Today, would you buy an EV vehicle.

[Hay Dude]

Having been to Europe a few times, I think these are very different worlds than the USA. In other words they are entirely different environments. Folks that are dead set on pure EV conversion, are using Europe as a model. When I look at a map of England or France for instance, I have to remind my self that the scale of the map is much smaller than most maps of the USA.

It seems that the writers of articles that want EV conversion have never explored just how vast the USA is: Especially were I live on the West Coast. Hybrids are workable, but pure EVs are not. For instance, if I wanted a camping Vacation from Eugene to Imnaha, and explore Hat Point Road, I couldn't do that in an EV. Or even go down coast to the Cal boarder and back on 101. Cause I would have to have faith that those few charging stations were actually working with salty air. And if they were, whats the charge price if there is no other competition to make the price reasonable. I have run out of gas several times using gas vehicles. And sometimes in the middle of no where. Thumb on the road, with a gas can, that I could bring back and get going again. With compensation to the good person that picked me up, or would siphon a few gallons: And it always worked. With EVs, I can't do that. There isn't a standard to transfer Car to Car, or the ability for me to carry electricity. You are on you own with an EV to travel island to island to get a charge.

Makes sense in Europe were the next charging station is never more than 16 miles away.

Insurance companies are also a fly in the oil, in that if I wanted to buy a pure EV, just for commuting, I pay a whole policy on that other vehicle. Since the insurance companies eliminated fleet rates in my state for private citizens. And I can't drive two vehicles at the same time. Adding an EV car, on my policies, would kill off any savings from a gas vehicle even if I could charge it using PV panels.

Was in Europe 3 years ago. I didnt notice any large amount of EVs.
Stayed in an Italian family’s air B&B type set up. Got to know a 30 year old guy who took us all over Tuscany. He said he thinks America is still exceptional and many Europeans are jealous of our freedoms. He was basically unemployed and acted as a private tour guide. Unemployment in his age group was a whopping 30% at the time (2019). His attitude towards the Italian way of life seemed pretty hopeless.

 

[AndyMA]

I've been driving a Tesla Model 3 for 3 years now. Still on original tires. Charge from solar system.
Virtually no service.
Netflix, Hulu, You Tube Self driving, super voice control
I'll never buy an ICE again

Andy

 

[ultrarunner]

"That's usually the way things work... United States pioneers and takes the risk and Europe and others see the way the wind blows and refine often to the next level..."

I have to say that this is totally different than my understanding. I think the Europeans developed on their own, all we think is ours, with out thinking about the US as a standard or anything else. What I discovered in Europe was everything we "call American invention", had already been done in Europe. We had a whole new county, and in so, we could just take the European patients and call them part of USA innovation: When in reality, they were not. They were copies of stuff already made. The concept of American Exceptionalism is a false one. And we have to get rid of that, if we are to join the world and not act like we are its master.

I think of emission controls, unleaded fuel, 5 mph bumpers and of course diesel powered cars.

USA smog controls, unleaded fuel, Federal Safety standards all later adopted by Euro auto makers.

The last big question prior to EV was diesel with half of some sales diesel across just about all lines...

I've done Euro Delivery for myself and others so my European friends always scrutinized US spec cars... even to the point of cup holders.

Anyway I got a ration for buying a gasoline powered car instead of diesel and I had to go into great detail how diesel was too dirty for California... then I was countered with the super clean VW diesels and we all know VW cheated big time on that.

Even airbags we're a wonder to my Euro mechanic friends in German speaking countries.

Of course I'm a guest when there but still always lively discussions at the table...

I could go on in medical and even handicap parking placards ..

The German word for recycling is recycling and carpool is carpool because these things adopted from USA...

 

[Rockbadchild]

With the cost of EV's we may need to go back to riding horses.

Nah EV is still cheaper

 

[Hay Dude]

Nah EV is still cheaper

Yep! Building them uses no hazardous chemicals, charging them is free and the power plants that charge them make zero pollution!
Someone pass the Kool Aid, while I feed my unicorn….

 

[blacktruck]

Today, would you buy an EV vehicle.

Unequivocally no, I would not.

At some point in the future, they may get to a point in technology to be practical for everyone. They are not there yet. There are too many limitations in their use. All that aside, an EV is not as "green" as many think. I think I will continue to drive my 10 plus year old car and truck and tractors. My opinion.

 

[Oaktree]

I've been driving a Tesla Model 3 for 3 years now. Still on original tires. Charge from solar system.
Virtually no service.
Netflix, Hulu, You Tube Self driving, super voice control
I'll never buy an ICE again

I don't think anyone is saying that EVs don't have their place in the world...they do, but they're not for everyone any more than everyone needs a diesel truck or a 55hp tractor. Not sure why I'd want Netflix, Youtube, or any of that other tech-y stuff in a car, but glad you're happy with yours.

I have had both early Prius with regeneration and Mrs. currently drives a plug-in that marries the regeneration technology with limited EV. Get about 30 miles of pure EV on a full charge. Great for running to the store or short commutes. Once you drain the EV, you still have a regenerative hybrid with 500 miles+ of range and 50+ mpg. Toyota is the recognized leader in hybrid technology and some of the domestic push for pure EV comes from the 'US' nameplates and associated unions to get around Toyota dominance.

As much as I dislike toyota, I have to give credit where it's due. I'd stop short of saying "dominance" if for no reason other than hybrids are a rather small % of vehicles sold, but no denying that the pruis accounts for the lion's share of hybrid sales, dwarfing even other toyota hybrid models. They're not normally a company known for innovation, but they seemed to have nailed this technology.

 

[BnRidge]

I've been driving a Tesla Model 3 for 3 years now. Still on original tires. Charge from solar system.

Could you describe your solar system size, total cost, and annual milage?

 

[Torvy]

I've been driving a Tesla Model 3 for 3 years now. Still on original tires. Charge from solar system.
Virtually no service.
Netflix, Hulu, You Tube Self driving, super voice control
I'll never buy an ICE again

Andy

Glad it's working out for you. Not so practical here in the west. CT is only about 150 miles corner to corner. In my old job, that was only 2 days commute.

There are definitely places where an EV can work out. Just don't try to push them on others.

 

[PuffyC]

No one is saying we shouldn't leave this earth better than we found it but why should we cripple our economy while China and India doesn't have to live within the same standards.

I know right? My neighbor makes a lot of cash selling drugs so why should I punish myself and miss out on that kind of profit when he isn't? I'm not going to do the right thing until everyone else does the right thing first.