Elder Noble is our newest member!

 Please welcome Elder Noble to our club. He lives in Colorado Springs, CO and drives a Tesla 2017 model s 90d. 

BMW feels the heat!

 Thanks to club member Dan R., who forwarded this article to us:

BMW feels the heat, stops charging for warming cheeks!

Read in TechCrunch: https://apple.news/AZ-A169TfSpWH-MfJ8DgLYQ

Rivian drivetrains compared

There is ANOTHER great video from Out of Spec Motoring showing all the drivetrain options available for the Rivian R1's. See the latest at: https://youtu.be/I9J52zE5boc?si=jDVQVIC3UPfkjDkb .

The Westcliffe Car Show is this weekend!

There's a great car show this weekend in Westcliffe, Colorado. It's only $25 to enter your car, quite a pleasant drive, great show. I'll be there! You can register online at: https://www.valleystrong.us/our-events/labor-day-car-show/car-show-registration/ .

Welcome our new member!

Gabriel Seda-Wilmarth is our newest member. He lives in Colorado Springs, CO and drives a Ford Mustang Mach E, please make him welcome!

Don't miss Hays, KS!

Yet another wonderful car show in Hays, KS is September 16, 2023. The show is in a shaded park on grass, delightful even on a hot day. Highly recommended! 

The map locator for the car show is: https://goo.gl/maps/1TLgkujmPvEPacMP6

Scott City, KS Car Show

Excitement, thy name is Scott City, KS. The Lake Scott Rod Run & Car Show is a great place to be in August. See you there!

2023 Club Picnic Announced

The date and location of the club's 2023 picnic has been announced. Stay tuned for more details.

Title:	CSEVC club picnic
Location:	Dirty Woman Creek Park Pavilion - 17575 Mitchell Avenue Monument, CO 80132
When:	Saturday, September 9, 2023 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Welcome to YouTube bias...

 So a friend sent me a video claiming to be an explosion of two electric cars that collided. If you haven't seen the video, I'm sure the powers that be will get it circulated. There's no evidence of a collision, I can't even see a second car, and of course no mention of the same risk in a gas car.

I went to YouTube to look for "gas car explosions" to send a link of a video back to my friend. Guess what videos appeared in the search results? You guessed it! ELECTRIC CAR FIRES. I didn't ask for that, didn't want that, but "someone" is paying for YouTube (i.e., Google) to filter the exact results with what their advertisers want. Take a gander.

Gateway Auto Museum trip cancelled

 Due to unforeseen circumstances, the CSEVC's group excursion to the Gateway Auto Museum on August 12, 2023 (next weekend) has been cancelled. Most of the automobiles at the museum are up for auction in Monterey, CA. It appears that the Gateway Automobile Museum is closing.

If you are curious, the auction house is called Broad Arrow and will be handling 31 of the 55 cars for auction. The remaining cars are already on an online auction website run by Haggerty.

I believe the Broad Arrow auction information is: https://www.broadarrowauctions.com/events/event/Monterey-Jet-Center-Auction-2023 .

It's too late to plan a replacement trip for that weekend. Since vacation time may have already been reserved by those of us employed, let's leave next Friday's lunch also cancelled.

UPDATE: Mark Holzrichter responded to the cancellation notice with the following:

We are going to Ouray and Palisade anyway with several reservations. If anyone wants to meet us in Palisade, let me know. 

At least I won't be competing with so many for superchargers...

Lunch this Friday at Cheba's

The CSEVC Lunch this Friday @ 11:30am is at Cheba Hut "Toasted" Subs, 3171 N Chestnut St, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.

EVs needed in Pueblo, August 5, 2023!

 Hello everyone,

I hope you're doing well!

I wanted to reach out about an important event we're supporting with Black Hills Energy at Pueblo Community College on August 5^th from 12-6pm. We're hosting the EV Expo and would love if you could bring your EV(s) and/or e-bikes to showcase and chat with others about driving electric. We are not asking you to provide your personal vehicle for a ride and drive and this expo is separate from the ride and drive. 

Please invite other EV friends/family and your EV clubs to showcase as well - we have lots of space and are trying to get as many EVs here as possible! 

