u/oneiota1

Hi all,

Currently window shopping EVs. Not in a rush but considering pulling the trigger end of the year or early next. I'm leaning towards waiting for the Chicago Auto Show in February so I can sit in the cars on display all in one day without having to go to different dealers and make a short list to test drive from there. I currently drive a 2020 Altima SL and while I fit fine in it and it's perfectly fine for my needs, the CVT went at 33k miles (thankfully 5 months before the warranty expired); so while people like to talk about range anxiety, I've had CVT anxiety wondering if/when it'll go again.

I'm 6'1 and while I've lost 100lbs (and going), I'm still on the hefty side so my primary desire is driver space. I will be driving/riding it 99% of the time solo so driver space is paramount over passenger space. Cargo space would be nice for the occasional Costco run, but it's usually my work bag going in the trunk day to day. My daily work commute is less than 5 miles a day, so battery range is not a huge deal since I can get by on Level 1 charging at home and have DCFCs not far from my house if necessary for occasional weekend trips.

The Ioniq 5 (limited) and Blazer seem to be the best 2 options from what I've researched. Ioniq 5 has the movable center console with good driver space, but then again, I'd be trading CVT anxiety for ICCU anxiety (although Ioniq has a long warranty where my Altima's powertrain warranty is now expired).

Blazer from what I've seen has plenty of room despite a fixed console, but is pricier than the Ioniq 5 when I'm done building it (trying to stay sub-$50k). It also appears to lack CarPlay which isn't end of the world, but would prefer CarPlay.

I test drove the Model Y a couple of years ago and while I fit decently in it, wasn't a fan of the how plain the interior was and the "iPad" screen controlling everything.

Any other suggestions from the crowd I should consider? How's the Mach-E when it comes to driver space? Appreciate any feedback.

Hello All,

Currently window-shopping electric vehicles. With my current commute, I could get away with Level 1 charging. That said, my local utility ComEd is offering up to $2500 to subsidize the cost to install a Level 2 charger. Figured I'd check with the experts here if anyone could provide an idea what an electrician would reasonably charge and anything else I should keep in mind to get a Level 2 charger installed in my garage with my current setup if I wanted to take ComEd up on their offer.

Garage is detached from the house, separated by the backyard, by roughly 20 feet with about half of the backyard bricked from the house side and the walkway leading to the garage also bricked. House was basically torn down to the 4 walls and rebuilt in 2003 with a 200A breaker installed on the 2nd floor (pictured). Garage was built in early 90s. To my knowledge, the house's panel feeds power directly to the the garage. Haven't found any sub-panels or anything to indicate otherwise. I'm fairly sure the power supply to the garage is trenched under the backyard leading from the breaker to the garage (this is basically the family house I've lived in and have been trying to figure out the nitty gritty details of the house since dad unexpectedly passed before having a chance to ask him).

I know 30A would be sufficient for L2 charging (assuming one of the 30's in the panel are for the garage), but my understanding is if all the lighting and 120v outlets in the garage run on that one circuit, a 2nd one would need to be put in to support a 240v outlet, which I may as well then make it 50A.

Assuming the electrician will have to trench new conduit in the backyard, could an electrician wire directly from the meter (assuming they then wouldn't have to deal with the panel and the wiring inside the house) and just install a small panel in the garage with a 50A breaker for the 240v EVSE box or would they have to install a 50A breaker in the main house panel and wire through there to the backyard and trench new conduit to the garage to install the outlet? Or maybe the better question is, which would be easier/cheaper?

Appreciate any feedback.

https://preview.redd.it/7cpjhmx0av9h1.jpg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6bfd9edd2b58448fe8870a7fdd8d4c87089d395

Hello All,

My first niece is due in July and the family is looking into the best way to save for her future. Looking into opening an Illinois 529 plan for her benefit, but want to explore the best way to do it from a tax perspective for the family and future FAFSA perspective for my future niece.

From what I'm reading, and if I'm understanding correctly, if a grandparent opens and owns a 529 with the grandchild as a beneficiary, it wouldn't count toward against the grandchild's financial aid when they apply for FAFSA (at least as the rules are currently).

In addition, if I'm reading correctly, it looks like any Illinois resident can claim an Illinois tax deduction if they contribute directly to the 529 plan through Ugift.

Assuming this is correct, what we're considering doing is having my mom (grandma) open a 529 plan in her name with her future granddaughter as the beneficiary. Grandma can directly fund it and my sister/BIL and myself can fund it through Ugift and we can all then claim deductions on our state income tax based on what we each contribute to the plan. Then, when it comes time for the granddaughter to apply for FAFSA, it wouldn't count as part of her assets.

Wanted to see if this sounds correct or if we're missing anything with this plan.