Electric Car thread

[BigNerd]

I disagree with you on the infrastructure part.

It is improving.

Walmart and Target are planning on putting fast chargers in their parking lots.

All these deals with Tesla to adopt the NACS port means that all these non-Teslas will have access to their SuperCharging network.

Range is pushing up from 300+ mi to 400+ mi and battery charging tech is getting faster.

For local commuting, a 100 mi cheap EV should work for many people, 300-400mi EVs can basically replace ICE cars (like my Ioniq 5 that I don't even charge at home).

In 5 years, the EV landscape will be much better.

 

[Roamers]

Sorry I didn't post this earlier, but I had a 10 hour drive.

I-95 Southbound in Maine just before crossing in to NH.

Last year, same time and weekend I'm pretty sure this was packed with cars waiting. I assume everyone has said "screw this e-car thing."

 

[Mulezen]

^ Either that or they have more options
As for me I see EVs all over the place…I can’t hear them coming up behind me when I’m riding my ebike. I shake my fist as they pass…but they refuse to go away…just like reality

 

[EMGX]

I'm on the opposite end of the scale. The only thing my electric vehicles require on the same level as an ICE are tires. Brakes, not so because of regenerative braking (my Leaf's brakes at 77k miles were "like new" per the mechanic that did my state inspection. He was astonished. Also, no "belts", no AC issues, no regular trips to the gas station because my car was fueled at home in the garage from an electric plug, and the battery is warranted for 8-10 years, and good for over 300,000 miles. Can't say that with any gas car.

But...to each their own. Frankly, I'm happy to leave behind the stench of fossil fuel and no longer be held a daily prisoner of the gas stations and gasoline industry with my cars.

Not what consumer reports found. EVs significantly less reliable than ICE and more expensive to maintain per this article. Plug in hybrids even worse, regular hybrids better.

MSN

 

[Kayakguy]

you get 600 high amperage volts running through you you are probably going to boil, linemen have to be real careful with the voltages they work around ,where the electricity goes to ground or exits it leaves holes in the body.

It's high voltage that kills, not amperage. You can touch the terminals on a 12 volt, high amperage car battery without harm.

 

[Kayakguy]

Philosophicaly i tend to agree with @Roamers, that people who don't use the roads shouldn't pay for them.
But then you have schools that childless people still pay for. It all begins to sound like Johnny Winter's song Tax Man ... "if you take a walk, I'll tax your feet " ...

Good point. Since my house is not on fire, why should I pay for the fire department?

 

[None]

 

[Kayakguy]

Several years ago, one of my neighbor's trees blew down on the power lines feeding my area and took out 11 power poles in the 1.4 miles below me and an unknown number beyond my house. We were without power for several days while the power company replaced all the broken poles and restrung new lines. (The old ones didn't have much stretch which is why so many poles broke.) I already had an 8kW generator since our power went out often and it was needed to keep my basement from flooding. I merely built an extension cord to reach my EVs for charging. Any time the generator was running to power the house, I had my EV plugged in. It was easier than driving to one of the only charge stations in town, a L2. The nearest quick charge station was 30 miles away. With a 90-mile range EV at the time, that wasn't really an option.

Some day, I want to see what my miles/gallon would be if I used my generator to charge my EV. It probably won't be that great since I'm sure my generator isn't that efficient.

Gas powered generators are highly inefficient. But I wonder how efficient a natural gas fueled generator would be? There are such things.

 

[Roamers]

But I wonder how efficient a natural gas fueled generator would be?

The Generac website lists consumption at (as I recall) full and half load.

 

[Art Deco]

Good point. Since my house is not on fire, why should I pay for the fire department?

Indeed. Since I have more than enough food, why should I contribute to the food bank ? Since i have a neighbor with a farm with lots of trails on it, why should I contribute to the rail trail? Etc.
Lots of excuses are always available...

 

[Deacon Blues]

Gas powered generators are highly inefficient. But I wonder how efficient a natural gas fueled generator would be? There are such things.

Propane is an option, but I haven't come across a natural gas powered generator in my search for a stand alone house unit.

 

[BigNerd]

I think propane is more efficient, a bit cleaner and more available as a transportable fuel.

 

[Kayakguy]

I think propane is more efficient, a bit cleaner and more available as a transportable fuel.

Propane's energy density is less than gasoline. I converted a rototiller to propane (with a purchased kit) and it had less power than before.

 

[Taylor57]

Not what consumer reports found. EVs significantly less reliable than ICE and more expensive to maintain per this article. Plug in hybrids even worse, regular hybrids better.

MSN

I've had my EV for over 2 years and not 1 problem. Never been in the shop other than a recall to change out the fluid in the battery coolant system and a computer update. Took 2 hours and was free. No oil changes, nothing. The brakes last longer due to the regen braking. My other 2 Ice cars have had oil changes and 1 needed new brakes. So in 2 years my repair cost has been zero on my EV. Now it will probably break down tomorrow

 

[Sparky731]

GM’s announcements this week were quite eye-opening and reality-revealing. Canceling the Cruise project, delaying and downsizing their planned battery plant. Huge stock buybacks. EV production cuts. AND the emphasis on continuing and expanding ICE vehicle production. They need money.

They need to retain and maintain their Union employees with their new contract, and the public cannot afford to buy their EVs. Ford and Stellantis are right behind with similar problems. Resulting in a big pushback on Govt. mandated tailpipe emission standards and a lobby to increase oil production. The White House didn’t get what they were hoping for with their green mandates and Union support. In fact the UAW still has not endorsed Biden’s presidential bid. Musk couldn’t have written a better story.

 

[Chargeride]

The video of the Tesla cyber truck out accelerating a Porsche 911, while towing another Porsche 911 is just pure genius.

 

[Rome]

Videos I seen on Joe Rogan's podcast Shows Joe shooting an arrow at the cyber truck and it did not penetrate the metal.
Cyber truck are not off road capable though compare to Toyota land cruiser.
It's bullet proof but not off road material.

 

[Taylor57]

the mega and giga casting machines plus the robots will make the unions pretty much irrelevant

nah, just enjoy the lack of racket and frequent $5 a qt oil changes,did I mention seldom having to tepace brakes-now if we could just get the airless tires( an old man can dream)
someday soon( thank you UAW!)

I will be buying new tires for my EV pretty soon. The stock tires are hard as a rock and getting a little worn at 15k mileage after 2 years. I think I"m going to upgrade to a nicer tire...

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Know very little about EVs, but I do know that electric motors excel in low-end torque. Does this affect tire life?

How about driving habits?

 

[Rome]

Electric is no different from petrol cars on tire wear.