[DoubleNicks]

I have been interested in an EV for some time. Have an opportunity to lease a 2022 ID4 Pro at a great price with both federal and state incentives (We live in Southern NJ) but need some advise. My wife and I are retired, she’s 71 and I’m 67 and we are unable to home charge. The closest Electrify America public station is only 5 minutes from our home. My wife is really against getting an EV due to charging times, etc. we only have one vehicle so this would be our primary car. Does it make sense to move forward with getting the ID4 or is my wife right that it’s not practical for us? Thanks for any advice as I’m really struggling with this decision.

 

[WBF25]

I have been interested in an EV for some time. Have an opportunity to lease a 2022 ID4 Pro at a great price with both federal and state incentives (We live in Southern NJ) but need some advise. My wife and I are retired, she’s 71 and I’m 67 and we are unable to home charge. The closest Electrify America public station is only 5 minutes from our home. My wife is really against getting an EV due to charging times, etc. we only have one vehicle so this would be our primary car. Does it make sense to move forward with getting the ID4 or is my wife right that it’s not practical for us? Thanks for any advice as I’m really struggling with this decision.

It’s probably going to come down to how often you would need to charge and if the location is convenient for doing other things, like errands or grabbing a cup of coffee or something. Since it’s a lease, I wouldn’t worry much about battery degradation due to exclusive DCFC, especially if you don’t charge it to 100% and leave it that high.

Also I’m assuming you’re aware that you can charge the car (slowly) with a 120V outlet, but just wanted to mention it because if you’re not driving a ton each day that can probably recoup the miles you drive.

 

[DoubleNicks]

It’s probably going to come down to how often you would need to charge and if the location is convenient for doing other things, like errands or grabbing a cup of coffee or something. Since it’s a lease, I wouldn’t worry much about battery degradation due to exclusive DCFC, especially if you don’t charge it to 100% and leave it that high.

Also I’m assuming you’re aware that you can charge the car (slowly) with a 120V outlet, but just wanted to mention it because if you’re not driving a ton each day that can probably recoup the miles you drive.

Thank you for your advice. The charging stations are in a Walmart parking lot (9 total stations with 1 at 350kw and the others a mix of 150 and 50kw) which is also close to other stores and restaurants. Our problem with home charging is that our parking is not close to our home but rather the parking lot in our development. I’d have to run an extension cord from our home out to the parking lot. Could do that but the cord would cross the three other condos next to ours (we are the farthest from our parking space). The ID4 is due at the dealership sometime in August so I wanted to get as much advice as I can before I have to make a decision.

 

[WBF25]

Thank you for your advice. The charging stations are in a Walmart parking lot (9 total stations with 1 at 350kw and the others a mix of 150 and 50kw) which is also close to other stores and restaurants. Our problem with home charging is that our parking is not close to our home but rather the parking lot in our development. I’d have to run an extension cord from our home out to the parking lot. Could do that but the cord would cross the three other condos next to ours (we are the farthest from our parking space). The ID4 is due at the dealership sometime in August so I wanted to get as much advice as I can before I have to make a decision.

Yeah, definitely sounds like home charging is currently not feasible for you. Could be worth mentioning to whoever runs the property that you’re getting an EV to see if maybe someday with enough interest they’d install some L2 chargers in the parking lot.

 

[Huey52]

I feel you would be fine with "just" DCFC or the many L2 stations you'll find around your area, some of which are also free (as my Stop & Shop grocery).

An excellent example of extensively and very successfully using EA DCFC:

I started my long trip

I started my trip from central Alabama yesterday and am currently in Breaux Bridge, LA. 460 miles the first day and will head into Texas today. Traveling on Memorial Day wasn't an issue as traffic was light and only moderate just north of New Orleans. All EA charges worked perfectly both...

www.vwidtalk.com

 

[DoubleNicks]

Believe me, I’ve been lobbying our property management to do this for over a year. The State of NJ will even pay for the installation under there Green Energy initiative. While they were interested, our property manager said that they decided against it since they would have to classified as “public” charging stations meaning anyone could use them and they didn’t want that. Again, your feedback is very much appreciated.

 

[Spin]

Welcome to the group. I have a level 2 charger at home but we charge 90% of the time at Electrify America to take advantage of the free charging. We usually charge from 20% to 80% and it takes about a half hour. We usually get about 160 miles of range running it from 80% down to 20%. In the winter your charging will take a little longer and your range will be a little less. Good luck with the car!

