Month of February 2024 (Nat’l Avg $3.150)

Today, 29 deg F in Bolingbrook, 28 in Elk Grove.

Wind N 8

27.6 miles, fcd = 49.3 MPG

 

Well....our Northwest Salish Sea(Puget Sound) temperature this morning is tied with Edwin's Elk Grove temperature, 28degF. Hope to also have a "pleasure walk" to the Senior Center today.

PS, 8AM, PST....The frosted windows on the Hyundai Elantra are about 1-2 hours away before the sun can shine on the windows. The frost should be cleared soon afterward. We'll see.

 

There was necessary hammering in the apt. below mine. So I went for a combination drive with both the Elantra & Accent. Noted towards the end, the wind was picking up, as they predicted this morning. Back at the apt., the news says now winds may gust as high as 60-65MPH. Earlier in the day, a tree fell killing one person in the region.

 

2AM, PST.....Not sleeping tonight. Listening to Lindsey Stirling videos. Thru the night, looks like the temperature should hang about 5degF above freezing. Predicted to reach 50degF tomorrow & 0% chance of rain. The half moon is settling into the west northwest, now burying itself behind low clouds. Locally, we didn't get the strong winds predicted. Don't know of other areas about. In the morning, looks to be a good walk to the church breakfast.

 

Could not put a "like" on the note, but I'm glad you took your cars out for some exercise.

Going for a long pack ride today while wife attends a couple of open houses with a long-time but first-time home buyer client. Cockapoo goes everywhere with us unless boarded.

First chance to check out the wife's new ride for greater than 1/2 the battery capacity used in 30-35 °F. We'll start with 80%. Will be able to check efficiency and later, DC charging without the ability to preheat the battery.

 

26.8°F with flurries. A bit of light snow during our pack ride and DC charging afterward. First time "fast" charging the wife's car. Procedural misstep between car and charger at first. Charger indicated we were charging, but the car begged to differ. Charge port remained locked.

Used emergency unlatch mechanism.

The pack handled the situation well.

2nd try worked fine. Charging speed was okay, wasn't expecting much. Stayed a solid 85% of the 50 kW DC charger's limit. 50 kW is slow by today's standards of 150 to 350. Success by my reasoning, and an inexpensive $0.15/kWh. The going rate for DC charging is $0.35 to $0.60 or more per kWh. Home rate is about $0.32/kWh last I checked a year ago.

Speed drops off above 60% battery level so I disconnected at 65%. 25 minutes going from 38% to 65%. Not too bad in the cold without preheating the battery.

Overall driving efficiency close to EPA rating, therefore satisfactory. About 85 miles total including elevations between 200 ft and 1100 ft, half highway and half rural roads.

 

Late last year our electric rates in western Washington went up about 10% to $0.105(?)/kWh, with our PNW power combination of water, wind, 10%(?) nuclear & a trace of solar. That's why I was happy that this apt. doesn't need much heating. If we were paying your rate, I would be deliriously happy then! What sources of power does Massachusetts have & what are the state's highest elevations?

 

Renewable energy sources are still pitifully low in Massachusetts. I believe natural gas is likely the greatest in proportion.

https://www.bostonsolar.us/solar-bl...es-my-electricity-come-from-in-massachusetts/

https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=MA

Elevation varies like most places with seacoast and hills/"mountains." Mt Greylock is just under 3500 ft. West of me Is a bit like the high plains, but not mile high, maybe 1000 to 1500 ft. It is always a long hill climb going west of me.

 

Cars need exercise. My Elantra got about 27 miles Sunday.

Today,22 deg F in Bolingbrook and Elk Grove.
Wind SSW 1
Driving the Fit today. 27.6 miles, fcd = 50.7 MPG

Rode the Grom seven miles yesterday, fcd went from 147.0 to 147.3.

Rode the Trek only about three miles. left knee was acting up.
But I did have a good workout early Sunday.

 

Expected I would walk much less than the last half of 2023, which was coming true. The heart attack slowed me more. But, I've been recovering better than I thought I would. Along with my general 2 miles per day, I've even been able to throw in some nearly 4 to 6 mile per day walks. So far, so good.

 

Today, 29 deg F in Bolingbrook, 28 in Elk Grove.

Wind SE 5

27.6 miles, fcd = 52.1 MPG

 

Today , 44 deg F in Bolingbrook,46 in Elk Grove Village.

wind S 8

This friendly tailwind was much appreciated; About 25 miles of this commute
is straight north, 2.5 east.

27.6 miles, fcd = 55.2 MPG.

Wonder what the Elantra would get ?
I'm thinking of driving the Elantra to Michigan,but I would like
to break it in a bit more. Next trip is scheduled for March 8.
I'm still working on the first tank of gas ! The car was purchased Jan 24.

 

You had good warming from the day before.

 

Yes, it was 61 deg F on the way home yesterday. Unfortunately,therewas a headwind so I only ended up
with 47.5 MPF fd.

 

Elantras don't "neet no steenkin' breakin' in"! At least both our standard automatic & manual ICE Elantras didn't.

 

Regular, Myrtle Beach,21 Feb. 24, $2.92

 

Today , 48 deg F in Bolingbrook,46 in Elk Grove.

Wind N 6

27.6 miles, fcd = 54.1 MPG

 

Tiday,37 deg F in Bolingbrook, 39 in Elk Grove.

Wind WNW 9

27.7 miles, fcd = 52.4 MPG

Filled up at a BP station in Wood Dale, 2.5 miles away from work.
In that 2.5 miles, I got up to 60 MPG(fcd). It' helps to have warm engine
and very little traffic and 30 PSL.

$3.499/gall for 87 E10.
443.0 miles, 9.426 gallons.
Miles remaining = 5. That's weird. Usually, when I fill up around
zero miles remaining, it only takes 8.8-9.0 gallons. Fraud ?

 

Older ICE cars would go 60-70 miles past an indicated empty tank of gas. That was a last ditch attempt by manufacturers to get drivers to fill their tanks BEFORE they actually ran out of fuel.

 

I know. Theoretically , my tank hold 10.6 gallons.
This 9.426 gallon fillup is the largest ever. I have figured out
( on some of my other cars ) how many gallons are left when it reads zero miles.
Not on these cars yet. It's not so important to me.
Also, I never "stuff" the tank. When the pump clicks off, I call it a day.