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General Motors Is Going All Electric

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11–20 of 66 posts

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#11

I'm impressed that the American car companies have embraced electric technology so quickly. I'm also disappointed that the Japanese companies are falling behind. The Prius was a very innovative car when it was first released 20 years ago (that's right, the first Prius was a 1997 model!), but it is falling behind. The Nissan Leaf is just not competitive anymore, and I see no sign of a newer version of it with better r…

I don't know that this is true. To compare, would you expect every house to have a gas station built in?

Granted, a full electric charge doesn't last as long as a full tank of gas, but that's going to be decreasingly relevant as battery technology improves.

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#12

I'm impressed that the American car companies have embraced electric technology so quickly. I'm also disappointed that the Japanese companies are falling behind. The Prius was a very innovative car when it was first released 20 years ago (that's right, the first Prius was a 1997 model!), but it is falling behind. The Nissan Leaf is just not competitive anymore, and I see no sign of a newer version of it with better r…

They are embracing it now, that's mostly because Tesla has been testing the grounds for the rest.

Don't forget that GM had not only terminated all leases then went out of their way to crush all their EV1s[1]. Like a public execution to show that electric cars are bad.

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car%3F

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#13

I'm impressed that the American car companies have embraced electric technology so quickly. I'm also disappointed that the Japanese companies are falling behind. The Prius was a very innovative car when it was first released 20 years ago (that's right, the first Prius was a 1997 model!), but it is falling behind. The Nissan Leaf is just not competitive anymore, and I see no sign of a newer version of it with better r…

[deleted]

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#14
post #9

I'm impressed that the American car companies have embraced electric technology so quickly. I'm also disappointed that the Japanese companies are falling behind. The Prius was a very innovative car when it was first released 20 years ago (that's right, the first Prius was a 1997 model!), but it is falling behind. The Nissan Leaf is just not competitive anymore, and I see no sign of a newer version of it with better r…

The 2018 Nissan Leaf has a 400km range and has charge times like a Tesla. http://www.caradvice.com.au/581046/2018-nissan-leaf-revealed...

> Nissan claims the new Leaf’s 40 kWh battery will provide 150 miles of range under EPA testing and 400km (248.5 miles) under the Japanese JC08 cycle

From: https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/5/16254460/nissan-leaf-2018-...

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#15

I'm impressed that the American car companies have embraced electric technology so quickly. I'm also disappointed that the Japanese companies are falling behind. The Prius was a very innovative car when it was first released 20 years ago (that's right, the first Prius was a 1997 model!), but it is falling behind. The Nissan Leaf is just not competitive anymore, and I see no sign of a newer version of it with better r…

GM was headed to fuel cell cars (even talking about how you could power your home at one point) and put a lot of money into electric after their first attempts were deemed unacceptable. Its been a slow burn for them.

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#16
post #8

I don't see how this can work in anything but a commuter-centric car. Want to drive from LA to SF or from Austin to Tulsa? Too bad. Want to drive an electric, loaded pickup from Austin to Dallas? Also not going to happen. Unless they make some significant technological strides, nations larger than Norway are going to take a serious economic hit.

Have you seen Tesla's Superchargers [1]? Or a Model X hauling cross country?

[1] https://www.tesla.com/supercharger

[2] http://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-x-hauling-freight-ca-hi...

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#17
post #4

I recently bought an inexpensive electric (Ford Focus Electric 2017), and I can't imagine going back. No gas stations, no oil changes, no transmission failures, no engine breakdowns, no timing belt, no transaxles, overall less costs even energy wise. Also it's got amazing pickup and can beat guzzlers off the line (I've edged out Mustangs, but I haven't gone head to head with a Porsche). So I have to charge every day…

There are still maintenance/wear items you'll need to address. There are still mechanical components the make up a drivetrain.

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#18
post #4

I recently bought an inexpensive electric (Ford Focus Electric 2017), and I can't imagine going back. No gas stations, no oil changes, no transmission failures, no engine breakdowns, no timing belt, no transaxles, overall less costs even energy wise. Also it's got amazing pickup and can beat guzzlers off the line (I've edged out Mustangs, but I haven't gone head to head with a Porsche). So I have to charge every day…

What about batteries wearing out year after year? How much would it cost to change all the batteries in your car?

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#19
post #10
post #4

I recently bought an inexpensive electric (Ford Focus Electric 2017), and I can't imagine going back. No gas stations, no oil changes, no transmission failures, no engine breakdowns, no timing belt, no transaxles, overall less costs even energy wise. Also it's got amazing pickup and can beat guzzlers off the line (I've edged out Mustangs, but I haven't gone head to head with a Porsche). So I have to charge every day…

I just got a 2014 C-max energi (plug in). The battery indicators are pretty unreliable, I would be scared of running out prematurely if I was driving an all electric, because when I turn it on after a charge, it says I can go 22 miles on battery only, but it usually runs out in about 15 miles, and if I have the opportunity to drive at highway speeds, it does even worse. I wouldn't be comfortable driving anywhere in a…

I bought (leased, actually) a car that can easily do 150% of my max daily range. It's designed to be a commute car.

I also have it charging often at charge spots at work, shopping, and even when I drive to visit local customers. I noticed a recent 90m trip we took our minivan, but my electric could have done it - the hotel we stayed in had chargers. If you're staying with relatives, you can bring your own charge cable (110v is slow but ubiquitous).

Range anxiety is a non issue once you own a car that has sufficient battery capacity/range assuming you have a regular commute.

I've gotten it down to 5% battery - it was 5.5m over the listed range of 110m at the time (not being lead-foot at the time).

I think the PHEV -> EV shift is a significant paradigm shift for a driver.

Re: General Motors Is Going All Electric

#20

I'm impressed that the American car companies have embraced electric technology so quickly. I'm also disappointed that the Japanese companies are falling behind. The Prius was a very innovative car when it was first released 20 years ago (that's right, the first Prius was a 1997 model!), but it is falling behind. The Nissan Leaf is just not competitive anymore, and I see no sign of a newer version of it with better r…

> The Nissan Leaf is just not competitive anymore, and I see no sign of a newer version of it with better range.

Depends on your needs. My Leaf has been incredible. I paid $5k for an older one off lease and it gets me round trip to work/school/running errands for essentially zero marginal cost. People are stuck in an ICE mindset where they can't imagine a car being useful with less than 400 miles range. But the reality is that you never end up using a full charge, and charging is available everywhere (in cities) now. I can guarantee that there will be a class of ultra cheap EV's that stick to the 100-150 mile range as it is all most urban dwellers need on a day-to-day basis. If the price/kWh of lithium ion batteries continues falling at it's current rate, we'll see sub $20k ~150 mile range EV's for sale within 5 years.

>People who park on the street have no realistic way to charge their cars at their homes, and all but the newest luxury apartments lack charging stations. Relying on public charging infrastructure is not realistic, and relying on charging at work is unwise -- it will limit your next job opportunity to companies that also have charging stations, unless you are willing to replace your car. Even relying on charging at an apartment is unwise, because it will limit where you can move to.

Not really. I live in a tiny Bay Area apartment and street park my Leaf. Charging has never been a problem. My office has level 2, there's a level 2 across the street from me, and there's two level 3's on the way home if I need a quick top off. Granted we have better infrastructure than most, and I'll admit there's definitely some getting used to how it all works, but I'll never go back to an ICE.

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