Assist Me With A Particular Mission To Show That EVs Have What It Takes, Get Gross sales Again On Observe

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( TL;DR: I’m engaged on a particular venture to go to each nationwide park and show that EVs are ok for highway journeys, even if you happen to’re not rich. You’ll be able to donate to the hassle right here.)

The Drawback

Whereas U.S. EV gross sales aren’t cratering the best way some media shops and personalities declare, it’s true that gross sales aren’t rising as quick as individuals hoped. We hit the “tipping level” of 5% gross sales, however the US simply didn’t tip the best way different international locations did. So, automakers delayed and backed off some, after which the Biden administration backed off a bit on emissions guidelines to permit extra plugin hybrids. Now, we’re in for a a lot slower climb than anticipated.

However, as Henry J. Kaiser supposedly mentioned, “Issues are simply alternatives in work garments.” However, if we wish to repair this drawback, we should first determine what drives it.

One of many greatest issues holding EVs again now’s charging anxiousness. Whereas most individuals solely hardly ever go far sufficient from dwelling to want to cost wherever else, we all the time purchase our vehicles with epic summer season highway journeys in thoughts. In any case, who desires to make a cost each month or put an enormous stack of money on the barrelhead for 90% of a automobile? No, individuals need the entire automobile, and they’re going to purchase no matter automobile they suppose will handle 100% of their anticipated desires and desires.

However, ask any EV driver who takes highway journeys, and almost all will inform you that they do exactly nice. So, we’re not coping with a scenario the place EVs suck and they should suck rather a lot much less for normies to have the ability to purchase them. The true challenge is that folks don’t know sufficient about EVs to know that they will rely on them.

How I Need To Remedy This

We are able to inform individuals all day about how nice Tesla’s supercharger community is, how highway journeys aren’t actually that widespread, or the truth that most EVs at this time cost up simply nice when you eat or use the toilet. I’ve as a lot enjoyable accusing the “EVs must go 800 miles continuous” crowd of sporting astronaut diapers as anyone, however I do know that most individuals don’t need you to inform them stuff. They need you to show it.

However, as I discussed earlier, individuals take highway journeys in EVs on a regular basis. So, it’s not as a lot a matter of doing it, however ensuring that folks see that you just’re doing it.

How can we get them to note? We’re not going to try this sharing photos of our journeys on social media to impress our associates who additionally drive EVs. Now we have to do one thing that’s each entertaining, will get their consideration, and strikes on the coronary heart of the American highway journey mythos. Then, we have to do it again and again for years, get stunning eye-catching photos each time, and ensure individuals know that you may go nearly wherever in an EV.

That’s a tall order, however there’s a set of locations that examine each a kind of containers: Nationwide Parks.

My Mission: Cost To The Parks

My plan is to share the story of visiting all the nationwide parks within the U.S. that may be reached in an EV. I’m already publishing journey guides for the parks at a devoted web site, whereas additionally publishing account of my tales right here at CleanTechnica.

This venture is already underway. Not solely is the web site up and operating, however I’ve already printed a number of accounts of nationwide park visits right here at CleanTechnica. Within the articles, I shared beneficial data on the best way to get to them and get essentially the most out of an EV journey to the world.

Listed here are a number of examples:

One other factor I wish to do alongside the best way is enhance the charging scenario for parks. By working with native companies in particular person, I can join them to EV charging corporations to get the work of including extra charging began!

I Can’t Do This Properly On My Personal

To essentially make an impression and show that inexpensive EVs could make it out to all the parks, I’m going to want some assist from readers. I’ve whittled what I want down over time by accumulating tenting gear, however because of some altering household wants (and a sick pet that should come alongside on most journeys), I now must get a small used camper with arduous sides to drag behind my Bolt EUV.

After procuring round on FarceBark Market and Craigslist, I’ve discovered that I can do that for about $10,000 (together with cash to make repairs/upgrades to an older camper). I’ve additionally deliberate my subsequent journey, and shall be going to Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park in southern Colorado. In complete, together with a bit for my time spent documenting the journey, that may price me about $1933.

This brings the overall to $11,933.

For future months, I’ll have already got a camper, so all I’ll ask readers to assist with shall be EV charging, some campground charges, a number of meals, and a few cash to pay for a number of days of my time. So, this venture will want little or no going ahead after this preliminary fundraiser.

If this seems like a venture you’d be fascinated by serving to with, take into account donating through GoFundMe right here.