EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted • Hacker News Board

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#251

Post by paganel » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 5:49 AM UTC

Loading our power infrastructure with the needs of tens of millions of cars which now rely on gasoline/diesel but which, in the future, will need electric power in order to function is downright criminal in this current geo-political climate.

First, we don't even have the resources to provide electric power at decent prices as things are right now, that's why your nice 70-year lady living with her 2 cats in a house in Cornwall or something like that will see her power invoice multiply by a factor of 3 or 4 at least, thinking that bringing in even more demand for power will improve things when it comes to price is, I repeat, criminal (that old lady presumably needs power in order to heat herself during the winter, making that power exponentially more expensive won't help with that).

Second, we don't have the infrastructure. Maybe if we'll invest trillions of dollars and euros we'll be able to connect the new nuclear plants and solar farms to the main grid and transport the new extra power between big population centers, but at the "last mile" stage things are awful, for example I'm 99% sure my apartments building cannot handle one in two apartments (let's say) charging their cars at night, especially during the summer, the thing will just catch fire.

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#252

Post by Arainach » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 5:49 AM UTC

endisneigh wrote: post #150

hattmall wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is an enclosed bicycle?? Maybe you could use a golf cart. You could get pretty close to 30 MPH and 60 Miles travel time for under $2k.

A golf cart has to travel on the same roads as a car, except it's slower and less safe. No advantage really.

Anything travelling 30mph has to travel on the roads. Class 3 ebike owners who ride on shared use trails are a menace and a serious threat - to pedestrians, to other cyclists, and to any goodwill cycling has in the community.

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#253

Post by alisonatwork » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 5:54 AM UTC

anon291 wrote: post #238

sandworm101 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just completed a ~1600km drive back from visiting family. Half way through the outbound trip, in the middle of the mountains, I had to make a 300km detour due to a massive accident (two semi trucks head-on closed a mountain highway for more than a day). The detour was through a valley with no cellphone coverage for 150+km. At a rest stop I met a tesla driver in a panic. Without internet he was unable to figure out…

Europeans don't understand how sparse and unpopulated the United States is . Even if they visit they visit the densely populated areas not realizing that most Americans regularly drive across areas where you may not see anyone for miles around. It's not that uncommon an occurrence. Most Americans will do something like this a few times a year. Many do it daily... Canadians too

To be fair, I'd wager that the vast majority of Americans live, work and travel within 100km of a gas station at all times. That number could be pushed even higher if you include distance from any ordinary electrical power outlet that could theoretically be used to charge an EV. It's true that parts of the Canada and the US are very sparsely populated, but EV adoption could happen (and is happening) across much of the region anyway because realistically it's still only a few people who regularly spend their lives hours away from any kind of service whatsoever.

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#254

Post by jjav » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 5:59 AM UTC

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #175

sandworm101 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just completed a ~1600km drive back from visiting family. Half way through the outbound trip, in the middle of the mountains, I had to make a 300km detour due to a massive accident (two semi trucks head-on closed a mountain highway for more than a day). The detour was through a valley with no cellphone coverage for 150+km. At a rest stop I met a tesla driver in a panic. Without internet he was unable to figure out…

I've been in situations in an ICE where I've been diverted and had no clue where the next gas station would be (not really uncommon in Nevada or California). Heck, I've been on an actual interstate through Kansas in the middle of the night and...I had trouble finding an open gas station for our car (bad planning on my part, I thought 40 miles of range was surely enough to find the next one, I never saw gas stations c…

> no clue where the next gas station would be (not really uncommon in Nevada or California)

When on longer road trips I always carry a portable tank of spare fuel just in case. Sure, I rarely need it, but it's been handy a few times.

This is out of California and nearby states where long stretches of emptiness are a regular occurrence. Back when I lived on the east coast I never did this as the population density is much higher.

