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Jan 13, 2024 10:22:18   #
markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Boy, there is a lot of bad news online about EVs. Fires are a real problem because they can start spontaneously. One house was destroyed when a Mercedes burned. The car was a loaner from the dealer while her own Mercedes was being serviced. Another house was severely damaged when a Tesla burst into flames. Water is useless for putting out lithium fires. Fire departments use special blankets costing $3k - $5k to smother the fire. They then haul the car away in a procession with police and fire engines. They leave the blanket on for a day or more to keep oxygen from letting the fire restart.

Sales are tanking, with dealers having EVs sit on their lots. Charging away from home typically costs more than filling the tank with gas. When many cars are charging from the same station, the amount of charge going to each car is reduced proportionally. A reported rented an EV to do a story on it. During a long trip, she said she spent more time charging the car than sleeping. The car got more "recharging" than she did. Replacing the battery can cost more than the car - $60,000 for a $55,000 Hyundai. Car makers are starting to produce their own batteries so they won't be at the mercy of battery makers. Still, with a limited supply of lithium, prices will continue rise. Reliability is an issue because the car is basically running on software, and you know how reliable that can be. Repairs can be ridiculously expensive.

I never had any interest in buying an EV, but now I'm dead set against them. Give me gas any day. (Enter a humorous comment here.)

A friend had an EV, but he sold it and bought a pickup truck. He didn't go into details.
Boy, there is a lot of bad news online about EVs. ... (show quote)


In August we traded in our 2018 Honda Accord Touring and bought a 2024 Honda Hybrid CRV Touring. My wife & I have back issues and getting in and out of the Accord was challenging. We are absolutely delighted with the Hybrid CRV. Never even contemplated an EV.
Mark

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Jan 13, 2024 10:32:33   #
Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana
 
DaveyDitzer wrote:
Technology focused car companies are researching other fuels, e.g., Porsche has a pilot plant going in SA for synthetic gasoline which has the potential to be carbon neutral. The current problem is that the EV sector is "sucking the oxygen" out of the research that could be applied to the search for alternative fuels. And let's not forget the jet stream. Achieving air quality improvements requires cooperation from all countries, the chief polluter of which is China.



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Jan 13, 2024 10:38:04   #
whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.
 
fourlocks wrote:
So what's the answer for the car emissions problem? Cars represent the planet's single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions; far more than power plants, arctic methane releases, industrial sources, etc. I don't want to get into an argument about the validity of human contributions to climate change but even the nay sayers admit climate change exists and if we can reduce its effects to leave a viable planet to our grand children, shouldn't we?

In the late 1800's when steam (and even electric) were the chief automobile power sources, gas cars were in the same position as EVs, today. We just need to improve the technology or find a better one. Unfortunately, we can't waste 50 years waiting to see what comes along.
So what's the answer for the car emissions problem... (show quote)



Don’t know much about the subject of alternatives of creating power for cars, etc. But I don’t hear much about research on alternatives for power, but, think in today’s technological age, there would be alternatives to investigate. Perhaps something to clean or capture emissions produced by cars and other sources? Idk.

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Jan 13, 2024 10:44:02   #
fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH
 
DaveyDitzer wrote:
Technology focused car companies are researching other fuels, e.g., Porsche has a pilot plant going in SA for synthetic gasoline which has the potential to be carbon neutral. The current problem is that the EV sector is "sucking the oxygen" out of the research that could be applied to the search for alternative fuels. And let's not forget the jet stream. Achieving air quality improvements requires cooperation from all countries, the chief polluter of which is China.


Agreed; India and China are the worst offenders although America runs third and the rest of world is only paying lip service to emissions reductions. Basically, we're on a path we can't change any time soon and there's no way we can implement any effective strategies on a global scale. I guess we should just follow Omar Khayyam's philosophy of "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die." Kinda shitty for future generations, though.

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Jan 13, 2024 11:02:08   #
Carl S
 
I'm a firm believer that the highest and best use of EVs is on the golf course!

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Jan 13, 2024 11:04:23   #
wildimaginations
 
That's funny. There's so much negativity about EV's and yet more fires are created from Hybrid cars. The next one is regular gas cars and followed by EVs which is way at the bottom.

https://www.autoinsuranceez.com/gas-vs-electric-car-fires/

I currently own a used Tesla Model S since 2017 and the only reason I bought it was the free supercharging. I was able to travel to a lot of places for free and it was very enjoyable and worry free. Yes, the charging part was a downer but I took it as a time to rest and stretch out and enjoy the scenery. As for EV fires, well, they happen but not as often as a gas car or a hybrid.

