Thoughts on cars going all electric?

[SnoopLoggyDog]

I truly hope this is not lost on a guy building a cabin in the wilderness…

There are two lines of discussion in this thread. One is the mechanical/chemical/physics limitations of EVs compaired to Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). That is the one I was interested in, because there are hard limitations on what EVs are capable of. I was also interested in the inputs from other INGO members and their technical opinion on the future of EVs.

Which brings us to line of discussion number two, divide and control. It is obvious that the liberal elite are forcing EVs upon a skeptical population through mandates, taxes, restrictions on ICEs, and media pressure. The left coast leads this delusional course of action because socialism/liberalism always seeks 100% control. EVs are just one of the hundreds of ways the left is trying to institute total control. To that I say "Go to Hell". My freedom is mine and mine alone. Given the current state of the tech, EVs will only be purchased by a small minority of Americans. No amount of screaming and gnashing of teeth by the libtards will change that.

 

[actaeon277]

This is really a silly argument. When was the last time you ran out of gas? I think I did back in 1984, once. Then I learned to keep track of how much fuel I had.

Just like vaccinations, mandating is bad. If someone wants to get one though, why would anyone else care? I've been watching them and seriously considering buying one for years. My next car may well be an EV.

Well, when stopped on I-65 because of an accident, less than 10 degrees out, I saw dozens of people run out. People wanted to keep running their heater, and probably started with less than quarter tank.
Fortunately, in the winter I stay above 1/2 tank, and I keep a blanket in the car, and proper cold weather clothing. So I shut the car off for a long time, before I start it.. warm it, then back off.

 

[actaeon277]

I don't think anyone has an issue with anyone else buying an EV per se. The issue is with the mandates, government intervention and delusion that you are somehow saving the environment when buying an EV. I personally don't care what someone else drives, but I don't want to be forced into a vehicle I don't want because the powers that be want to control me and the markets. The government needs to get its thumb off the scale and let people/markets decide the fate of EVs.

Yes, my issue is the mandates.
I don't care what someone else buys. If it works for them, great.
And one day, I may buy one. Because I am against them now, for me, does not mean my mind will not change in the future.

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

Just in time for this thread.

 

[actaeon277]

How about this.
It's NOT YOUR JOB!!

Where in the Constitution does it say anything about that?

 

[BugI02]

Just like vaccinations, mandating is bad. If someone wants to get one though, why would anyone else care? I've been watching them and seriously considering buying one for years. My next car may well be an EV.

I care if my tax burden is heavier to support infrastructure that I have no use for

 

[phylodog]

How about this.
It's NOT YOUR JOB!!

Where in the Constitution does it say anything about that?

We ain't worried about no constitution round these parts no more. Enough people have figured out enough **** that the left has no choice but to go all in and try to control everything now. Ironic that a group with such claimed dedication and ownership of everything virtuous has to force their beliefs onto others. If their dumpster fire of beliefs were worth a squirt of **** they'd have zero issue convincing everyone. Instead, we need a totalitarian government to try to force their ignorant fairy tales into reality, or at least make it appear to be reality, not too difficult to convince the dipshits who believe them.

 

[BugI02]

Fortunately, in the winter I stay above 1/2 tank, and I keep a blanket in the car, and proper cold weather clothing

This^^^ It was simple survival where I grew up. I still follow my Dad's advice when traveling any distance or on back country roads - dress like you would if you had to walk a few miles in the conditions you're in. I see people all the time when it is really cold out no hat, no gloves, lightweight coat - dressed for the weather inside their car, which is fine until it slides off the road or breaks or runs out of gas

 

[Hkindiana]

This^^^ It was simple survival where I grew up. I still follow my Dad's advice when traveling any distance or on back country roads - dress like you would if you had to walk a few miles in the conditions you're in. I see people all the time when it is really cold out no hat, no gloves, lightweight coat - dressed for the weather inside their car, which is fine until it slides off the road or breaks or runs out of gas

I was driving my tank about a half mile from home when I threw a track. Inside the tank it is so warm that I was only wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes. I had to walk home dressed like that with 12 inches of snow on the ground with a sub zero temperature

 

[JeepHammer]

Greg Garrison used to say on his show (paraphrase) that electric cars were the government’s way to keep you from venturing more than 100 miles from your home and forcing urban living.

And that's why you should do your own research & thinking...

Small commuter EVs are like small gasoline cars with small gas tanks, limited range...
With SOME EVs having a 300+ mile range they are equivalent to gas cars with bigger tanks.

And let's not forget it's just as easy to sacrifice space for bigger batteries as it is to sacrifice space for more gas capacity.

The same rules of physics applies,
The harder you drive either the sooner the fuel, or charge runs out.

As for infrastructure,
You can't "Gas Up" at the average surburban home,
While installing a battery charger at the average surburban home is pretty simple since you aren't storing flammable, potentially explosive liquids on site.

It's much easier, and cheaper, to run electric lines for chargers than it is to install leak & explosion proof tanks, all the underground plumbing, etc...
Chargers can go virtually anywhere you shop, normally stop for fuel, etc.

That doesn't make one bit of difference to the "Hate Mandates" or "Freedom Loss" bunch.
As usual, they are dead wrong about the government not being able to mandate things under the Constitution...

