EVs - The Corporate Gift That Keeps On Giving

[Debrah N.]

That doesn’t “mean” anything, except that I am not ready to make such a drastic change and take on new expenses. I have heard very little good about EV vehicles, with the exception of cleaner air. Sooner or later, the batteries are going to start piling up, yet I haven’t read of a suitable way to rid ourselves of the millions that will someday be happening. How will they dispose of them?

Just like with tires, we need to find a clean way of destroying or recycling them. ...........................

Aren’t you glad you asked the question? Sometimes, there is just no simple answer to a question, but I appreciate your inquisitiveness. It shows you are a thinker and not a complainer. Some may complain or worse, like make comments that make it personal while others think about the alternative. You obviously are a thinker.

I think that we've come to the point as a society where waste is something we're finally conscious of. Volvo is developing EV batteries that they can recycle and reuse the copper, nickel, lithium and other parts. Mercedes Benz has partnered with a Vancouver based company to reuse their partially spent batteries in residential and industrial storage situations. This year, Nissan began powering street lights and a stadium in the Netherlands with their customers old batteries, a project which General Motors also turned to back in 2015 in their data centre. (I can provide links if anyone is interested).

A Swedish company called Northvalt is in the process of building a battery recycling plant while Tesla has built a plant in Nevada where batteries of old Tesla's will be disassembled and the components reused in new batteries.

As time goes by, the whole process will become even more streamlined, but the important point is, it's not being ignored. And let's not forget, gas burners also used all kinds of natural resources that must be processed and then eventually discarded/recycled. So it's not like EV's are some new product that suddenly presents us with a new problem. It's the same old problem with a different energy source. Nothing more. The benefit of them is that along the way, while we're using them, they aren't burning a product that poisons the environment.

Yes, during production, an EV has a larger carbon footprint, but by the time it's been on the road for 18 months, it's made up for that and is running with lower to no emissions depending on the source of electricity. Even cars that are running in cities where the electricity is produced by coal, are only creating half the emissions that a gas burner is. It's important too, to remember that a gas burner's emissions start long before you put your keys in the ignition. They start in the oil fields, in the processing plants, in the tanker trucks that deliver the gas to the gas station.

With roughly 282 million personal vehicles on the road in just the USA, our driving habits are significant to the problem of climate change. And that's why I asked, because our magnificent, beautiful, delicately balanced world needs humanity to change how we do the things we want to do.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

A friend of mine has owned a hybrid for years. Just this weekend, we were talking about hybrids vs. EVs. She mentioned a couple of reasons why should wouldn't want an EV. First of all, it may not be easy to find charging stations when on the road, so long trips are not recommended. I think there will be more charging stations available now though. Also, it takes a while to fully charge the batteries. She said to replace the battery in her hybrid would cost $20,000 but maybe the newer EV batteries wouldn't be as costly. My friend feels it would be a mistake for EVs to be mandated and regular gas consuming cars be phased out.

 

[davey]

my son has been obsessively studying cars for years and years and still has new petrol driven small car and still swears by them as superior to EV's?? I suppose I could get and swift assessment from him maybe?

 

[Debrah N.]

A friend of mine has owned a hybrid for years. Just this weekend, we were talking about hybrids vs. EVs. She mentioned a couple of reasons why should wouldn't want an EV. First of all, it may not be easy to find charging stations when on the road, so long trips are not recommended. I think there will be more charging stations available now though. Also, it takes a while to fully charge the batteries. She said to replace the battery in her hybrid would cost $20,000 but maybe the newer EV batteries wouldn't be as costly. My friend feels it would be a mistake for EVs to be mandated and regular gas consuming cars be phased out.

I think when people are thinking thoughts like your friend, they are forgetting the main reason for the change. That the oil/gas that's being burned is toxic and killing our environment. If we don't do the transition, just blow it off, future generations will be living in an ecological nightmare. Melted glaciers, oceans raised up to 200 feet higher than they are now, heat waves so extreme that people are forced to leave their homes because food no longer grows in their regions, more fires, less water, worse storms, etc.

