This document addresses common concerns ("Nega-Bob" questions) about electric vehicles (EVs). [1] Most car trips are short, within the range of many EVs, so range anxiety is overblown. [2] Home solar power and public charging stations will make charging more convenient and renewable. [3] Charging times, while not as fast as gas initially, are usually not an issue given how long cars sit parked each day.

1. Are You an EV
“Nega-Bob”?

2. You find the idea of
electric vehicles stupid
in so many ways.

3. You struggle to find
reasons why EVs are
a good thing.

4. But you are stuck in the
current paradigm of gas-
powered cars. Your thinking
hasn’t evolved beyond the
current, extremely early
stage of EV development.

5. Open your eyes and mind to
perhaps a different view of
the future.
One that thinks differently
than the current paradigm.

6. Following are some
of your “Nega-Bob”
questions - and some
answers.

7. Q-1. EV batteries are
charged from coal-burning
utilities - how is that better
than using gasoline?

8. A-1A. If you are charging your EV from a “dirty”
utility - then your point is correct. However, some
utilities are much less dependent on coal than
other utilities. So if you live in Ohio - you have a
point - in Idaho, not as much.
But follow along for the real point
of where this is going.

9. A-1B. This is what is going to happen:
Residential solar power will quickly
become the dominant means of
charging EVs.

10. A-1B. Residential solar installations
are exploding in the US. The growth
of residential PVs (photovoltaics) will
grow even more dramatically due to
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) -
which are basically monthly utility bills
- paid to a solar power company that
installs and maintains the PV system
on your home’s roof.

11. A-1B. For the foreseeable future
residential solar installations will
outpace sales of EVs - however, solar
PVs and EVs will become connected
at the ...plug, so to speak.

12. A-1B. The implication?
The majority of EV owners will
generate their own clean solar-based
electricity that will charge their EVs.
This lowers the cost per mile and
eliminates much or all of the need to
use dirty, utility grid-based energy
sources.

13. Q-2. EVs have a very limited
mileage range.
What’s with that?

14. A-2-A. Yes and No. Among
the current crop of EVs,
many have a range of
between 30-100 miles.
http://www.plugincars.com/cars

15. A-2-B. However, Tesla’s
Model S has a range -
depending on battery option
- of about 150 to 250+ miles.

16. A-2-C. But ...the graph above shows that 95% of
auto trips in the U.S. are shorter than 30 miles, and
99% are below 70 miles. The weighted average
trip distance is 9.4 miles. Vehicles owned by urban
households averaged 8.5 miles and rural vehicles
averaged 12.1 miles.
Source: NHTA / http://www.solarjourneyusa.com/
EVdistanceAnalysis7.php

17. A-2-D. So EV range anxiety
is a bit overblown for most of
us - except when we take
that trip down I-5 to
Disneyland or up I80 to
Tahoe.

18. A-2-E. ...1) Charging stations are
coming fast and furious; 2) Battery
range will increase dramatically in the
coming years - and price will come
down; 3) Charging times will also
drop; 4) And many consumers may
opt for plug-in hybrids initially or have
a second gas or hybrid for long trips.

19. Q-3-A. What’s with this taking 10-24
hours to charge the batteries on an
EV. Sheesh. I can refill my gas tank in
5 minutes.

20. A-3-A. Those charging times are via
120V systems. Coupled with home
PV systems, most EV owns will install
240V charging systems - reducing
charging time to about 4-6 hours.

21. Q-3-B. But that’s still a long time
isn’t it?

22. A-3-B. Sure. But you drive your car
maybe 1-2 hours per day, perhaps 4 if
you have a long commute. So it sits
for 20 hours. Plug it in. Go about your
business, go to sleep. Chill out dude.

23. BTW ... you somehow figured out and
remember how to plug in and charge
your smartphone everyday. I have
faith in you - you’ll make it work.

24. And charging stations. Public quick
charging stations are growing rapidly.
Depending on battery capacity, EV
model, etc. - many of these quick
charge stations will fully charge an EV
in 30-60 minutes; or with Tesla, for
example, you’ll be able to add about
150 miles of range in 30 minutes.

25. 30 minutes to charge while I’m driving straight
through to Kettleman City? Oh, come on.
OMG. Yes. That’s about how long it will take you to
use the restroom; enjoy that chemical-free chicken
burrito at Chipotle; and grab a soy latte for the road
and last leg of your trip.
Stop. Smell the roses, recharge your and your
car’s battery.

26. This SlideShare presentation on addressing the
“Nega-Bob” questions surrounding EVs is an
evolving, work in progress.
Stay tuned for updates and more questions to be
asked and answered.