Zero E-Michigan

Riding the Dragon Tail of the Dragon   Designated US 129, the Tail of the Dragon in Deals Gap, NC  boasts 318 curves in 11 miles and is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest with no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper your travel. Motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts in eastern USA typically fall into two categories:  They've ridden or driven the Tail of the Dragon or they want to.   Checking out the bikes Electrics at the Dragon Austin Ammarell, owner of eMoto Powersports , has been organizing an event to gather electric motorcyclists for several years called Electrics at the Dragon.  Renting a set of AirBNB houses in Robbinsville, NC, Austin's event allows eMoto enthusiasts to rent a room at very reasonable rates.  The shared common spaces like a garage with plenty of parking and common kitchen and living spaces fosters a sense a camaraderie and telling of riding stories for the attendees. ...

QUICKLYNKS 12V Bluetooth monitor (Amazon affiliate link) The recent  12V Battery Post and associated YouTube video elicited quite a bit of engagement, so thanks for the feedback!  The initial analysis indicated that the 12V battery on my Kia Niro EV was potentially marginal.  It turns out a single measurement with a multimeter isn't enough to get a true picture of the battery health. Fellow EV owner and builder Mike Walenga whom I met via the Kalamazoo EV Association recommended a 12V Bluetooth battery monitor which I thought might be helpful for readers of this blog as well.  See link below the picture on the left or in the text above. Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prefer a video version of this?  See this Zero E-Michigan YouTube Video . Our friend's Prius' 12V battery was draining due to  a dome light left on. Data Snapshots Obviously checking the voltage on your 12V battery with a multimeter only gives you a single sn...

Wait...you did know your EV still has a 12V "starter" battery, right?  Yeah, it does...whether you can see it under the hood like on a standard VICE (vehicle with internal combustion engine), it's buried under the rear cargo area (Chevy Volt, see picture below), or it's somewhere else entirely (Tesla), your car has one.  One minor exception:  The Tesla Cybertruck has a 48V auxiliary system, so none of this will apply to that vehicle.  Prefer a video version of this?  See this Zero E-Michigan YouTube episode.   If There's No Engine to Crank, What Does It Do? The 12V battery may not turn over an internal combustion engine when starting the car, but it's essential to fire up all the auxiliary systems like climate control, lights, wipers, and - most importantly - the vehicle's computer that controls everything. If your 12V battery is flat, your car won't start even if the main traction battery has a 100% charge. DC to DC Converter - Your EVs "Alternat...

If you're a Tesla owner, chances are you do the bulk of your road trip charges at a Tesla Supercharger .   But let's say you're heading out on a US-based EV road trip in your non-Tesla.  Chances are,  Electrify America  (EA) stations are one of the charging options along your way.  If your car doesn't have a free charging option like many new Volkswagen ID4 vehicles or others, you'll likely need to pay for those charging sessions.   EA Pass versus Pass + EA has several payment options: No membership: Pay as you go with a credit or debit card Pass membership: Fund your account with a credit card, and use your app to pay - no monthly fee Pass+ membership: Fund your account with a credit card, and use your app to pay - $7 per month Which Is Best For Your Use Case? EA's only guidance for Pass+ is to recommend it if "I fast charge regularly" and mentions the $7.00 per month fee.   So what does that buy you?  Basically the monthly...

In my capacity as EV Education and Outreach Lead for Consumers Energy EV group  in the last three years, one of my regular tasks has been to write the articles for the company's EV e-Newsletter (archived copies are on a prior blog post ).   With the support of my supervisor at Consumers Energy, I've also focused my attention on the Zero E-Michigan YouTube channel and video podcasts  as well as  audio only podcasts (Buzzsprout) .  Since there's only so much of my creative energy to go around, I have neglected the "Muskegon EV Guy" blog.   As of March 1, 2024, I will be retiring from the Consumers Energy position.  My reasons mostly have to do with my desire to do less work and more travel and other fun things.   More EV Content To Come I still enjoy being in the non-professional EV education and outreach space.  As such, I will continue with the YouTube and podcast efforts, but also come back to writing.  For some people a...

Since December 2022, I've directed my creative energy into a podcast and YouTube channel called "Zero E-Michigan" with my friend and co-host Larry Hudson.  On this show we try to explore and simplify what’s happening with electric vehicles, energy generation, and zero emissions topics with a focus on our home state of Michigan. Together with our guests we demystify topics related to driving electric in Michigan and how you can select, charge, maintain, and get the maximum value out of your EV. The podcasts are available in both video form (on YouTube in the Podcasts playlist ) and audio only on your favorite podcast platform   Links: Podcast on Buzzsprout:  https://zeroemichigan.buzzsprout.com/  or search your favorite podcast platform for "Zero E-Michigan". YouTube channel:   https://www.youtube.com/@0e-michigan Additional Content on YouTube: In addition to the podcast episodes on YouTube , we have tackled topics like: EV road trip preparation My EV road ...

2015 Tesla Model S P85D For Sale Sold! Asking: $28,900 (below average KBB private sale estimate) Free Lifetime Supercharging P85D with "Insane" acceleration This will save you thousands of dollars over the life of the car!  I save over $500 on a recent road trip to Arizona. Additional pictures:  Google Photo Album VIN: 5YJSA1H42FF086621 Odometer: ~122,500 miles Contact:  karl.bloss@gmail.com or 231-753-8660 (voice/text) for a test drive Location:  Muskegon, MI Local purchase with secured funds only.  I will not ship this car.  I have a Carvana sale offer in hand, so please no low-ball offers.   We recently took advantage of the Tesla pricing update and since we wanted towing capability and the longer range available on today's Teslas, we are getting a Model Y and are reluctantly selling this gorgeous Model S.  We are the original owners, so you should be able to transfer the free lifetime Supercharging feature.  Just plug in at any ...