Last year we decided to drive our EV from Calgary, Alberta to the coast, to Vancouver. We have a couple apps that tell us exactly where the chargers are along the way and had no trouble locating them even in Pincher Creek, Alberta (population 3600). It should also be noted that the USA installs about 53,000 public chargers annually at this point which far surpasses Canada. And every year, batteries are being developed that charge faster and faster. Just for example, at this point, a Tesla can be charged to get another 200 miles in 20 minutes. So that would be enough time to go use the bathroom and get a quick snack while you're on a road trip, walk the dog so he pees and then back on the road.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I think when people are thinking thoughts like your friend, they are forgetting the main reason for the change. That the oil/gas that's being burned is toxic and killing our environment. If we don't do the transition, just blow it off, future generations will be living in an ecological nightmare. Melted glaciers, oceans raised up to 200 feet higher than they are now, heat waves so extreme that people are forced to leave their homes because food no longer grows in their regions, more fires, less water, worse storms, etc.

Last year we decided to drive our EV from Calgary, Alberta to the coast, to Vancouver. We have a couple apps that tell us exactly where the chargers are along the way and had no trouble locating them even in Pincher Creek, Alberta (population 3600). It should also be noted that the USA installs about 53,000 public chargers annually at this point which far surpasses Canada. And every year, batteries are being developed that charge faster and faster. Just for example, at this point, a Tesla can be charged to get another 200 miles in 20 minutes. So that would be enough time to go use the bathroom and get a quick snack while you're on a road trip, walk the dog so he pees and then back on the road.

My friend doesn't believe in climate change and our ability to affect the environmental issues you mention Debrah.

 

[papa tiger]

Passing till my F150 can reach approximately 500 miles to a Quick Charge of about 350 miles after a 2 hour wait at a Fast charge area of
a long line of others wanting to continue their vehicles, most likely wanting a full charge and walking and waiting and the Temps of most likely very hot or very cold winds about the back of my neck. How dumb could I have been?

Odds are Gestapo states will also put down control laws on where/ distances one can travel from their home. It only make sense.
Do a Video get together, yep that's what they said.

 

[dilettante]

I replaced a hybrid battery, it was like $3000 for a new one and Honda paid half. EV batteries are FAR more expensive.

 

[Manatee]

My 2012 convertible has only 41000 miles on it. I have no plans to ever replace it.

 

[Paladin1950]

If I was younger, an electric vehicle would probably be in my future. But at my age, I'm perfectly content at driving gas powered cars. Besides there are way too many questions about EVs. Batteries in gas powered cars are way cheaper. There are no charging stations around here. Do you need to make an appointment to charge your battery? Is there a long waiting line? How long does the process take? Will a charge cost more than filling your tank up with gas?

 

[papa tiger]

One Lightning owner I know had a bad 7th battery module, one failed cell in it. 3 weeks later warranty repaired the battery. The Labor
bill alone would have been over $3000. One poor cell in a module kept the battery from recharging completely, always below 10% charge.
Owner was given a gas F150 to drive while. The EV battery is the addition of Cell Modules in a protective case. Replaceable. Wonder what 15 years down the road and Northern Corrosion will be like ? Right! Recycled Corroded Corrosion. Where do we put all the gallons of Acids / Commercial Corrosion removers.

Sure, think it through. Way to stop icy build up on roads thus removing the Salt Brine / Slush, snow-ice mix. Less rain / snow fall / heated highways. It's a Conundrums.

Wait, I got it, "A completely sealed, Snail like EV vehicle." U no, a Beetle ! What must those ancients 1000's of years ago thought as their
Ice melted back up to the North, 100's of feet a year. Did they God Worship the Sun?

In summary, sun worship reflects humanity’s reverence for the life-giving and powerful qualities associated with the sun. Whether in ancient Egypt, Indo-European cultures, or religious texts, the sun’s significance remains profound. In my youth hot was good, cold bad. Didn't own an air-conditioned car until 1984. Central'd AC'd my home in 87. Yep 40's and changed my world. 75 during the summer, 72 during the winter.
Whole house fan on at night when temp is cooler than 75. Ahh fresh air is so great!

I think Seriously about a F150 Hybrid. Why won't Ford put the Hybrid transmission with the 2.7L ? I don't need world class towing to pull my fishing bass boat about 2 miles to my Lake. I could get 30 mpg with it. Wouldn't start the motor till I hitched up the boat trailer. Ford could
most likely sell 400,000 of them a year? Why all the $$$'s lost on bad ideas. Then they go and build a Maverick Hybrid ? Boats bigger!
Can't imagine what experiencing trailer whip on the I-Way could be like in one! Right, Cars have Rack Carriers atop them.

