What are your thoughts on EV or Hybrid cars?

[rdshear]

I see a lot of animosity on this and other boards I frequent regarding EV or Hybrid cars Vs. ICE cars.  I'm curious why this is.  Is it because people see Big Gov pushing toward EV when obviously the grid is not anywhere near ready for this kind of load?  Is it because of the perception that EV/Hybrid owners are a bunch of tree huggers who are too stupid to realize their car likely has as big of or larger carbon footprint than it's ICE equivalent? Or do you have no problem with them, you just don't want them to try to tell you what type of car to drive?

I am a hybrid owner. I've owned hybrids since 2015. I own my current hybrid because it was barely more expensive than it's Ice version and gets about 10MPG better.  It also has more HP than the ICE version.  I like it and likely won't go back to a gas only vehicle.  I would consider an EV but only if I had a second car that was hybrid or gas for trips.

I don't care what kind of cars people drive, I see that as their choice and preference.  I don't understand the level of vitriol against EV/Hybrid vehicles. 

What are your thoughts or reasoning?

[YoDoug]

We have an older Prius that my kids drive. It has been incredibly reliable and stills gets 45+ MPG with 260,000 miles on it. I am a fan of Hybrids. I seriously looked at the F150 powerboost when I bought my truck but I didn't want to spend that much.

As far as the EV versus Hybrid, I don't get why our gov is so hell bent on EV. All the major Japanese/Korean car makers are really trending towards hybrids. the plug in hybrids seem to be the most logical to me. The average annual mileage in America is about 15,000 or 42 miles per day. Most plug in hybrids can go 30-45 miles on battery alone and they only take 10-12 hours to charge on a regular 15A wall outlet. I have a 26 mile round trip drive to work. In that scenario on weekdays I would only use the gas engine if went somewhere after work. To me it just shows that the Dems are not really interested in compromise or realistic solutions but rather extreme ideals and kickbacks/rewards to their loyal corp lemmings.

[Bruce Caulley]

Ignoring the "politics" of EV's, I think they're brilliant.  I've driven a friend's Tesla and would definitely consider one of my own.  It's a totally different driving experience.  Not sure how to define it, but I don't feel like I'm "driving" it, more like "piloting".

Cheers
Bruce

[Smit]

As you mentioned, it seems the infrastructure isn't ready for cross country driving yet.

I've personally never driven one but a guy who bought a new Tesla was telling me not to try it until I was ready to buy because they are a real pleasure to drive. Very responsive and quick. Quiet. Low maintenance because no oil and fewer moving parts.

I'd consider one for a daily commuter, 20 miles each way to and from work. But the infrastructure will have to get better before I'd go full EV.

[gcode]

An EV would work well for my or my wife as our commute easily fits into the range limits of the current generation of EV vehicles
I would never buy one though because the electrical grid in Cali cannot support current demand and the idiots who
run this state are demolishing what's left of it in their never ending jihad against fossil fuels

I think the animosity is driven by the mass's resistance to the sneering condensation we receive from the liberal elite. The list of things they are trying to stuff down our throats is endless and EV's are just one more item on the list

I've got to laugh though.
Elon's purchase of Twitter has shaken things up
Last week some idiot actress announced she had traded in her Tesla for a VW EV because she was appalled by all the free speech Elon was infecting Twitter with
Apparently she was unaware of the fact that VW was the creation of Adolph Hitler, Nazi Germany and slave labor 
 
 

[Leehound]

If you look at just the drive train (if you can call it that) of an EV, it's definitely superior to an ICE vehicle. There is just no maintenance to an electric motor, and they have the potential for a much higher lifespan. Not sure the average lifespan of the battery pack. But the anecdotal info I've read 200 to 300K should be expected.

As with any new technology an EV is still out of reach of your average consumer, just too expensive. But over time this will change.

No matter your attitude towards EV's, they are the future. There is just no getting around that. Can the infrastructure develop as fast as the EV market? That's the unknown. 

[RobertELee]

EVs are great in the right place. Middle of the city awesome, taxi cabs excellent, autonomous vehicles hell yes, on a farm or 200 miles from the nearest power station fuck no.  When the Ford lightning only gets 85 miles towing a small camper there is a huge hangup. I frequently tow my boat 250+ miles fish for the day and drive home. Stopping every 85 miles for an hour to charge is a nogo. They have a place, just not in my garage.

And to claim EVs are better for the environment is a joke. You're just transferring pollution.

And I agree with Doug, hybrids are excellent.

[RobertELee]

Can the infrastructure develop as fast as the EV market? That's the unknown. 

Not if you have the greenies pulling the strings.

We need a much higher percentage nuclear, but too many people are scared of that word.

[JParis]

a passing fad that lacks the infrastructure, currently lacks the sustainability and it simply cannot be fully implemented....

Like any battery, they have a lifespan, replacement is north of $20 in many cases....

So many reasons not to

[rdshear]

As with any new technology an EV is still out of reach of your average consumer, just too expensive. But over time this will change.

I wouldn't say they're totally out of reach, a base model Nissan Leaf EV MSRP is $28,040.  A bit pricy for a first new car, but not completely out of the question.

[gcode]

I've read that the tires on EV are much different, more expensive and have a lower life span that regular tires
due to the extra weight of EV cars and the massive torque EV's output

Also.. battery tech will have to improve drastically. There is not enough lithium on the plant to replace fossil fuel vehicles with EV's... and mining and producing lithium batteries produces far more carbon that the production and use
of gas powered vehicles. The left ignores that fact because all that pollution production is out of sight/out of mind

[Smit]

My friend said his Tesla cost around $50K. More than I'd spend on a car but certainly not crazy high compared to other high end cars.

[gcode]

I'm wondering how badly Tesla sales will be affected now that the left is hating on Elon for
allowing free speech on Twitter.

[YoDoug]

I'm wondering how badly Tesla sales will be affected now that the left is hating on Elon for
allowing free speech on Twitter.

The decline in sales to Liberals will probably be offset by the increase in sales to Conservatives that want to support the free speech savior.

[Jim at Gentex]