Please let me know as soon as possible if you're able to attend (or not). Sign up here. 

Thank you and if you have any questions, please reach out. 

Best,

Julia Davila

Lead, Drive Electric Colorado 

Mobile: 510-695-4473

julia@drivecleanCO.org

www.drivecleancolorado.org

Our first Wink!

Our latest EV club member is Bud Baker. He has a 2023 Wink Solar Sprout. Bud has never charged his Sprout as the rooftop solar panel keeps it charged. Make him welcome as one of the rare LSV (low speed vehicle) club members!

Kansas excitement in Palco!

 Need something to do this weekend? Go to back-to-back car shows in Kansas! Visit our events page for details.

EV Event in Holyoke, CO

 From our club member, Lacy A., who could use EV enthusiasts - not your cars - to help discuss EV ownership at her event this weekend. From Lacey:

This Friday we (Save Energy Co) will make an appearance at Phillips County Raceway in Holyoke, Colorado and we will bring a Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Ford F150 Lightning, and Mustang Mach-e for some demonstrations on the dirt track. Everyone is welcome! We'll be there to answer any questions people have about EVs, charging, and incentives.

Don't buy a car, buy a wink!

 Club member Will M. encountered a new EV brand this past week, called a Wink. We should all buy one!

Check them out, including their "solar" models: https://winkmotors.com/ .

Hydrogen vs. Batteries in Semi trucks

 Here's a good video comparing the Tesla Semi to hydrogen alternatives:

https://youtu.be/4IJ4-KbaAjc

New member Francois-xavier Cat

 Francois-Xavier Cat is our newest member, he drives a Tesla model y 2023 and lives in Colorado Springs, CO. Please make him welcome!

Vincent Parker is our newest member!

Please welcome Vincent Parker to our club. He lives in Colorado Springs, CO and drives a Tesla Model Y Performance 2022. 

Welcome the MVEA to the CSEVC!

Let's welcome Jay Mendoza, Key Accounts Supervisor at Mountain View Electric Association, to our club. It's always good to have a utility person with us! 

A close call by a non-EV owner

A friend who rented a 2020 Tesla Model Y sent me these photos. He had 120 miles on the odometer and needed to drive 74 miles distance. He was forced to stop at a Supercharger on the way to his hotel with just 3 miles left on the battery. He consumed 117 miles of range to go 74 miles of distance, an overhead of 37% additional battery consumption. The conditions, you ask, that caused such a high overhead? RAIN. It was warm but such a violent thunderstorm that my friend had the wipers on full blast the entire drive. I have never driven in rain so strong as to have near 40% overhead. Arriving at a Supercharger with only 3 miles left would scare most people, I think.

Hard to believe...

It's hard to believe that there are people like this among us, but there are....

https://youtu.be/-HNB0UXuhr8 .

What I Learned on My Polestar 2 Vacation

 One of our newest members, Karl Roscoe, was kind enough to write up his first cross-country trip in his Polestar 2. 

==============================================

What I Learned on My Polestar 2 Vacation

By Karl Roscoe

Late last January I had occasion to drive cross country to North Carolina from Larkspur, Colorado.  I was chomping at the bit as I had had my Polestar 2 for a little over six months and hadn’t yet had the opportunity to get out on the open road to get the full ‘electric experience.’  So here’s the rundown.

I left on 22 January, 2023 — the (very cold) morning following a winter storm of the previous two days.  I was concerned about the cold and the commensurate drop in range, but I was anxious to get out and have some first-hand experience.  I dutifully charged to 100% the night before and planned the snot out of the trip on ABRP, Google Maps and Plug Share.  In fact, I was prepared enough that my lovely bride commented—several times—that she didn’t need to hear any more about it.  My first stop was to be at Electrify America’s station off I-70 at the I-70 diner.  I headed out to Limon via the Peyton Highway and picked up I-70 there.  (Cue ominous music)

Because of the cold and my relative unfamiliarity with long-distance electric driving, I was paying close attention to range and battery predictions.  What I wasn’t paying attention to was that my first charging stop at the EA station at the diner had been bypassed by Google Maps, and I was now headed to Goodland KS instead.  That’s what I found out when I confidently pulled in to the 24/7 station, anyway.  With 15% charge.  It was an EvGo charger.  I don’t have an EvGo account.  This wasn’t Electrify America at all!

