quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Emergency crews can bring gas out to the ICE vehicles. A couple gallons will get them to the next gas station. On the other hand, the EVs will need to be towed.

Not really. You can charge an EV using a portable generator. That's how roadside assistance companies deal with EVs that are out of power on the side of the road.

It's not very fast or efficient, but it'll get them enough of a charge to get to a better charger.

The Yoop is scheduled to get 15 inches or so of snow starting tonight and through tomorrow. 35 MPH winds, too.
I will just stay home. I never let my gas tank get below 3/4 (and thats year round) and I keep snacks and water aboard too. Wet wipes in case I have to.... Well, answer the call!
As I type this, I can hear my landlords end loader moving the existing snowbanks back in a pre-emptive strike.

Good reminder to have a get home bag/emergency kit in your vehicle with food and blankets.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
You may be better of in an EV than ICE since you are running nothing but the heater and other small electronic devices, not having to have an engine circulate to keep the car warm...

An idling engine burns very little gas.

It'd be an interesting experiment though to take a fully charged EV and a fully gassed up ICE vehicle and see who runs out of juice first in that scenario.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Balzé Halzé,

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
You may be better of in an EV than ICE since you are running nothing but the heater and other small electronic devices, not having to have an engine circulate to keep the car warm...

An idling burns very little gas.

It'd be an interesting experiment though to take a fully charged EV and a fully gassed up ICE vehicle and see who runs out of juice first in that scenario.

My understanding is that batteries lose capacity and charge slower in cold temps. It would be an interesting experiment to see.

ETA: article on the subject from Consumer Reports.

The main reasons driving range goes down in cold weather are the impact on battery chemistry when parked and the drain in order to maintain battery temperature and supply cabin heat. Cold temperatures can reduce an unplugged EV’s range by about 20 percent, according to testing by the Norwegian Automobile Federation, and recharging takes longer than in warm weather.

Running the cabin heater, seat heaters, defroster, and other accessories that combat the cold weather inside the car all sap range. For cold temperatures, what we have found is that 20° F and colder is when the range really drops. (Learn how to get the most out of your car’s heater.)

https://www.consumerreports.or...g-range-a5751769461/

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
I think it’s way more a factor that these southern states aren’t prepared to treat roads for ice and snow like us northern states are. That was the issue here is what I’m gathering, that stretch of I-95 was not treated whatsoever.

There are VDOT salt domes all up and down that stretch. Snow and ice are normal there...this isn't the south, really. They are set up but no, it didn't happen. The guvna blames the preceeding rain. As VA residents, we think he's already checked out of the office, shirking his duties.

quote:

Originally posted by PGT:

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
I think it’s way more a factor that these southern states aren’t prepared to treat roads for ice and snow like us northern states are. That was the issue here is what I’m gathering, that stretch of I-95 was not treated whatsoever.

There are VDOT salt domes all up and down that stretch. Snow and ice are normal there...this isn't the south, really. They are set up but no, it didn't happen. The guvna blames the preceeding rain. As VA residents, we think he's already checked out of the office, shirking his duties.

95 is the normal dividing line of snow vs other falling wet stuff. My guess is they gambled wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by PGT:
As VA residents, we think he's already checked out of the office, shirking his duties.

Borrowed from Mr. Shugart's post a few threads away....

Now if this happened a number of years ago, yes I would say that the State was not prepared for it or did not have the proper equipment. BUT.. VA has been getting snow on a regular basis for quite some time. I have to agree with Skins2881 and other members, The state guessed wrong and blew it..



I preach and preach to the other half about this all the time.

Keep the car filled up, snacks, blanket, etc..

A few years back I got stuck on the PA turnpike for hours and hours due to wrecks, ice and snow.

It is a surreal experience. The only reason I was fully prepared because I had all my gear and clothing with me because I left my parents house in Cols, OH and was heading straight to work at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

Not really. You can charge an EV using a portable generator. That's how roadside assistance companies deal with EVs that are out of power on the side of the road.

It's not very fast or efficient, but it'll get them enough of a charge to get to a better charger.

On a slow night, sure the tow truck may sit there long enough to charge the EV. When it comes to expeditiously clearing a heavily traveled interstate during a snow storm, maybe not. It's all about the Benjamins for those tow truck guys and time is money.

Traffic cleared out late this afternoon

Our US Senator, Tim Kaine, was among the stranded.

https://www.virginiabusiness.c...c_id=8919H2552689F9S

I guess he didn't notice the weather forecast before getting in his car.

I had a relative drove here to Charlottesville, VA for a family funeral, from the Detroit, MI area. She left early this morning for home. I had a call from her about 5 pm saying she had just entered Michigan and was about an hour from her home. I and the local family were happy to learn she is OK.

