Another reason not to own a EV

[rad32]

So I almost traded in my Wrangler 4xe for a Mache but decided on my Maverick last second. The biggest thing with EVs is cost to me. What you are getting is a perfect commuter car but what you are paying for is premium luxury suv prices. Take my example, for $10k more I would have gotten a vehicle that only made sense for my commute to work. Sure I would have love a sub 5 0-60 but I couldn’t even fit my son’s stroller in the trunk. Whereas the maverick has the same interior space plus a bed. And sure charging is half the cost of equivalent gas (we also have a Tucson PHEV) but it will take years for that to add up. So it was a no brainer for my situation. Whoever figures out a $25,000-$35,000 ev with 300 plus miles will sell loads. But if all we are going to get are $40,000 -$80,000 evs the market won’t take off.

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[DrFaustus]

I'm waiting for the 2025 RamCharger.

 

[bbhaag]

So I almost traded in my Wrangler 4xe for a Mache but decided on my Maverick last second. The biggest thing with EVs is cost to me. What you are getting is a perfect commuter car but what you are paying for is premium luxury suv prices. Take my example, for $10k more I would have gotten a vehicle that only made sense for my commute to work. Sure I would have love a sub 5 0-60 but I couldn’t even fit my son’s stroller in the trunk. Whereas the maverick has the same interior space plus a bed. And sure charging is half the cost of equivalent gas (we also have a Tucson PHEV) but it will take years for that to add up. So it was a no brainer for my situation. Whoever figures out a $25,000-$35,000 ev with 300 plus miles will sell loads. But if all we are going to get are $40,000 -$80,000 evs the market won’t take off.

Really? Show me a "premium luxury brand" CUV for $40K and so help me god do not link me to a Kia or Hyundai.

I've got a combined 20K+ miles(32K km)on both vehicles you are talking about the rest of your post is not very accurate either.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Obviously it's not as easy as that, or it wouldn't have sat in a ditch for months. I never said or told somebody not to buy an EV. Please show me what you are referring to.

I don't know about Norway but Europe has a different electrical grid. I believe it's 220 or 240 they don't usually wire a house or apartment with 120 as we do. They also have higher amps. Majority of Europe also use electric on demand hot water heaters. Not so in the US up here if they do it's usually gas. Matter of fact Home Depot up here won't stock the electric hot water heater, if you want it you have to order it.

Just trying to describe differences.

For clarity:

1. Most houses in the US are wired at 240VAC and it is split at the panel to 120. Electric dryers and ranges run at 240. Level 2 EV charging (i.e. full charge in 8ish hours) is the most common install for home use and runs at 240. There are other differences between North American and European power grids, but nothing relevant to this discussion.

2. What you’re describing about water heaters is completely anecdotal and regional. My entire suburban neighborhood was built out in the late 1980’s with electric water heaters. When I replaced mine several years ago, I bought a new GE electric model off the Home Depot shelf and brought it home same-day.

I have never assumed you were trolling, but you do seem to be blissfully unaware of the bias you come across with. I also think you underestimate the number of drivers that live in metropolitan areas with educated fire departments, don’t need to tow, don’t off-road, and don’t live in cold climates. The “negatives” you are trying to stack up just do not apply to everyone, so there is little point in trying to make a generalized case for/against the concept of battery electric vehicles based on a bunch of reports and articles which may or may not have agendas of their own in the first place.

 

[Gonzo chris]

I only have one reason not to buy an EV. I love Fossil Fuels.

Yeah, I know petrol is not really from fossils but you get the idea.

I don't really like the fuel, I do like a good internal combustion engine but I like to stay open-minded to new things. Some I like some I don't. I could see down the road having one of each honestly. An old ice that I enjoy and an EV for daily driving. I wouldn't miss worrying about the exhaust system, catalytic converters getting cut off and mufflers rotting, fuel lines needing replaced, brakes not lasting as long, air filter, replacement, coolant, etc. There are a lot of potential advantages. And then have something with a nice 6-speed manual transmission for fun

 

[Aherpa]

I'm no expert but I would not go off-roading on those tires.

 

[Gonzo chris]

Obviously it's not as easy as that, or it wouldn't have sat in a ditch for months. I never said or told somebody not to buy an EV. Please show me what you are referring to.

I don't know about Norway but Europe has a different electrical grid. I believe it's 220 or 240 they don't usually wire a house or apartment with 120 as we do. They also have higher amps. Majority of Europe also use electric on demand hot water heaters. Not so in the US up here if they do it's usually gas. Matter of fact Home Depot up here won't stock the electric hot water heater, if you want it you have to order it.

Just trying to describe differences.