So problem #1 was that one of the chargers was inoperative.  But the operating charger had a credit card slot, so I was very relieved and attempted to begin charging.  Nothing happened.  Oh, and I was standing in just-above ankle-deep snow going back and forth from the car to the charger.  EvGo had a phone number prominently listed on the charger, so I 1-800ed them right up and began my chat with a very friendly English as Second Language Customer Service Rep.  I relayed my plight and asked for help.  She offered me a free charge for the inconvenience, and I was all about it!  She had me repeat the sequence of events that led me up to calling her.  Same result:  nothing.  “Please hold,’ she said. Five or eight minutes later she came back, apparently with a trainer/supervisor listening in and coaching.  Repeat sequence, same result.  ‘What is your EvGo account number? have you signed in?’  I told her I didn’t have an account but would certainly sign up if that was necessary.  That spun into the “Let’s get you signed up’ circus.  After exchanging all the necessary information several times, it seemed we were finally ready to attempt another charge.  As I slogged my soaked and frozen feet from car to charger and back with a similar lack of any positive result, my helpful CS Rep said, ‘Okay, you’re all set!’  ‘No wait!  I’m still not charging!’  ‘Okay, thank you, byyeee!’

Now I start looking at options.  I’ve only got 15% charge and Colby is about 45% away.  Just across the street is a hotel with approximately 35 Tesla brand chargers in the parking lot.  That’s not even funny.  That’s when I met Caleb.  Caleb is a youngster, but appeared to be a competent one.  I never found out for certain, but I believe he was the manager of the 24/7 station that day.  He was remarkably eager to help and began looking for ways to get some electrons into my car.  Even offered to let me plug the granny-charger into the wall of the station.  I’d read about stranded EV-ers getting an emergency charge at an RV park—could be worth a try.  Caleb whipped out his phone and had a minute or two’s earnest conversation.  Turning back to me he said “Okay, Karen’s willing to let you use one of her 50 amp outlets if you leave some money when you’re done charging.’

‘Yay!’  ‘Who’s Karen?’  ‘Is there an RV park close by?’  I had some questions.  Like: was the 50 amp plug a NEMA 1450.  ‘Let’s look,’ said Caleb.  I followed him to the edge of the parking apron and into Karen’s RV park.  Right there!  Karen’s power sources had NEMA 1450’s.  Hallelujah!  So I promised Caleb I’d buy $30 worth of stuff at his 24/7 (which was my lunch) and that I’d sing his praises to the heavens in some printed format (which is this).  So if you’re ever passing through Goodland, Kansas and need some reassurance that America is still alive and well, stop in at the 24/7 station and check in with Caleb.  And tell him I said thanks again.  

That was my very first long-distance-travel EV charging stop.  4 hours late, with just enough charge to get to Colby, I left Karen a $20 bill and a note of thanks and continued on.

I got to Colby’s EA station and charged happily and uneventfully.  I was a little confused, trying to convince Google Maps and ABRP to agree on how much juice I would need to get to Hays.  After a bit I satisfied myself that I had enough and headed onward.  15 miles down the road my car started shouting at me.  ‘You’ll never make it!!  What were you thinking??!  Turn back now or die on the Kansas Highway!’  Stuff like that.  So I pulled over and began studying what the Polestar was talking about (btw’s:  her name is Poleen).  Yeah, for sure I didn’t have enough charge to make it to Hays, and (thank the heavens!) I get to return to the accursed Colby, Kansas EA charging station.  You might imagine I was having second thoughts about EV as a legitimate transportation option.

