Shoppers to Fred Meyer in Lacey might have been surprised to see an armada of electric cars show up in a flash mob just before 2 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 25.
About 15 members of the Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT), nearly all volunteers, arrived with their cars polished and cleaned of any junk-food residue, packages to mail or other distractions most of us have in our cars are any particular moment. They were there to explain to anyone who would listen about the advantages of electric cars.
One member, 94-year-old Bob Anderson of Lacey, was showing off his fifth electric car, which he qualified by adding "if you consider the Priuses" he started with back in 2003. The Toyota Prius is a hybrid that operates on batteries for a few miles before its gas engine kicks in. Bob's a purist now.
Completely unofficial, volunteers trucked out their Chevrolets, Hondas Kias (both types) Nissans, Teslas and Toyotas. They dispelled myths, too, and like any zealots, handed out literature.
If you're curious about those 15 answers to FAQs about electric cars, the information is right here on TCAT's website. Let your fingers do the driving.
CORRECTION: 9/29/21 -- Story edited to clarify a technical detail about the Toyota Prius.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
KarenM
Keep scrolling down through the FAQ's on the TCAT website to find a YouTube of our informative webinar 'Charging Into the Future: Get Charged Up About Electric Vehicles.'
In this webinar local folks tell about their experiences with electric vehicles and de-bunk some myths about them.
https://thurstonclimateaction.org/transportation-action-group/
Karen M
Monday, September 27, 2021 Report this
jimlazar
Actually, the Prius has a full gasoline drive train, but it works in concert with the electric system to maximize fuel economy.
The Prius is also available as the Prius Prime, a "plug-in hybrid" which has a much larger battery, and can go about 29 miles on electricity, before switching to gasoline. Others in that class include the Chevy Volt, the Ford Fusion Energi, the Kia Niro PHEV, and the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV. We have the Kia Niro PHEV, and about half of our driving is electric, but we never have to worry when we have a longer trip to make.
The vehicle with a small gasoline engine that generates electricity is the BMW I3.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 Report this
franiazgorski
I drove from Lacey to NYC in the kia niro ... An electric vehicle DEFINTELY should not be your primary vehicle unless you are simply driving around town for casual shopping.. The maxi is 240miles if you drive 65 the entire way.. with no hills ...There are MANY cities with no option for fast charging unless you drive a TESLA..
Even charging for free in Lacey at city hall is not ideal.... Many city ppl park there and charge the entre day while working and you will have to wait til they unplug or someone else leaves... That free charge is not fast . at all....you can walk to Traget and shop , stop for coffee at Starbkcs and walk back to your car and have only 25 miles ..
Driving cross country is stressful if you have a schedule ..... lots of chargers are broken.... or have lines with ppl shopping and leaving it plugged in past the 4 hrs limit... its usually a waiting game. for free charging or dealing with idiots who simply park in the EV station spot. b/c it is close, to the entrances... :also, many entitled TESLA drivers also park in NON Tesla EV spots, and leave the vehicle in while they are shopping ..
Many dealerships are stingy with their chargers esp . in Olympia.. Others from Baker City Oregon ,to Wyoming are more generous with free charging... although free charging is usually slow charging
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 Report this
DStusser
Thanks, Jim Lazar, for correcting my error in explaining how the Prius works. I'll amend the story, too.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 Report this