Craighead Electric Cooperative has added a handful of all-electric vehicles to our fleet over the years with the primary objective of tracking their operational capabilities and total cost of operation. Preliminary results are promising. Fuel and maintenance savings are substantial, but concerns remain about public charging infrastructure and the ability to continue operations during an extended outage.
But the starkest difference between the internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE) and battery electric vehicles (EV) is the driving experience. EVs have no traditional transmission, deliver instant torque from a standstill, and operate silently. Stepping on the accelerator, power is delivered to the road instantly and predictably. With no need to shift, acceleration is smooth and constant all the way to highway speeds.
Going back to an ICE car after driving a vehicle with an electric drivetrain is strikingly disappointing. The engine makes all sorts of annoying noises and vibrations. Stepping on the gas results in a lazy delay while the transmission downshifts. Max power isn’t available until the engine has had time to rev up. It becomes irreversibly apparent that a gas drive train is a box of tiny “Suck, squish, bang, blow” explosions sending torque through a complicated box of spinning levers like a Rube Goldberg device on wheels. EVs feel like a magic carpet ride in comparison.
Braking is a better experience as well. EVs can use engine breaking to slow the vehicle down instead of the traditional friction breaks. Many EVs have a “One pedal driving” mode that applies a predictable amount of breaking force when you let off the accelerator. This takes a little getting used to, but once mastered, it allows entire trips to be taken without ever moving your right foot off the “gas” pedal.
Driving an EV is best experienced yourself. Dealerships and EV enthusiasts often offer test drives. I highly recommend anyone offered the opportunity to take it. You will never forget your first on-ramp merge onto the highway.
If you have any questions about electric vehicles, charging at home or in public, contact your energy experts at Craighead Electric Cooperative.
I’m never going back to a combustion engine. It’s the technology of the last century.
By the way, it’s braking not breaking..
Fixed! Thank you for the correction. I like internal combustion for use in range extenders/generators like in the BMW i3 and the new Ramcharger electric truck, but I feel every drivetrain could benefit from being fully electric.