I don't know any house that just has 120. Mine has 240 which is used for my oven, electric dryer, HVAC, and my heat pump water heater. Heater. I could go to a home Depot. That's literally about a half a mile behind where I'm parked right now and grab a couple of on-demand electric water heaters. Put one in for my buddy. I generally don't recommend them though for efficiency. They're no better than a regular electric water heater. They get to about 95% efficiency where my hpwh is closer to 400% efficiency. I thought about one though simply for space. My water heater is in a storage room, takes up more room, has a condensate line You have to run somewhere, But I get nice free AC out of it in the summer. I have it ducted into the kitchen.... So it's only $10 a month for hot water for three of us. The on-demand electric would have fit nicely behind my fridge though and left me more storage.. main advantage of an electric on demand besides space is if it's for someone who lives alone and doesn't use a lot of hot water.

 

[TwoTone]

Stuff happens and I ain't gonna judge but EV's are really heavy which is not ideal for off roading.

And of course as the article states, the battery pack is badly placed. They make skid plates for stuff for a reason. To me, this is the kind of engineering oversight that tells me that they aren't truly ready for prime time. Make the batteries significantly lighter and figure out how to build and protect them so they aren't a fire hazard and we can talk.

I know I've never seen a gas engine offroad catch fire.

 

[SLINGSHOT]

I disagree accidents happen for several reasons, road conditions and majority is trying to avoid a collision. Many deaths occur each year from drivers trying to avoid collision with animals and losing control. Unfortunately accidents happen it's a given, not so much if but when.

I live in the midwest, as you do. I was told way before I got my DL to NEVER swerve to avoid an animal. Take your foot off the gas, GRIP the wheel and slam into it. Swerving can get you killed. Take your choice, you or Bambi.

 

[rad32]

Really? Show me a "premium luxury brand" CUV for $40K and so help me god do not link me to a Kia or Hyundai.

I've got a combined 20K+ miles(32K km)on both vehicles you are talking about the rest of your post is not very accurate either.

I think you are making my point. KIA and Hyundai evs are at their cheapest $40,000. And those don’t have awd or the larger batteries. Once you add in bigger batteries and awd you are over $50k. There’s plenty of luxury suvs in that range. And what’s not accurate about our stroller not fitting in the trunk of a Mache? I brought one home on the test drive, it didn’t fit. I loved the Mache but it didnt make sense for us, especially at that price. If it was cheaper I could have easily lived with it only being my commuter. But for $50,000 (er awd) I needed it to do more.

 

[SLINGSHOT]

I'm waiting for the 2025 RamCharger.

Chrysler/Fiat/Stellantis.
Dear god.

 

[Gonzo chris]

I think you are making my point. KIA and Hyundai evs are at their cheapest $40,000. And those don’t have awd or the larger batteries. Once you add in bigger batteries and awd you are over $50k. There’s plenty of luxury suvs in that range. And what’s not accurate about our stroller not fitting in the trunk of a Mache? I brought one home on the test drive, it didn’t fit. I loved the Mache but it didnt make sense for us, especially at that price. If it was cheaper I could have easily lived with it only being my commuter. But for $50,000 I needed it to do more.

That's not the case as much today though the prices have come down pretty significantly. The Korean brands have some pretty good deals. Obviously a lot of it depends on your mileage if you drive more you're going to save more and offset the cost.

 

[Zed79]

In 1959 North American electric code used in USA Canda and Mexico required all new service installs to be 100amp 240vac. But you need a 200 amp service to add on a car charger most of the time or would have to have gas cooking, heating, no AC, and less than 2 bd 1 bath. local utility may not be able to upgrade your service if the local grid is at cap. All things to look into before buying an EV. We skipped on a leaf or Bolt opted for the Mirage because we could not justify the 5k to upgrade power service.

 

[Decayed]

Hey @Decayed ,@Ozarkbeard ,@fossil, @SLINGSHOT or anyone who posts in these threads. Show me how much seat time you fucking got behind the wheel of an EV.

True believers slways gets upset when someone utters a blasphemy against the EV religion.

Thanks for the profanity that was a nice touch!

Zero. I have zero hours and at this point I have no reason ever to get even a minute until the battery tech radically improves. This has been my stance all along. At this point in time it's a niche product that doesn't suit most people, which is why the EV market is tanking so hard - people know a turd from the smell.

Question: do you support building out new nuclear power stations?

 

[AF Blue]

Wow ... lot of passion in this thread.
I saw the original post and immediately imagined the OP doing this:

The actual issue with the stuck Rivian is not having a powerful enough tow vehicle/wrecker,
it's the hazard involved in doing the pullout.

My mind immediately went to: When hazard spills happen (train derail / 18-wheeler flip),
Special teams (hazmat for example) are called in to reduce risk before the pullout.
Would this not be a similar situation?

I would like to try an EV - just not as a primary vehicle.
I am more interested in electric motorcycles though - as a commute vehicle.

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