[Dare2Dare]

So I stumbled on this Twitter thread by "our" favorite EV Youtuber, Kyle aka Out of Spec: Twitter Thread. I have heard varying opinions about him but I have been neutral at best. However this thread rubs me the wrong way

He mocks this ID4 owner for suggesting the 350kw charger may be faster for his 2021 ID4 and then mentions the ID4 driver's lack of battery preconditioning when the drover said they drove for 15 mins.

Further down the thread another influencer, Branden (friend and collaborator of Kyle) mocks ID4 owners as the new Bolt owners - I have no idea what that means. Tweet here

Their points may very well be valid but in my opinion this is very distasteful and condescending. Just to be clear I am not butthurt about this because I am an ID4 owner neither is my identity tied to the ID4 but for people who are in the know/experienced to mock folks - not for bad driving or horrible parking or aggressiveness or rudeness but for knowledge (or lack thereof) is a new low.

Brings me to a point I would like to reiterate - education, education, education. I have the luxury and interest to spend time and do research online and I have no idea what a "cold soaked battery pack" is. Also had no clue that driving for 15 minutes doesnt precondition your vehicle (now I understand the clamor for battery preconditioning in the ID4 - I knew that a warmer battery charges better/faster). I obviously missed the chapter on preconditioning in the "Novice's Guide to the ID.4". I always think about the average driver who is coming from an ICE where you fill your car with gas and hit the pedal - there is no "you can only fill your "tank" 80% full or "your fill up will be faster when the battery is warm" or "your range is a best guess that varies based on X, Y and Z" to name a few. Not saying this negatively but I know that my wife (or other average drivers) wont have the patience to start juggling all this

This is more of a rant than anything else so feel free to share your opinions or thoughts if any. (Thanks?)

 

[DaCuje]

Agree completely. I do follow both, still watch their videos frequently but do feel in the past few weeks both have singled out Id.4 drivers.

It doesn't bother me too much. Kyle's videos were a big reason that I purchased an Id.4. Also, his gf's mom and gf's sister have/had Id.4's. His dad seemed to have gone through every Id.4 trim. So...I take it in jest and just move on. Also, Branden did have an Id.4 for awhile at some point.

My opinion is because the Id.4 has been one of the more affordable options, it has a higher concentration of users that may benefit from educating but, for me, its not something I feel needs to be called out and, for the most part, shouldn't be an issue if they are more readily available charging stations.

What has been bothering me, and I have seen this in some of the Out of Spec videos, is the eagerness to "educate" someone if they're using a 350kw charger when their vehicle is only 125kw max. Hey, if a 350kw charger is available when I arrive at a charging station, I'm using it. If a 125kw charger opens up afterwards, please don't expect me to move and plug in again simply because your Rivian/EV6/Ioniq 5 arrives.

 

[Spin]

The only reason someone feels the need to tear another person down is to try to build themselves up. It has to do with their own feelings of inadequacy.

 

[GreyID4]

Agree completely. I do follow both, still watch their videos frequently but do feel in the past few weeks both have singled out Id.4 drivers.

It doesn't bother me too much. Kyle's videos were a big reason that I purchased an Id.4. Also, his gf's mom and gf's sister have/had Id.4's. His dad seemed to have gone through every Id.4 trim. So...I take it in jest and just move on. Also, Branden did have an Id.4 for awhile at some point.

My opinion is because the Id.4 has been one of the more affordable options, it has a higher concentration of users that may benefit from educating but, for me, its not something I feel needs to be called out and, for the most part, shouldn't be an issue if they are more readily available charging stations.

What has been bothering me, and I have seen this in some of the Out of Spec videos, is the eagerness to "educate" someone if they're using a 350kw charger when their vehicle is only 125kw max. Hey, if a 350kw charger is available when I arrive at a charging station, I'm using it. If a 125kw charger opens up afterwards, please don't expect me to move and plug in again simply because your Rivian/EV6/Ioniq 5 arrives.

I don't think any member of the forum will take a 350kW if a 150kW is also available.
However, if a 350kW is the only one open when I am ready, I am taking it. Sue me.

 

[TidingSStables]

Kyle seems genuine and puts humor to his social media. Reminds of the Sam Bankman Fried fellow in his dress and appearance so we can trust him. He has a lot of followers that are Tesla owners with battery preconditioning and it’s an inside joke only EV owners understand. He has a long term review on the model 3 and his wife has an ID4 while reviewing other exotic EVs. He made a good YouTube video for someone new to an ID4 which VW should use for publicity in lieu of Alex Guberman.

