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There is still an issue with the cost of driving on electric if you can't plug in at home of course.  I see data showing commercial chargers cost 30-60 cents per kWHr for power, and it takes 30 or so kWhrs to go 100 miles.  Our basic hybrid goes 100 miles in town at about 36 mpg, so 2.8 gallons, which around here is under $3/gallon, so $8.33.


It's as cheap or cheaper to just buy the gas.  Maybe my math is wrong.

No, I completely agree. If you can't charge at home, most of the advantages of EV go right out the window. 

Even if the cost WAS lower to charge publicly, the bigger problem would be time. Requiring EVERY time you "fill up" to take 1/2 hour or so (typical for a 20->80 charge at a Tesla supercharger I believe) is just not convenient when the alternative is <5 minutes for ICEV. 

Although for a PHEV, when you only need to add 20-30 miles worth of range, you can do that on straight 110V AC overnight easily. In most cases, you don't need to install an L2 charger because unlike a full BEV, you're never adding 200 miles worth of range at once. If you have a BEV but drive mostly PHEV-like trips, as well, you can probably "get by" with 110V charging knowing that you may every once in a while need to publicly charge in a pinch. It's only if you're driving pretty heavy mileage on a daily basis that you *MUST* have the L2 charger. 

But if you can't charge at home at all, it doesn't make much sense. 

I priced a car like mine that is a PHEV, same model, it cost about $6,000 more (and isn't available here).  It claimed about 35 miles electric range, which really sounds appealing until you look at the math for public chargers.

I'd probably bust an extra circuit from the panel. I've got spots available. 20 Amp??

I'd probably bust an extra circuit from the panel. I've got spots available. 20 Amp??

That was my concern when we got our L2.  When we finished the basement on our house, we only had one slot left in our panel, and the L2 charger would take two slots.  Not sure if it was 100% code compliant, but the install guys (which was done for free by-the-way) were able to combine two other circuits into one slot and then add in the charger circuit.  Haven't blown any fuses / panels yet, so apparently it isn't too bad.

A 2022 Volvo XC60 plug-in is about $10K more than the normal XC60. The 2022 XC60 plug-in is about the same price as a 2022 M-B GLE.

I now have a plan, and it doesn't involve me breaking out my lineman pliars, wire stripper and buying a breaker, wire and outlet.

Some advantages and disadvantages of various types are pretty clear.  I opine at the moment the best compromise is with a "mild hybrid" vs plug in or EV or ICE vehicles.  I'd note a lot of supercars are going to be hybrids now for more power including one Corvette model.

If you are a 2 car family and own a home, a small EV MIGHT make sense for you as a second car.

L2 charger should take 30-50 amps ( 230V of course). It depends on the specific model. 

# 10-# 6 AWG wire , depending on length and current.