From the very beginning the government has had the power to mandate things like vaccinations (see General Washington's vaccine mandates for colonial troops),
To mandated vaccinations for small pox, polio, etc.
To not doing business with communist, terrorists countries (economic mandates), to general health & welfare,
To mandating land grants to be off limits, such as nuclear test sites, research sites, etc.
To acceptable environmental standards,
Like you don't get to dump your toxic waste in the river and kill people down stream because it won't effect *You*...

It no different than telling some nut job he can't smear crap on the walls of a public bathroom because others have to use that bathroom...
And there are consequences if you continue that behavior.

 

[nonobaddog]

EV batteries are much bigger and much heavier than gas tanks. Even little EV cars can have batteries that weigh over 500 pounds and big car batteries can get to be way over 1,000 pounds.

The car makers publish a driving range for EV cars which most people think this is how far I will be able to drive between charges. What they don't tell you is the batteries lose some of that capacity as they age so the range goes down. Another thing they don't tell you is if you charge your batteries to 100% and use them down to some low percent that is the hardest duty cycle on the batteries there is and you will get fewer charge cycles that way. And then when the batteries break you get to find out just how very expensive they really are - shocking.
It is probably in the owners best financial interest to charge the batteries to maybe 80% and only use them down to 20% or 30% to increase the battery life and reduce costs - if you can get by with the reduced range. Going from 60% down to 40% is even better for the battery life but the useful range would be so disappointing that few people would do that.

Incidentally this charging stuff about battery life is true for all Lithium battery types today whether they are in your phone or your laptop or your cordless drill.

 

[KLB]

This^^^ It was simple survival where I grew up. I still follow my Dad's advice when traveling any distance or on back country roads - dress like you would if you had to walk a few miles in the conditions you're in. I see people all the time when it is really cold out no hat, no gloves, lightweight coat - dressed for the weather inside their car, which is fine until it slides off the road or breaks or runs out of gas

I always wear a light coat when I am in my car in the Winter. No reason to wear a heavy coat to walk to 50' or so into a store and back.

I also always keep my heavy coat, hat, heavy gloves and boots in the back. Not just in case something happens to my car, but in case I need to help someone else.

There are a lot of stupid people in the World.

 

[jake blue]

I see the same thing but its even worse with truck drivers, especially newbs their first year driving. If you're in MN and its 10 degrees out and a foot of snow on the ground but you're running from the truck to the store in crocs and a track suit you just don't have or don't want to put on actual winter wear then that's on you. Any long haul truck driver with more than a year's experience packs for 4 seasons all year round. Sure it was crocs weather when you left Miami but you're in the Great Lakes region now and it can go from 70 on Christmas Eve to snowing by Boxing Day. Along with that, winter prep includes plenty of nonperishables, water, truck supplies and never get below half on the fuel gauge. I've been compiling a winter survival truck supplies list for all the years I've driving and my company puts one out every September, usually coinciding with the earliest chain laws (Colorado if I recall begins Sept 15). At best you could be stuck at a truck stop for days until the storm clears but in more dire situations you could be in a ditch with no one seeing you're there and you either have to burrow in or dig out and hike.

My grandfather used to tell me stories of his trucking adventures and back then the interstate infrastructure wasn't as evolved as it is today. They also didn't have cell phones and GPS so the CB radio was their most likely lifeline IF there was anyone in range. My own experiences haven't been as fantastic as his but I've still been in situations where preparation was well served. Once in particular it was a couple of days in a small truck stop which was overcrowded after the highway closure so the diner ran out of food, not having planned for the number of people and length of time before the road reopened. Glad I had plenty of canned goods and water to see me through because even once the roads reopened it took another day for all those trucks that had me blocked in to clear out.

 

[Cameramonkey]

speaking of truck entrapment... Back in the blizzard of 78 there was a cool story from Mansfield, OH. Right near the airport on 13 a trucker in a cabover stopped and got stuck in the middle of the highway. Due to where he was, snow blew over his truck and totally buried it overnight. The entire stretch of road he was on drifted 20' high due to the berm next to the road.

The guy survived, but he was in that truck for several days.

 

[Ingomike]

It's much easier, and cheaper, to run electric lines for chargers than it is to install leak & explosion proof tanks, all the underground plumbing, etc...
Chargers can go virtually anywhere you shop, normally stop for fuel, etc.

You never tell us just where that electricity is going to come from…

 

[phylodog]

You never tell us just where that electricity is going to come from…

All of the new "build back ********" infrastructure that's coming is free so it's actually cheaper than simply utilizing the existing infrastructure we have in place already.

The left wouldn't care if their electricity came from child slaves running on treadmills, there is nothing they won't ignore to keep the dreams alive.

 

[nonobaddog]

You never tell us just where that electricity is going to come from…

And even if there is electricity, the charging takes a long time on top of the waiting time through the line in front of you - you could easily be there for hours - wishing you had your '69 Trans Am back.

 

[phylodog]

And even if there is electricity, the charging takes a long time on top the waiting time through the line in front of you - you could easily be there for hours - wishing you had your '69 Trans Am back.

Yeah but you still have your feet so you could just walk, much better than burning fossil fuels.

 

[printcraft]

You never tell us just where that electricity is going to come from…

Come on man, it just comes out of the wall.
Where have you been?

 

[nonobaddog]

Yeah but you still have your feet so you could just walk, much better than burning fossil fuels.

Walking is just so 1900's 1800's.