I’m considering getting a MachE, but I live in a condo where home charging isn’t an option. The good thing is, I live in Vegas where there are plenty of Tesla chargers, some even free at casinos. Does anyone here have experience only charging away from home? Is it manageable?
Honestly, I wouldn’t do it.
Reign said:
Honestly, I wouldn’t do it.
Yeah, spending 30 minutes (or more) charging is a hassle. Stick with a gas car until you have a reliable way to charge at home.
Del said:
The cost of supercharging is about the same as what I pay per mile in my V8 F-150. Without home charging, I’d recommend sticking with a hybrid or gas vehicle.
If saving money is your main reason for going electric, you might be disappointed. That said, I love how my EV drives.
Reign said:
Honestly, I wouldn’t do it.
It’s just not cost-effective. Between charging costs and the time spent at chargers, a gas or hybrid car might be a better choice.
The cost of supercharging is about the same as what I pay per mile in my V8 F-150. Without home charging, I’d recommend sticking with a hybrid or gas vehicle.
Have you asked your condo board about installing a charger? I live in a condo, and I got one installed in my carport spot.
Don’t do it. Free charging at work is great, but relying on other public chargers will eat up too much of your time. Overnight charging at home is ideal for a reason.
I’ll give a counterpoint: it can work in certain situations. I live in an apartment and avoid my expensive charger by using cheaper options at work, my gym, and a community college. But you have to be honest with yourself—if you’re going out of your way to supercharge, it’s going to be a pain and not necessarily cheaper than gas.
@Tai
You’re right—it can work, but it takes dedication and planning. For most people, home charging is a game-changer, and without it, EVs are a tougher sell.
How much do you drive weekly? Do the math on how long charging would take and where you’d do it. If it disrupts your routine, it might not be worth it.
The best part of owning an EV is the convenience of charging at home. Without that, it’s hard to justify.
We got our MachE a week before our home charger was installed, and relying on public chargers almost made us regret it. Now that we charge at home, we love it, but the hassle beforehand was real.
I used a Level 2 charger about a block from my house for six months before installing my own. It worked, but having home charging is way better.
Most EV owners agree: don’t get an EV if you can’t charge at home. Public charging gets old fast.
Without home charging, I spent $120 on fast chargers in my first month. Waiting for chargers is frustrating, and the costs add up. Home charging is a must.
I used public chargers exclusively for a while. It was okay, but in the winter, range dropped, and I had to charge more often. It gets tiring unless you have a solid charging routine.
Azar said:
I used public chargers exclusively for a while. It was okay, but in the winter, range dropped, and I had to charge more often. It gets tiring unless you have a solid charging routine.
I make do with a 110v charger since I don’t drive much—about 60 miles a day max. It’s slow, but it works for me.
The biggest perk of an EV is waking up to a ‘full tank’ every morning. Public charging would get old fast for me.
Public charging is doable, but it takes planning. Use apps like PlugShare to find chargers near places you already go, like stores or gyms. For long stops, Level 2 chargers are great, and fast chargers work for quick top-ups. It’s not ideal but manageable if you’re dedicated.