Electric cars 101
We think a little breakdown on vehicle design goes a long way towards lowering anxiety on the gas to electric switch. Let’s focus on 3 critical differences in how these machines work:
- Gas is way better than battery at storing energy.
- Electric is way better than gas at converting energy into motion.
- All we can do with gas energy is burn it; we can do more with energy in an EV’s battery (use it to power our house, sell it back to the utility, power other stuff).
Did you know there were 72% more electric than gas cars on the road in 1900?
- Norway hit 5%… then Europe hit it….We just hit it….
If you’re in the market for a new or used car, here are a few things to think about.
3 kinds of electric cars
You’ve actually got three to choose from.
- Hybrid Electric (HEV): For the most part, HEVs are gas cars with tiny helper motors. They don’t really do much to get you away from the risks of gas we covered above.
- PHEV (Plug-In Electric Hybrid): Two drivetrains in one car, both powerful enough to push the car on their own. If the batteries here are big enough (30-50 miles) and you’ve got an easy way to charge each night, you can do most of your short trips just on the electric motor, and use your full-size gas motor for long trips. As with the HEV, you’ve got two drivetrains here, and lots of gas bits to break and maintain.
- BEV (Battery Electric): Simpler, pure electric. You’ll get the maintenance advantage, and the flexibility of any fuel that be converted to electricity cheaply and cleanly (like solar, wind). And you’ll have to deal with the less effective energy density of an electric.
Compare before you buy
It isn’t pretty, but this is a cool way to get some data about how cars compare to each other on fuel and total ownership
Rent first
Or subscribe
If you’re in Dayton, OH or Indianapolis…
Calfornia…
Buying’s getting easier
I dig this nice summary from Electrek
Bikes
This is really fun and simple to do. It can be done cheaply for ~$200. I’d recommending a ~$300-$600 package from Grin.
Grin Technologies - Great at e-bike conversion parts
Night Shift Bikes - my motorcycle and bike projects, not for sale, just sharin’
Motorcycles
I’m part of a community of folks who convert electric motorcycles for personal use. I wouldn’t buy a converted bike from anyone; they’re poorly regulated and mostly for personal use by qualified builders. If you’re in that category, here are a few places I rely on for guidance:
elmoto.net - old-school board for builders
Night Shift Bikes - my motorcycle and bike projects
Cars
Realistically, this is an expensive endeavor. Most reputable shops are going to ask you to bring a very nice used car that they won’t have to repair. They’ll put likely Tesla battery packs and Tesla or Netgain motors in it and charge you 35-75K. Here are the two best shops IMO.
Moment Motors, Austin, TX
EV West, LA, CA
Here are a few good reads for your search. You can also join our office hours any time here.
Electric homes 101
There are about ten things in your home that you can electrify over the next ~10 years; you’ll save money, and live healthier.
Cheat sheet
This 1 pager is actually page 33 of the Go Electric Guide, but it’s so compact, we’re giving it special airtime.
Rebate/credit calcs
This is a comprehensive calculator on incentives available in the Inflation Reduction Act. It can be a little rosy on install costs, but it’s a great place to drill down on what and when to make swaps.
- Plug in get in where you live and what income bracket you’re in for details on what you’ll get out of the IRA.
- Dig into the great guides on each piece of the puzzle!
Don’t replace gas w/gas
“My next ___ will be electric.” - You
- US: 1 Billion machines to swap; every one counts.
- Swapping every machine to electric at end of life is ~1.5 degrees C.
- Your home: 10 machines to swap; every one counts. (42%)
- Swapping a gas ___ for another gas ___ leaves you out of saving $ for 10-20 years.
- You don’t have to panic, but you do need a plan.
- We’re at lifecycle parity now. Purchase price parity soon. That leaves 3 things:
- Financing. Solve for upfront gap; Inflation Reduction Act helps .
- Supply. Your electrician, the manufacturers, chip shortage.
- Behavior. How you use the stuff to live your life.
The one pager
This is a one (ok, two sides) pager I wrote to go deeper into the science behind Rule #2.
Alumni perks
Some cool stuff you can access if you’ve taken one of our cool courses.
Lending Library
Bikes
We manage a few e-bikes in New Orleans you can borrow for a week at a time. Email matt@mynextelectric.com if you’re interested!
Stoves
We manage a fleet of 110V portable induction stoves that we send via mail or in-person in New Orleans you can borrow for a week at a time. All you pay is shipping. Email matt@mynextelectric.com if you’re interested!
Discounts
Matt’s daily driver ebike: JackRabbit
We’ve got a cool deal with JackRabbit. Use code Matt50 for $50 US off a bike. Email matt@mynextelectric.com when you do and I’ll split my $~100 affiliate fee with you.
NeoCharge 240V smart splitter
A cool way to add an EV without rewiring. Use MYNEXTELECTRIC at checkout for $50 off.