Second time was the charm and I was on my way again, now 5 1/2 hours behind schedule.  Charging at Hays went uneventfully, and I was learning how to better coordinate the information I was getting from the various apps and which app to believe and when.  I clearly wasn’t going to make the east side of Kansas City on schedule, so I called my beautiful bride and asked if she couldn’t find me some accommodation in Salina.  And, if she truly loved me, could she find someplace with a charger?  She truly loved me, and with a song in my heart I pulled into the hotel parking lot.  I spotted the chargers right away:  TESLA CHARGING ONLY the sign said.  I was exhausted.  The EA charger was only six miles away, but I needed to be out of that car and into a hotel room.  Besides, the battery had a full 14%.  When I got out of the car after check-in, it alerted me with a helpful message:  Man, it’s cold out there and you’ve only got 14%.  Are you sure you don’t want to charge?  ‘Buggar off,’  I said.  ‘I’m tired.’

I woke up the first time at 3 AM.  That message had gotten into my subconscious.  I checked the app:  8% it said.  ‘Jeez, that seems like a lot of battery loss for just a few hours,’ I said.  Then I went back to sleep.  It only lasted til 4:30 AM.  4% the app said.  -9 degrees Fahrenheit the temperature said.  I’m not gonna tell you the words that I said.  So I packed up, loaded the EXTRAORDINARILY COLD car and began creeping slowly on my 6-mile journey to restore power.  First I turned off the radio.  Then the heater.  Then the fans.  Then the lights.  300 yards into my journey, the battery fell to 3%.  I began to wonder how foolish I was going to feel running out of juice 50 yards from the charger.

I won’t keep you in suspense.  I made it no problem.  Still had all 3% when I plugged in.  Had two large coffees and a giant muffin for breakfast—in the car.  Because it was so cold, I swear it took 1 1/4 hours to charge.  I don’t guess it helped much that I cranked the heat once the charge was above 10%.  But I was starting day 2 from Salina, KS; the car was whole and operational, and I had cleared some pretty significant hurdles.

The remainder of the trip was uneventful.  No, really.  The car drove like a dream—particularly on the 20 mile stretch crossing the Smokies from Tennessee into North Carolina.  Waahoo!  In the first 24 hours I learned all the critical stuff I needed to know to operate the vehicle confidently and competently.  Short of doing something titanically and foreseeably stupid, I’ll never have to suffer range anxiety again.  And to those of you whom I’ve spoken to,  I mean it when I said I didn’t have one single issue on my trip to the east coast and back.  Any bad thing that happened was a direct result of my ignorance and incompetence.  Having sorted that out, I can confidently say that my Polestar 2 is nothing but a pleasure to own!

As a final note:  Who do I complain to about the $50 dues charge for this group? [EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a sarcastic comment by the author, the CSEVC has no dues whatsoever.]

Mustangs are everywhere!

Nick Fiore is our newest member, he lives in Castle Rock, Colorado and drives a new 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Please make him welcome!

New member met us at the car show!

Karl Roscoe met our club members at yesterday's Bass Pro Shops car show! He has a rare Polestar 2, and he gave test rides. Please welcome him into our club!

Last Saturdays Car Show turnout

 We had a great turnout this past Saturday! I'll show the EVs at the show, but we had all brands and models show up.

No petroleum influence here...

So in Utah, the oil lobby apparently needs to lower consumer gasoline prices by taxing EVs. As Mark Twain once said, the United States has the best government money can buy!

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1139444_utah-ev-charging-costs-rise-in-july-to-subsidize-lower-gas-prices 

Tesla autopilot 5x safer than us humans!

 Tesla's recently released statistics show that FSD is many times safer than non-FSD driving:

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-fsd-safety-statistics

Tesla battery degradation - so says Tesla

 According to Tesla, their batteries only experience 12% degradation after 200K miles:

https://electrek.co/2023/04/25/tesla-update-battery-degradation/ .

Rudy Gonzalez is our newest member!

 Please welcome Rudy Gonzalez and his 2023 Kia EV6 to our club. We only have a few Kia owners as members, so he's a welcome addition!

Wakeeney, KS is the place!

 Don't forget there's a car show in Wakeeney, KS this Saturday! It's about 100 miles further on I-70 than Colby, KS. It's a great little town, they love EVs, great beef if you like that sort of thing. Visit our events page for details.

