Anybody here have an Electric Car?

[taiwan_girl]

@Mik I dont think you are alone.

It seems typical with any new technology. There are a few which will be early adopter "just because". Technology will evolve and improve and eventually the majority will adopt.

[Copper]

Gasoline powered internal combustion technology should improve too, without all the problems associated with EV

[Jolly]

Seen any turbine cars on the road lately?

They were the next big thing, years ago.

[taiwan_girl]

@Copper said in Anybody here have an Electric Car?:

Gasoline powered internal combustion technology should improve too, without all the problems associated with EV

I think only to a certain level. There is only so much "power" per liter of gasoline that is possible. Then, you can start doing weight reductions of the cars, maybe better tires, some changes to engine design etc.but I think we are closer to the maximum than with EV, which I think is where gasoline cars were 50 or 75 years ago in regards to available technology improvements.

[Jolly]

We had EV's 100 years ago.

There was a place for them then. There is a place for them now. But they are going to have to take a quantum leap in technology and infrastructure to be viable across this country.

I'll take my wife to the ENT tomorrow. I will drive 30 miles, one-way, to do so. And that's not the extent of the running I will do tomorrow. There are four Tesla charging stations in town. See any problems with that?

[Jon]

I wonder if some day we’ll see a tipping point where the chicken-egg problem with charging stations starts happening in reverse with petrol stations. If EVs take off enough, gas stations will start closing and delivery will lose its scale economies.

[George K]

https://electrek.co/2023/08/07/rise-of-electric-golf-carts-as-second-cars/

In recent years a surprising vehicle trend has quietly gained momentum across the US. Believe it or not, electric golf carts are becoming a popular choice as “second cars” for many American families.
These compact, efficient, and versatile vehicles are increasingly being seen far beyond the confines of the country clubs, zipping around neighborhoods and making regular appearances in local commutes. So what’s behind this surge in popularity?

Good luck in Chicago, in January. No need to even mention Minnesoooota.

[Jolly]

What's behind the surge? People too old or too lazy to walk. And they're running them on quiet, neighborhood streets.

See used ones a lot on the rural route, too. They are a cheap alternative to UTV's, when doing yard work, checking on the cows in the back pasture or hauling a single square bale out to the horse.

[Jolly]

But, a case of product, use and need all converging at a pricepoint.

[Mik]

We have several golf carts in our neighborhood, mostly used to go to the pool. Now a lot of the kids have powered skateboard, scooters and like toddler minibikes. The older ones do not wear helmets and they come zipping down bumpy trails at 15 or more mph. I'm just waiting for the accident that wakes these parents up.

I'm also worried about the lack of fitness these things promote. Luckily there are still lots of kids with conventional bikes.

[taiwan_girl]

Some good news on electric car batteries

The data showed that most EVs driven close to 100,000 miles still have at least 90 percent of their original range left.

https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/how-long-do-ev-batteries-last

[Jolly]

Take the $7500 government subsidy off each vehicle and get back to me.