[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I have trouble understanding why many, many people have said that they like to drive "straight through" on long trips and would "go crazy" driving an EV and having to stop a WHOLE one hour to charge up from time to time. Especially when retired, I prefer to enjoy a long trip and stop "to smell the rose" and do some sightseeing and take a little walk or do some exercise. You can jump rope, throw a softball, and jog in most rest stops. Sitting constantly like an "iron butt" is bad for the blood circulation and health.

Another reason why driving an ICE straight through, iron butt style might NOT ACTUALLY be a TIME saver. IC engines break down MUCH more often than electric engines (we have all had that happen). Then, fixing the IC engine could take one day or even more if it is a weekend, or in between cities. (plus towing) (plus the cost of a motel) I don't believe that people are taking this factor into consideration - an ICE vehicle can slow down your long trip to a much greater degree (and make it a DISASTER) than the 1-hour charging required by an EV.

When we got see our grandkids we want to get there asap. Having to stop for an hour or more 3-4x would be a dealbreaker for me.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Basically, the electricity is generated at a central location, which is better equipped to control the pollution than thousands of internal combustion engines running around in that same local area. So, yes that helps the environment and lowers an individual driver's costs. Also, the batteries and electric motors in electrical vehicles are more dependable and easier to maintain with lower maintenance costs compare to internal combustion engine vehicles.

I tried to verify that electric vehicles have lower maintenance costs than gas vehicles. There are lots of comparisons on the internet, but most of them compare the maintenance costs for dealerships. If you have an electric vehicle, you most likely need to have maintenance and repair work done at the dealer because it is difficult to find independent shops that will work on an electric vehicle. But, you can take your gas vehicle to almost any independent service shop and save a lot of money. Overall, I don't think it is a true statement that it is cheaper to maintain an electric vehicle. For example, a brake job on a Tesla at the dealer will cost you many times as much as a brake job on a regular gasoline vehicle at Sumter Tire. Also, they like to cite that an electric vehicle doesn't need oil changes, but the last oil change I got at Sumter Tire cost $40. Big deal.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by maistocars

No chance. Range is too low and maintenance appears high.

Maintenance is LOWER with EVs than with ICE vehicles.

[Hardlyworking]

With regenerative braking, brake pads last way longer than on an ICE vehicle. Add washer fluid and change the cabin air filter. Not a big deal.

[Keefelane66]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Exactly what happened last January between Fredericksburg and Richmond when a big winter storm closed the highway overnight on a very cold night. Hundreds of EV’s drained their batteries trying to stay warm overnight. When the road finally opened it was gridlock, clogged up with dead EV’s everywhere. It took another half day to tow them away.

Sorry Charlie your embellishments are wrong from a news article in Forbes of the HUNDREDS of vehicles disabled by the freak storm “ Roadside service providers found that less than 5% of calls to service an EV on the road involved running out of juice”
So if there were 1000 vehicles disabled 50 would be EVs.

[Babubhat]

Never. The electrical grid infrastructure is in terrible shape. Existing technology works fine.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

Sorry Charlie your embellishments are wrong from a news article in Forbes of the HUNDREDS of vehicles disabled by the freak storm “ Roadside service providers found that less than 5% of calls to service an EV on the road involved running out of juice”
So if there were 1000 vehicles disabled 50 would be EVs.

You can believe what you read if that’s what makes you happy, or you can believe what was witnessed and experienced by people who were actually there.

[toeser]

Originally Posted by Tvflguy

With all the news re Electric vehicles, how likely are YOU to purchase one? If not, why not?

For me, our 5 year old gas vehicle is perfectly fine for many many years. And at our tax rate cannot use any Tax Credit to lower price. But if our situation changed I would consider.

Not a chance. I can drive the 1550 miles to my other house in two days. Not even remotely possible with an electric.

P.S. Forget about being cheaper to operate. Talk to someone who has had to replace a battery.

[Quixote]

If a gasoline or diesel operated vehicle is right for you, then own and drive it.

If a hybrid or electric operated vehicle is right for you, then own and drive it.

We have owned several Priuses and now own a Tesla. They consistently worked well for us; our Tesla is 4+ years old, and the only operating/maintenance money we've ever put into it has been a pair of new tires.

I posted this on another thread: My wife was driving on 466 when the driver of a landscaping truck never saw her and pulled right out in front of her. Before she could even move her foot from the power pedal to the brake, the car had already stopped. After she caught her breath, she saw witnesses who stopped shook their heads incredulously....

THIS is why we drive a Tesla. We are not interested in Elon Musk's personality traits, nor do we envy his wealth. We recognize the issues involved in battery production that are analogous to those in computer production. Are we selfish in our focus on safety? Perhaps.

To each his or her own. Instead of simply saying it's not for them, those who are so absolutely adamant and forceful with their 'Never!' or 'Absolutely not!' or 'Zero chance!' sound like I imagine they said well over a century ago about Henry Ford and his 'contraption,' that their horses worked just fine....

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

Then maybe we should stop building homes.

People need homes. They don’t need electric vehicles when gasoline vehicles work just fine. Those that are worried about the environment should be pushing for natural gas vehicles. Current gas burning cars can be easily converted as can service stations. Those who have natural gas in their homes would be able to fill up at home. Natural gas burns much cleaner than petrol. A complete conversion would reduce emissions by over 50%.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

People need homes. They don’t need electric vehicles when gasoline vehicles work just fine. Those that are worried about the environment should be pushing for natural gas vehicles. Current gas burning cars can be easily converted as can service stations. Those who have natural gas in their homes would be able to fill up at home. Natural gas burns much cleaner than petrol. A complete conversion would reduce emissions by over 50%.

I agree. Natural gas vehicles have been around for more than 20 years. When I had a Government job, I drove a Government owned car that used both natural gas and gasoline. When you ran out of natural gas, you pushed a button and switched to the gasoline tank and kept driving. I don't know why they haven't become popular.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Exactly what happened last January between Fredericksburg and Richmond when a big winter storm closed the highway overnight on a very cold night. Hundreds of EV’s drained their batteries trying to stay warm overnight. When the road finally opened it was gridlock, clogged up with dead EV’s everywhere. It took another half day to tow them away.

False info...

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I agree. Natural gas vehicles have been around for more than 20 years. When I had a Government job, I drove a Government owned car that used both natural gas and gasoline. When you ran out of natural gas, you pushed a button and switched to the gasoline tank and kept driving. I don't know why they haven't become popular.

Natural gas lobby not particularly strong?

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Babubhat

Never. The electrical grid infrastructure is in terrible shape. Existing technology works fine.

An electrical motor rotates in a SMOOTH continuous CIRCLE. An internal combustion engine is a RECIPROCATING engine that uses difficult-to-time EXPLOSIONS started by a spark plug to send a friction-producing PISTON moving rapidly downward, then stopping and reversing before being transformed into rotary motion by a friction-producing crankshaft. All that mess then sends energy to a flywheel and a transmission because the IC Engine is only moderately efficient within a small RPM range. An IC engine needs 2 types of oil and associated oil pumps to lessen the friction
and a heat exchanging radiator to keep the whole mess cool.

A vehicle's electrical motor uses about 1/3 of the parts that an internal combustion engine needs. Bottom line.......a simple E-vehicle engine design is better, more efficient, and much more reliable than the complex IC engine design.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by toeser

Not a chance. I can drive the 1550 miles to my other house in two days. Not even remotely possible with an electric.

P.S. Forget about being cheaper to operate. Talk to someone who has had to replace a battery.

That 2-day drive can turn into a one-week drive if you have ENGINE problems! An electrical engine is more reliable than an internal combustion engine