Going Electric?

[Dan]

Figured I`d put a poll out there to see people`s thoughts on going electric. Seems China and a few European countries are going to mandate all new cars are electric moving forward.

So the question is really are going excited to go electric, on the sidelines or going to keep your fossil fuel burner till the bitter end?

 

[Angus]

I`d love to have a Tesla Model S for commuting.

 

[Tc99m]

IMHO. It`s hard to compare Europe to the United States on this front. Going all electric just isn`t feasible for a country as big and spread out as the United States. I myself commute 70-75 miles a day just for work. For the United States to go all Electric. There needs to be significant gains in battery longevity and charge times.

But, to answer your question. I don`t care as long as its dependable and vehicle paint shines.

 

[JustJesus]

I was very close to leasing a Honda Fit EV. Would have loved to make that move. Unfortunately, i lost a parking space and couldn`t add an additional car (replacing one wasn`t an option at the time)

 

[Accumulator]

I voted "no" even though I actually *LIKE* the idea of electric vehicles.

That vote has zero to do with them being powered by electricity, and I *assume* they`ll get the range increased to what we need (hundreds of miles, at speed, between nice quick recharges). Rather, it`s that they`ll all be loaded with those "features" that we don`t like/want.

 

[nickclark08]

I work in the oil and gas industry - so I guess I have to vote for the good-ol internal combustion. Texas is a large state, so there are range considerations as well as the fact electricity isn`t always on (Hurricanes, etc.). Being able to just stop at a gas station and fill up in 2-3 minutes beats waiting for a full charge.

Current battery tech is heavily reliant on Lithium Ion for large capacity/High discharge. Mining that stuff (lithium) is pretty destructive in it`s own right (not saying worse or better than oil or any other mining), plus we need to think through what to do with all the batteries once they get used up.

I guess what I am trying to say is there are more considerations to all of this than the single issue of "look how much CO2 (or whatever else) i`m not producing in my car!"

 

[dschribs]

I voted no. Can`t imagine I would ever go electric/hybrid.

Although if someone handed me a BMW i8 I certainly wouldn`t turn it down.

 

[Accumulator]

Huh, just realized that I`m so utterly disinterested in my Carbon Footprint/etc. that I didn`t give *any* thought to resources/pollution/etc.

 

[Dan]

Interesting responses so far. We actually own two cars capable of doing my work commute on electric power only. I started with a `16 Nissan Leaf. I had new car fever and saw they were almost giving them away. A few vists to the dealership on we settled on a price that essentially makes the car free if I keep it long enough (I won`t!, but that was the justification I needed at the time). My wife ridiculed the purchase, not only from a financial sense, the car itself. After a few weeks she suddenly grew very fond of the car. It is now hers. I ended up picking up an `18 Chevy Volt last month. 100% Torque at 0rpm is awesome. The near silent, completely vibration free drivetrain is awesome.

A lot of focus is on battery life as a part of the value equation. Much as it was when I got my first Prius almost 14 years ago. The truth is, the batteries in them, for most will last as long as a gas engine. Like with anything there will be those that smoke an engine or battery before they hit 50k miles and those that will make it 400k. I know I`m not saving money, if that was my goal I`d have a $7995 Nissan Versa. Am I being green? Probably, though marginally, perhaps that Versa is more green, but I`m certainly not as dirty as something else I might fancy.

If you guys haven`t driven one, stop by a Chevy, Tesla or Nissan dealer. Take one for a spin and you`ll see the future is going to be a very cool place.

 

[PRND[S]]

I wouldn`t mind going electric, but widespread adoption in the US is going to lag behind other countries. That`s due not just due to the sheer size, but also due to electricity generation and distribution issues. Generating capacity is maxed out, and the grid barely able to cope with the existing load. During the summer when energy needs are strained by air conditioners running 24/7 here is SoCal, we still have brownouts and occasionally rolling blackouts (it used to be worse, but that was largely Enron`s doing).

Another issue is that it will take a long time for the charging networks to grow and accommodate widespread electric car adoption. At my office we have a parking structure with five levels, each has room for an estimated 200 cars. On each level, there are four charging stations nearest the one elevator bank (because it is already wired for 220V circuits and provide easy vertical access through the concrete structure). So you have up to 1000 cars and 20 charging stations -- not ideal. The situation is made worse by electric car owners who are lazy and just want to park close to the elevators, so they park in the charging station spaces and plug in their cars even though they don`t need charging. Now people who actually need to charge their cars to get home after work can`t do that.

 

[trashmanssd]

I am a curmudgeon you will have to pry my hands of my V8 gas powered vehicles love the freedom and the sound of my V8. I can`t fathom that our electrical infrastructure is even close to ready to handle the increased burden of plugging in all our vehicles every day. Also I am in the snow belt and the idea that when the power goes out I am basically up a creek. Someday will EV`s be a viable option yes I just don`t think we are ready now nor do I think we are ready to open the needed new power plants to supply the needed electricity to power all these vehicles. No one wants a new windmill near there house or solar field never mind a new nuclear plant or "Gasp" coal plant. I think a nice slow roll over to EV will work not silly mandates by the dim whited politicians who pick dates out of thin air. When the tech meets the consumers need people will change over till then change will just cause problems and suffering to the people who own them.