 

[eb2143]

Hey, if a 350kw charger is available when I arrive at a charging station, I'm using it. If a 125kw charger opens up afterwards, please don't expect me to move and plug in again simply because your Rivian/EV6/Ioniq 5 arrives.

This is a good point people often forget. You pull up and someone is on a 350 or chademo, just because there's an open dispenser when YOU pull up doesn't mean there was an open dispenser when they started their charging session, and I agree you should not be expected to move.

As far as Kyle, I take no offense at all. Firstly, the ID4 owner approached him, not vice versa so was asking to be educated. You can tell he's just frustrated (like me), but I'm pretty sure he was courteous to the ID4 owner. Can't imagine Kyle being a dick to another EV owner.

I personally think if you're purchasing a car you should spend a few minutes educating yourself about what you bought. The concepts "unique" to BEVs are pretty simple:

1. My car has a maximum charge rate and that has nothing to do with the number written on the dispenser
2. Batteries don't work as well in the cold or when it's very hot. But you may have already noticed this since you have used batteries every day of your adult life
3. Batteries do not charge as quickly at high state of charge, therefore, there is a charging curve, with the highest speeds and most miles per minute at lower state of charge. And, if I Google my car name plus "charging curve" I can see this for myself.

 

[AtoZ]

This is a good point people often forget. You pull up and someone is on a 350 or chademo, just because there's an open dispenser when YOU pull up doesn't mean there was an open dispenser when they started their charging session, and I agree you should not be expected to move.

As far as Kyle, I take no offense at all. Firstly, the ID4 owner approached him, not vice versa so was asking to be educated. You can tell he's just frustrated (like me), but I'm pretty sure he was courteous to the ID4 owner. Can't imagine Kyle being a dick to another EV owner.

I personally think if you're purchasing a car you should spend a few minutes educating yourself about what you bought. The concepts "unique" to BEVs are pretty simple:

1. My car has a maximum charge rate and that has nothing to do with the number written on the dispenser
2. Batteries don't work as well in the cold or when it's very hot. But you may have already noticed this since you have used batteries every day of your adult life
3. Batteries do not charge as quickly at high state of charge, therefore, there is a charging curve, with the highest speeds and most miles per minute at lower state of charge. And, if I Google my car name plus "charging curve" I can see this for myself.

Good opinions and thoughts. I also watch a bunch of Kyle videos. Sometimes I think he rants a little too much on some small issues. Anyway I go back and forth on preconditioning your battery. Maybe the battery is better with the ID4 but I drove to an EA charger which is 10 minutes from my house. I got the best charge so far. I only had the car 2 months so I haven’t done a lot of charging. I think I was pulling 187 KW. I’ll post a pic for evidence. Charging for me has been a breeze.

 

[AtoZ]

Here is the pic

 

[MARKS]

That is the fastest I have seen.

 

[Froggy]

Don’t the 2023’s with the better battery start charging at 170kW ? People who pull in after me have no idea who was charging where when I pulled in nor which stations were broken or nerfed. Battery preconditioning would be nice but I will never see that in my 2021.

 

[GreyID4]

Here is the pic

Wow!
Where do you charge? No way that's possible in NJ in January.

 

[TidingSStables]

Don’t the 2023’s with the better battery start charging at 170kW ? People who pull in after me have no idea who was charging where when I pulled in nor which stations were broken or nerfed. Battery preconditioning would be nice but I will never see that in my 2021.

If SK, but I have never seen more that 130 for mine. Last charge on a wonky EA was only 60 kWh so 30 minutes of free charge was from 25% to only 70% 😢.

I tie a broken charger cable like a 🥨 and put it on the ground to warn other drivers.

VW might be able to program that in software, assuming there is a battery heater or some way to warm it up. One member here was on the phone with EA and the rep said to use the navigation to EA from the ID4 screen as that preheats the battery. No confirmation yet, but this is how Tesla works.

 

[GreyID4]

...use the navigation to EA from the ID4 screen as that preheats the battery.

That's what's planned by VW... but not yet delivered.

 

[Dare2Dare]

I don't think any member of the forum will take a 350kW if a 150kW is also available.
However, if a 350kW is the only one open when I am ready, I am taking it. Sue me.

This is a good point people often forget. You pull up and someone is on a 350 or chademo, just because there's an open dispenser when YOU pull up doesn't mean there was an open dispenser when they started their charging session, and I agree you should not be expected to move.

