I love electric vehicles. But increasingly I feel duped

[Chewwy]

I see some railroad engines are now hydrogen hybrid powered. Not a lot, but some. Nice thing about that is they can carry pressurized hydrogen easily. Personally, I believe hydrogen, not battery power is the way to go and I believe the auto manufacturers are in for a big financial surprise as in bankruptcy, unless of course the government bales them out....again.

The issue with hydrogen is containment and fuel transfer.

The issue with hydrogen is how to generate it inexpensively enough to make it competative with other fuel sources.

 

[JasperFrank]

There is appropriate use. I've seen the change over in Europe from ICE Buses to Electric in the last 10 years. In this role, they work perfectly. And they work because maintenance is less, they have more room, the routes are FIXED, there are chargers at both ends of the route and electricity in this use, is less expensive for the company then diesel. So the fares are also cheaper. They also are on much shorter routes than any thing in the USA. A modern bus station in Europe is a thing to behold. It's hard to remember just how loud and exhaust stinky, these places use to be. Especially in covered downtown, garage type stations. Electric buses are also so linear in acceleration, you hardly know you are moving. It might also be because these are all relatively new buses, nearly all of them made in China, with all modern amenities, like Wifi and charging ports. Electric buses are now our "Go To," when traveling in Europe.

 

[Rockbadchild]

The issue with hydrogen is how to generate it inexpensively enough to make it competative with other fuel sources.

they already have that figure out … small nuclear reactor that extract separate it off the air

 

[oosik]

I see the EV manufacturers overjoyed because this "new thing" is selling well and gaining momentum. Do the EV mfg worry about the viability of the electric grid - hell no, that, my friend, is somebody else's concern.

AND we all know who will end up paying for upgrading of the electric grid.

 

[Paystar]

Or they can just eliminate all this BS and be more environmentally friendly and have engines that get way better mileage the current ones and be cheaper and more reliable by just going to ethanol based gas and bio fuels.

But that isn't in the governments electric agenda.

 

[RandyT]

Or they can just eliminate all this BS and be more environmentally friendly and have engines that get way better mileage the current ones and be cheaper and more reliable by just going to ethanol based gas and bio fuels.

But that isn't in the governments electric agenda.

The truth is fuel mileage hasn't really increased in the last 80 years. There was 11 passenger vehicles in 1947 that were gettting 37 mpg with an inline 6. Just watched a video of a youtuber driving a corrvair over 700 miles with the original pancake air cooled 6 getting 37 mpg. When the Geo Metro first hit the market it was getting 60 mph until Chevy go a hold of it and within a couple years was down to 37 mpg.

 

[Paystar]

The truth is fuel mileage hasn't really increased in the last 80 years. There was 11 passenger vehicles in 1947 that were gettting 37 mpg with an inline 6. Just watched a video of a youtuber driving a corrvair over 700 miles with the original pancake air cooled 6 getting 37 mpg. When the Geo Metro first hit the market it was getting 60 mph until Chevy go a hold of it and within a couple years was down to 37 mpg.

I hear you. I have a friend that still daily drives a Ford Model A. Summer and winter.
Sure it only goes 50 MPH but he gets almost that in MPG.

And even big trucks. I got better mileage with my old Mack's and early 2000's C15 Cats than any of these new engines get. And they went to work every day! Not sitting in dealer shop day after day.

 

[sd455dan]

The truth is fuel mileage hasn't really increased in the last 80 years. There was 11 passenger vehicles in 1947 that were gettting 37 mpg with an inline 6. Just watched a video of a youtuber driving a corrvair over 700 miles with the original pancake air cooled 6 getting 37 mpg. When the Geo Metro first hit the market it was getting 60 mph until Chevy go a hold of it and within a couple years was down to 37 mpg.

Years ago I bought one of those GEO Metros and fixed it up.
One thing I can say about it is There is no comparison on being in any kind of accident in it versus any other vehicles owned over the years.

That car was an absolute tin can and a death trap imo.

I would much rather been in any of my other small cars owned over the years including Honda Civics, Accords, Grand Am, Sunbird, VW Rabbits, Karman Bug convertible or even the Corvair Spyder. The Geo was the worst- a tin can.

The Honda Civic DX and Sunbird both equaled the MPG we got out of the Geo Metro with the 4 cylinder

 

[scootr]

Hey - I just ran across this and thought of this thread.

 

[JasperFrank]

The ford Festivas were not that great either, but I have one and love it. I also ride motorcycle, the crash stuff is not that important to me. i drive the cars, just like I drive the motorcycles.