
Show Notes:
- CE Newsletter: https://www.consumersenergy.com/-/media/CE/Documents/residential/programs-and-services/electric-vehicles/newsletter/2023/Q1-eNewsletter
- How to subscribe: Scroll to bottom of this page and find the “Stay Informed with our EV Newsletter” link. https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/programs-and-services/electric-vehicles
- Federal tax credit for solar: https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics
- Solar interconnection for Consumers Energy customers: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/renewable-energy/generation-interconnection-information
- Consumers Energy electric rates: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/rates/electric-rates-and-programs/rate-plan-options
- Ryan’s Solar Installer - Modern Mill Solar (844) 440-2880 https://www.modernmillsolar.com/
- Finding public charging: https://www.plugshare.com/
- LFP batteries: https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/lfp-battery-in-your-next-ev-tesla-and-others-say-yes
- Tesla battery swap video (2013): https://youtu.be/6_XEv2f_Uhw
- Trailer for EVs with its own battery: https://electrek.co/2023/03/08/lightship-unveils-l1-electric-rv-trailer-maintaining-full-range-ev-towing/
- Gogoro scooter with battery swap service: https://www.gogoro.com/
- Hyundai vehicle subscription: https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/3763
Chris Lawrence is a diesel truck guy and loves his Duramax Heavy Duty pickup truck. An encounter with a Tesla Model S in Scottsdale Arizona started the wheels turning on EVs. After test driving a Ford Mustang Mach E for a weekend and more research, he and his wife ordered a Tesla Model Y.
Chris walks us through his EV discovery timeline and what prompted him to go electric and how those new to EVs can avoid some of the same pitfalls in the process.
Links:
- Helios-Solar.com - https://www.helios-solar.com/ Brandon Flood (269) 343-5560
- Ride The Lightning - https://teslapodcast.libsyn.com/podcast
- Stu’s EV Universe - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stuart-ungar
- The EV Resource Podcast - https://www.ev-resource.com/
- EV News Daily Podcast - https://www.evnewsdaily.com/category/podcasts/
- Where did Electrify America come from? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrify_America
- Bloomberg Green Newsletter - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2020-01-21/green-daily
- Mach E trailer hitch
- Torklift: https://torkliftcentral.com/2021-ford-mustang-mach-e-trailer-hitch
- Curt: https://www.curtmfg.com/part/13480
- Jeff DeNooyer podcast episode: https://youtu.be/PT7hX2eO_-c
- Tony Seba: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyseba
- The Great Disruption (Tony Seba): https://youtu.be/Kj96nxtHdTU
- DEED events: Attend Drive Electric Earth Day
- KEVA - https://www.facebook.com/KalamazooEVA/
- West Michigan EV Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
Prompted by the news of Rivian opening a charging station in Benton Harbor Michigan for their customers only, Larry and I discuss private charging networks including, of course, what's happening with the Tesla Supercharger network.
We also discuss ideal charging network attributes.
Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
- West Michigan EV Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
- Rivian Charging Station Benton Harbor, MI: https://www.plugshare.com/location/497983
- Solar Electric Trailer on a Chevy Bolt EV with Gail and Devin Thorpe: https://youtu.be/Bz3Wl2iLMh8
- Harley Livewire with Ben Marshall: https://youtu.be/KrXpqRVuKUg
- Tesla Owner’s Club of Michigan: https://engage.tesla.com/clubs/michigan
evcharging #rivian #magicdock #tesla #teslasupercharger
We bought a 2023 Model Y on the recent price dip so I wanted to walk through the ordering and delivery process as well as give some first impressions of the vehicle.
Jeff DeNooyer is general manager of DeNooyer Ford in Vicksburg, MI. As part of the DeNooyer family of auto dealerships, Jeff has been ramping up EV sales and knowledge at his dealership as well as launching EZ Evolution, a business focused on home EV charger (EVSE) installations.
Car dealerships have sometime come under fire for not being knowledgeable on EVs and even steering buyers away from EVs, but the DeNooyer dealerships have been breaking that mold and embracing the shift to EVs.
On this show, we get Jeff's perspective of the EV business as well as his foray into home charger installation.
