Sponsored

BDennis

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
First Name
Bruce
Joined
Jun 29, 2021
Threads
43
Messages
806
Reaction score
880
Location
So Cal
Vehicle(s)
2022 Maverick hybrid & E450 Leprechaun
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
If you all want to talk about solar and the economics behind, please start a separate thread.
Sponsored

 

JASmith

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
First Name
Jessica
Joined
Jun 16, 2021
Threads
71
Messages
1,674
Reaction score
3,846
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
Dodge Ram 1500
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
Most solar/grid buybacks are that way, as the power companies lobbied for home solar to be considered as an energy wholesaler, and thus the cheap wholesale prices they pay. I contacted a solar installer for a bid, and as it would be grid tied, the installer wanted to review my previous year electric use to design the system. I stated that I wanted to produce more than I consume, and they pushed back saying that the power company doesn't like us to put in more than you will use. They didn't say they wouldn't do it, but it was implied that they shouldn't do it. I think what I will do, one year before I go solar, is to use the hell out of electricity to drive up my usage, then after solar is installed, find ways to reduce my use.
It actually can screw up the grid to have too much intermittent power, just look at Texas. Texas has always been a major energy dense region, so power issues were unheard of. But then massive subsidies were dumped on wind and solar, and Texas just went crazy and frankly still is with the largest wind farm in the country and is in second place and quickly catching up to California on solar as number two there.

Suddenly, brown outs are a common thing, electric providers are giving discounts to people to be able to remotely control their thermostats to adjust them during power shortages, and warnings to conserve on any unusual day. Why?

Well, wind and solar are considered intermittent power sources. They can provide a lot of power most of the time, and this drives down electricity prices, especially thanks to really low startup costs due to the subsidies. This makes it less profitable to produce more or upgrade existing consistent power sources like nuclear, natural gas, etc. So when the wind is blowing at a good clip and the sun is shining, all is well, but if you have a 98oF day, the wind is calm and the sun is starting to set at 7PM but its still hot as balls because it takes a long time for humid Houston air to release all that heat, suddenly you have a power shortage and everyone panics because unlike consistent power plants that can produce consistent power all day and increase on demand a bit, solar and wind are just subject to the elements.

It wouldn't be a problem if intermittent/inconsistent power producers could store all that energy for later use making it a total non-issue, but sadly we really don't have an inexpensive way to do that yet. And while your one home may not exactly matter much, if 30 million homes start pumping a lot of solar during the day dropping electricity prices and then wanting to pull from the grid during the evening then you've got California/Texas brownout problems.
 

SpacemanSpiff

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
First Name
Tyreese
Joined
Jun 23, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
354
Reaction score
811
Location
Mid-west
Vehicle(s)
F-15 Eagle
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
Not a bad car like the Pinto. Now what the customer wanted for sure, but it didn't blowup when hit from behind.
I actually drove a Pinto for a while. Was very reliable, and the explosive fuel tank was fixed under recall. Never made me walk. Can't say that for a lot of other cars of that era.

Edit: Oops this has nothing to do with the Maverick... I suppose we should have started another thread?
 
First Name
Bill
Joined
Jul 14, 2021
Threads
0
Messages
20
Reaction score
26
Location
Plymouth, MN
Vehicle(s)
2014 Hyundai Elantra
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
I actually drove a Pinto for a while. Was very reliable, and the explosive fuel tank was fixed under recall. Never made me walk. Can't say that for a lot of other cars of that era.
My wife had a brown Pinto when I first started dating her. Ugliest thing you ever saw (the car, not my wife).
 

Sponsored

eRock92

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
199
Reaction score
310
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ford Escape SE
Engine
Undecided
Looking at the images I also believe the maverick will have better visibility of the road and its surrounding..as its front is not a 4'-5' wall as in other trucks design..


https://paultan.org/2021/06/10/us-p...ans-and-occupants-of-smaller-vehicles-report/


Analysis of industry data by Consumer Reports shows that the height of bonnets on passenger trucks has increased, on average, by at least 11 since 2000, and new pick-up trucks have become 24% heavier between 2000 and 2018. On trucks such as the Ford F-250, the front edge of its bonnet is now at least 55 inches (1,397 mm) tall, or as tall as the roof on some sedans, according to the publication.

New data compiled by Consumer Reports found that drivers of these newer, larger vehicles have poorer lines of sight, which means that pedestrians or smaller vehicles can be hidden directly in front of them. “These trends are alarming. Automakers must put safety first for people inside and outside the vehicle,” said Consumer Reports manager of safety policy William Wallace


1628306536121.png
I'm sorry, but the current Chevy Silverado 1500/2500 has one of the ugliest fronts I've seen on a large truck. I know truck aren't usually made to look cute, but that doesn't mean you have to attempt at making it ugly. I think Ram looks the best, but at least Fords look plain-ish.
 

shark978

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 11, 2021
Threads
2
Messages
129
Reaction score
158
Location
texas
Vehicle(s)
canyon
Engine
Undecided
From the side view no question the Ranger looks massively better, BUT it is the trickout out FX4 vs base. The front end of the Maverick looks so dated.

That Ranger probably costs 2X as much too be fair. Might be pushing 50k vs 25 for the Mav (given 2.0, etc)

That said of course the Mav looks good enough as an overall package and has grown on me a lot.
 

Pogeegitz

2.0L EcoBoost
Well-known member
First Name
Adam
Joined
Jul 30, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
134
Reaction score
314
Location
Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
2021 Expedition Max XLT, 2022 Maverick XLT
Engine
2.0L EcoBoost
I'm sorry, but the current Chevy Silverado 1500/2500 has one of the ugliest fronts I've seen on a large truck. I know truck aren't usually made to look cute, but that doesn't mean you have to attempt at making it ugly. I think Ram looks the best, but at least Fords look plain-ish.
I agree, all of the new GM front ends are obnoxious. The new Escalade looks almost comically aggressive.

OTH I don't care for the new Ranger and Explorer front ends either. They look kind of "pinched" from certain angles. The Maverick front end has a slightly retro look without being too cheesy or obvious.
 

eRock92

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
199
Reaction score
310
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ford Escape SE
Engine
Undecided
I agree, all of the new GM front ends are obnoxious. The new Escalade looks almost comically aggressive.

OTH I don't care for the new Ranger and Explorer front ends either. They look kind of "pinched" from certain angles. The Maverick front end has a slightly retro look without being too cheesy or obvious.
I agree. The Maverick's front end is simple. Nothing flashy. Nothing overly retro. Just simple. This is why I generally lean towards Ford vehicles. Usually their designs are simpler than the competition. Heavy emphasis on "usually". lol
 

STARCOMMTREY1

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
First Name
Trey
Joined
Aug 6, 2021
Threads
81
Messages
2,499
Reaction score
6,674
Location
Boligee, AL
Vehicle(s)
F350, Ultra Classic, Versa Note and soon to be Mav
Engine
2.5L Hybrid

STARCOMMTREY1

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
First Name
Trey
Joined
Aug 6, 2021
Threads
81
Messages
2,499
Reaction score
6,674
Location
Boligee, AL
Vehicle(s)
F350, Ultra Classic, Versa Note and soon to be Mav
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
I agree. The Maverick's front end is simple. Nothing flashy. Nothing overly retro. Just simple. This is why I generally lean towards Ford vehicles. Usually their designs are simpler than the competition. Heavy emphasis on "usually". lol
Look at the mav an a 94 150. I swear to all that is holy this truck was built for nostalgia with a modern twist. If they made a flare side I might have to five my right nut for it.
Sponsored

 
 







Top