Electric Cars -- anyone own one?

[NorCalMikie]

It's impossible to rev or even idle a Tesla motor with the car stationary on its tires.
-

but the battery was STILL DEAD!!

 

[NorCalMikie]

View attachment 1483173View attachment 1483174

Seems like the early Chevy pickups with the gas tanks just behind the cabs on the frame rails turned into Ba Ba Ba barbeques??

 

[rr2030]

Seems like the early Chevy pickups with the gas tanks just behind the cabs on the frame rails turned into Ba Ba Ba barbeques??

Untrue. It was proven the fires that appeared on TV were staged using a burning flair and loose fill pipe clamp to ignite. There was never a recall or corrective measure applied to that vehicle (Chevrolet / GMC C & K models).

 

[Brians356]

Training for EV's is becoming more available. ASE has certifications EV1, EV2, L3 ,L4. A quick search found several colleges and private institutes near by offer EV training.

There's already a shortage of good ASE mechanics. They will train some for EVs but we're behind the power curve on most skilled trades, the kids don't want to work.
-

 

[Dgd6mm]

There's already a shortage of good ASE mechanics. They will train some for EVs but we're behind the power curve on most skilled trades, the kids don't want to work.
-

Yeah, for some reason or another they think they're all to good for a blue collar type job.

 

[ebb]

Sure they do, they think being a social justice warrior and burning cities is and bitching about injustice yet doing nothing positive or making the world just or fair is a job.

 

[PatMiles]

Flights Diverted as Airport Parking Engulfed in Flames​

Flights Diverted as Airport Parking Engulfed in Flames

Fire commander said "lots of electric vehicles potentially involved" in the early stages of a fire that shut one of Britain's major airports.

www.breitbart.com

 

[NorCalMikie]

It was proven the fires that appeared on TV were staged

You mean the MEDIA would show something on TV that WASN'T true??? Say it isn't so. Burst my bubble why don't you.

 

[Brians356]

The gray sector is "Not sure", the lime green "Likely".

70% of those over the age of 65 would not buy, along with 60% of respondents that had an annual income below $50,000. In addition, 76% of those that identified as Republicans would likely not buy an electric vehicle.
-





-

 

[rr2030]

There's already a shortage of good ASE mechanics. They will train some for EVs but we're behind the power curve on most skilled trades, the kids don't want to work.
-

True, around here it's difficult to find a high school with an Auto class. Can't work on and modify cars like we did in the old days. The education system geared up years ago to educate everyone to be the Governor, tossing trades to the curb. Now many trades suffer. The vehicles are complicated, the benefits are minimal (vacation, 401K contributions, working conditions) once you start working you make daily payments to the tool truck, forever. The the flat-rate system, thats an entire subject on its own.

 

[jds holler]

I don't have much to offer on the main debate concerning the EV vs ICE vehicle -- except this.

There is a huge, make that HAAUUGGE, segment of our society who depend upon a large and healthy used car inventory to simply keep their butt in a running vehicle to provide their transportation needs. The cars and trucks they (we) generally are after have at least 100,000+ miles on them, and are usually 10+ years old. These are folks who work jobs which can afford a 2 or 3 hundred a month payment, but not even close to a 8 or 9 hundred a month payment.

I don't really see the future providing these cars from the EV inventory that exists now or ten years from now. jd

 

[FNSafari]

That’s all and good but the current power brokers want nothing but ev’s.

The gray sector is "Not sure", the lime green "Likely".

70% of those over the age of 65 would not buy, along with 60% of respondents that had an annual income below $50,000. In addition, 76% of those that identified as Republicans would likely not buy an electric vehicle.
-
View attachment 1483345




-

 

[rwj]

That’s all and good but the current power brokers want nothing but ev’s.

I wonder why? Could it be nothing to do with the environment and everything to do with creating and controlling a new market? Remember the recent comments from Larry Fink of BlackRock where he called capitalism “messy” because they’re unpredictable. Limiting choices simplifies investment strategies and makes for predictable outcomes.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I don't have much to offer on the main debate concerning the EV vs ICE vehicle -- except this.

