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Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

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Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#431

Post by closeparen »

martinald wrote: post #399
UnpossibleJim wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference is, even the poorer countries in Europe have a better bus and train system than the majority of America. Now, granted, America is much larger so I hate these comparisons. Many European countries are the size of an American state, but compare any US state and the bus and train system will almost certainly pale in comparison. I'm all for a fuel tax, but I'm also a huge proponent for a decent alternative…

This isn't really true. My experience in Europe is that cities over 500k population generally have decent public transit systems that you can use all the time. Below 100k population they are likely terrible, infrequent and not enough routes (there are exceptions, but it is rare). In between 100k and 500k it's a coin flip whether they are good or bad. Regardless it is definitely not the case that people drive less in…

Does the European everyman get a 2400sqft detached house on a quarter acre?

Whether American urban design is "inefficient" depends on the value you place on mass-affordable spacious housing. I personally think this is a dumb thing to optimize for, but a lot of people are really attached to it. I think they'd look at a European transit-centric home as ideal for a group of college friends, but balk at the idea of raising a family in close quarters or with strangers walking by.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#432

Post by xbmcuser »

kleiba wrote: post #385
Someone1234 wrote: post #62

I feel like the prices on electric vehicles are starting to become their biggest hurdle (instead of range, availability, or charging which are solved enough). If you're from California or New York, I'm sure $40K starting for this or a Model Y seems complexly within your means, but there's a large chunk of the US (by population AND land) where People love to spam $40K US "average" while entirely ignoring that the aver…

range, availability, or charging which are solved enough But are they really? Especially for charging, I'm still not convinced. The articles makes a case that you can go and grab a coffee while your ID.4 charges in 30 minutes at a high-speed charging stations. Sorry, but "30 minutes" and "high-speed" in one sentence seems somewhat misplaced. Who can afford to just waste 30 minutes for charging on a regular basis? I c…

Apart from at night the other long period a car is not used is when people are at work. I hope governments give tax incentives for companies to install chargers in their parking lots as this is also the time where solar power is abundant so the electricity used for transport would be cleaner compared to night charging in most cities and countries.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#433

Post by URSpider94 »

Someone1234 wrote: post #62

I feel like the prices on electric vehicles are starting to become their biggest hurdle (instead of range, availability, or charging which are solved enough). If you're from California or New York, I'm sure $40K starting for this or a Model Y seems complexly within your means, but there's a large chunk of the US (by population AND land) where People love to spam $40K US "average" while entirely ignoring that the aver…

Keep in mind that the $40k price is eligible for a $7500 federal tax credit, plus in CA you’ll get a $1500 instant rebate at purchase from a utility company fund, plus any middle class buyer will get a $2500 (I think) state rebate. That takes the net price down to under $30k.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#434

Post by georgeecollins »

jackson1442 wrote: post #178
foepys wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This shouldn't surprise anybody. Those are used for work like farms and are tax deductible.

Anyone who's driven on a highway in Texas knows this is likely untrue, at least for most F150 owners. I see a shocking number of pristine, washed and waxed F150s every single day when I'm driving. Those and Ram 1500s dominate the roads here. I don't even live in a rural area. I live in DFW.

Surprise! People buy cars that are not functional but aspirational. Can we add: - SUVs that are are really just wagons or hatchback with big tires. - Sports cars that will never see a track and couldn't possibly be driven safely at half their top speed. - Trucks with reinforced bumpers, headlamps and gas cans so that they are ready for Baja or more likely Target. - Your BMW or Mercedes that convinces me you are really rich because you can afford a lease or a 72 month loan.

This is human nature. Wanting more than you need is actually important to capitalism in countries as rich as the U.S. so I cut people a break.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#435

Post by URSpider94 »

csomar wrote: post #413
AmericanChopper wrote: post #410

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a drive way, and it’s not solved for me. My driving needs would require me to be frequently filling up at charging stations. These kind of “it’s solved” statements are very much picking the facts to fit the conclusion, rather than the other way around. Pointing this out usually elicits a “well you should change your lifestyle to better suit the features of an electric car”. If you tried to say that about softw…

> My driving needs would require me to be frequently filling up at charging stations. I don't think $40k electric cars (or even the long-range Tesla models) are for people who use cars for work and require frequent/long distances. This is more for the guy who does 15-30km/day commute, then maybe few km to the mall and has a driveway in his house. Maybe once in a while does 100km trip to some mountain. Best you can do…

Not at all, there are a lot of people commuting 100+ miles per day in EV’s here in CA. A lot of people have mega-commutes because housing is so expensive. An EV gives you access to HOV lanes, which can cut commute times in half. And, you can charge at home while you sleep and never again waste even a minute at a gas pump.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#436

Post by Baeocystin »

mgbmtl wrote: post #419
csomar wrote: post #413

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> My driving needs would require me to be frequently filling up at charging stations. I don't think $40k electric cars (or even the long-range Tesla models) are for people who use cars for work and require frequent/long distances. This is more for the guy who does 15-30km/day commute, then maybe few km to the mall and has a driveway in his house. Maybe once in a while does 100km trip to some mountain. Best you can do…

My less than $40k Leaf has a 350km range. I charge at home, drive in the city, and use it in the weekends to drive long distances. The only issue is when going to a city more than 300 km away, then yes, a 30 mins coffee. Charging stations are everywhere here (eastern Canada).

