jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

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.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

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.)

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

My wife and I bought e-bikes and went through a lot to store the batteries over the winter. The bike mfr. posted a list of dos and don'ts about storage in the off season.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

"I never had any interest in buying an EV, but now I'm dead set against them. Give me gas any day."
Please don't let Brandon hear you say that . . . .
Sigh,
JimmyT Sends

BebuLamar

In fact with all these bad news about EV I think I will get an EV if I can get it cheap.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Check Hertz......

Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana

Good luck, there is nothing cheap about them!!

Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana

I love and use the open road to much, at my age time is too precious to waste looking for the next charging station and I’m too impatient to wait on a battery charger!

rwm283main Loc: Terryville, CT

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

Those cars don't work when the temps get down to -0. What a hassle!

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

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 c*****e c****e but even the nay sayers admit c*****e c****e 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.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

And where does all that lithium come from? It’s mined from the ground and the photos I’ve seen look like strip mines. In the US those areas would have to be reclaimed. Less likely in third world countries like Bolivia.

No matter how you source energy, there’s going to be environmental consequences, be it solar, wind, oil, coal, nuclear or hydro.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I would imagine a thousand mile (one way) trip would be fun......

Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana

Right, that’s what I’m talking about…..

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

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.