The storm deposited a lot of very wet, heavy snow here, lots of trees and power lines down. Fortunately, the hotel I'm in was not affected (but the TV went out). I drove over from Dallas, TX and had planned to start for home today. Issues with my car nixed that. It's in the Ford shop right now with parts coming tomorrow. Repairs (from age and running over a hunk of truck tire on the highway) are running several thousand Dollars. Oh, well--it's only money. I'm going to be delayed a couple of days getting home. Had more time to visit with the widow (my cousin) and her children (here for the funeral).

flashguy

I predict Governor-elect Youngkin will be firing a bunch of people over this.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
I wonder how much of your charge the heater eats up to keep the passenger compartment warm. If it’s on par with what a gas engine burns while constantly idling then ICE vs EV is not much of a thing.

Until they run out. Emergency crews can bring gas out to the ICE vehicles. A couple gallons will get them to the next gas station. On the other hand, the EVs will need to be towed.

Not really. I got stuck in one of these last year in St. Louis. The predictions were for a dusting of snow so no street treatments were done. Instead it rained and then froze once it got dark just in time for rush hour.

Everything was ice covered and no snow to get traction. I carpooled with my wife that day so what should have been an hour drive took me 8 hours. It was so packed everywhere that no emergency vehicles were out and about. It was literally a parking lot everywhere you went with many people being stuck for twelve hours.

Even if an emergency vehicle could have some how arrived to give the stranded cars a couple gallons of gas you sure weren’t driving anywhere on two gallons of gas unless they happened to arrive right before traffic cleared up. It seems like it would be easier for car cleanup the next day if you could just put gas in the stranded cars but the owners of the cars that were stranded were rescued and at home by the time car rescue was performed so the cars were going to be towed off either way.

I would like to see the results for an ICE car idling vs an EV while both keep the cabin warm.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881: 95 is the normal dividing line of snow vs other falling wet stuff. My guess is they gambled wrong.

I-95 runs North/South from ME to FL so not a good dividing line. While the Ocean has some effect, I've lived many years East of 95 and there's plenty of snow so that line of reasoning fails. No, I too think the outgoing Gov said Fuck It and screwed everyone traveling that stretch of highway.

For those who keep blaming people not listening to the weather, I've got news for you... in DC, Baltimore and Philly (probably like everywhere else in the US), the weather forecasters can't be trusted. There's no difference in a couple inches of snow or ten in how they deliver the message, which is Always Armageddon. I recall three back-to-back forecasts a few years ago calling for half a foot of snow in NoVA and all we had was a dusting.

quote:

Originally posted by Hay2bale:
Our US Senator, Tim Kaine, was among the stranded.

https://www.virginiabusiness.c...c_id=8919H2552689F9S

I guess he didn't notice the weather forecast before getting in his car.

Tucker Carlson said a number of people, including Kaine, tried to blame Governor-elect Younkin for the stranded motorists.

quote:

Originally posted by Dakor:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881: 95 is the normal dividing line of snow vs other falling wet stuff. My guess is they gambled wrong.

I-95 runs North/South from ME to FL so not a good dividing line. While the Ocean has some effect, I've lived many years East of 95 and there's plenty of snow so that line of reasoning fails. No, I too think the outgoing Gov said Fuck It and screwed everyone traveling that stretch of highway.

For those who keep blaming people not listening to the weather, I've got news for you... in DC, Baltimore and Philly (probably like everywhere else in the US), the weather forecasters can't be trusted. There's no difference in a couple inches of snow or ten in how they deliver the message, which is Always Armageddon. I recall three back-to-back forecasts a few years ago calling for half a foot of snow in NoVA and all we had was a dusting.

I recall an incident when a predicted storm closed Fairfax and Loudoun schools.

The storm arrives and leaves without even dropping the temp below freezing.

Trying to figure was the wreck the deciding factor in this backup, or VDOT not preparing the roadway? Applying brine, salt, etc.before the storm?

I worked for VDOT, and simply believe many of the field level supervisors now just do not have the experience needed, whether snow removal or maintenance issues.

My brothers contract for various counties in NOVA and VDOT. VDOT was clearly told that pretreatment of the roads was a waste of money because the rain would wash it away. Who do you think that came from? Lord Northam, King of the Blackface He was clearly punishing those he felt most responsible for his loss and it shows that he lacks character.

Amazing how people are trying to blame a man who hasn’t even started his first day of work all because their overlords are telling them to. Insanity.

As to watching the weather and being prepared: only people I know that can be wrong more often than not and still have a job are politicians! I’d say weather predictions around me are less than 20% accurate and when there’s snow involved, into the single digits. I understand that the mid Atlantic region of the country has some of the most difficult weather to predict more than a day or so out. Makes for a mad scramble at the grocery stores and gas stations every time.