Appendix
1 billion machines
Shout out to Saul Griffith, founder of Rewiring America for his post on 1 Billion Machines
- Sankey 2021: Quad = 1 quadrillion (1015) BTUs or 293.07 TWh
- Behold the Super Sankey
- The Billion Machine Sankey
- The Household Sankey
10 machines in your home
Cohort 1-10 link library
Week 1 Zoom Video | |
Redwood Energy Guide (Start page 41) | |
3 Best Portable Induction Stovetops | |
WTF Is Induction Cooking Video | |
Chef Electrifying Kitchen Article | |
Cooking Without Gas Article | |
Problems with Gas Stovetops Video | |
New Orleans Selected for Local Energy Action | |
The Best Stove for your Health | |
Energy Within Environmental Constraints Course |
Thursday Worksheet | |
Week 2 Zoom Video | |
Green Hydrogen Podcast Episode | |
Clean Power Generation Article | |
Clean Power Transition Podcast Episode | |
State Incentives Database | |
Free Personal Energy Footprint Audit | |
Induction Stove Top Mat |
Rewire America’s Guide to the IRA | |
Rewire America’s IRA Savings Calculator | |
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency | |
Bringing Infrastructure Home, 50-State Home Electrification Report | |
Google’s Project Sunroof | |
How to Electrify Your Home - Podcast | |
Dept. of Energy Vehicle Comparison Calculator | |
Rewiring America Go Electric One-Page Guide | |
A How-To Guide to Electrify Your Home - Podcast | |
Electrify Everything Facebook Group | |
HVAC Comfort Consultant Finder | |
B2U - 2nd Life EV Battery Storage Company | |
EVs that Qualify for the IRA Tax Credits | |
Ultra-Low Energy Comparison Guide | |
New Solar Powered EV Concept |
Book list
| Title | Author | Summary |
|---|---|---|
Your next ___ should be electric: We need to swap out 1B of them. | ||
You’re an electrifier... Think about who you are more than what tasks you have to do. | ||
Be curious: Breakthroughs will probably emerge from the edges of current system. | ||
Be optimistic: Solar, batteries, chips, and manufacturing can scale exponentially. |
Newsletters/Pods
Trucks.vc - Newsletter from Reilly Brennan. Automobile heavy.
Flywheel - Newsletter from Puneeth Meruva. Ebike sub #1.
ClimateTech VC - Great summaries of specific themes in clean transition.
Broken Ground - Great coverage of collective action that’s working in Memphis.
The Weekly Planet - Great weekly from author of my fave take on Inflation Reduction Act.
- Electric cars 101
- 3 kinds of electric cars
- Compare before you buy
- Rent first
- Or subscribe
- Buying’s getting easier
- Electric homes 101
- Cheat sheet
- Rebate/credit calcs
- Don’t replace gas w/gas
- Alumni perks
- Lending Library
- Discounts
- Appendix
- 1 billion machines
- 10 machines in your home
- Cohort 1-10 link library
- Book list
- Newsletters/Pods
| Title | Link | Matt's take | Featured |
|---|---|---|---|
interesting take on the personal carbon footprint and contagious behavior... | |||
I like the budget pick - Duxtop 9100. Sturdy, simple, cheap. | |||
Talk to me before you buy these, but this is a good review of the options. | |||
Nice summary of ebike incentives | |||
Great infographic on ebike incentives in US/Canada | |||
Latest on bikes by Micah Toll at electrek - my ebike go to. | |||
Comprehensive - focused on specs. No qualitative reviews. | |||
One of my fave pods on a BIG topic. | |||
Nice summary of Federal Credits for EVs | |||
My dictionary/encyclopedia. Prices are Bay Area, CA late 2021. | |||
The Decision on upgrading your panel or staying with (typical) 100 Amps is a big variable. | |||
Sam, aka heat pump man, on why they’re great. | |||
It’s like Julian’s sneaking into our course and vibing with us! A great overview of portable induction life! | |||
Offsets are still a mess - this is a good take. | |||
Canary’s great coverage on big part of the IRA. | |||
Hosted by the cranky, genuine Nate the House Whisperer. Great go to for real talk on electric appliances, esp HVAC, cooking, insulation, hot water. | |||
Erika’s post is spectacularly detailed and makes me feel lame, but I still love having this as a reminder of what I can work on. | |||
Good to see C and D covering EVs now. That’s a tipping point if I’ve ever seen one. | |||
I love Canary Media. And Allison breaks down small, medium and large projects in the electric home journey. A nice 4 min vid! | |||
The science on gas ranges - they aren’t good for you. | |||
An excellent pod from friend of MNE, John Semmelhack | |||
Puneeth writes one of my top 5 favorite newsletters, Flywheel. He works with Reilly Brennan, author of another top read, FoT. He’s been tracking the used market for small EVs for a while. This is what Randy Nonnenberg did right before he launched Bring A Trailer, where $1B of used cars changed hands last year.
Puneeth’s put his writing, some of his fave reads from others, and a ton of data all in one place…. | |||
Good review includes lots of new models. | |||
Great overview of how to approach your first ebike. | |||
One of my 2021 startup ideas was financing this activity. Cool to see things moving here. | |||
Not much out there on V2X, but this is the best resource I’ve found. |