The "Mass" Problem of EVs

[UpACurb]

As someone who used to own a plug in car (I just bought for the carpool lane sticker)

I have some experience with some of this stuff

Unless its Tesla- the charging infrastructure is highly unreliable........many times I would try to plug in places because why not- and it felt like half the times the chargers were not working

Talking to a few property owners I know.....it seems like many people started electric charger companies.... took the government money/subsidies- installed subpar chargers and then simply went out of business when the maintenance became an issue......but not before they pocketed some of that tax payer money (for example at local Ford Dealer- 4 of the 5 chargers no longer work and the company that installed them went out of business long ago)

Infrastructure- we still having rolling black outs during summer in CA because the grid cant keep up - I cant imagine what would happen if you set up a few million more chargers - there seems to be a complete disconnect with the messaging to go EV but then the next a letter from So Cal Edison giving us tips to reduce electricity use to help avoid rolling black outs

Resale value- this is a massive problem for EVs - a few news articles about some dealers getting nervous as they miscalculated and are now getting an influx of EVs back from lease with a value much less then what calculated

Tires- everyone I know with a pure EV has been surprised as tires dont last nearly as long as gas (blame weight and instant torque)

Last- while many of us live in houses and can install chargers at home......for those living in apartments exc that cant charge at home....charging can be tedious (unless Tesla which seems to have done a great job with charging network- but even then lines can be long in CA)

I'm not anti EV even though I prefer ICE - but I think we have some challenges to overcome before mainstream adoption .......I do think EVs have a place but I think the government needs to be less involved and let adoption occur more organically .....

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[Mavster Mechanic]

Not only guardrails, parking lots will have to be rethought for the weight of EVs and modern cars

Average vehicle weight is increasing (not just EVs but ALL cars are getting heavier) and many multilevel parking lots just weren't designed for that much weight per space

Hummer EVs weigh ~9,000 lbs, their battery pack alone is heavier than a Honda Civic

1963

Cars with chrome instead of plastic weighed over 6,000lbs.

Parking lots will be fine.

The well equipped car below "floats" down the road at around 6,000 lbs.

 

[Maverick123]

1963

Cars with chrome instead of plastic weighed over 6,000lbs.

Parking lots will be fine.

'62 Imperial was about 4600 lbs and it was a rare, large luxury car for it's time. Now, the roads are choked with SUVs that weigh this much or more

'55 - '57 Chevys were mid 3000s

Old cars looked super heavy, but they really weren't

 

[Blue_Max]

Yes, that is hypocrisy. The point I wasn't catching from your original statement was that the reason those same people are now criticizing EVs is because they are massive. I realize that criticism is the point of this topic, but I wasn't aware those were the people making the criticism.

Nah, I think they're just looking for a negative regarding EVs. Any negative will do.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

1968 Rolls Royce Phantom (ok not many on the road) 6,045 lbs.

Between 1959 and 1969 various widely produced Cadillac Fleetwoods: 4900 to 5700 lbs.

1960 Lincoln Continental: 5712 lbs.

1960's Cadillac Deville: 5010 lbs.

1973 Chrysler Imperial: 5256 lbs.

Point is:

Cars were HEAVY before they got lighter in the 80's and 90's and then got heavier again in the 2000's.

Your parking lots will be fine.

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