Genuine question- have you found winter temps to be much of an issue in terms of range loss?

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#437

Post by Tagbert »

rorykoehler wrote: post #51
mhh__ wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the subject of styling I still find these electric cars slightly off with the plastic where the grill normally be. It just seems wrong - especially with a company like Tesla which has no design heritage to be bound to, one expects better. The Taycan doesn't have this issue at the front, and I think it's a good looking thing.

Why would you have a grill when you don’t have any need for it?

Partially because people may feel like something is not right. Like seeing a face without a nose. It can feel creepy.

The Tesla model 3 has a weird looking front end that can be off putting to some people. The model S seems a little more familiar.

EU pedestrian crash regulations push manufacturers toward having a crush zone in front and that area can look bland if there aren’t some visual detailing across it.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#438

Post by elihu »

ratsforhorses wrote: post #418
elihu wrote: post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Big batteries would be nice for long trips. I'm working on an EV conversion right now that ought to get me a hundred miles of range when I'm done, which is good enough for about 98% of my regular driving. (Getting more range with a conversion can be tricky, as it would mean adding a lot of weight to the vehicle.) Sometimes it's nice to go to the beach, though... 100 miles would get me to the beach, but it's not enoug…

Congrats on the conversion...it should be done more, just a thought .... would a portable EV charger be the solution? just a quick google let me find Blink Mobile EV charging station...but maybe there are cheaper/smaller/lighter solutions....or solar panels on your roof?

The J1772 ports we have in the United States are basically just 110 or 220 volts with a fancy plug and an electronic handshake. I could bring an "EVSE" with me that can plug into a regular 110 or 220v electrical outlet, but finding an electrical outlet near where I want to park is probably more difficult than finding a J1772 charge port, unless I'm visiting someone's house.

The "charger" terminology is especially confusing, since technically there is a part called the charger that goes in the car -- it converts external AC power to DC at the voltage needed to charge the battery. The chargers normally installed in conversions aren't typically capable of charging quickly. The charger I'm looking at [1] maxes out at 3KW, which could charge a 27kwh battery in about 9 hours. If I spend the money to get a second charger to run in parallel, I could get that down to 4.5 hours.

Solar doesn't really work for long trips; the power you get is just too low. I'm in favor of solar panels being installed on EVs generally, as it would reduce the amount of power you draw when you charge, especially if you only drive a few miles a day on average. It just isn't a solution to the range problem unless you're willing to wait a long time to charge (like weeks) and/or manually deploy a giant solar array any time you stop like Mark Watney.

This conversion car I think just won't be a road trip car, and that's okay. Maybe eventually aftermarket batteries and chargers will improve to the point where I can plausibly install a 200-mile range battery with a half-hour 80% charge capability and keep the whole battery pack under four or five hundred pounds.

[1] https://www.thunderstruck-ev.com/tsm2500-and-charge-controll...

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#439

Post by blake1 »

rconti wrote: post #243

I've been following the id.4 release with moderate interest. I previously had a 2016 Golf R 6 speed manual, and now have a 2018 Tesla Model 3. IMO, the VW is just too expensive. Now, if you're getting the tax credit on the VW, and of course can't get it on a Tesla anymore, that makes the difference. But without the credit, the id4 is virtually the price of an AWD Model Y. For a vehicle that doesn't have AWD, has a to…

I agree with a lot of this VW seems to have done the “let’s rethink everything,” but much less successfully than Tesla. Not surprising giving their generations-long corporate legacy.

I’m kinda interested in the Nissan Arya, because it looks like they are trying to learn from the Leaf and make it attractive to not-terribly-into-EV buyers. It just looks like a very nice semi-luxury that has been engineered to be an EV, without rubbing it in your face that it’s an EV.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#440

Post by Ma8ee »

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #295
jacquesm wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> like all the old farts buying Harley's and pretending they are some kind of bikers...shame they destroyed the brand Actually, they kept the brand alive by buying the product. Without those people they'd have died long ago.

Sounds kind of like Leica to me: orthodontists running around Africa or Asia pretending to be Steve McCurry with $11,000 'Safari' cameras destroyed the brand for me. Yeah, sure, the company is still technically alive, but at what cost? (and lest you think I'm joking: https://www.dpreview.com/news/9864312105/leica-releases-limi... )

Are the cameras not good anymore? Or is it that the “wrong people“ are using their products that bothers you? If it is the latter, then you are just trying to buy an identity through brands, and you are as much part of the problem.
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