Aptera Battery Design update

 Check out Sam Alexander's review of the Aptera battery and inverter announcement:

https://youtu.be/py7_Vbb60cI

New member Paul Schurtz

Paul Schurtz is our newest member from Colorado Springs, CO. He drives a 2023 Rivian R1T, please make him welcome! His response to our welcome message is below:

===============================================

Thank you for accepting me into the club.  I look forward to meeting others, and learning more about EVs from them.  I have a Rivian R1T, and it is my very first EV.  I have already learned so much, and hope to learn much more about EVs and their impacts going forward.

I recently signed up to show my R1T at the DEED event.  That is where I heard about this club.  Considering I am already a member of the Rocky Mountain Rivian Club, I thought it would be cool to join any other Rivian, or EV-related club.

I dont normally go on Facebook very often, but I do have a Rivian-themed Instagram account - @overlandr1t.  My wife and I will be documenting our adventures with the Rivian there with pictures and video. Feel free to use any of the pictures from there any time you like. Once we get the truck more built out for camping and going off-road, we are also thinking about doing a YouTube channel for it.  

Considering I work during the day, I may be limited in the number of Zoom calls and lunches I can attend, but I will definitely try.

Thanks again for accepting me into the club.  I look forward to meeting you all, and learning more about this community from you.

Thanks,

Paul Schurtz

Pay as you drive...

As if the subscription model for automobiles doesn't need more fuel in the fire, Mercedes has pushed the volume dial to 11. 

Video tour of the Rivian plant...

Thanks to Ric Paradise! Here's a video tour of the Rivian truck plant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA1IV8SADkA

Ionic 5 12v battery drain issue

If your Hyundai Ionic 5 has had the 12v battery go flat and leave you stranded, here's why:

https://youtu.be/74HaY_b48vw . 

Third-party charging experience

Here's an article that's making the social media rounds on charging EVs in the USA, it's not very pretty:

https://www.vox.com/climate/23589785/ev-dc-fast-charging-station-battery-electric-tesla-rivian 

The yoke's on...Tesla?

Nothing seems as polarizing in automobiles as the Tesla Cybertruck or...the Tesla steering yoke.

Here's a take on the Tesla yoke vs. Lexus' yoke: https://youtu.be/agMrewRJTow .

Ford Blue Cruise improvements

Check out Out of Spec Reviews' latest review of Ford's autopilot: https://youtu.be/mL_9YgixiWo

The latest anti-EV article from Bloomberg

Remember all the anti-lithium articles from car makers and oil producers about 10 years ago? I still see them quoted even today by people who don't like EVs. We all know the chant: by buying an EV, you're contributing to child labor in the Congo. 

There's a new attack on EVs, with misinformation, and it's on the aluminum used in EVs. Visit the link below to a new Sam Alexander video that explains how the latest article is deceptive. The short answer: while trying to say EVs are bad because they use aluminum, Bloomberg fails to tell you that the gasoline version of the Ford F-150 Lightening uses MORE aluminum than the EV version does. Propaganda at its best, folks!

Video: https://youtu.be/EjBSMwA1wp8 .

Our newest member awaits a CyberTruck!

 Lauren Martin is our latest new member. Her family has a 2021 Model Y and is waiting for a Cybertruck. Please make her welcome when you meet her.

David Brown is our newest member!

 David Brown drives a 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD and lives in Parker, CO. He's our latest member, please make him welcome!

Check out all the announcements!

Tesla's Investor day summary is here, it's impressive: https://youtu.be/Mn-MGHLKQBY .

The Magic Dock is magic!

Check it out - a non-Tesla EV has charged at a Tesla Supercharger with a Magic Dock. 

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/6KN9D06LIAo . 

Get a dashcam

 I follow this YouTube channel a lot, and the one thing it tells me is that aggressive drivers LIE. Get a dashcam and learn how to display the video immediately after a crash.

Wham Baam Teslacam: https://youtu.be/UTmdf41o580 

Mazda Hybrid EV uses a rotary engine!

Mazda is bringing back its rotary engine in a hybrid EV automobile. The interesting part is that the hybrid design uses the electric motor/generator to accelerate/retard the speed of the rotary piston to obtain the most efficiency for its engine.

