Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

cbsnews.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

491–500 of 503 posts

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#491

Post by AdamN »

sgt wrote: post #463
AdamN wrote: post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Turbo lag isn't increased by start/stop. Start/stop may delay the initial acceleration but from then on, any turbo lag would be the same regardless of the state of the engine before initial acceleration.

That's what I mean. I stay away from dieselturbos etc due to the lag. And now they add another lag on top of that. Bring on electric.

Yeah I hate turbo lag (it was awful on my old Tiguan). Start/Stop worked fine though - not once did I feel like the engine wasn't ready to go after letting go of the brake. I drive super safe these days though so it's not like I was jumping from pedal to pedal.

I have an EV now (id.4) and I'm of two minds. The acceleration is awesome but the inability to do a full road trip is (mildly) limiting and the suspension/drive quality is middling at best (partly because it's an SUV, partly because of the weight).

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#492

Post by lowercased »

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #476
lowercased wrote: post #388

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First time I traveled from US to Europe was Spain in 1988, and I was interested to see Burger King and McDonalds there. A decade later, visiting the UK, I was 'surprised' a bit to see so many 'US' brands there. Mid 2000s - visited Shanghai - so many Western/US brands, didn't feel much different than being in NYC. 2010s - visited Russia and Romania - again, many US brands there (or other European/UK brands I knew). I…

I remember being in Italy(?) about 30 years ago and for whatever reason my friend went into a Blimpie's, of all places! Once they realized he was American, they gave him free food in exchange for a critique of how their sandwiches tasted compared to the ones over here.

Nice!

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#493

Post by gwbas1c »

b112 wrote: post #203
gwbas1c wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In shipping and logistics, time is money. Fuel can be dispensed in the US at a maximum of 10 gal/minute. Factor that against the largest charger you can find and see why the single cost difference doesn't matter yet. You charge the mail trucks overnight, when they aren't being driven. I don't know about you, but I've never seen a postman out in the evening or nighttime. I also don't know about you, but I don't stan…

You have to go out of your way to get to the gas station, go up to the pump, pay for it, and then get back on your way. It always takes me 5-10 minutes to get gas. Wow. Gas stations are everywhere, conveniently located, and always on route to some place or another. The mental gymnastics employed, to try to make this seem arduous, does not make for a compelling argument.

FWIW:

I just went out to buy gas for my snowblower and generator. The gas station was a mile away. It was 17 minutes round trip.

Granted, some of that time was taken up by opening up the gas can and adding stabilizer, but the point stands that getting gas is a chore.

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#494

Post by jjeaff »

theshrike79 wrote: post #355
jjeaff wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most gas delivery vehicles don't idle these days. But maybe the starter motor requires more maintenance.

Wait, "most" (over 50%) long-haul trucks and vans have start-stop functionality?

I think we are all just talking about start and stop delivery trucks. I know the UPS vehicles as well as the USPS vehicles in my area all stop running the engine when they stop and get out.

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#495

Post by mnw21cam »

sgt wrote: post #464
mnw21cam wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I didn't like the start/stop feature when I had a hire car briefly, I can't see how it would ever add a lag. By the time you have pressed the clutch pedal down to put it in gear, it has started.

Nobody uses manuals anymore unless you are a driving an enthusiast car like Toyota GT86 etc

Um, what? Last time I saw an automatic, or heard of a friend driving one, was 2004.

Also, s/anymore/any more/

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#496

Post by anticensor »

nonethewiser wrote: post #123
p1necone wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of this has a capital penalty and requires stuff that doesn't exist yet. We're discussing exactly what stuff might be worth said capital penalty. If the basic running costs of these are really 25% of ICE vehicles then there's a lot of wiggle room for some extra "capital penalty" while still saving a tonne of money.

Logistics companies currently need 1 truck to go cross country. Why would they opt for 4 instead? That have to be driven to checkpoints and wait. It makes no sense

If your load is cross country, railway might be a better solution.

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#497

Post by anticensor »

euroderf wrote: post #352
crote wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Forklifts?! No, you either use intermodal containers, or just put the entire trailer onto the train.

Sure containers are the standard... except for the last mile for non-industrial, which is a lot of stuff.

Even at that last mile, you could use trams that take NATO bicons. 80 tonnes per 40ft container, which divides into four equal 20-tonne bicons.

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#498

Post by euroderf »

anticensor wrote: post #497
euroderf wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure containers are the standard... except for the last mile for non-industrial, which is a lot of stuff.

Even at that last mile, you could use trams that take NATO bicons. 80 tonnes per 40ft container, which divides into four equal 20-tonne bicons.

Another consideration might be forklift pallets, except that the market is badly fragmented.

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#499

Post by sgt »

AdamN wrote: post #491
sgt wrote: post #463

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I mean. I stay away from dieselturbos etc due to the lag. And now they add another lag on top of that. Bring on electric.

Yeah I hate turbo lag (it was awful on my old Tiguan). Start/Stop worked fine though - not once did I feel like the engine wasn't ready to go after letting go of the brake. I drive super safe these days though so it's not like I was jumping from pedal to pedal. I have an EV now (id.4) and I'm of two minds. The acceleration is awesome but the inability to do a full road trip is (mildly) limiting and the suspension/dri…

I'm in South Africa and the country isn't exactly ready for electric cars yet, so I went for a pragmatic choice instead; Toyota Land Cruiser with huge petrol engine. Yes, it costs tons to fill up, but it's not a car you just toss away as it lasts forever. There's also something to be said about longevity when considering the environment.

Re: U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs

#500

Post by sgt »

mnw21cam wrote: post #495
sgt wrote: post #464

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody uses manuals anymore unless you are a driving an enthusiast car like Toyota GT86 etc

Um, what? Last time I saw an automatic, or heard of a friend driving one, was 2004. Also, s/anymore/any more/

Where is this? Most of the world today uses automatics, I think. Or are you thinking of electric without gearboxes?
Post reply on HN