 

[chic]

I drove a hybrid for just shy of 16 years until a nighttime deer collision totaled it as an older car. It was great even considering battery pack replacement (far cheaper than for a PHEV or EV).

EV trucksters around here can be heard by their grinding bearings. At night they can wake you far easier than a conventional gasoline car.

OMG and there are so many beautiful adult deer where I live. I have no plans for an EV but I think this is a future they will try to force on us sooner than later.

 

[Debrah N.]

My friend doesn't believe in climate change and our ability to affect the environmental issues you mention Debrah.

Well then your friend hasn't done any reading on the issue. And your friend isn't alone on that and yet they have the very strong opinions that are put out there by the O&G industry. Just like when the cigarette companies insisted that their product wasn't causing cancer. And people continued smoking......until they got lung cancer.

 

[aei]

EVs are not the panacea for our environment as believed previously.

 

[Debrah N.]

If I was younger, an electric vehicle would probably be in my future. But at my age, I'm perfectly content at driving gas powered cars. Besides there are way too many questions about EVs. Batteries in gas powered cars are way cheaper. There are no charging stations around here. Do you need to make an appointment to charge your battery? Is there a long waiting line? How long does the process take? Will a charge cost more than filling your tank up with gas?

A charge at a public charger will still cost less than filling it up with gas. We pay more in Canada for gas and for electricity and when we used public chargers on our holiday last year, it was 1/3 the cost of a gas fill up. And at home, even cheaper.

And in the places along the way, we didn't run into a single line up. When we'd let the car get down really low and the charge was going to take 45 minutes (our car is a slow charger), we used that time to walk the dog, have a coffee or investigate little towns that we'd never been too or we went in to buy some groceries while it charged. Since most of an EV owner's charging is done at home, it's rare for most people that there are any charging issues.

I once read a woman's comment where she spent $300 a month for her gas car for a commute to work every day. When she switched to an EV, her cost dropped to (an additional) $25 per month to charge her car. As well, we don't pay for oil changes, air filters, hardly ever have to do the brakes because EV's use regenerative braking to slow to a stop.

 

[Debrah N.]

EVs are not the panacea for our environment as believed previously.

What are you basing that on? They are a part of it if you want humanity to have a hope of continuing 'life as we know it'.

 

[aei]

What are you basing that on?

Keeping current on EVs and reading all technological and press articles about EVs (with no preference to IC, hybrid, or EV vehicles.) As the fog clears with hardcore experience in a decade or so, we'll see how it goes?

 

[papa tiger]

A million EV fast Charging Stations = New York Muggings?
Homeless shelters near by? Constant Panhandling. You got
the right to aimlessly wonder around while an EV is charging?
They got the right too! Chaos to the locality? Park in the MT
Edges of a Wally World lot and Eat a Jimmy Johns, you have 6 -
10 guys pull up and sit there for a bit and then they will move on.
______________________________________________
It seems obvious Mini Mart fast charging stations by the millions ?

1920's repeats just new ideas.

 

[Trade]

The Climate change deniers are going to continue to deny until their position becomes untenable because their own lives and livlihoods are threatened. Then they will turn around blame it on the environmentalists.

 

[Debrah N.]

A million EV fast Charging Stations = New York Muggings?
Homeless shelters near by? Constant Panhandling. You got
the right to aimlessly wonder around while an EV is charging?
They got the right too! Chaos to the locality? Park in the MT
Edges of a Wally World lot and Eat a Jimmy Johns, you have 6 -
10 guys pull up and sit there for a bit and then they will move on.
______________________________________________
It seems obvious Mini Mart fast charging stations by the millions ?

In another lifetime, you were the guy standing there beside Henry Ford as he demonstrated his new automobile, stalk of hay in your mouth, hand on your wagon pulling horses bridle, and going on and on endlessly about how 'nobody is going to want one of them noisy, stinking automobiles!'

 

[Debrah N.]

Keeping current on EVs and reading all technological and press articles about EVs (with no preference to IC, hybrid, or EV vehicles.) As the fog clears with hardcore experience in a decade or so, we'll see how it goes?

Seems like you must have quit reading then, a while ago.