Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4 • Hacker News Board

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

#581

Post by seanmcdirmid » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 11:49 AM UTC

TulliusCicero wrote: post #573

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #525

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Not to mention those places tend to be much flatter. In the west Bay Area you have to ride next to 101 unless you don’t mind hills.

Most of the heavily populated places in the bay area are fairly flat, so that's not really a problem. Plus, with ebikes these days, hills just aren't the barrier they used to be. The problem is mostly just infrastructure. Almost no California cities have more than a piddling amount of safe transportation biking support.

These days have little to do with historically. The bay is hemmed in by hills and water. LA is similarly hemmed in, creating a nice bowl that traps pollution. Seattle and Portland are both hilly, you are not at a flat grade. Berlin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen are all flat in contrast.

Cities with lots of hills in Europe don’t have as many bikers or biking infrastructure. Eg Lausanne unless you want to go for a jaunt by the lake. Cannes was the similar during a short visit I made 20 years ago. Hilly south Europe (Athens, Rome) doesn’t seem to like bikes very much either.

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

#582

Post by akomtu » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 12:16 PM UTC

rswail wrote: post #537

akomtu wrote: post #281

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That's like reducing the oxygen level for lab rats to see how they would adapt. These people have 500 bucks in savings and no health insurance.

Get rid of the need for health insurance. That'll save them the worry and they'll end up healthier.

I wonder how you would do that. Healthcare in the US is the way it is because many powerful people profit from it. They are effectively above the law and can use the judicial branch to protect their interest.

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

#583

Post by dm319 » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 12:17 PM UTC

jackson1442 wrote: post #151

dm319 wrote: post #119

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It's really the infrastructure rather than the range that needs to change (for most people). If high speed charging became ubiquitous, then you would only be stopping for 20 min every 2 hours with current technology. Driving any more than that without a rest in my country can result in serious consequences. Add to that a fully charged vehicle every morning without having to make a visit to a petrol/gas station at any…

> Driving any more than that without a rest in my country can result in serious consequences. Fascinating! We drive hours upon hours on the regular in Texas, everything is so spread apart. I take weekend trips to see my family every once in a while and it comes out to 3-4 hours and I do that without really hesitating. One of my friends recently mentioned that one of their parents took a job that's 120 miles away from…

From the UK, and not everyone is aware of this. But it has been tried in the courts, and I'm aware of one person (friend of a friend) who is in jail as a result if having an accident after driving for 4 hours. I have a friend who works in car insurance, and he's pretty firm about the requirement to not drive more than two hours straight. Our motorways are covered in cameras, so if something happens you generally can't pretend you took a different route or stopped in a (camera covered) service station!

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

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Post by akomtu » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 12:26 PM UTC

DoreenMichele wrote: post #228

akomtu wrote: post #130

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Half of the US population lives paycheck to paycheck and they need cars. I'm not sure their minimum wage can afford them carbon taxes.

The optimal solution for that is better city and regional planning so waitresses and the like can find low cost housing near work and for it to be generally viable to make life work without a car.

These kind of suggestions prompt a snarky response. Imagine an emergency meeting to discuss the leaking co2 problem in a 200 story tower we live in. Everybody knows that the source of the leak is the old plumbing and rusty electrical wiring. Suddenly, someone shows up in the midst of the discussion and presents a solution: we just need to replace plumbing and wiring.

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

#585

Post by grosswait » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 12:40 PM UTC

jackson1442 wrote: post #565

georgeecollins wrote: post #434

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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 reall…

I give SUV drivers a bit of merit. Many (most?) come with a third row or at least the option for one so they are the most practical way to carry around up to 8 people at once safely.

Minivans are the most practical for this purpose. The third row seat in most suvs are for children at best.

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

#586

Post by Reason077 » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 12:58 PM UTC

dreamcompiler wrote: post #297

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…

> From what I understand batteries remain the lion's share of an electric vehicle's total production cost (I've heard as much as $16K/vehicle). I've seen this same figure for current EVs. But it's important to look at the trend. Lithium-ion battery prices have decreased by 97% since their introduction in 1991. The price decrease curve is amazing [0]. Teslas were at least $80K in 2015; today a Tesla with similar range…

Cobalt is not considered a rare-earth metal. It's actually relatively common. Lithium-ion battery cells do not typically contain any rare earths, but permanent magnet motors in EVs do.

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

#587

Post by mavhc » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 1:12 PM UTC

deanak wrote: post #575

mavhc wrote: post #530

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What do you mean about Tesla's battery chemistry?

> Tesla also uses a different battery chemistry — aluminum, in addition to the standard nickel and cobalt — than other major automakers. The battery researchers said that choice has led to maximum range because of a higher-capacity battery chemistry, though downsides included a higher fire risk and shorter cycle life, or life span over hundreds of charges. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/01/10/tesla-b.…

On the other hand, fewer charges.

I don't see any difference between Tesla and other cars on https://www.geotab.com/fleet-management-solutions/ev-battery...

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

#588

Post by 2trill2spill » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 1:20 PM UTC

holoduke wrote: post #285

foepys wrote: post #71

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People buying cars for $20,000 are generally not people who can invest twice upfront for lower maintenance costs over the next ten years. Being poor (relatively speaking) is expensive, especially when you are financing.

I an in a fortunate position to earn much more than a average salary. Yet our family car is a 2005 10k infinity fx35. Car is reliable and modern enough. A perfect fit for my family of 4. I considered buying a 80k Tesla model X, but went for a 15 year old Ferrari f430 (same price). Still have the practically and a lot of extra fun. I never understood why people would buy a car younger than 15 years old.

15 year old cars might be better economically. But if your in a car accident, your definitely going to want to be in a modern vehicle.

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

#589

Post by jl6 » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 1:55 PM UTC

jedberg wrote: post #376

macintux wrote: post #359

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> driven by soccer moms I’d really like to get away from this phrase. Some of the most avid off-roading Jeepers I know are women. And mothers. And for all I know they take their kids to soccer. “Soccer moms” is a terrible phrase.

I agree with you, but the problem is, there is no suitable replacement. When someone says, "soccer mom", you know exactly what they mean. And there is no phrase like it. Just like the phrase "Indian giver". That one is just straight up racist and I will never use it, but sadly I haven't found a substitute for it either. "Someone who gives a gift and then takes it back" just doesn't roll off the tongue...

I think it’s nearly always better to avoid using personality labels entirely.

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

#590

Post by meowster » Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 2:08 PM UTC

brendoelfrendo wrote: post #526

Sleepytime wrote: post #445

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Trucks as commuter vehicles in the south generally still get used as trucks. You're more likely to see trucks with perfect paint out west.

Clearly you haven't lived in urban Texas.

I live in urban Texas. At a glance, my truck has perfect paint. You can't see the 3rd party liner I put in and the gouges in the truck bed. Most of the time you aren't going to see all the gear or trailers I haul for different organizations. Sure, some people buy trucks to compensate for something, but some of us who have an entry level Ford F150 or Ram 1500 do in fact use them as trucks when you can't see it.