You have 13 yrs 11 mths left to buy a GM gas or dsl vehicle

Nothing went wrong when I bought my first computer (Commodore 64). It worked great until I bought an Apple II, then I gave it to my neighbor.

Bought my 1968 VW bug for $800 and sold it 10 years later for $1000 (after adding 100k miles). I did add a quadraphonic 8 track tape player and replaced the backseat with a "cargo deck".

When I buy a computer today, I buy the best I can, knowing that tomorrow it will be "obsolete".

With pre-planning and strategizing, I don't have many "woulda, shoulda, coulda" feelings. I set my emotions and "feelings" aside, and visualize the process from start to finish, then turn the page 90 degrees and do it again, and repeat; many times the "first solution" uncovered is not the best. Rather I prefer to explore different perspectives, gathering multiple solutions--then select the best solution from the "many". Call me anal, call me silly, but it has worked for me and my clients for the past 40 years.

SPRey wrote:
I guess when somebody pays big bucks for something novel, there will be a need to reinforce that they made the right decision. Hence the level of vitriol by those that believe.

As a strategist, my mind gravitates to "what can go wrong", and my mind says lots can go wrong right now. Power infrastructure is so bad that western states have to shut down the grid when the wind blows; something that was unheard of 5 years ago--and I predict is the new norm (2019, 2020 and 2021?). Demand for electricity will increase when the economy recovers from COVID and as the Green New Deal retires "dirty" power generating plants, how/where will the shortfall of power be produced?

IMO, EV owners subscribe to the strategy of "hope"; hope that government will continue to subsidize both the manufacture/sell of EV and charging stations. The subsidy I am referring is "tax credits" which is a simple scheme to move money from my pocket into yours. Hope that the lower price/kWh for EV power will continue. Hope they can continue to avoid paying gas tax (ICE pays for the roads). Hope that recharging stations will miraculously appear everywhere....yeah I know, lots of hope that others will do the right thing, at the right time.

IMO, a strategy based on hope is destined for failure; seldom will people/governments do the right thing, at the right time. Case in point: Government's response to COVID-19; Federal, State and Local governments failed us.

Ok, tell us then what went wrong when you bought your first computer?

Or your first car (getting your girlfriend pregnant because of that dang backseat does not count).

When I was in college I bought my first computer which wiped out my savings and get me eating instant noodles for a year or two and turn out to be the best decision in finding good paying job for having knowledge of that still new fangled thingy.

I guess when somebody pays big bucks for something novel, there will be a need to reinforce that they made the right decision. Hence the level of vitriol by those that believe.

As a strategist, my mind gravitates to "what can go wrong", and my mind says lots can go wrong right now. Power infrastructure is so bad that western states have to shut down the grid when the wind blows; something that was unheard of 5 years ago--and I predict is the new norm (2019, 2020 and 2021?). Demand for electricity will increase when the economy recovers from COVID and as the Green New Deal retires "dirty" power generating plants, how/where will the shortfall of power be produced?

IMO, EV owners subscribe to the strategy of "hope"; hope that government will continue to subsidize both the manufacture/sell of EV and charging stations. The subsidy I am referring is "tax credits" which is a simple scheme to move money from my pocket into yours. Hope that the lower price/kWh for EV power will continue. Hope they can continue to avoid paying gas tax (ICE pays for the roads). Hope that recharging stations will miraculously appear everywhere....yeah I know, lots of hope that others will do the right thing, at the right time.

IMO, a strategy based on hope is destined for failure; seldom will people/governments do the right thing, at the right time. Case in point: Government's response to COVID-19; Federal, State and Local governments failed us.

free radical wrote:
Mining for Lithium is substantialy less harmful then driling for oil.
And cobalt is used for refining gasoline btw !...

You obviously have never visited a mining and a drilling site.

What are they waiting for?

The list of states with EV fees currently in effect, or about to start, include Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

https://electrek.co/2020/07/10/california-starts-charging-ev-registration-fees-up-to-175-in-july/

our SD state legislature is pondering for the umpteenth time a licensing surcharge on EVs.
In previous years proposals they threw the book at it, targeting every and all form of EV that use roads without paying road use tax. It was tabled narrowly to the 41st legislative day, which in SD means killed. i doubt it will be tabled this session,
As their sales increase, fuel taxes decrease which is the funds to maintain and build roads,
Evs are likely the future for many who commute and have a set travel routine.
Fuel taxes are currently the driver of finance to build and maintain roads, as EVs do not pay fuel tax expect license fees for them to reflect that.
If an average passenger vehicle travels 12.5 K miles / yr @ 25 mpg combined @ state & fed. .54 state & fed. tax / gal, Thats around 500 gallons of gas,about $270 in road use taxes. The. legislative proposal is for a $100 surcharge. Thats cheap I think it will pass this year and be a precedent for raises equal to cost.
We in this state believe in user pay for service. Advocacy for altenative energy options must be backed by science, cost over time,

blofgren wrote:

Lantley wrote:
The funny thing about all of this is GM is late to the party. They can reach there goal but they are already playing catch up.
I imagine the GM people have driven a Tesla and come to the realization the ICE is done. Tesla has changed the game. The big boys are scrambling to exit the ICE business and develop there own EV plans.
I've said it in a few other threads but I'll say it again. Personally drive a Tesla if you get a chance and you'll understand the revolution is here. The game has changed. The technology is jaw dropping. Drive a Tesla and you will immediate realize/understand the ICE is obsolete.
It's no longer if , or how, or can we. The only question is when and how soon!
I imagine cowboys, stage coach drivers and those who rode horses had the same reaction to the model T as the current naysayers have to the Tesla.

I totally agree. Our neighbours bought a Tesla last year and I was absolutely blown away when they took me for a ride in it. Completely different animal than a vehicle with an ICE.

Yep. That’s kind of what happens. Everybody is a skeptic...until the test drive...and then it’s over. And that’s why Tesla has an advertising budget of exactly zero dollars.

Lantley wrote:
The funny thing about all of this is GM is late to the party. They can reach there goal but they are already playing catch up.
I imagine the GM people have driven a Tesla and come to the realization the ICE is done. Tesla has changed the game. The big boys are scrambling to exit the ICE business and develop there own EV plans.
I've said it in a few other threads but I'll say it again. Personally drive a Tesla if you get a chance and you'll understand the revolution is here. The game has changed. The technology is jaw dropping. Drive a Tesla and you will immediate realize/understand the ICE is obsolete.
It's no longer if , or how, or can we. The only question is when and how soon!
I imagine cowboys, stage coach drivers and those who rode horses had the same reaction to the model T as the current naysayers have to the Tesla.

I totally agree. Our neighbours bought a Tesla last year and I was absolutely blown away when they took me for a ride in it. Completely different animal than a vehicle with an ICE.

Mining for Lithium is substantialy less harmful then driling for oil.
And cobalt is used for refining gasoline btw !

https://eepower.com/new-industry-products/teslas-4680-a-cobalt-free-silicon-battery-solution/

“Simple is hard,” Musk addressed shareholders on Battery Day on creating Tesla’s 4680 battery cell.
Essentially a rolled-up copper material allows for a shorter distance for electrons to travel to reduce resistance, heat, components, and manufacturing costs.
Tesla announced that they are already integrating the new batteries into EVs.
Tesla is moving away from cobalt materials and plans to mine for Lithium in Nevada, where there is a vast amount of lithium that can be found in clay.

I’ll just leave this here. Link Re: batteries