The EV Boomer

After thinking it over, and given my recent retirement, this felt too much like work!

Now, we did better than 90% of new podcasts, albeit slowly, but I want to focus on better videos and stuff that I enjoy.

I did get a few emails, which was fantastic, but I felt like I was adding to the same pile of sameness. Need to be a bit more original. Maybe I will. We will see.

My Tesla still gets local speed limits wrong—even after a map update. If Full Self-Driving (Supervised) relies on that information, what should it trust: the map or the sign beside the road?

In Episode 11 of the EV Boomer Podcast, I discuss why navigation remains my biggest FSD frustration, plus the everyday realities of owning an EV:

• My free tool for comparing gas and EV charging costs

• Why my daughters prefer our Honda minivan for Thanksgiving travel

• The November EV Boomer Index charging-price update

• IONNA’s response to damaged charging connector pins

Try the free charging-cost calculator: https://charging.evboomer.com

Ionna Blog Update: https://www.ionna.com/blog/an-update/

Does your Tesla get your local speed limits right? Share your experience. Email: [email protected]. Follow on X: @TheEVBoomer

Subscribe for more real-world EV ownership, charging costs, and Tesla FSD experiences.

In this episode, we look at FSD scaring the family and whether I'm really getting value from it on local roads.

Is Ionna now cheaper than Tesla for DC fast charging, even for Tesla vehicles?

Is renting an EV car not as easy as it should be? My recent woes on a trip, and I got an early peek at the Pebble electric RV when it just passed me in Northern Virginia.

We mention the following YouTube videos in the podcast courtesy of Out of Spec. (Well worth checking out)

The new 2027 Pebble RV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1aNcDoG_1c

The 11-hour, 22-minute I-90 Surge race from 2 years ago - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_HehALAzTM

Follow me on X - https://x.com/TheEVBoomer

I recently completed an 1,800-mile road trip, and with EV fast-charger pricing a hot topic right now, I wanted to see how my charger choices could affect the trip's cost.

Using a real-world example, I calculated my costs if I chose to use a specific brand of chargers exclusively. The final numbers surprised me, but there are ways to keep that cost down. I discuss those too.

With competition getting established in the charging space, would that have made a big difference?

Richard has made a big EV switch, moving from his Hyundai Ioniq 5 to a Tesla Model Y, but the reasons behind it are more layered than a simple brand swap.

In this episode of EV Boomer, he walks through the real-world moments, road-trip lessons, charging surprises, lease math, tech frustrations, and unexpected wins that shaped the decision, comparing two very different EV ownership experiences from the perspective of someone who lives with them every day.

The following YouTube channels are mentioned in this podcast and are well worth checking out.

State of Charge with Tom Moloughney

The Network Architecture Channel

It's been a while since my last podcast, but we're back! In the last few months, I made the switch from a Hyundai Ioniq 5 to a 2023 Tesla Model Y AWD, and I absolutely love it.

However, it’s not all perfect! While I think Full Self-Driving (FSD) is generally fantastic, I do see some flaws, particularly regarding speed control. I discuss these concerns in this episode, especially since they surfaced on social media earlier this week. It seems that I might be in the minority with my opinion—maybe I'm wrong, or maybe I'm not.

Going on a road trip usually means throwing your family and stuff in the car and off you go. Doing it in an EV, notably on the most likely busiest travel day of the year, means at least some semblance of planning. You could rely on the in-car navigation system, but should you? Is this all boomer-friendly or even consumer-friendly?

Will this Boomer be the family turkey?

We also discuss some other fun stuff this week. Some links below.

The Out of Spec team undertakes a road race in three row EVs from the top of US Route 1 in Maine to the end of it in Key West, Florida. Look forward to the videos. Link here.

Did a test drive in a Tesla Model 3. What did I think about FSD (Full Supervised Driving)? Link here.

Could I get a Comma 4 (3x) or a Konik AI system for my Ioniq 5? Not sure, but not for the faint of heart.

(No apologies to Jane Austen)

Definitely an "OK Boomer" episode, but there are signs things are getting better.

Electric-vehicle fast charging can be a headache for drivers because the reliability of public charging hardware is still catching up to the growing number of EVs on the road. Many stations suffer from broken or weather-damaged screens that make it hard—or impossible—to start a charging session or follow on-screen instructions. When the display is unreadable or unresponsive, even experienced drivers can’t tell whether the charger is available, what steps to take, or how much they’ll pay. These issues are especially frustrating on long trips, where drivers rely on fast chargers to stay on schedule and have fewer alternatives if a station isn’t working correctly.

Payment systems are another frequent pain point. Non-functioning credit-card readers, unreliable tap-to-pay modules, or apps that fail to connect leave drivers stuck in limbo, forced to retry multiple times or move to another stall. Add to that the occasional faulty cables, chargers delivering far below their advertised speed, or stations that are offline entirely, and the experience can feel more like trial-and-error than convenient refueling. While the situation is improving as networks upgrade equipment and adopt common standards, today’s fast charging infrastructure can still test a driver’s patience.

Unexpectedly acquired a second electric vehicle, and it is a fun one. Nippy, small, and I can see why folks love the Chevy Bolt.

The EV world has been turned upside down recently with the loss of the tax credit, some models being suspended, prices falling, and manufacturers no longer bringing specific models to the US market.

Short and sweet is how I want these podcast episodes to be. Commercial-free too.

Today we take a quick look at how much charging has improved over the last year, how both range and charger anxiety is a real thing but time will heal that wound.

Love to hear from you, email [email protected]