This post is part of a series of EV Driver Spotlights that shine a light on why people choose to drive electric. Drivers, want to be profiled? Tell us your EV story.
1. What EV do you have? How did you choose it?
I currently drive a 2017 BMW i3 range extender (REx), which has a small gas engine that can provide backup power to the electric motor. My commute is 80 miles round-trip per day through busy SoCal traffic. The i3 REx seemed like the best way to use electricity for most of my driving and still have the range extender for the rare times when I am not able to charge. So far, I average about 2,000 miles for each gallon of gas that I add, and I probably could have lived without the range extender.
2. How long have you been driving electric? What made you decide to drive electric?
I review various cars for my blog and have had the chance to drive over 15,000 electric miles in the past four years (outside of my own daily driving). Spending that much time behind the wheel of an electric vehicle helped me realize just how convenient they are to own and operate, and won me over to getting one for my daily driver.
Check out a few of the cars Nolan has reviewed for his website: the Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Soul EV, Chevy Volt, Kia Optima PHEV
Most buyers assume that the switch to electric requires sacrifices, but modern EV technology and the growing public charging infrastructure have removed many of the early anxieties. Not to mention, they’re fun to drive.
3. How do you charge at home?
We just use a regular 110-volt outlet in the garage with the included BMW charger to gain about 30% charge overnight. There is also an older 220-volt outlet in the garage and we simply need to update to a NEMA 6-50 plug to take advantage of a Level 2 EV charger. Just haven’t done it yet!
4. Do you charge at work? Did that influence your decision to get an EV?
Yes, our office has had four ChargePoint chargers for a few years, and we just installed two more! Charging at work was a large factor in my decision to go electric as it helps to top off the car if I know I won't be going directly home. Our building even offers a discounted charging rate to employees if we join their Connections group through ChargePoint. There’s often high demand for charging, so I’m glad we have more spots.
Charging at work was a large factor in my decision to go electric.
5. What’s your favorite thing about driving electric?
I enjoy the instant torque of the electric motor and the ability to quietly (and efficiently) zip through traffic. My car also gets me carpool lane access in California, which really helps cut down my commute time.
Anything else we should know about you?
My personal blog is http://www.theignitionblog.com/ and I aim to cover the latest in automotive technology and the expansion of charging infrastructure in southern California. Check it out!
Thanks for sharing your story, Nolan! It’s great to hear how charging at work makes driving electric easy.
