Thermoguy wrote:
This thread goes so many places... Hard to comment on them.
But, look at your phone or PC - go back 5 or 10 years and remember what you had then. These EV's are like that technology. If you remove the battery part, you remove the distance anxiety, just like cars from the 60's or 70's when they had small gas tanks and low gas mileage. Battery technology is changing daily and will change fast with this push. It won't be long and an EV Truck like a Rivian will have a range of 500 miles or better between charges and the charge will take 15 minutes or so. Then so many arguments in this thread would be non existent. Also, like someone said, electricity at home is much cheaper than charging at a station - how many can say that about your ICE vehicle - do you even have that choice? What if you could charge your commuter EV at home over night, then go to work and sell the power back to your company - making money while doing that. That is coming - companies are working on that right now. Electricity is cheaper at night and this 2 way charging does work - you just need to know how much charge you need to get home. This also helps the grid as there is more power put into the grid during the work day removing the issues with high power consumption in the afternoon on a hot day. One issue with power is storage - now add all the EV's (assume everyone has one, like an ICE) you now have a massive power storage facility, just tap into it.
Someone mentioned the infrastructure. You now pay a gas tax that pays for roads and bridges. Too bad for the EV guys, that won't be free for much longer. Almost every state is working on a Road Usage Charge - that's right, pay by mile. From what I understand it is based on the taxes an ICE that gets 19 mpg would pay in taxes. The good news - sort of, eventually it will get to everyone. Someone driving a rig that gets less than 19 mpg will get a credit for over paying, someone who gets better than 19 mpg will have to pay an additional tax. This is coming and we will have no way to get out of it regardless of what you drive. Your modern vehicle is already tracking you just like your phone, so the data is there and being recorded now.
EV's are coming and they are getting realistic, look at the F150 and Hummer. These are not one trick pony's like Rivian, they are major car manufacturers. You've got entry level and luxury, and everything in-between. How many Nascar fans out there - how long before you are watching a race where all the cars are electric? It's going to be cool - and quiet... Other than screeching tires.
It all comes down to batteries and power recharging - what do you think the sharpest minds in the world are working on right now - making your ICE better? not... Every state in this country is working on charging stations, connected vehicle technology, and more. Just wait - It's coming fast.
The thing is that Ford and GM don't manufacture batteries. Again they're dependent on the battery manufacturer just like everyone else who designs products with batteries.
The power tool industry designs their battery powered tools with removable battery packs for a reason!
