Chapter Leadership Highlights: DE-Nashville
Introduction
July was Drive Electric Tennessee Month! Drive Electric Nashville started in 2022 and is led by Justin Davidson and Justin Huff. The chapter covers Davidson and surrounding counties on the north side of Davidson. Drive Electric Nashville’s Co-Chair Justin Davidson was interviewed as part of DET Month. Read the full interview below:
Justin Davison- Drive Electric Nashville Co-Chair
Q: What EV do you drive?
A: I have a 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SEL RWD.
Q: What made you decide to be a chapter leader?
A: Nashville is our state capital and it seemed appropriate that Drive Electric Tennessee have a presence here where there are so many EV owners and EV-curious people.
Q: How long have you driven an EV?
A: The Hyundai is my first EV. I’ve had it since February 2022, so about two and a half years.
Q: What changes have you experienced since switching to driving an EV?
A: The biggest pro is absolutely the huge savings from not buying fuel. Minimal and/or no real maintenance is another benefit. Another huge pro is the driving experience. Quiet, instant torque, and very smooth. As far as cons, it isn’t the fact that you have to charge on road trips, but rather the reliability and availability of DC fast charging for non-Tesla owners right now. However, with Tesla opening their network, that should change. Electrify America continues to struggle to keep up with the growth of EVs and doesn’t seem to be able to properly maintain their network.
Q: What is the longest trip you have taken in your EV? What were the starting and ending cities of that trip?
A: I’ve put 43,000 miles on my car in two and a half years. I drive between Nashville and Atlanta pretty regularly for work. The longest trip I’ve done is from Nashville to Mobile, AL, via Atlanta, and then Mobile back to Nashville. 600 miles on the way down and 465 on the way back.
Q: What do you wish you had known prior to purchasing your first EV?
A: My IONIQ 5 doesn’t have battery preconditioning. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. They added it to all IONIQ 5s beginning in 2023. DC fast charging in cold temperatures can be slower as a result. The next EV I own will definitely have battery preconditioning. Also, EVs consume tires faster than gas vehicles due to their weight and torque.
Q: What question are you asked most at Chapter events/meetings about EVs?
A: By far, I am asked how far XYZ car can go on a charge and how long it takes to charge. The biggest misconception is that EVs take forever to charge and that road tripping in an EV isn’t possible.
Thank You DE-Nashville!
Thanks to Justin Davidson for agreeing to this interview, and to DE-Nashville for the work you do to promote electrified transport in your community!
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