Show Notes and Links:
- DeNooyer Ford Vicksburg - https://www.denooyerford.net/
- EZ Evolution - https://ezevinstall.com/
- Consumers Energy EV Info - https://www.consumersenergy.com/ev
- Consumers Energy EV Charger Installation - https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/programs-and-services/electric-vehicles/home-charger-installation
- KEVA - Kalamazoo EV Association - https://www.facebook.com/KalamazooEVA/
- West Michigan EV Enthusiasts (Facebook) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
- Electric Vehicle Association Chapters: https://www.myeva.org/chapter-list
- Drive Electric Earth Day (April) - Drive Electric Earth Day
- National Drive Electric Week (September) - National Drive Electric Week
- Gilmore Car Museum - https://gilmorecarmuseum.org/
Ben Marshall has been touring on electric motorcycles for several years and is currently building a Long Way Up style H-D Livewire off-road capable EV touring bike.
We dive into Ben's start with a Zero DSR electric motorcycle and what motivated him to transition to the LiveWire.
Show Notes and Links:
- Ben’s YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AdventuresonZero
- Long Way Up - https://www.longwayup.com/
- LiveWire - https://www.livewire.com/
- LiveWire DelMar - https://www.livewire.com/s2-del-mar-electric-motorcycle
- Zero Motorcycles - https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/
- BDR - Backcountry Discovery Routes - https://ridebdr.com/
- Find EV charging with Plugshare - https://www.plugshare.com/
- Electrify America - https://www.electrifyamerica.com/
- Electrics at the Dragon - https://www.facebook.com/events/709986674132931
- Tesla opening up Supercharger Network - https://www.tesla.com/support/non-tesla-supercharging
Gail and Devin Thorpe ordered a Rivian R1T, but when delivery was pushed out, they decided not to wait to pull a camping trailer with an EV. Using their Chevy Bolt EV to pull an Aliner Scout, they hit the road and campgrounds with their electric camping combo.
We spoke with Gail and Devin about their journey, what motivated them, and their initial experience towing a camping travel trailer with an EV.
Show Notes and Links:
- Gail and Devin's "Our Solar Electric Trailer Journey" web page: http://oursolartrailer.com
- Gail and Devin's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@oursolartrailer
- Bill Bortzfield's EV Rider page: https://evrider.tv/
- EV Rider Episode with Gail and Devin: https://evrider.tv/youtube-couple-tows-aliner-camper-with-chevy-bolt/
- Bolt EV Torklift Ecohitch: https://torkliftcentral.com/2017-2023-chevy-bolt-ecohitch
- Electrified Garage: https://electrifiedgarage.com/our-locations/
- Aliner - Scout: https://aliner.com/campers/scout/
- Range with a trailer:
-- Effective daily range is under 250 miles
-- Target: One charge per day
-- 125 miles per charge with the trailer
-- Charging with the trailer attached is a pain. - Rivian R1T: https://rivian.com/r1t
- “Tesla” Bjørn Nyland: https://www.youtube.com/@bjornnyland
- Tesla Model 3 camping for 24 hours: https://youtu.be/8vzzG7GdcCc
- Tesla camping in winter conditions: https://insideevs.com/news/392645/tesla-camp-mode-test-winter/
- Tesla Model Y shade and insulation kit: https://a.co/d/2zp64H2
Reflective bubble wrap insulation: https://a.co/d/5fdUsgP
Ben Nelson recently added Vehicle to Load (V2L) - the ability to draw energy out of the battery for power household devices - to his 2023 Chevy Bolt EV. We discuss what is Vehicle to Load, Vehicle to Grid (V2G) and why this is a such a useful application for electric vehicles.
Show Notes:
Ben's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BenjaminNelsonX
Ben’s blog: https://300mpg.org/
Ben’s V2L video: https://youtu.be/I_j0NPZrH-c
Karl adds V2L to his Nissan LEAF: https://www.muskegonevguy.com/2019/02/how-to-power-your-home-during-power.html
Hyundai and Kia built in V2L: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/hands-on-hyundai-kia-v2l/
Ford F150 Lightning Intelligent Home V2L - State of Charge: https://youtu.be/P7gCIT5FoAw
Kill A Watt meter: http://www.p3international.com/products/p4400.html
Energy use:
Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use | Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/estimating-appliance-and-home-electronic-energy-use
Appliance Energy Use Chart | Silicon Valley Power - https://www.siliconvalleypower.com/residents/save-energy/appliance-energy-use-chart
Anderson connectors: https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/anderson-connector
Zappi charger (UK only): https://www.myenergi.com/zappi-ev-charger/
Aptera Motors revealed the Launch Edition of its solar electric vehicle which came with a few surprises, some of which were disappointing to reservation holders.