There is a huge, make that HAAUUGGE, segment of our society who depend upon a large and healthy used car inventory to simply keep their butt in a running vehicle to provide their transportation needs. The cars and trucks they (we) generally are after have at least 100,000+ miles on them, and are usually 10+ years old. These are folks who work jobs which can afford a 2 or 3 hundred a month payment, but not even close to a 8 or 9 hundred a month payment.

I don't really see the future providing these cars from the EV inventory that exists now or ten years from now. jd

And Gentlemen, this is the REALITY of it all.

 

[BlueWater]

I wonder why? Could it be nothing to do with the environment and everything to do with creating and controlling a new market? Remember the recent comments from Larry Fink of BlackRock where he called capitalism “messy” because they’re unpredictable. Limiting choices simplifies investment strategies and makes for predictable outcomes.

I think that's spot-on. Create a push to a serious increase in consumption in one area, you get a serious increase in the need to "invest" to support that push. Power plants. Grid infrastructure. New technologies. Managing the changeover. Lots of money to be made for those seeing it coming, if they can manage to be part of the "investment" process.

The O'Jays had it right ... For The Love Of Money (lyrics @ azlyrics.com).

 

[fn1889m]

I purchased a Toyota EV three months ago. It is made in partnership with Subaru, and both sell the same vehicle. So far I am very happy with it. It works well, rides well, and is cheap to fuel. So far I am only charging with 110V, but will install a 220V outlet soon. I only charge at home. I live in the PNW, and electricity is relatively cheap compared to other regions. Its like paying less than $1 per gallon for gas if I charge at home. The car is AWD, has two motors (and two batteries - one for each motor). The curb wt is about 4,500 lbs. it has a low center of gravity, due to the battery weight and location. Corners well. It has 8+ inches of true clearance. I hike a lot and expect to reach trailheads.

A full charge yields 260 miles. Winter may be different. But the car has equipment to heat and cool the battery. I charge to 90-100% at 110V. The range is enough for most purposes.

The car has 2-3 driving modes. If you want, it runs like a normal vehicle - no difference. Or you can slow down acceleration to conserve charge. The EVs have fast acceleration. And you can use the regeneration mode to recharge the battery when braking or slowing down. The recharging occurs when the front and back motors act as generators. It feels like you are downshifting when you let off on the accelerator pedal. If you like manual transmissions, you will like regen.

The initial environmental cost of the lithium battery exceeds the on-going environmental costs of gas for the first 5 years or 50K miles. After that, the EV comes out ahead. This assumes that the generation of the electricity has no substantial environmental cost. Again, I live in the PNW, so dams and hydro power. Plus and minus.

The real limit is charging infrastructure. I would not want to drive across Eastern Montana and North Dakota in the winter. But going from my small rural town to Seattle and back (160 miles) is no problem. I-5 corridor is charger rich. Not so much on SR20.

The Toyota does not qualify for the $7500 tax credit. However, if you lease the car, Toyota Leasing will pass on its $7500 credit to reduce the buyout price. I leased mine for 30 days, and then paid it off, to get the price reduction, at the dealer’s suggestion.

I am sure EVs are not for everybody. But I am very happy with mine. Each car from different makers is different, have competing strengths and weaknesses. It’s good to shop around and compare charging speed, battery capacity, driving comfort, factors. But I’m convinced there is no general rule that applies to every EV. They are all different from each other.

ETA: The Toyota BZ4X is kind of an ugly vehicle. it is a Rav4 in back and a 1908 Baker EV in front.

 

[buckeye68]

Why do EV owners feel that they are entitled to plug into your electric and charge their cars for free?

 

[NorCalMikie]

Why do EV owners feel that they are entitled to plug into your electric and charge their cars for free?

If you charge YOUR EV at home, your electricity comes THRU your Electric meter and YOU pay the electricity bill. Ain't no such thang as a free lunch!!

 

[jds holler]

And now we're gonna live in a world where EVERY outdoor electric outlet is going to have to be locked, blocked, turned off or otherwise disconnected or it will be discovered by an electricity moocher. jd

 

[NorCalMikie]

They have pay toilets don't they?