Leaving EVs at airport for your summer hols??

[Welshbeef]

I've had plenty of ICE cars which after two weeks of standing that first start is a chug chug chug and finally it gets going.


Now given you will have driven the EV to the airport and I'm assuming you'd have enough range for the return trip over the two dead weeks how much charge do you lose and could you then be stranded? or is it a case of having to opt for the limited EV charging option which no doubt as demand increase will either be fully booked or prices will step up accordingly as the car parks will have to add in infrastructure to charge your P&J?

Interesting question as I'd not want to get back from hols only to find I need a flat bed two truck to get me to a charging point or take me home to then recharge normally.

[c2mike]

You will lose some charge over time. If the main battery is fully isolated from the 12V electrics (i.e. "off" means "off"), then the loss will be low. E.g. Nissan Leaf:
http://electriccar2013.com/how-much-range-does-you...
This test indicates a loss of less than 1 mile per day, but some of that would be accounted for by the drop in ambient temperature.

Tesla Model S had a lot of "vampire drain" from vehicle systems operating while "off", but recent software updates have minimised this and anyway a Tesla model S has a lot more charge to lose!

BTW, Li batteries don't like being left at full charge for extended periods, so best not to top it up before long term parking. That said, running them too low is also bad. Ideally leave your car with around 80% charge.

Both Porsches I have owned managed to drain the 12V after about a week...

[Welshbeef]

So 1 mile a day i3 has 80 mile range so let's say its a 70 mile return to the airport and a two week holiday - the owner will run out if battery before he gets home!!!

[MarvGTI]

Most airports have charging stations for EVs, might be worth looking into parking the car at one of those leaving it charging for the holidays.

[Welshbeef]

MarvGTI said:

Most airports have charging stations for EVs, might be worth looking into parking the car at one of those leaving it charging for the holidays.

But my point is as more and more people have EVs the demand is greater than the infrastructure so charge points may all be full/booked what do you do then?

Also over a ICE car its more hassle/cost to the car parks so really EVs should see costs higher than ICE vehicles

[SpeckledJim]

Welshbeef said:

So 1 mile a day i3 has 80 mile range so let's say its a 70 mile return to the airport and a two week holiday - the owner will run out if battery before he gets home!!!

I think you've grasped it. If you try to drive an electric car further than its range, you won't reach your destination.

However, if it's 65 miles to the airport, that's a whole new kettle of fish.

Come on, lets flesh this out - which airport is it?

[Welshbeef]

SpeckledJim said:

I think you've grasped it. If you try to drive an electric car further than its range, you won't reach your destination.

However, if it's 65 miles to the airport, that's a whole new kettle of fish.

Come on, lets flesh this out - which airport is it?

This isn't me its a friend who's picking up an i3 EV only very soon. Lives in Reading and has a lovely Cuba holiday later this year - Gatwick so its doable as a return but if battery drain is included will he get back. I merely raised this in passing - as hell get the train or another solution if there is any risk but its an interesting potential dilemma.

[northandy]

Welshbeef said:

But my point is as more and more people have EVs the demand is greater than the infrastructure so charge points may all be full/booked what do you do then?

Also over a ICE car its more hassle/cost to the car parks so really EVs should see costs higher than ICE vehicles

Well like most walks of life, as demand increases so will supply, it's hardly rocket science.

When the ICE car arrived, I'm sure the same conversations were had, I mean it's hardly like petrol stations would have been on every street.

One of our employees has just bought an EV, he has a 70 mile a day commute, his EV will supposedly do 100 miles (or 80 seems real world) so we are installing a charge point at work. I have a feeling others will follow.

[Welshbeef]

northandy said:

Well like most walks of life, as demand increases so will supply, it's hardly rocket science.

When the ICE car arrived, I'm sure the same conversations were had, I mean it's hardly like petrol stations would have been on every street.

One of our employees has just bought an EV, he has a 70 mile a day commute, his EV will supposedly do 100 miles (or 80 seems real world) so we are installing a charge point at work. I have a feeling others will follow.

But to install EV points/restrict ICE use of a parking bay at airports (incase an EV needs it) say an ICE arrives and the sole space free is one which an EV can use he will take that space likewise checkin is getting close and all EV bays are full only ICE spaces left you have to take it. So unless the infrastructure is there for every parking bay - and they are all working (how many times are pay and display machines not working etc say you have to take the broken point) what happens?


Its an interesting question.
Clearly at Macro level things will change but at the micro level you rock up and an ICE is in a EV bay the only free bay and you are late just what do you do? You realise on your return you will not be able to complete your journey.

[northandy]

Welshbeef said:

But to install EV points/restrict ICE use of a parking bay at airports (incase an EV needs it) say an ICE arrives and the sole space free is one which an EV can use he will take that space likewise checkin is getting close and all EV bays are full only ICE spaces left you have to take it. So unless the infrastructure is there for every parking bay - and they are all working (how many times are pay and display machines not working etc say you have to take the broken point) what happens?


Its an interesting question.
Clearly at Macro level things will change but at the micro level you rock up and an ICE is in a EV bay the only free bay and you are late just what do you do? You realise on your return you will not be able to complete your journey.

I'm sure at some point they will be at most parking points. Personally I think the range extender version of the i3 is the best option.

All your mate has to do is stop off at a rapid charge point for a 20 min blast of juice on his trip home.

[adamfawsitt]

I think 1 mile per day is a significant overestimation. We were on holiday for 24 days in February this year and on our return the battery gauge had not decayed in any way.

[MarvGTI]

Welshbeef said:

But my point is as more and more people have EVs the demand is greater than the infrastructure so charge points may all be full/booked what do you do then?

Also over a ICE car its more hassle/cost to the car parks so really EVs should see costs higher than ICE vehicles

Infrastructure will adapt as long as there's money to be made, so once all EV stations are fully booked, they'll adapt.

I imagine it was the same with petrol stations a few decades back?

[TimJMS]

I always do meet and greet. Its no great leap of faith to believe that the various companies that offer off site parking could charge your EV shortly before your return for a few extra quid.

[Welshbeef]

TimJMS said:

I always do meet and greet. Its no great leap of faith to believe that the various companies that offer off site parking could charge your EV shortly before your return for a few extra quid.

There is another interesting point you need to ensure that they do not move your car - especially to some other site then bring it back as it will eat into your range.

[strudel]

Welshbeef said:

interesting potential dilemma.

Badumtish.

I think there may be a little too much worrying here. I'm sure after a few weeks holiday a visit to a supermarket for milk on the way home would probably occur - so a little topup before driving home I think!

[Greg_D]

i recently went on hols for 6 days and my i3 ev lost 5 miles in the garage, so a mile a day is about right. temperature variations will also alter the reading, but the temp was broadly the same for me and my experiment

[Welshbeef]

Greg_D said:

i recently went on hols for 6 days and my i3 ev lost 5 miles in the garage, so a mile a day is about right. temperature variations will also alter the reading, but the temp was broadly the same for me and my experiment

So a 2 week break 15days could mean your going to need topping up somewhere when you get home OR if you only had 20miles remaining your in a pickle.

[Greg_D]

Being practical, if the airport is more than 30 miles away, I wouldn't take the ev

[XTR2Turbo]

My leaf lost no charge when parked for 2 weeks.

If you are loosing charge you must have something coming on such as heating