Today, would you buy an EV vehicle.

[Garson]

We've watched how technological advances have quickly changed our world in the last few decades. Yes, there are obstacles to switching vehicles to a new energy source but man always finds ways to improve.

EV adaption hinges on battery efficiency and that is improving very quickly. One decade from now fossil fuel vehicle production will be rare and EVs will be the norm. Once EVs take market share their price will drop below traditional vehicles. The EV has so few parts and so little to go wrong that it's just a matter of time and a few more tech advances. Their reliability and performance improvements over fossil fuel engines will demand respect. There is no gamble with EVs. They're a sure bet. American car manufacturers have already committed to that.

 

[Surshot]

I will buy an EV when hell is over crowded by Donk politicians to the point that no one else can get in. About the same time the hinges frost over and freeze shut.

 

[RoyJackson]

In every way, cheap energy makes America stronger. The free market should operate to determine the demand for EV's.

Right off the bat, if the "powers that be" demand we comply, they must set the example...
No more Air Force 1...no more thirsty limousines and SUV motorcades...totally unnecessary

 

[CH4Ohio]

There is no gamble with EVs. They're a sure bet. American car manufacturers have already committed to that.

EVs have never had to stand on their own business case. With 30% subsidies, some people have installed solar panels and some people have purchased heavily subsidized vehicles. The government has all but forced manufacturers to build EV models.

Edit / addition -- And the government has drastically distorted the free-market with the PTC, grants, subsidies, and overall policy initiatives.

There is very much a gamble as long as their existence depends on the support of our tax dollars.

 

[Pleease]

Interestingly, Elon Musk pointed out a few months ago that the government didn't build gas stations and the current infrastructure. The free market did that and stimulated the economy in the process.

The government didn't finance Henry Ford and heavily subsidize a transition to cars. The free market did that and stimulated the economy in the process.

Every dollar that flows through the government loses much of its value due to waste and corruption and is stolen from a taxpayer that would have spent it much more efficiently. The government has been subsidizing (heavily) wind and solar renewables for 30 years and they're still only a blip on our total energy spectrum because they aren't reliable.

Until the government backs out and stops trying to drive us toward a "solution" that simply doesn't fit, we'll continue to waste our resources and tax dollars. There's no way that America can bring industry and manufacturing back when the government is doing everything it can to inflate wages and the cost of energy that underpins everything.

Absolutely - 100% agree. Markets find solutions for virtually every big and little problem....if we let them.

Our national budget and economy get screwed up when the government thinks it's in charge of the markets, and especially when it tries to "be" the economy. Borrowing and spending trillions of dollars creates an artificial "sugar high", and makes about as much sense as personally borrowing big $ to put new big-screen TVs in every room when you're already underwater financially. It's ridiculous and ultimately destructive.

 

[Scrambler82]

I am not sure if I have posted in this on this thread or not BUT, I'm not a fan of the EV Vehicles, not to say I wouldn't buy one to save the environment.
My problem is with their methods of advertising and the government play games with the numbers.
When the requirements for the EV will really shine is when we have high output solar panels and there is solar panels on the roof of vehicles that can maintain the vehicles operation in sun or clouds. As it stands the electricity companies are pumping out high levels of toxins and it will increase with more electrical vehicles.

Also, the cost of the vehicles, this needs to be lowered considerable, a lot of people will not be able to buy an electric vehicle at the going and presumed HIGH prices of the future... I for one will not spend 50K for a new Truck, little lone 60K$, 70K$ +, for an electrical one.

Our system is screwed up, instead of working on high efficiency solar or wind recharging system both mobile on the vehicles or charging station, in conjunction with the development of these EV Vehicles, the manufacturers, along with the government, are developing vehicles that our existing system can not support. We need the support for these vehicle to be a high priority before they become a absolute !

If the prices were lower, I might consider an F150 or the Elon Pickup but NOT right now !

 

[Larus]

With many manufacturers now advertising ev, even in trucks (Ford Lightning, CyberTruck, Rivian) would you invest in an EV vehicle? If everything moves to electric, when do you think you would switch to an ev -- or maybe Hybrid. The future of gas and diesel looks questionable.

I bought a new truck in 2021. Things are changing. The V8 engine is almost a thing of the past. When do you think, as you shop for a new vehicle, you will consider EV as your best choice? Will that happen when you want to keep your truck 6-8 years and gas stations might become difficult to find?

Then there are EV tractors.

Just curious. Thought this when looking for a new truck.

No. There is no advantage as I see it. The carbon footprint used to manufacture and "fuel" these vehicles is often greater than with fossil fuel vehicles. Much of that charging electricity is made with coal. Second, the impact to the environment is great. Lead acid batteries are a real problem. The problem was moderately small in the days of diesel and gasoline fueled vehicles, but has become great with EVs requiring dozens of batteries. If you run out of power away from a charging source, you cannot simply walk to a fuel can, fill it, and get fueled up.

Now, what are the advantages? I don't get it.

