Anybody else driving an electric car?

[That Guy]

 

[JustBonee]

The fun (and savings) of anything is always ruined sooner or later isn't it?

I read the government is concerned about the lost tax revenue on electric cars. They are going to come up with a tax you will pay for using public roads. Some states already have something in the works.

 

[SifuPhil]

The fun (and savings) of anything is always ruined sooner or later isn't it?

I read the government is concerned about the lost tax revenue on electric cars. They are going to come up with a tax you will pay for using public roads. Some states already have something in the works.

I'm not surprised. There's a true story about how GM, Firestone, Goodyear and a group of other oil-related companies got together and created a "shell" company. They then used that company to buy up all of the small street-car companies across the country and, once in possession of those companies, promptly ripped up the tracks and destroyed all the street-cars so that people would be forced to purchase automobiles.

I might be wrong, but aren't the taxes and fees levied on truckers also related to the upkeep of public roads? Isn't that why they have weigh-stations?

 

[JustBonee]

weigh-stations? Do they use them much anymore? Not that I spend that much time on interstate roads, but every time I've ever been past one, around the southern part of the country, they seem deserted and empty.
Maybe it's because more funds are spent at the borders??

 

[Anne]

Hadn't heard that about the streetcars, but, yes, the truckers fees do go for road upkeep, etc. weigh stations are to make sure they're not overloaded for safety reasons, mostly.

thing is, a lot of the trucks from Mexico aren't checked like they should be, and some are very unsafe these days....scary. They don't have the same regulations there, that we do in the states.

 

[SifuPhil]

weigh-stations? Do they use them much anymore? Not that I spend that much time on interstate roads, but every time I've ever been past one, around the southern part of the country, they seem deserted and empty.
Maybe it's because more funds are spent at the borders??

Well, I just got back from traveling the length of Rt. 80 through Pennsylvania and part of Ohio, and although many of the stations were closed there were still several open, so I guess they're still being used.

Hadn't heard that about the streetcars, but, yes, the truckers fees do go for road upkeep, etc. weigh stations are to make sure they're not overloaded for safety reasons, mostly.

thing is, a lot of the trucks from Mexico aren't checked like they should be, and some are very unsafe these days....scary. They don't have the same regulations there, that we do in the states.

Ah, the safety thing makes sense. I thought there was some connection in their thinking between how heavy a truck was and how much damage it does to the roads.

Trucks from Mexico ... yes, I suppose a tanker filled with 100 immigrants could be considered "unsafe" ...

 

[Anne]

Ah, the safety thing makes sense. I thought there was some connection in their thinking between how heavy a truck was and how much damage it does to the roads.

Trucks from Mexico ... yes, I suppose a tanker filled with 100 immigrants could be considered "unsafe" ...

I'm sure the road damage is part of it, too....especially in Spring when there are load limits as the frost is coming out. LOL, on the immigrants; no doubt that might be a problem, too. But mostly, Mexico doesn't have the safety regs in place like we do, and sometimes are not thoroughly checked at the border, or at weigh stations.
NAFTA didn't help all that, and I have to wonder how many are paid off, to let the trucks go through. It happens.

 

[SifuPhil]

I'm sure the road damage is part of it, too....especially in Spring when there are load limits as the frost is coming out. LOL, on the immigrants; no doubt that might be a problem, too. But mostly, Mexico doesn't have the safety regs in place like we do, and sometimes are not thoroughly checked at the border, or at weigh stations.
NAFTA didn't help all that, and I have to wonder how many are paid off, to let the trucks go through. It happens.

I think NAFTA is one of those paper tigers we hear so much about ...

At one time, perhaps 20 years or so ago, I had considered moving to Mexico mainly because of the natural beauty and the cheaper cost of living, but since then the cost has spiraled upward, the natural beauty is being destroyed and the drug wars are quite scary.

 

[Happyflowerlady]

I think the weigh stations are mainly to make sure the vehicle is not overloaded, and sometimes to check on the load being hauled.
I remember hauling horses across Washington State, and we had to stop at all the weigh stations, just like the trucks did. They didn't really worry that we were overloaded, but we had to show the health certificates for the horses each time we stopped.
And when we moved out to Alabama from Idaho, we came out in a motorhome, and we also had to stop at the weight stations along the way if they were open, and it wasn't because we had to pay taxes, like the truckers do. Maybe , with the big trucks though, where they do have to pay a road tax, it is part of the reason that they have to stop at the weigh stations.

 

[R. Zimm]

With all the rain in South Florida lately it makes me think that any electric vehicle would be a bad idea. A hybrid would get through ok but I don't think the all electrics like much standing water.

 

[That Guy]