Check out the video: https://youtu.be/-3gzQVGEqF4 .

Newest member has a Leaf!

 Kathleen O'Donnell is our latest new club member. She drives a 2023 Nissan Leaf and lives in Colorado Springs, CO. Please make her welcome!

EVs will melt the grid...not

Ever run into the statement that EVs will overwhelm the grid, so therefore we should continue to use ICE vehicles? I do! Thanks to Dan R. for the reference, you'll find that EVs use the same energy as appliances.

https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/electric-vehicles-verify/electricity-consumption-use-electric-cars-vehicles-evs-vs-home-appliances-refrigerator-water-heater-ac-dishwasher/536-1bc3d7ad-770e-48d8-be87-d41f72269366

Newest member has two EVs

Our newest member is Aaron Phillips from Colorado Springs, CO. He has a 2022 Rivian R1T and a 2019 Tesla Model 3. Please make him welcome!

  

 

Lacey Allor our latest addition!

Please welcome Lacey Allor to our club. She lives in Fort Collins, CO but grew up in Colorado Springs, CO. Our club member Chris Lennon told her about our group, and she joined shortly thereafter. She works for Northern Colorado Clean Cities...welcome Lacey! 

Be careful of Electrify America chargers...

 Some cars getting fried at EA chargers: https://www.teslarati.com/rivian-ford-chevy-fried-electrify-america-video/

Our newest member, Arnel Bueno

Arnel Bueno is our newest member to the club, and has a new car! He drives a 2023 Tesla Model Y and lives in Colorado Springs, CO. Please make him welcome!

Electric Cars and the Panama Canal

 Our club member, Mario B., sent us an excerpt of an article about electric cars:

Here’s a passage from a book written in 1976, before the age of EVs, that illustrates the advantages of electrical power used to drive the Panama Canal’s locks. It sounds a lot like the advantages of EVs over ICE vehicles.

• Charging EVs uses electricity transmitted over wires, rather than fuel trucked in to service stations.
• EVs can have multiple independent motors.
• Electric motor characteristics.

 The Path Between the Seas – The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870 – 1914

by David McCullough

 The advantages of electrical power were many: it could be transmitted over long distances; in complicated installations each different machine or mechanism could have its own motor drive (exactly as in the locks), instead of the power being transmitted here and there from one central source by an elaborate system of drive shafts, belts, and pulleys (as in a conventional steam-driven factory). The motors themselves were relatively small, compact, watertight; they turned at constant speeds irrespective of the loads put upon them; they required a minimum of attention; they would not blow-up.

 Page 601.

Want to buy: one tire

Wanted: 1 2018 or newer Nissan Leaf OEM tire, Michelin Energy Saver A/S, P215/50R17. Contact Jeff at Jeff at jmarsink dot com.

Our first newsletter for 2023 is out!

 Check out our Newsletter page ( http://www.csevc.com/p/csevc-newsletters.html ) to see the latest issue.

The petroleum industry fights back

Checkout an anti-EV resolution stated by Wyoming lawmakers: https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2023/SJ0004 

BMW expands for-pay features

BMW is expanding the "always pay us money" program, a.k.a. subscription services, to its cars.

Enjoy the video about this: https://youtu.be/8ekrYXvKfAk .

Welcome Reuben Dutáry

Reuben Dutáry is our latest new member, he lives in Colorado Springs, CO and drives a 2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, RWD. Please make him welcome!

Winter vs. All-weather vs. All Season tires

 This is a great video explaining tire types: https://youtu.be/pA4OT3XqNtI .

Tesla won't stop driving!

 Check out a German Tesla driver that disabled/bypassed Tesla's autopilot feature and fell asleep!

https://youtu.be/aHYOPwjyhuM .

New member Tom Grassel

 Please make Tom Grassel welcome when you meet him, he drives a Tesla Model S 2014 and lives in Colorado Springs, CO. 

Another Mach-e in the club!

Please welcome Mike Minnillo to the CSEVC, he drives a 2022 Ford Mach E GT and lives in Falcon, CO. Please make him welcome!