We need to carefully evaluate what environmentalist are doing. It appears to be a lot of nonsense to me and I am a realistic environmentalist. This entire EV move is very suspicious. Why are the environmental activist being quiet about this? Did you know that most of the waste you recycle goes into a landfill? Did you know that the screens on most of the cell phones manufactured today cannot be recycled simply because of the way they fuse them shut? Do you know that Oregon and Washington big city dwellers on the coast are so oblivious about where their food comes from they are trying to ban the use of diesel fuel? Have you noticed that most of the fuel cans redesigned by environmental activist do not avoid spills and some do not work reliably resulting in more spills?

I will stick with gasoline and diesel until someone with good sense comes up with a better plan.

 

[garydstuart]

With many manufacturers now advertising ev, even in trucks (Ford Lightning, CyberTruck, Rivian) would you invest in an EV vehicle? If everything moves to electric, when do you think you would switch to an ev -- or maybe Hybrid. The future of gas and diesel looks questionable.

I bought a new truck in 2021. Things are changing. The V8 engine is almost a thing of the past. When do you think, as you shop for a new vehicle, you will consider EV as your best choice? Will that happen when you want to keep your truck 6-8 years and gas stations might become difficult to find?

Then there are EV tractors.

Just curious. Thought this when looking for a new truck.

I recently (March 2022) received my Rivian R1T and absolutely love it...coming from a Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, LTZ, extended cab/bed. This is our 4th EV (2010) and also own a Chevy Bolt and awaiting a sedan (EV) recently ordered for my wife. Range anxiety is really a thing of the past...my first EV (Nissan Leaf) had about 95 miles on a full charge...my R1T gets 315+ (highway at ~70mph...more in the city) and my wife's car is rated at 516 miles per charge. In the 12 years we've been driving (not exclusively) EVs, we've had to go the shop 1x (wife backed into a palm tree and busted the tail lamp)...NO maintenance (at least our experience). After her delivery, we'll be down to 1 gas vehicle (besides my heavy equipment)...a Sprinter Van I use for motocross competitions. As background, we live in Nashville and have a farm...I'm retired, but also rent my personal heavy equipment through a small business (ERBO - www.equipmentrentalbyowner.biz). More than you needed for sure...but, wanted to provide my experience and a little background...we won't go back (ICE)...ever.

 

[Pleease]

After a considerable wait, I took delivery of a Tesla Model S Long Range (408 miles) last September. It is fantastic! No regrets. The most fun to drive car I haver ever driven! I have a CyberTruck on order and look forward to it's replacing my Chevy Silverado 2500 Diesel. I only wish I had it now!

With today's fuel prices, I love not having to buy fuel. My solar array allows me to charge overnight at home without any additional cost.

Having your own solar power is a very different scenario than buying electric at whatever market price from what's basically a monopoly. Well done.

408 miles seems pretty great. Have you driven on a long trip, and if so how tough was it to find recharging stations, and how long did it take to charge?

How difficult/expensive (don't mean to pry on $) was it to set up the solar array, and where did you put it?

TIA

 

[garydstuart]

No. There is no advantage as I see it. The carbon footprint used to manufacture and "fuel" these vehicles is often greater than with fossil fuel vehicles. Much of that charging electricity is made with coal. Second, the impact to the environment is great. Lead acid batteries are a real problem. The problem was moderately small in the days of diesel and gasoline fueled vehicles, but has become great with EVs requiring dozens of batteries. If you run out of power away from a charging source, you cannot simply walk to a fuel can, fill it, and get fueled up.

Now, what are the advantages? I don't get it.

We need to carefully evaluate what environmentalist are doing. It appears to be a lot of nonsense to me and I am a realistic environmentalist. This entire EV move is very suspicious. Why are the environmental activist being quiet about this? Did you know that most of the waste you recycle goes into a landfill? Did you know that the screens on most of the cell phones manufactured today cannot be recycled simply because of the way they fuse them shut? Do you know that Oregon and Washington big city dwellers on the coast are so oblivious about where their food comes from they are trying to ban the use of diesel fuel? Have you noticed that most of the fuel cans redesigned by environmental activist do not avoid spills and some do not work reliably resulting in more spills?

I will stick with gasoline and diesel until someone with good sense comes up with a better plan.

I recently (March 2022) received my Rivian R1T and absolutely love it...coming from a Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, LTZ, extended cab/bed. This is our 4th EV (2010) and also own a Chevy Bolt and awaiting a sedan (EV) recently ordered for my wife. Range anxiety is really a thing of the past...my first EV (Nissan Leaf) had about 95 miles on a full charge...my R1T gets 315+ (highway at ~70mph...more in the city) and my wife's car is rated at 516 miles per charge. In the 12 years we've been driving (not exclusively) EVs, we've had to go the shop 1x (wife backed into a palm tree and busted the tail lamp)...NO maintenance (at least our experience). After her delivery, we'll be down to 1 gas vehicle (besides my heavy equipment)...a Sprinter Van I use for motocross competitions. As background, we live in Nashville and have a farm...I'm retired, but also rent my personal heavy equipment through a small business (ERBO - www.equipmentrentalbyowner.biz). More than you needed for sure...but, wanted to provide my experience and a little background...we won't go back (ICE)...ever.

Oh yea...and, they just dropped the price on the Chevy Bolt to $26,500 (before incentives...below $20k after)...the price points will come down over the next several years...the legacy manufacturers are targeting a $25k price point (entry level)...as evidenced by Chevy's recent (this week) price cut.