Honestly, hybrids are probably the sweet spot right now. I've pushed my luck way too many times with my EV—once coasted into a charger at 1% battery. Not exactly my finest moment, lol. Confidence does grow, but there's always gonna be that little voice in your head when you're below 20%. PlugShare's great, but sometimes it feels like a scavenger hunt...not ideal when you're already stressed about range.
Hybrids do seem like a safer bet right now, especially if you're cautious about range anxiety. I've been tempted by EVs, but honestly, the thought of coasting into a charger at 1% gives me secondhand stress, haha. How accurate are those battery percentage readings anyway? Like, is 1% really 1%, or is there some hidden buffer built in?
Also curious—do you find PlugShare reliable enough to trust regularly, or is it more of a last-resort kinda thing? I've heard mixed reviews. I mean, scavenger hunts are fun and all...but maybe not when you're stranded on the side of the road at night. Has anyone tried carrying one of those portable battery packs as an emergency backup? Wondering if they're worth the cost or just another gimmick to drain my wallet.
Those portable battery packs sound decent in theory, but honestly, the ones I've seen reviewed seem more like glorified phone chargers—might give you a handful of miles at most. As for PlugShare, I'd say it's handy but not foolproof. Chargers marked as "available" can still be broken or blocked by a random parked car (been there...). BTW, does anyone know if roadside assistance services carry mobile EV chargers yet or is that still wishful thinking?
- Portable battery packs are definitely overrated—seen a few in action and they're barely worth the trunk space.
- PlugShare's decent but yeah, it's hit or miss. Had a charger marked "available" once that was literally taped off with caution tape...
- Roadside assistance with mobile EV chargers? Still mostly wishful thinking, unfortunately. Heard some pilot programs exist, but widespread use is probably years away. Hang in there, though—things are slowly improving.
"Portable battery packs are definitely overrated—seen a few in action and they're barely worth the trunk space."
Have you tried some of the newer compact ones though? I've borrowed one from a friend once—small enough to stash under the seat, charged me just enough miles to crawl to a charger. Not perfect, sure, but maybe not totally useless either? Better than waiting hours for roadside assistance that might never come...
