Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both • Hacker News Board

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#31

Post by fnordpiglet » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 8:59 PM UTC

happytiger wrote: post #21

I will never buy and EV as long as I’m beholden to the tyranny of PG&E’s constant gamification of my power. They keep raising and raising prices and there’s nothing attractive about putting all my eggs in the electric basket in California as long as the rates are controlled by cartels. PG&E will exploit any electric car progress for themselves and rip off their customers as hard as they can as soon as they thought th…

A lot of folks (like me) just use high speed charger infrastructure, which would intermediate you from PG&E

I would note that drilling, refineries, distribution, and point of sale for oil have all been and still are an assortment of disgusting cartels, monopolies, and nefarious governments hell bent on screwing you and the planet. But they’re definitely at more arms reach as a consumer than PG&E.

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#32

Post by sibit » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:01 PM UTC

freetime2 wrote: post #14

sibit wrote: post #11

I just purchased a new truck within the last 6 months and I was considering Ford's F-150 Lightning but ended up going with a diesel 2500 Silverado instead. The lightning boast 350 miles but it's not clear what kind of mileage I would get when pulling my camper. I also like to travel to some of the more remote parts of the US and I just don't have the confidence that it wouldn't become a pain in my butt. As for anecdo…

Yup I don't think EVs are suitable for towing, yet. > We had been warned to expect the range to be cut in half when towing, but the effect of towing these travel trailers proved even more significant. With the smallest and lightest trailer, we measured a range of just 115 miles. That figure fell to 100 miles with the middleweight camper and sank to a mere 90 miles with the 7,218-pound Grand Design trailer. [1] Maybe…

> Maybe when solid state batteries make their way into EVs by the end of this decade, that will change.

That'd be nice. I figure I'll revisit EV tech in ~10 years when I'm ready to start shopping again. Fingers crossed.

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#33

Post by bee_rider » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:01 PM UTC

happytiger wrote: post #21

I will never buy and EV as long as I’m beholden to the tyranny of PG&E’s constant gamification of my power. They keep raising and raising prices and there’s nothing attractive about putting all my eggs in the electric basket in California as long as the rates are controlled by cartels. PG&E will exploit any electric car progress for themselves and rip off their customers as hard as they can as soon as they thought th…

There are also some not so friendly entities that play games with the petroleum market.

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#34

Post by throwaway11460 » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:01 PM UTC

freetime2 wrote: post #14

sibit wrote: post #11

I just purchased a new truck within the last 6 months and I was considering Ford's F-150 Lightning but ended up going with a diesel 2500 Silverado instead. The lightning boast 350 miles but it's not clear what kind of mileage I would get when pulling my camper. I also like to travel to some of the more remote parts of the US and I just don't have the confidence that it wouldn't become a pain in my butt. As for anecdo…

Yup I don't think EVs are suitable for towing, yet. > We had been warned to expect the range to be cut in half when towing, but the effect of towing these travel trailers proved even more significant. With the smallest and lightest trailer, we measured a range of just 115 miles. That figure fell to 100 miles with the middleweight camper and sank to a mere 90 miles with the 7,218-pound Grand Design trailer. [1] Maybe…

The camper could have a battery pack too.

Also its roof area might be significant enough to put on solar panels and charge on the way...

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#35

Post by fnordpiglet » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:02 PM UTC

reducesuffering wrote: post #19

8f2ab37a-ed6c wrote: post #3

For people living in apartments, with the building providing no way to charge your vehicle, especially when parked outside, the value proposition is a lot less tempting. Takes 5 minutes to get gas, gas stations are everywhere, but having to find a charging station for your EV and having to sit there for an hour or longer is just not appealing if the tradeoff is the good feelings of one's microscopic contribution to s…

> having to find a charging station for your EV and having to sit there for an hour or longer A Tesla can supercharge 200 miles in 15 minutes

And you can go grab a Starbucks without sucking down a bunch of carcinogenic fumes during that time.

I have a home charger but never use it. I have never once wished I could go to a gas station, and whenever I drive a dinosaur fume contraption and end up at a gas station I’m reminded of what a filthy end to end system the age of fire was. I’m glad to see the age of Maxwell begin.

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#36

Post by fumar » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:04 PM UTC

Isn’t the automotive space filled with lobbyists wanting to maintain the status quo? I’ve witness many families go electric and none have gone back. Self selected bias?

I’ve had an EV for over seven years now. We are on our second Tesla and looking at a Rivian. I could not go back to an ICE vehicle and this is coming from a long time automotive enthusiast who has competed in rallys and track events. For my family’s lifestyle it is just so simple to own an EV with low to no maintenance, home charging, solar panels cost savings, pet modes, simple to operate, and almost appliance like. We have one vehicle and a motorcycle. When I ride I can focus on manual operations like changing gears or using two brakes. But if I am honest it is rare I want such a taxing ride. I still commute at least twice per week on a two wheels. Eventually, I will get an electric motorcycle.

I had range anxiety in my first month of EV ownership but you quickly realize that most trips rarely require a charging stop. Admittedly, I am in California but even traveling through the desert only one time did I need to use my mobile charger.

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#37

Post by bee_rider » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:04 PM UTC

sibit wrote: post #11

I just purchased a new truck within the last 6 months and I was considering Ford's F-150 Lightning but ended up going with a diesel 2500 Silverado instead. The lightning boast 350 miles but it's not clear what kind of mileage I would get when pulling my camper. I also like to travel to some of the more remote parts of the US and I just don't have the confidence that it wouldn't become a pain in my butt. As for anecdo…

It would be nice if modern trailers would include a great big battery. Plus, that could be nice while staying in there.

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#38

Post by NewJazz » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:04 PM UTC

bee_rider wrote: post #33

happytiger wrote: post #21

I will never buy and EV as long as I’m beholden to the tyranny of PG&E’s constant gamification of my power. They keep raising and raising prices and there’s nothing attractive about putting all my eggs in the electric basket in California as long as the rates are controlled by cartels. PG&E will exploit any electric car progress for themselves and rip off their customers as hard as they can as soon as they thought th…

There are also some not so friendly entities that play games with the petroleum market.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-14/gas-pric...

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#39

Post by brightball » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:05 PM UTC

sibit wrote: post #11

I just purchased a new truck within the last 6 months and I was considering Ford's F-150 Lightning but ended up going with a diesel 2500 Silverado instead. The lightning boast 350 miles but it's not clear what kind of mileage I would get when pulling my camper. I also like to travel to some of the more remote parts of the US and I just don't have the confidence that it wouldn't become a pain in my butt. As for anecdo…

Pickup EVs will be much more viable when the GMG Graphene Aluminum Ion battery is released in 2025. One of the biggest perks is supposed to be high power applications and Rio Tinto is expected to use them in their mining equipment.

Heavy vehicles should benefit significantly.

Re: Are US EV sales a disaster or a booming segment? The answer may be both

#40

Post by nostromo » Thu, Feb 29, 2024, 9:05 PM UTC

bee_rider wrote: post #33

happytiger wrote: post #21

I will never buy and EV as long as I’m beholden to the tyranny of PG&E’s constant gamification of my power. They keep raising and raising prices and there’s nothing attractive about putting all my eggs in the electric basket in California as long as the rates are controlled by cartels. PG&E will exploit any electric car progress for themselves and rip off their customers as hard as they can as soon as they thought th…

There are also some not so friendly entities that play games with the petroleum market.

But there is real competition in the petroleum market. Yes, OPEC exists, but they are just one player of many.

PG&E is a 100% monopoly for it's customer with no choice whatsoever.