 

[Desertnate]

;2123990`]I wouldn`t mind going electric, but widespread adoption in the US is going to lag behind other countries. That`s due not just due to the sheer size, but also due to electricity generation and distribution issues. Generating capacity is maxed out, and the grid barely able to cope with the existing load. During the summer when energy needs are strained by air conditioners running 24/7 here is SoCal, we still have brownouts and occasionally rolling blackouts (it used to be worse, but that was largely Enron`s doing).

Another issue is that it will take a long time for the charging networks to grow and accommodate widespread electric car adoption. At my office we have a parking structure with five levels, each has room for an estimated 200 cars. On each level, there are four charging stations nearest the one elevator bank (because it is already wired for 220V circuits and provide easy vertical access through the concrete structure). So you have up to 1000 cars and 20 charging stations -- not ideal. The situation is made worse by electric car owners who are lazy and just want to park close to the elevators, so they park in the charging station spaces and plug in their cars even though they don`t need charging. Now people who actually need to charge their cars to get home after work can`t do that.

So very true. Totally agree. I read an article recently stating the UK was headed for disaster with its "all electric" policy for the future. Apparently, their electric grid is already maxed out and any expansion to meet the demand electric cars will add should have already started to meet that deadline. At this point they don`t even have plans.

While I wouldn`t mind driving an electric car, I see three big problems based on my life/location:

1) Infrastructure - There are NO charging points in my area in public places. They are all on private property and reserved for people using those facilities. Even then I can only think of 8~9 total spots. Even making a short daytime road trip with my family, I could easily go beyond the reach of even a Tesla and not be able to get home due to a complete lack of charging stations.

2) Charging times - Tesla`s aren`t bad when on a Supercharger, but other cars take significant amounts of time to charge. Based on the issue mentioned above, my only option would be to charge at home which, depending on the car, will still take 8+ hours on a special 220v charger and silly amounts of time on 110v.

3) Variety of vehicles - Again, excluding Tesla which is outside my reach, I don`t think there is a hybrid or electic car being sold that is actually fun to drive. They all seem to be some quirky, economy minded penalty box on wheels. I view life as being too short to drive a boring car. When fun hybrids are available on the market for the common person, I might reconsider.

 

[Lonnie]

What REALLY gets me that electrical energy needed to power these cars in not exactly "green" when you factor in CO2 emissions from coal and natural gas- powered electrical generator plants. Now, if 50% of our electrical power came from green sources, such as hydroelectric, solar, or windmill, that might change, BUT do you realize how much electrical power would be required IF 75% of car now on the road were pure electrical (NOT hybrid plug-ins). Don`t even go there!!
We would need a MASSIVE re-structuring of our current (no pun intended) electrical distribution grid. Not to mention the strain it would put on materials needed to manufacture ANY electrical storage devise, whether batteries or some technology not even invented yet for these vehicles.
Can it be done? Yes, it probably will in time. I say that because once flying like a bird was thought improbable. Or space travel to the moon was once science fiction. Even the comic strip/book Dick Tracy once was depicted with a walky-talky wrist watch. Today all these are commonplace and take them for granted as a way of life..

I would be more concerned about autonomous driven vehicles and artificial intelligence (AI). (Although we`ve maintained that "artificial intelligence" has been in existence for many decades: its called supervisory management!)

 

[RaskyR1]

I voted sitting on the sideline for now. It`s hard to weed through the BS out there, one side says batteries are better for the environment and the other says fossil fuels are when you factory everything in. I`m open to other cleaner fuel alternatives too, like hydrogen. I do really like Tesla though and having driven a MS100D at length now I can say the instant torque is very addicting. When I wired up my new garage I did try and future proof it by adding in (3) 50 amp outlets for EV charging so who knows...

 

[TheMeanGreen]

I’m not for going all electric, the basic design of the ICE has been around for over a century, it’s time to keep improving upon it and making it more efficient. Per dollar, fossil fuels literally provide the most bang for the buck (energy per volume), the bang for the buck process must be made more efficient. Ex: more hybrid tech, improving aero on anything bigger than a sedan, and last but not least, let’s make the Free-Valve system viable.

 

[DBAILEY]

Controlling the pollution emission at the power plant generating the power to charge these vehicles is easier and more effective than trying to do it on every gas powered vehicle. Europe is way ahead of us as usual.

 

[PRND[S]]

I’m not for going all electric, the basic design of the ICE has been around for over a century, it’s time to keep improving upon it and making it more efficient.

You realize that electric motors pre-date the internal combustion engine, right? They have been around for nearly two centuries.

 

[mobiledynamics]

No for now..

Sidenote story. I had a a few hrs of time avail one weekend, so I ran #3 wire off the subpanel, disconnect, etc - all in lieu of prep as I had the notion of adding a EVSE to my fleet.

Test drove one and whitin the 1st couple of min, I already knew it was not my cup of tea.
Was it fast, yes.
But it was lacking soul.....:wub:

 

[TheMeanGreen]

;2124008`]You realize that electric motors pre-date the internal combustion engine, right? They have been around for nearly two centuries.

I realize it very much, thanks for checking

 

[LEDetailng]

I voted sitting on the sideline for now. It`s hard to weed through the BS out there, one side says batteries are better for the environment and the other says fossil fuels are when you factory everything in. I`m open to other cleaner fuel alternatives too, like hydrogen. I do really like Tesla though and having driven a MS100D at length now I can say the instant torque is very addicting. When I wired up my new garage I did try and future proof it by adding in (3) 50 amp outlets for EV charging so who knows...

How about a helipad for the autonomous passenger drones