The thing I can't stand with the "green" initiatives like Net Zero is the absolute all-or-nothing mindset they can't seem to get around. There are great uses for electric vehicle tech, like in underground mining transportation, but they are not at all suitable for becoming a replacement for internal combustion. There's the same issue with renewable energy sources; we should be trying to get as much cheap energy out of our systems as possible, but trying to completely replace existing technology that works well is a completely misanthropic endeavour doomed to failure.
That is because global warming is now a death cult in western countries. Remember that a lot of these people do not worship God, so they just go with whatever nonsense is given to them by the media and governments.
It's basic science. Electricity only flows easily when the wires are warm or hot. Heat boosts the ion flow from positive to negative. That's why when it's over 50 degrees, it's easier to run electricity. When it's cold, those ions don't want to move.
Then there's the fact that I don't have 60-100k to buy a car.
Interesting point, thanks for posting it for those of us who did not know about it. But why wasn't this taken into consideration when these cars were made???
Also the repair costs are astronomical if the battery is in any way damaged. Relatively minor collisions can result in these vehicles being written off.
They're only good for small vehicles at short range with relatively light loads and known routes - e-bikes and little people mover/grocery-for-one kind of cars are probably the least problematic implementation of the electric vehicle.... as long as they don't catch fire, too.
Higher vehicle weight massively increases road wear; the stress on the road increases as the 4th power of the weight of the vehicle. Consider a Tesla Model 3 (~1700kg) vs a Hyudai Elantra (~1300kg). The model 3 will cause 3x the damage for the same mileage.
It's frustrating to see EVs pushed as a drop in replacement for IC vehicles in all cases. They are a different technology with different affordances and tradeoffs (see also https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/03/as-ev-sales-surge-and-cars-get-heavier-parking-garages-have-to-change.html). Somehow the whole power infrastructure to support them is not seriously being considered even while other high demand systems like heat pumps are also being promoted. It's not just generation capacity, even if we could magically double that, we'd still need to beef up everything up to the block level in a worldwide shortage of linemen. It's particularly annoying seeing EVs promoted in Canada, cold weather range can be down by more than a 1/3, they don't charge well and cold can cause battery damage.
Just read a book on the history of nuclear reactors in Canada, from the 40's to the late 80's. Canadian industrial policy and planning has always been garbage but the people in charge were engineers and scientists back in the day, they got things done. Now, it's lawyers and PR. My pet theory is a lot of them made their way up the ladder by starting ambitious projects and leaving before the complications kicked in, and are doing the same thing again.
I’ve stopped arguing the fact EVs are a piece of shit, but hey, what would a former Chrysler and aerospace engineer know...
Well, you know people are dumb sometimes and believe what the media tells them, without doing any real research of their own.
The thing I can't stand with the "green" initiatives like Net Zero is the absolute all-or-nothing mindset they can't seem to get around. There are great uses for electric vehicle tech, like in underground mining transportation, but they are not at all suitable for becoming a replacement for internal combustion. There's the same issue with renewable energy sources; we should be trying to get as much cheap energy out of our systems as possible, but trying to completely replace existing technology that works well is a completely misanthropic endeavour doomed to failure.
That is because global warming is now a death cult in western countries. Remember that a lot of these people do not worship God, so they just go with whatever nonsense is given to them by the media and governments.
It's basic science. Electricity only flows easily when the wires are warm or hot. Heat boosts the ion flow from positive to negative. That's why when it's over 50 degrees, it's easier to run electricity. When it's cold, those ions don't want to move.
Then there's the fact that I don't have 60-100k to buy a car.
Interesting point, thanks for posting it for those of us who did not know about it. But why wasn't this taken into consideration when these cars were made???
Because there's no way to violate the laws of thermodynamics.
It's why gasoline gives you the most bang for buck.
And why wind power isn't. Have you seen the pictures of Helicopters with flame throwers deicing windmills?
Or solar panels frozen over?
Also the repair costs are astronomical if the battery is in any way damaged. Relatively minor collisions can result in these vehicles being written off.
Yeah, I heard about something like that, another big cost for owning them.
They're only good for small vehicles at short range with relatively light loads and known routes - e-bikes and little people mover/grocery-for-one kind of cars are probably the least problematic implementation of the electric vehicle.... as long as they don't catch fire, too.
Definitely seems that way, not reliable for much else it seems. Perhaps they'll be better in ten or twenty years, but not now.
If we're gonna do something dangerous, we gotta do max danger.
Small modular nuclear reactor under the hood.
Not to mention a possible electromagnetic field health problem
One’s testicles quietly frying away as you gloriously proceed down the road in your whisper quiet EV
Are you kidding me??? They fry your balls????
I'm not even going to stand next to one if that's the case!!! 😳
Let's be real, if you can afford one, you're either borrowing too much, rich, or your balls are half gone from stress or age anyway. :)
EV batteries contain toxic materials and none are recycled.
Excellent point, thank you!
And, when they explode, the emit hydrogen fouride gas which is highly lethal if inhaled.
Higher vehicle weight massively increases road wear; the stress on the road increases as the 4th power of the weight of the vehicle. Consider a Tesla Model 3 (~1700kg) vs a Hyudai Elantra (~1300kg). The model 3 will cause 3x the damage for the same mileage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_power_law
So EVs are sort of a jobs program for the people who repair the roads? 😉
Thanks for posting that, I had no idea about the vehicle weight thing, I did not know they were heavier than gas vehicles.
It's frustrating to see EVs pushed as a drop in replacement for IC vehicles in all cases. They are a different technology with different affordances and tradeoffs (see also https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/03/as-ev-sales-surge-and-cars-get-heavier-parking-garages-have-to-change.html). Somehow the whole power infrastructure to support them is not seriously being considered even while other high demand systems like heat pumps are also being promoted. It's not just generation capacity, even if we could magically double that, we'd still need to beef up everything up to the block level in a worldwide shortage of linemen. It's particularly annoying seeing EVs promoted in Canada, cold weather range can be down by more than a 1/3, they don't charge well and cold can cause battery damage.
Just read a book on the history of nuclear reactors in Canada, from the 40's to the late 80's. Canadian industrial policy and planning has always been garbage but the people in charge were engineers and scientists back in the day, they got things done. Now, it's lawyers and PR. My pet theory is a lot of them made their way up the ladder by starting ambitious projects and leaving before the complications kicked in, and are doing the same thing again.
I read somewhere that the Ford plant making their EVs is powered by coal-generated electricity. I'm sure there are more examples of such lunacy.
LOL MOST are far cheaper over there lifetime than comparable ICE vehicles.