Electric Cars -- anyone own one?

[NorCalMikie]

7.5 billion dollars set aside for charging stations over two years ago and not the first one built from our taxpayer dollars.

Politics in action. But Trump's the bad guy.
You want to go EV? Go for it. After all, they ARE your $$$.
Just don't keep telling ME how good they are when we can see the difference.
If they work for YOU, go for it.

 

[dellet]

Those interested in how the infrastructure “will play out and develop” might want to read this and then look up what your state is doing to comply with the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program . Here is Montana’s

https://deq.mt.gov/files/Energy/Transportation/MontanaElectricVehicleInfrastructureDeploymentPlan2022.pdf

The National plan will require a fast charging station every 50 miles along the major corridors/Interstate Highways. These stations need to be located within a mile of the interstate, and have Amenities within “walking distance”.

So basically there will be a need to establish small towns every 50 miles along the interstates in the state of Montana whose sole source of income will be electric vehicles needing a charge.

The first priority is getting more tourists into the National parks and pristine areas. These areas are already over capacity and the quality of life and the experience of a visit has dropped dramatically. Best rivers are over fished and the list of environmental damage just multiplies. Before throwing this out as a Stare problem, which it partly is, remember this is being done to comply with a national program.

Can we add that to the environmental impact of switching to all EV’s?

I don’t mind the EV’s too much, but the environmental catastrophe that goes along with saving the world, just isn’t worth it.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Politics in action. But Trump's the bad guy.
You want to go EV? Go for it. After all, they ARE your $$$.
Just don't keep telling ME how good they are when we can see the difference.
If they work for YOU, go for it.

Mike, my feelings are THEY can shove those EV's straight up their A$$'s!!
And the charging stations, if they ever build one. The private sector is getting tired of thus crap I believe. All the subsidies in the government is not going to dig these companies out of the whole that's been dug. People are not going to buy them, for various reasons.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Folks WILL buy an EV for different reasons. Saving the world?
I DON'T THINK SO!! Like I said, it's their $$$ so spend as you like.
When you spent $75K+ on an EV and are told NOT to charge it because it's too hot outside and the power grid can't take it??
And all those kick backs from the $40K/$50K solar system you just popped for isn't paying it's share? But, but, but the power company said they would pay me X amount of $$$ for the power I didn't use .... Need I say more?
What happens when all the oil fired/coal power plants are gone because of "no oil/coal" thing? They better start thinking WAY AHEAD or you'll be taking your cold Soda or cup of Coffee home on a paper cup? Didn't we use to do that?
But what about the trees that are cut down to make the recyclable paper?? No take out. Drink it "there", straight from the spicket and hope no one has Covid.
No plastic straws? But that new EV you just paid BIG $$$$ and can't charge when it gets hot outside, has more plastic in it than all the plastic straws YOU could use in 10 lifetimes? (DUH!!!)

 

[rr2030]

Times were simpler when we just had to be concerned with the Spotted owl.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Times were simpler when we just had to be concerned with the Spotted owl.

Funny that the "Spotted Owl" fiasco turned out to be BS!!
The Spotted Owl population loss was blamed on the loggers ??

Come to find out it was the BARRED OWL running the Spotted Owl out of it's territory. But we'll just blame it on the logging business anyway. (follow the agenda)

Spotted Owls taste like chicken.

 

[fn1889m]

If the answer to "How many vehicles?" is in there, I'm too diminished to see it. Is the EV your one and only vehicle?
-

I have a buyer for the truck. My friend won’t have the money till his Navy retirement check comes in next week. So after that, the EV will be my only vehicle. But I have only put 30 miles on the truck in the last 6 months. So yes, as a practical matter, the EV is my only vehicle.

My main point: electric motors are very efficient. We have figured out electric motor technology a long, long time ago. We have electric locomotives, electric boats/ferries, electric submarines. People don’t even think about those machines. But the same people think electric automobiles are not any good, and get upset that they might be better than ICE vehicles. Electric motors are very efficient, and electric vehicles are direct drive, no transmission. Battery technology is lagging, but that will improve. It’s already to the point that a whole bunch of people prefer to buy electric vehicles. Let the market decide. I love paying $10 to “fill up”.

 

[JTEX]

Times were simpler when we just had to be concerned with the Spotted owl.

Yep! They were very tasty!!!

 

[JTEX]

We have electric locomotives, electric boats/ferries, electric submarines.

Electric locomotives provided power by a diesel engine.....

Same with ferries.....

Electric submarines powered by a nuclear reactor....

Electric vehicle powered by a rapidly deteriorating grip powered by coal and natural gas....



.

 

[rr2030]

I feel the Chevrolet Bolt is a fine commuter - medium distance EV. The majority of issues with that vehicle now days appear to be about infotainment and telematics. I would not mind owning one, if I were in the market for that niche.