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#255

Post by jeofken » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 6:03 AM UTC

reaperducer wrote: post #194

therealrootuser wrote: post #187

As someone that is currently in the market for a new car, I would love to get an EV, but I also don't have a good way to charge. Seems like most EV owners just charge at their house, but what about people that don't have access to a good power tap? (apartment dwellers, renters, etc.) Sometimes it feels like there is a group of EV elites out there that are predicting the complete demise of ICEs while conveniently down…

what about people that don't have access to a good power tap? (apartment dwellers, renters, etc.) I've lived in two apartment buildings that had electric car chargers. In both buildings, the chargers were constantly engaged. Hopefully some of that electric infrastructure money ends up putting chargers in private and public parking garages. I think that would give people more confidence that they could switch. Related…

A Tesla Model 3 loses around 1% charge per day idle

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#256

Post by Hamuko » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 6:04 AM UTC

caycep wrote: post #243

endisneigh wrote: post #74

I love EVs. That being said I wish someone would make an enclosed bicycle/motorcycle that costs less than $2000. Something like that which can go 30mph and had space for 2 days of groceries would be enough for me to eliminate my car all together. I'm cobbling something similar now with a Class 3 cargo ebike, but rain sucks =/ The idealist in me says that electric ebikes could eliminate most of Americas problems in on…

that being said, I'm wondering why companies don't double down on the BMW i3 model vs. the tesla X/Y/big SUV model? The i3 is 3000 lbs or less, and when it was discontinued, it had a bigger battery pack, and plenty of range and room for a family. In my mind, it's ideal...and it wasn't like there wasn't a market for it, as demand apparently was growing right up until end of production I otherwise agree that American c…

>The i3 is 3000 lbs or less, and when it was discontinued, it had a bigger battery pack

Wikipedia says that the i3 had at best a 42 kWh battery pack. The smallest battery that Tesla will ship you inside a car these days is 60 kWh (Model 3 Standard Range).

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#257

Post by nharada » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 6:05 AM UTC

paganel wrote: post #251

Loading our power infrastructure with the needs of tens of millions of cars which now rely on gasoline/diesel but which, in the future, will need electric power in order to function is downright criminal in this current geo-political climate. First, we don't even have the resources to provide electric power at decent prices as things are right now, that's why your nice 70-year lady living with her 2 cats in a house i…

Well the only alternative is “stop using cars” which I don’t see America agreeing to. I think we’ll have to pay.

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#258

Post by wenc » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 6:05 AM UTC

endisneigh wrote: post #74

I love EVs. That being said I wish someone would make an enclosed bicycle/motorcycle that costs less than $2000. Something like that which can go 30mph and had space for 2 days of groceries would be enough for me to eliminate my car all together. I'm cobbling something similar now with a Class 3 cargo ebike, but rain sucks =/ The idealist in me says that electric ebikes could eliminate most of Americas problems in on…

There's this but it's $9995 and 20mph.

https://veemo.ca/

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#259

Post by Gibbon1 » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 6:07 AM UTC

alisonatwork wrote: post #253

anon291 wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Europeans don't understand how sparse and unpopulated the United States is . Even if they visit they visit the densely populated areas not realizing that most Americans regularly drive across areas where you may not see anyone for miles around. It's not that uncommon an occurrence. Most Americans will do something like this a few times a year. Many do it daily... Canadians too

To be fair, I'd wager that the vast majority of Americans live, work and travel within 100km of a gas station at all times. That number could be pushed even higher if you include distance from any ordinary electrical power outlet that could theoretically be used to charge an EV. It's true that parts of the Canada and the US are very sparsely populated, but EV adoption could happen (and is happening) across much of th…

Friend of mine lives in a small town. There is a gas station. The guy that runs it is an asshole and it's expensive either way. The cheap gas station is 75 miles away in town with the grocery and big box stores. When you consider the whole cycle of gas up in town. Drive home, hope you have enough gas next week to get back to town. An EV would be less hassle and stress.

Re: EV adoption in US is happening faster than predicted

#260

Post by chroma » Mon, Sep 05, 2022, 6:13 AM UTC

endisneigh wrote: post #74

I love EVs. That being said I wish someone would make an enclosed bicycle/motorcycle that costs less than $2000. Something like that which can go 30mph and had space for 2 days of groceries would be enough for me to eliminate my car all together. I'm cobbling something similar now with a Class 3 cargo ebike, but rain sucks =/ The idealist in me says that electric ebikes could eliminate most of Americas problems in on…

> EVs are much heavier than their equivalent ICE vehicles.

This is not true. The Tesla Model 3 is the same weight as a BMW 3 series (~3,600-4,100lbs depending on trim level). Yes EVs carry a half ton of batteries, but they get rid of the engine block, transmission, starter motor, fuel tank, alternator, exhaust system, and many other parts. Also many combustion vehicles made today are hybrids, meaning they also carry batteries and large electric motors (though not as large as a pure EV).