Open Your Eyes: Battery Electrical Vehicles, Bikes, Instruments, & Toys Are All over the place
I don’t stay in California the place the gross sales of BEVs are over 15% of the marketplace for new automobiles. My spouse and I spend 5 months of the summer time in Northern Wisconsin and the winter months in Northern Utah and in Saint George in Southern Utah. Teslas are multiplying like rabbits right here in Northern Utah. I ceaselessly discover myself behind one other Tesla in site visitors, and we’ve many days with Tesla sightings of over 10. Yesterday, we noticed 17. I’m additionally seeing different EV manufacturers (see Figures 5 and 6) in addition to battery electrical bikes, instruments, and toys in every single place.
Electrical Landscaping Tools
I personally don’t like leaf blowers. At our lake home in Northern Wisconsin, we simply let the leaves lie. If I completely must take away leaves, they’ve these items referred to as rakes which have in all probability been used for a whole bunch of years. Nevertheless, I see individuals utilizing gas-powered leaf blowers on a regular basis. We spend numerous time staying at our daughter’s condominium dwelling in southern Utah, the place all of the landscaping service for her tiny yard is completed by the property affiliation. I dread the times the military of landscapers come by with their gas-powered leaf blowers, that are so loud they might wake the lifeless. Why not very quiet battery-electric leaf blowers? I’m engaged on getting the landscaping service to switch their gas-motor leaf blowers with electrical ones.
Determine 2: Upkeep man with battery-electric leaf blower. Springdale, Utah. November 10, 2022. Photograph by Fritz Hasler.
A pair weeks in the past, we had been simply leaving Zion Nationwide Park and I noticed a leaf blower in motion, however couldn’t hear it. The individual (see above) was working for a landscaping firm and so they have a number of batteries for the leaf blower, that are additionally used for his or her electrical chainsaw and different instruments, in addition to greater batteries for his or her electrical lawnmowers.
Determine 3: My neighbor. Battery electrical leaf blower. Lindon, Utah. November 24, 2022. Photograph by Fritz Hasler.
A couple of days in the past, I seen my neighbor simply throughout the road utilizing a leaf blower that I may barely hear (see Determine 3). He stated he has been utilizing his Ryobi-brand battery electrical leaf blower from Dwelling Depot for 2 years already. He says that he has weed whacker and edger attachments as effectively. He additionally has an electrical corded head attachment that he purchased to make use of in case he ran down his battery. He stated that he has by no means had the event to make use of it. He has a Chevy Volt for transportation.
Electrical Surfboards
Determine 4: E-surfboarder. Massive Stone Lake, Three Lakes, Wisconsin. July 13, 2022. Photograph by Fritz Hasler
I described battery-electric surfboards in a earlier article. They might not be changing fossil-fueled automobiles or instruments, however they’re enjoyable. See one “within the wild” on my dwelling lake in Northern Wisconsin in Determine 4.
Electrical Vehicles Moreover Teslas “Within the Wild”
We examine Tesla EVs for years earlier than truly seeing one in actual life. Extra just lately, we’ve examine different manufacturers of EVs, just like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Rivian and Ford F-150 Lightning pickup vans. I’m simply beginning to see them on the streets in Utah and Wisconsin.
Determine 5: Ford Mustang Mach-E at Vacation Service Station. Lehi, Utah. November 26, 2022. Photograph by Fritz Hasler.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E in Determine 5 was charging at a Vacation Service Station Degree 3 quick charger, with a Degree 2 charger within the adjoining stall. That is the primary time I’ve seen a quick charger as a part of the “unique gear” at a brand new service station. Kwik Journey has put chargers in its new service stations in Wisconsin, however they’re nearly ineffective Degree 1 chargers.
Determine 6: Rivian electrical truck. Lehi, Utah. October 28, 2022. Photograph by Fritz Hasler.
I’ve been looking out for electrical vehicles ever because the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt got here out in 2012. I now ceaselessly see over 10 Teslas per day in Utah. You may also nonetheless see an occasional Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt. Lately, a stunning tan Rivian pickup truck drove by my home, and later within the day I noticed the blue one (see Determine 6) in American Fork on my day by day bike trip. Later the identical day, I noticed a Ford Mustang Mach-E (see Determine 5). Yesterday, a Genesis EV blew by me on I-15. Backside line: EVs from a number of corporations are starting to seem “within the wild” even in a US state which isn’t California. Maybe you’re noticing the identical.
Determine 7: Tesla EVs lined up for a parade, highschool parking zone. Three Lakes, Wisconsin. July 4, 2022. Photograph by Fritz Hasler.
Relying on the week, you could find 7 Teslas on one small road (Bonkowski Highway) the place we spend the summers in Northern Wisconsin. In Determine 7, you possibly can see pink, white, and blue Teslas lined up for the 4th of July parade at our annual “Electrical Avenue” EV promotion occasion.
Determine 8: Window sleaner provided. Tesla Supercharger in Evansville (Casper), Wyoming. September 29, 2022. Photograph by Mary Hasler
In comparison with different manufacturers of EVs, long-distance journey with Tesla automobiles is nearly as trouble-free as you possibly can think about, however there may be nonetheless room for enchancment. Tesla Superchargers are strategically positioned alongside all the main Interstate highways within the U.S. We purchased our Tesla Mannequin 3 in October of 2019. We commute from Utah to Wisconsin within the spring and again within the fall. We now have additionally made jaunts to the east and west coasts. We now have by no means needed to anticipate a stall or discovered one with out working chargers. Nevertheless, loos, quick meals, and eating places usually require extra strolling than at conventional service stations. Additionally, till the Supercharger in Casper Wyoming final summer time (see Determine 8), we had by no means seen one with windshield cleansing fluid, a bug sponge/windshield squeegee, and waste paper baskets. Bogs had been additionally out there just a few toes throughout the parking zone. Enhancements maintain popping up for EV drivers.
Ebikes
Determine 9: My spouse Mary and our canine Zuni with two ebikes behind our Tesla Mannequin 3. Oacoma, South Dakota Supercharger. Photograph by Fritz Hasler.
A number of instances now, we’ve pushed cross nation in our Tesla Mannequin 3 with two heavy ebikes on again. For far more on these experiences, see: “Westward Ho! 1500 Miles In My Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary With 2 Mountain Ebikes: Price, Supercharging, Suggestions.”
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