 

[ericy]

It’s probably going to come down to how often you would need to charge and if the location is convenient for doing other things, like errands or grabbing a cup of coffee or something. Since it’s a lease, I wouldn’t worry much about battery degradation due to exclusive DCFC, especially if you don’t charge it to 100% and leave it that high.

Yeah, the big question is how many miles/week you honestly think you would be driving. That will determine how often you need to charge. Then you can start to think about whether any of the normal trips you already make can be combined with charging.

Thank you for your advice. The charging stations are in a Walmart parking lot (9 total stations with 1 at 350kw and the others a mix of 150 and 50kw) which is also close to other stores and restaurants.

Sounds like Somerdale

 

[DoubleNicks]

I feel you would be fine with "just" DCFC or the many L2 stations you'll find around your area, some of which are also free (as my Stop & Shop grocery).

An excellent example of extensively and very successfully using EA DCFC:

I started my long trip

I started my trip from central Alabama yesterday and am currently in Breaux Bridge, LA. 460 miles the first day and will head into Texas today. Traveling on Memorial Day wasn't an issue as traffic was light and only moderate just north of New Orleans. All EA charges worked perfectly both...

www.vwidtalk.com

Thank you. I think so as well. My wife’s biggest concern is if one of us wound up in the hospital for an extended period, driving back and forth each day would require charging. I have no problem with that but she does. Any points to help convince her are welcome.

 

[Spin]

Thank you. I think so as well. My wife’s biggest concern is if one of us wound up in the hospital for an extended period, driving back and forth each day would require charging. I have no problem with that but she does. Any points to help convince her are welcome.

Charging is very easy. Pick the station and charger on the app, swipe to start charge, plug in. Easy peasy!

 

[DoubleNicks]

Yeah, the big question is how many miles/week you honestly think you would be driving. That will determine how often you need to charge. Then you can start to think about whether any of the normal trips you already make can be combined with charging.



Sounds like Somerdale

Yes, it is Somerdale. We live in Voorhees. If Tesla does eventually open up their network to other EVs, there are many of them close by. Our current car only has 13,000 miles in almost two years on our lease. My guess is we drive less than 50 miles per week. Some days we don't use the car at all.

 

[DoubleNicks]

Charging is very easy. Pick the station and charger on the app, swipe to start charge, plug in. Easy peasy!

I totally agree. Thanks.

 

[Spin]

Charging is very easy. Pick the station and charger on the app, swipe to start charge, plug in. Easy peasy!

Once she does it a few times she will be a pro.

 

[Huey52]

My wife has the same concern, but we're all very capable of learning at any age if the motivation is there. Sometimes it takes such motivation.

Or I tell her that @Spin 's wife does it all the time.

Thank you. I think so as well. My wife’s biggest concern is if one of us wound up in the hospital for an extended period, driving back and forth each day would require charging. I have no problem with that but she does. Any points to help convince her are welcome.

 

[Spin]

My guess is we drive less than 50 miles per week.

Going by my model, you will be charging once every 3 weeks!

 

[JoeFJ]

I would suggest you see if someone on this board lives close by and is willing to give you a test drive. The ID4 and I suppose any electric car has a learning curve and for my family it’s been fun, but we went knowing there might be some adjustments. Pre planning trips changing stops on long trips, the expenses of installing a home charger, and so forth. If possible keep the gas car and add the electric as it might make your wife more comfortable adopting the first electric vehicle. Good luck in deciding.

 

[Spin]

Or I tell her that @Spin 's wife does it all the time.

But she does it differently than me. She starts the charge with the Apple wallet on her phone.

 

[Huey52]

Your wife is a keeper; you not so much.

But she does it differently than me. She starts the charge with the Apple wallet on her phone.

 

[Spin]

Your wife is a keeper; you not so much.

Good thing you put the emoji at the end!

 

[ericy]

Thank you. I think so as well. My wife’s biggest concern is if one of us wound up in the hospital for an extended period, driving back and forth each day would require charging. I have no problem with that but she does. Any points to help convince her are welcome.

Those kinds of hypotheticals are complicated only because there are multiple hospitals out there, and "extended period" is kind of open-ended. But it still comes down to a question of how many miles/day one might drive in this scenario, and you still have a nearby EA that would let you top up in 15-20 minutes any time you need it.