Karl discusses the ramifications with EV design engineer and efficiency specialist Kraig Schultz since we are both Aptera reservation holders.
Aptera Motors: https://www.aptera.us/
Aptera Launch Edition: https://youtu.be/NYI5HVCuU0U
Episode sponsor: Consumers Energy PowerMIDrive EV Program
With guest Kraig Schultz, we discuss EV efficiency trends and get advice on how to approach entry into the EV space.
Record date: 1/14/2023
- Podcast sponsor: Consumers Energy EV programs - https://www.consumersenergy.com/EV
- Guest is Kraig Schultz
- Schultz Engineering Various Project: https://www.schultzengineering.us/
- West Michigan EV Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
- Transport Evolved Hummer EV review: https://youtu.be/sK_vVt2oe1U
Full Show Notes in YouTube video version: https://youtu.be/c2V76reBhDo
In this inaugural episode of the Zero E--Michigan podcast, we welcome guest Luke Wilson to discuss EV road trips. Luke and his family bought a Ford Mustang Mach E and dove right in to EV road tripping with a family journey from Michigan to the US East Coast as well as a necessity trip to Minnesota.
We dive into EV road trip planning including tools like PlugShare Trip Planner, the Ford Pass app, and A Better Route Planner.
Show Notes:
- West Michigan EV and Plug-In Vehicle Enthusiasts Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestMichiganEV
- Consumers Energy EV pages: https://www.consumersenergy.com/ev
- Consumers Energy EV e-Newsletter June 2022 issue: https://consumers.mypreferencecenter.com/Global/StandardEmailView?subscriberId=69d088bc-118b-43ba-a31a-15653d65638b&campaignSendId=1a1791d5-8dbc-4666-83d3-bc25ba65cfe4&isTest=False
- Consumers Energy EV e-Newsletter Luke Wilson story: https://cdn.questline.com/asset/get/1c35e967-d8a4-4ec9-8d37-8de27e691d5a?rand=433183687
- National Drive Electric Week: https://driveelectricweek.org/
- PlugShare: https://www.plugshare.com/
- PlugShare Trip Planner: https://www.plugshare.com/trip-planner.html
- A Better Route Planner: https://abetterrouteplanner.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:47 Luke Wilson guest introduction
02:02 Luke's family EV road trip
04:28 Planning Process
07:00 Where did the plan fall apart?
08:33 Electrify America station struggle and solution
09:58 Ford Pass free energy
11:03 Charging costs and statistics
12:33 Public reaction to the Ford Mustang Mach E
13:40 The car is done charging faster than the people
14:22 Anatomy of an EV road trip: cadence
17:26 Traveling in a PHEV
24:22 Dual port charging! GM and Zero
25:24 Luke's road trip to Minnesota
27:48 Lessons learned, MN trip
29:34 When not to take an EV on a road trip
35:36 Planning an EV road trip out West
36:52 What is your ideal road trip EV?
45:45 Final EV road trip advice
46:25 Take advantage of Level 1 charging
50:37 Have conversations about EVs with people
53:14 Support "free" charging with tips and business
53:59 EV News - Chevy Electrek's car of the year
55:36 EV News - Muskegon Airport adds Level 1 chargers
56:53 Value Added - Hart, MI ChargePoint back online
58:04 Value Added - Cinema Carousel chargers
59:59 Value Added - Adapters for Tesla Destination Chargers
1:01:35 Value Added - Rockford has Tesla Destination Chargers near amenities
1:02:11 Outro
Karl Bloss and Larry Hudson give a quick introduction to the channel. We are focused on electric vehicle and zero emission topics specific to the state of Michigan.
This is our first discussion which includes an introduction and stories of how we got here and the message we hope to send.
Consumers Energy EV programs and pages: https://www.consumersenergy.com/ev