I havent seen a 350kW charger in person but from videos, it looks like there are no markers or design differences from a 150kW until you get really close. I may sound like a dick but I am going to be honest and say that if I go to an EA station, I will be looking to use the "most convenient" charger for me depending on several factors (availability, working chargers, non-EA parking situation etc). I have been to 4 different EA stations in MA (Marlboro, Burlington, Arlington and Tewksbury) and with the exception of the Tewksbury one which is in an open Walmart parking lot, the others are in tight (or tight-ish) parking lots - malls and banks. Depending on the time of day, cars at the EA station, cars at other parking spots you may not have an ideal choice in which stall/charger to use.

 

[Einar98281]

Maybe if this was enough of a problem, the ISO protocol would include an "undercurrent" nag? Or the infotainment would say, "Your maximum charge rate is approximately: X" and the user could choose to move. Or 350kW could be more expensive, or, or...

I've also encountered the "Hey can you move over there to the 150kW DCFC" people. My replies have thus far been, "This was the only one open when I got here," and "That one doesn't work."

I've yet to get an apology for the attitude shown.

 

[Spongedart12]

So I stumbled on this Twitter thread by "our" favorite EV Youtuber, Kyle aka Out of Spec: Twitter Thread. I have heard varying opinions about him but I have been neutral at best. However this thread rubs me the wrong way

He mocks this ID4 owner for suggesting the 350kw charger may be faster for his 2021 ID4 and then mentions the ID4 driver's lack of battery preconditioning when the drover said they drove for 15 mins.

Further down the thread another influencer, Branden (friend and collaborator of Kyle) mocks ID4 owners as the new Bolt owners - I have no idea what that means. Tweet here

Their points may very well be valid but in my opinion this is very distasteful and condescending. Just to be clear I am not butthurt about this because I am an ID4 owner neither is my identity tied to the ID4 but for people who are in the know/experienced to mock folks - not for bad driving or horrible parking or aggressiveness or rudeness but for knowledge (or lack thereof) is a new low.

Brings me to a point I would like to reiterate - education, education, education. I have the luxury and interest to spend time and do research online and I have no idea what a "cold soaked battery pack" is. Also had no clue that driving for 15 minutes doesnt precondition your vehicle (now I understand the clamor for battery preconditioning in the ID4 - I knew that a warmer battery charges better/faster). I obviously missed the chapter on preconditioning in the "Novice's Guide to the ID.4". I always think about the average driver who is coming from an ICE where you fill your car with gas and hit the pedal - there is no "you can only fill your "tank" 80% full or "your fill up will be faster when the battery is warm" or "your range is a best guess that varies based on X, Y and Z" to name a few. Not saying this negatively but I know that my wife (or other average drivers) wont have the patience to start juggling all this

This is more of a rant than anything else so feel free to share your opinions or thoughts if any. (Thanks?)

I posted something similar not too long ago. One of my main issues is that these "ev influencers" want mass adoption but also commit gate keeping acts. I understand that some people may take 350 when they only need 150, all I can say is get over it, or better yet, get EA or EVGO or whoever to just build one speed, just like gas so you don't feel screwed over. The ID.4 is a vehicle for every person, hence why it's comparisons are to the Rav4, Equinox, and other gas small SUVs and not to Model Y or other similar EVs, and that means that a lot of the ow ers are not gonna know the science and ins and ours of the vehicle, you know, like most people who view a car as an appliance.

 

[PANZERidIV]

They are stupid to look down on Bolt owners. Some of the nicest and most interesting people I have met in my life!

 

[Stu Ncal EV]

Don’t the 2023’s with the better battery start charging at 170kW ? People who pull in after me have no idea who was charging where when I pulled in nor which stations were broken or nerfed. Battery preconditioning would be nice but I will never see that in my 2021.

At 350 kW chargers in CA it usually starts at 184 kW or so. I had that today in Kettleman City EA.

 

[cosev]

I don't think any member of the forum will take a 350kW if a 150kW is also available.
However, if a 350kW is the only one open when I am ready, I am taking it. Sue me.

Not true, I have a 2023 and have seen over 150kW and will take a 350 every time it’s available. Sue me too I guess 😄

 

[Enzeder]

Eh, I'm having a hard time clicking on his videos lately. The whole found footage motif (handheld iPhones) is just too tiring. And the editing - taking 45 mins to say that chargers don't like cold is a bit much. If the videos were edited to about a half or third their length, I'd be more inclined to watch. Watching someone being a condescending prat also affects my motivation to watch.