ICE v Electric: Cost and Emissions

Got a surprise at the Flying J on I-81 just south of the NY/PA border . . . GM Energy EV chargers. The sign on the highway for gas stations included Flying J with a note on the bottom for EV.

GM EV chargers - 1.jpeg
 
Love's truck stops also increasing EV chargers.

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I was wondering when Pilot/FlyingJ started working with GM for EV chargers. The answer is 2022.

(Need to copy & paste without the space for full press release. Automatic URL looked odd.)

March 2025
https: //news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2025/mar/0325-pilot.html
"Pilot Company, General Motors, and EVgo Inc. have reached a major milestone in their nationwide electric vehicle charging collaboration, now offering fast-charging infrastructure at more than 130 locations across 25-plus states.
. . .

Pilot, GM, and EVgo, which first announced their partnership in 2022, are working to build up to 2,000 fast-charging stalls at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J locations. These locations provide more than just charging: they also offer premium amenities that EV travelers may not find at traditional charging stations, including expansive lounges, free Wi-Fi, modernized restrooms, on-site restaurants, and a variety of grab-and-go food and beverage options.

Every location is well-lit in centrally located areas that are accessible 24/7, with modernized restrooms and round-the-clock team members. Many of Pilot’s charging locations offer overhead canopies and pull-through charging stalls that are more convenient than back-in stalls and accommodate drivers who are towing trailers.
 
Crazy: chargers at 1.3 megawatts (6x a Rivian highspeed charger) and cars able to take 500kw charge (2.5x Rivian's fastest speed which is only sustained for a few minutes. That would charge a Rivian from empty in like 20 minutes. Rivian is the largest practical battery you see (the Hummer is bigger but very low sale volume last I checked).

 
Interesting:

Rivian spinout of a bike company. Pricey. The quad one would be cool with a family in Brooklyn.
 
Interesting:

Rivian spinout of a bike company. Pricey. The quad one would be cool with a family in Brooklyn.

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I like the “Full Send” version. Hahah.

$4,000 is on par with quality mid-drives. I personally don’t like all of the tech though. I’d rather have the tried and true old school bike components that can be easily sourced and worked on. Also if the battery dies or something else happens with the electrical system it can still be ridden mechanically.

E-bike laws are wacky in NY State. This ebike is class III, meaning it can go 28 mph and cannot be operated outside of a city of 1 million people.
NYC just passed a 15 mph speed limit.

Only Class II bikes, with a 20 mph top speed, can be operated outside of the city (some towns have their own laws) but only on roads posted 30 mph or less.

So under the current law, riding my Class III 28 mph bike on local roads is forbidden.
 
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Random Rivian range update. EPA rating is 270. In conserve mode, the car tells me 302 miles.

Today, I drove 205 miles from my house to Saratoga, 95 percent conserve and 5 percent ‘normal’ I would estimate. 69 percent got me 205 miles, which equates to 297 miles at 100 percent.

All highway driving I did 68 mph and mostly did not have a car in front of me.

Note 1 this is pretty primo weather for driving efficiency. Note 2: EVs are less efficient at higher speeds, so in the epa test the 50 percent that is town gets you most of the epa rating and it gets less than 50 percent of its miles on the 50 percent done at hwy speeds.

Charging now at the high speed charger pulling 160 kw off the 175kw charger.
 
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