Q: I’m contemplating an electrical automobile and was enthusiastic about the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and marvel what you concentrate on it. I can be charging it from dwelling. What do you advocate for dwelling charging? Additionally, I hold listening to about bidirectional charging. What’s that?
A: The Hyundai Ioniq is a good EV. It’s comfy, enjoyable to drive and has good vary. In reality, at AAA, we simply bought two for our driving faculty. Having these EVs in our fleet of autos helps us to be taught and perceive firsthand about EV possession.
You have got many decisions in the case of dwelling charging. I just lately spoke to Shawn McLaughlin — the CEO of Emporia (www.emporiaenergy.com). They’ve a 40-ampere dwelling EV degree 2 charging station that may be hardwired or plugged into the suitable outlet for lower than $400.
Bidirectional charging — which isn’t fairly right here but — will enable you, because the automobile proprietor, to promote the electrical energy in your automobile’s battery again to the electrical utility throughout peak charges and purchase electrical energy to recharge your electrical automobile when the charges are lowest. In pilot testing, exams have proven that — relying on the car and electrical energy prices — the patron can generate $200 per thirty days reselling their electrical energy.
Q: I simply had a brand new battery put in this previous September, however my battery was lifeless yesterday. I had an AAA technician come to assist. The meter he used confirmed that my battery was nonetheless good. What else could possibly be flawed? Would one thing be draining the battery?
A: Sure, that might actually be the case. A light-weight could possibly be on as a result of a door didn’t absolutely shut or one thing else could possibly be draining the battery.
The perfect factor to do is to have the battery charged utilizing a battery charger after which have the charging system (alternator output) in addition to {the electrical} system checked for parasitic drain.
Q: My automobile won’t begin. It appears as if the pc system is whacked out. What ought to I do?
A: For an engine to begin, it wants gas and a working gas system, ignition (spark), correct timing and affordable engine compression. If any one in all these is lacking, the engine gained’t begin. It is advisable to see what the engine has and doesn’t have.
Step one is to examine for gas stress and see if the gas injection is working. Then, see if the engine has spark. As soon as that’s decided, scan the pc system to search for fault codes.
The problem could possibly be a defective ignition coil(s), or a gas pump or timing belt that failed, amongst different issues. The precise laptop is probably going not the issue.
Q: My spouse and I personal a 2020 Toyota Prius XLE e-AWD with simply over 25,000 miles. The automobile has at all times been serviced by Toyota, at all times garaged and was in pristine situation. Sadly, we have been stopped at a lightweight and a distracted driver by no means stopped and plowed into the rear finish of the Prius with out making use of their brakes. Evidently, the automobile was not drivable after the accident and needed to be placed on a flatbed to the tow yard.
With the affect of the accident, which brought about our automobile to be catapulted into the automobile in entrance of us, I assumed for certain the automobile could be totaled. The insurance coverage adjuster got here out yesterday and decided the automobile was repairable, What he noticed with visible inspection was $11,000 value of injury. He mentioned there in all probability could be hundreds of {dollars} of further harm as soon as the physique store begins to disassemble and put the automobile again collectively.
My automobile is at the moment at a good physique store. The physique store proprietor advised me that it’s nonetheless very troublesome to get substitute elements and that it might take as much as 5 weeks to restore the car if elements can be found.
My concern is with a significant rear-end crash. Even when repaired by physique store, will the automobile carry out the identical because it did earlier than the accident? Ought to I commerce within the automobile and take a beating on the commerce, or ought to I contest the appraiser’s opinion and ask for the automobile to be totaled?
A: Proper now, the automobile is value someplace within the vary of $30,000 (wanting on the web site iseecars.com), and normally automobiles are usually not totaled till the repairs exceed 60% of the worth (generally extra). The physique store ought to have the ability to decide if further repairs are wanted.
At this level, with the very excessive automobile costs, it in all probability is sensible to restore the automobile. As soon as repaired, it is going to be pretty much as good as new. If the store has good technicians and makes use of high quality elements, there isn’t a purpose to suppose it gained’t be. Nonetheless, in case you are uneasy concerning the automobile, you is perhaps stunned to seek out what it’s value, since used automobile values are nonetheless a bit loopy.
John Paul is the AAA Northeast Automobile Physician. He has greater than 40 years of expertise within the vehicle business and is an ASE-Licensed Grasp Technician. Write to John Paul, The Automobile Physician, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Windfall, RI 02904. Or electronic mail jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Automobile Physician” within the topic subject. Observe him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Fb.