EV Road Trips Suck Now (Except in a Tesla)
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN cites it as a clear side-by-side showing the papercuts of non-Tesla fast charging in EV debates.
What it is
Aging Wheels compares a road trip in a Polestar 2 with an identical drive in a Tesla, showing the charging problems of non-Tesla EVs. It argues that outside Tesla's network, EV road trips have become frustrating.
Recommended by 4 HN commenters across 4 different months, 2023 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec ralonso · 2024-01 · on “Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US”
Finding working-as-advertised chargers appears to be hard if not downright impossible. The situation does appear to be a little better if you own a Tesla, but if you own most any other make of EV you're going to have a bad time. From a hard requirement of a third-party app to pay, chargers using cables that do not meet spec, outright broken charging stations, issues with the apps themselves, and so on. Aging Wheels did an excellent video[1] on how frustrating the experience can be. [1] Aging Wheels - EV Road Trips Suck Now (Except in a Tesla) [this video]
Recommends speps · 2023-11 · on “”
The Aging Wheels channel on YouTube has done a good field test between a Polestar 2 and a Tesla Model 3: [this video]
Recommends andrejk · 2023-12 · on “Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi finally say they will use Tesla's EV charging plug”
This road trip video does a good job showing the papercuts and more significant issues that make a non-Tesla road trip painful. [this video]
Recommends gambiting · 2024-08 · on “Toyota bets big on hybrid-only models as EV demand slows”
This video basically sums it up: [this video] TLDR, the guy does an identical drive in both Polestar 2 and a Tesla, the Tesla just works at every supercharger, he plugs in and that's it, no app no nothing, the car charges at maximum available speed every time. With the Polestar every charger requires a different app, the chargers themselves are not built properly(advertising higher charging rates than the cables they have been installed with can support), broken stalls, and the car almost never charged anywhere close to its maximum charging speed. I love EVs(I own one!) but the state of public infrastructure is absolutely dire, unless you own a tesla and can use superchargers.
Cites thangalin · 2026-03 · on “Kona EV Hacking”
On Tue, Oct 3, 2023, 1:18 PM, I wrote: How many apps must people put on their phones, or payment cards people must carry, to pay to charge their vehicles with the convenience of a petrol station? * [LINK] "Charging fees can be paid through the Honk Mobile App or using a web browser with internet access." * [LINK] "You can use the BC Hydro EV app to activate stations on other networks across North America." * [LINK] "Download the FLO app for free. Access thousands of chargers on-the-go in our network and start your session with a tap." * [LINK] "Get the ChargePoint App. The easiest way to find available stations, start charging and get updates when your EV is fully charged." * [LINK] "Downloa