And since Tesla made the offer, I'm getting my free supercharging transferred from my old Model S to a new Model X. Say what you will but look at the reasons why EVs are getting such a bad press. It's because people don't like change. They want everything to stay the same. So go ahead and enjoy sitting in line waiting to fill up your gas tank at the local Costco filling station. All I do is unplug the my Tesla from home and enjoy my time walking around Costco and eating up all the free samples.

I love it when I tell people that I haven't been to a gas station in 7 years!!!



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Jan 13, 2024 11:05:14   #
JamesB Loc: Kingston, ON
 
Jerry;

I’m not sure where you got the information, but some of the numbers are suspect. I drive a Tesla Model 3 which I can charge for about $15CDN. This gives me about 300 km of range. If I were to drive a gasoline powered vehicle, assuming a fuel economy rating of 9 L per hundred kilometers, it would cost me about $36 to drive that far using gasoline costing $1.35CDN per liter. This would be approximately $3.75US per gallon.

jerryc41 wrote:
Boy, there is a lot of bad news online about EVs. Fires are a real problem because they can start spontaneously. One house was destroyed when a Mercedes burned. The car was a loaner from the dealer while her own Mercedes was being serviced. Another house was severely damaged when a Tesla burst into flames. Water is useless for putting out lithium fires. Fire departments use special blankets costing $3k - $5k to smother the fire. They then haul the car away in a procession with police and fire engines. They leave the blanket on for a day or more to keep oxygen from letting the fire restart.

Sales are tanking, with dealers having EVs sit on their lots. Charging away from home typically costs more than filling the tank with gas. When many cars are charging from the same station, the amount of charge going to each car is reduced proportionally. A reported rented an EV to do a story on it. During a long trip, she said she spent more time charging the car than sleeping. The car got more "recharging" than she did. Replacing the battery can cost more than the car - $60,000 for a $55,000 Hyundai. Car makers are starting to produce their own batteries so they won't be at the mercy of battery makers. Still, with a limited supply of lithium, prices will continue rise. Reliability is an issue because the car is basically running on software, and you know how reliable that can be. Repairs can be ridiculously expensive.

I never had any interest in buying an EV, but now I'm dead set against them. Give me gas any day. (Enter a humorous comment here.)

A friend had an EV, but he sold it and bought a pickup truck. He didn't go into details.
Boy, there is a lot of bad news online about EVs. ... (show quote)

Reply
 
 
Jan 13, 2024 11:07:42   #
bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri
 
Climate change is real without a doubt. 25,000 years ago I would have been setting under 2 miles of glacial ice (according to scientists). I wonder who caused the first 24,000 years of global warming, wooly mammoths farting?

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Jan 13, 2024 11:09:20   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
wildimaginations wrote:
.... It's because people don't like change. They want everything to stay the same. ...

Nothing to do with overall cost effectiveness??

(Wait until you need a new battery.)

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Jan 13, 2024 11:20:26   #
wildimaginations
 
Longshadow wrote:
Nothing to do with overall cost effectiveness??

(Wait until you need a new battery.)


After 207k miles, I'm still going strong. Getting ready to change my original brakes.

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Jan 13, 2024 11:25:47   #
rcarol
 
13 wrote:
Those cars don't work when the temps get down to -0. What a hassle!


Are you sure about that? I recall reading that a portion of the energy from the battery is used to heat the battery to bring them up to optimal temperature.

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Jan 13, 2024 11:26:40   #
markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ
 
Longshadow wrote:
Nothing to do with overall cost effectiveness??

(Wait until you need a new battery.)


You are correct about needing a new battery and related cost. We purchased the hybrid hoping we might do less damage to the environment. I try not to worry about "impending doom". In my youth I had considerable doom, losing two grandparents, brother, father & mother by age 23. In comparison, the remaining 64 years have been easy. Perhaps my grandkids' generation will find resolve to our changing climate.
Mark

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Jan 13, 2024 11:28:24   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Longshadow wrote:
And Hertz is selling their inventory (~20,000) EVs.
They decided they don't want them either........

(So glad I didn't buy into it.)


Yes, I saw that yesterday. That's a huge loss. Renting EVs to strangers doesn't seem like a good idea.

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Jan 13, 2024 11:31:41   #
wildimaginations
 
Now this is interesting. To swap out an engine from a gas car is just as much.



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Jan 13, 2024 11:40:00   #
rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.
 
I have never seen an electric car on fire. Seen plenty of gasoline cars on fire, though.

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