YMMV
YKWHMV

 

[fn1889m]

We have electric locomotives, electric boats/ferries, electric submarines.

Electric locomotives provided power by a diesel engine.....

Same with ferries.....

Electric submarines powered by a nuclear reactor....

Electric vehicle powered by a rapidly deteriorating grip powered by coal and natural gas....



.

Yes. You are right. Which is why battery technology needs to improve. But the point is that electric motors work very well - better than IC engines.

I’m sure horse manure was becoming a real problem in New York City at about the time cars begin to appear. And people said that cars would never be practical. It was impossible to buy gasoline. And they were dangerous. They could never replace the horse.

My great grandfather owned a harness shop in South Dakota in the late 1800s. I think it’s interesting that he later opened a garage and repaired automobiles. We’ll figure this out.

 

[rwj]

Yes. You are right. Which is why battery technology needs to improve.

A method to generate the power to charge the batteries is needed regardless of their design configuration...

 

[jimmymac]

A method to generate the power to charge the batteries is needed regardless of their design configuration...

This is the problem. Unless you actually have operating power plants and a grid to support that, you have nothing.

I just spent the last two years working on a three boiler, coal fired power plant to meet current federal regulations for the removal of bottom ash. It involves complex conveying systems that were never intended and all the ancillary work to make this retrofit work. It’s like trying to fit 10 gallons of shit in a 5 gallon bucket. I’m talking thousands of feet of conveyors, structural steel, concrete, piping, electrical, software, and more demo and relocation work than you can shake a stick at. The cost of this “upgrade” is huge and falls on the shoulders of the utility who will in turn pass it along to downstream users. The “upgrade” won’t generate any more power so it’s like putting lipstick on a pig. In the end, they may get another ten years out of the plant before it’s shut down. Not because the plant won’t have the ability to generate power, but because the whole concept of using coal fired power generation is bad. Just ask the politicians and green weenies who want us to use electrical vehicles while at the same time killing off the very power generation it takes to use the end product. It’s madness.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Been out of the Automotive repair trades for close to 10 + years now.
I see where most of the "air tools" have been replaced with rechargeable battery powered tools. So far, they seem to be working pretty well and the batteries are even getting better.

 

[TrapperBR549]

Been out of the Automotive repair trades for close to 10 + years now.
I see where most of the "air tools" have been replaced with rechargeable battery powered tools. So far, they seem to be working pretty well and the batteries are even getting better.

And chargers are a lot quieter than compressors.

 

[NorCalMikie]

And chargers are a lot quieter than compressors.

but it's hard to blow dirt off of something with an electric impact wrench or drill motor.

 

[D Coots]

Those interested in how the infrastructure “will play out and develop” might want to read this and then look up what your state is doing to comply with the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program . Here is Montana’s

https://deq.mt.gov/files/Energy/Transportation/MontanaElectricVehicleInfrastructureDeploymentPlan2022.pdf

The National plan will require a fast charging station every 50 miles along the major corridors/Interstate Highways. These stations need to be located within a mile of the interstate, and have Amenities within “walking distance”.

So basically there will be a need to establish small towns every 50 miles along the interstates in the state of Montana whose sole source of income will be electric vehicles needing a charge.

The first priority is getting more tourists into the National parks and pristine areas. These areas are already over capacity and the quality of life and the experience of a visit has dropped dramatically. Best rivers are over fished and the list of environmental damage just multiplies. Before throwing this out as a Stare problem, which it partly is, remember this is being done to comply with a national program.

Can we add that to the environmental impact of switching to all EV’s?

I don’t mind the EV’s too much, but the environmental catastrophe that goes along with saving the world, just isn’t worth it.

I didn't read the link. What will happen is that the Fed's will tie the money each State receives for road building and maintenance to making charging stations available.

My experience? In the aggregate business for over 50 years of my life. I was on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Limestone Producers Association for 8 years and President in 1993. Also was co-chair with the Iowa DOT head materials engineer for well over 5 years.

Do I know how the program works?

 

[GotRDid]

T

 

[GotRDid]

New EV Series.

 

[fn1889m]

This is the problem. Unless you actually have operating power plants and a grid to support that, you have nothing.

I just spent the last two years working on a three boiler, coal fired power plant to meet current federal regulations for the removal of bottom ash. … It’s madness.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, and have had the luxury of water generated electricity for my whole life. But we’re not damming any more rivers. I think ultimately the answer lies in fusion, more efficient use of existing electric resources, and perhaps a different philosophy of transportation. But I agree with you that expansion of clean electricity generation is an essential component of our future economy and a sound natural environment. I don’t think that the economy and healthy environmental conditions can be separated on this issue. More electricity is good for both.