Local EV Experience Confounds Classic Car Owner in Abington, PA.

Ok, admittedly a modern interpretation and not what Irish poet George Bernard Shaw originally meant.

In April 2023, the Biden Administration supported a 1,475 page proposed ruleset released by the EPA. This car pollution program could necessitate up to two-thirds of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2032. The projections for car manufacturing for the year 2032 estimate 62% of crossovers and SUVs, 68% of pickup trucks, and 78% of sedans would all be electric by 2032.

Between 2017–2022, some of Pennsylvania Metro areas were ranked in the top 10 as a location for EV Infrastructure growth in the US, however to date only 1% of the over 10 million registered vehicles in the PA are electric or hybrid. Right after the New Year, a few new EV Charging Stations were installed at my local mall and neighborhood gas station. For a couple of weeks as I drove by, they remained encased in plastic wrap.

During the Coronavirus Pandemic, I invested in a project car. After a little research, I found a 2005 Jaguar S-Type that really spoke to me. After some bodywork, paintwork, and mechanical work, it was ready for prime-time.

One thing that I overlooked when investing in this retro-styled masterpiece was that it’s Premium-grade only 93 octane gasoline was poured into a tank that rivaled the hull of the Titanic. One night in late March on my way home, I decided to accelerate the decrease in my credit score by filling the Jaguar up with gas.

As I pulled into my local gas station and my tires gently rolled over the gas station bell, I noticed that the EV pumps were unwrapped and operational. I no sooner rolled out of my sedan when I noticed that a Tesla Model Y pulled up to the charging station.

An entire family, two kids and a man and wife jumped out. The man plugged in the EV charger and the whole family ran across the street to a Target store close by. Talk about multitasking!
As I watched the digits on the gas pumps climb northward on my traditional gas pump, I admired the easy connection of the newest EV vehicles to the charging station. EV DC Fast Chargers can fully charge an electric battery in 20 minutes. After a click on the gas pump, I placed the nozzle back carefully avoiding spilling the high-octane all over my shoes.

Luckily, I had chosen the space right next to the air pump for my tires. I fumbled through my pocks to get four quarters for the machine. Once activated, I ran with a fevered pace to get the PSI in each tire to acceptable levels before my two minutes ran out.

I know that I saw one of the window squeegee buckets! Spilling suds all over my shoes (this pair is completely finished) I cleaned all of my windshields. Remember the days when an attendant did this for you?

Once I had taken enough of the night air and was completely finished treating my traditional vehicle to fuel, window cleaning, and appropriate tire pressure, I sat back down in the Jaguar. I looked up to notice that the electrified family had returned.

Level 3 charging stations (or public fast chargers) can charge an electric vehicle between 20–30 minutes. Level 2 chargers are also located in public places but take longer (some up to 12 hours) to fully charge. A Level 1 charger often found in home garages, can take between 40–50 hours to fully charge an electric vehicle.

They disconnected the charger and climbed into the Tesla Model Y complete with with Target packages and drinks for the kids. With luck and timing, I pulled out of my space right behind them. I could see the kids in the back seat pointing and laughing at my iconic silver Jaguar leaper on the front hood.

I’m not worried about the 2023 EV craze or the diminishing time to charge one. For now, I’ll stay in Pennsylvania’s 99% registered traditional car club. I'll keep working on my patience.

Dedicated in loving memory of my father and author, Thomas J. Leibrandt.
Michael Thomas Leibrandt lives and works in Abington, Pennsylvania.