EVs for BCF'rs?

[NutmegCT]

My annual (?) post about EVs.

Have any BCF members purchased, leased, or at least "thought about maybe" buying one?

Thanks.
Tom M.

 

[charlie74]

I’ve seen a couple Lucids on the road lately and they’re really eye catching but well out of my price range. We’re not in the market for a new car but I would consider buying electric…the Polestar EV’s are probably what I’d look most closely at.

 

[DocDup1]

This would be a good time to buy one if you are interested. The dealers around here can't seem to get rid of them. GM just announced that they are giving up on EV's and moving to fuel cells. It is an interesting market for sure. Have you tried renting an EV? They are great fun to drive on short trips.

 

[PAUL161]

Not interested in an EV! They have to prove to me that they can safely dispose of or re-process the batteries for one and they haven't figured that out as of yet!

 

[equiprx]

My annual (?) post about EVs.

Have any BCF members purchased, leased, or at least "thought about maybe" buying one?

Thanks.
Tom M.

My wife suddenly decided she wanted an EV and purchased a 2020 Kia Nero $40,000 about six months ago.
Had to install a charging station at the house $600.
The car has been in the shop four times to repair the Info System, still no Solution???
I don't know if that's an EV issue or not but I won't buy ANY newish car.

 

[NutmegCT]

So far ... initial price, maintenance, lack of convenient charging stations, and questionable service has me on the negative side. Tax credits are rare on many of these, and if you can't use the entire credit in one year, there's no carryover.

I'm guessing that a "wow look at my new EV" factor plays a part in many of the new purchases.

On a related tack, if the 2020 Kia Niro EV sold at $38K when new, seems $40K is a steep price for a three year old one. Are they going *up* in value?

grumble grumble

 

[Popeye]

If I were to buy a new car to get me from point a to b with minimum of fuss, I’d consider an Accord hybrid. Best of both worlds - low cost local trips, and ability to take road trips without being ties to a charging network.

Beyond the environmental considerations (if one looks beyond CO2, electric cars are far from perfect; see Paul’s post above for only one example), electric cars save money on “fuel” in most parts of the country.

 

[mezy]

EXCLUSIVENow ANOTHER London bus catches fire: Hybrid vehicle bursts into flames in east London just a day after electric double-decker exploded on the school run in Wimbledon​

• Bus caught fire in North Woolwich, East London, just before 7am this morning
• It comes after another bus burst into flames in Wimbledon at 7.20am yesterday

By Mark Duell

Published: 12:27, 12 January 2024 | Updated: 23:06, 12 January 2024

A second London bus burst into flames this morning - completely destroying it less than 24 hours after an electric double decker exploded on the school run.
The hybrid vehicle caught fire in North Woolwich, East London, just before 7am today with onlookers shouting 'what the f***' as they were urged to 'move back'.
A video showed the bus ablaze before dawn at the junction of Factory Road and Store Road, while photographs taken later in daylight showed its burnt-out shell.

Not for me, two busses, one EV one Hybrid, both in a couple of days. I would rather walk

 

[mikephillips]

I haven't really considered an EV, seems to me that right now with a plug in it isn't really zero emissions as it is emissions elsewhere from the power plant used to charge. I only do 10-12 miles a week what with WFH so my overall emissions as small already.

Not EV but I heard this morning Ford has applied for a patent for all cars they make to have self driving capacity. Not to allow it but so that if you miss a payment or other required charge they can send a signal and make it self drive to a dealer or other reclaiming station rather than send a tow truck to fetch it.

 

[LarryK]

No EV here. Don't need the threat of fire with my older cars arouund. Tires expensive and need changing more than my Land Rover and traded in values are bad. Plus the horrid price of replacement batteries if still made when needed. I will be Buying older vehicles, insurance cheaper and easier to maintain and repair.

 

[mezy]

The government here has passed something other than gas here in the UK that states all new build houses must have an EV charging point fitted.
But the down side to having an EV is that house insurance goes up dramaticaly if it is parked anywhere near the house.
A fosil fuel car will be cheaper to insure if it is parked off road or even better in a garage.

A normal fosil fuel car when catches on fire burns at in the region of 1500 degrees,
when an EV goes up in smoke it is in the region of 5000 degrees and takes between 3 to five hours to put it out.
The issue with lythium is that if it comes into contact with water it creates hydrogen gas and self ignites adding fuel to the fire.
The fire brigades are terified of EV fires due to the fact they go into thermal runnaway.

 

[waltesefalcon]

No. The entire concept is a con job. The lithium mining is filthy and dangerous. Battery disposal is filthy. The electrical grid in this country cannot handle the strain, just look at California for that evidence.

I do like the concept but everyone who has been pushing EVs is a P.T. Barnum type of character.

I think that if you want something that produces fewer emissions then a hybrid is a much more viable solution. The series hybrid is a time tested and well proven system. Railroads and submarines have been using that sort of system for decades and I don't see why this type of hybrid car isn't more popular.

 

[NutmegCT]

I still think the "cool" factor plays a major part. Folks who buy an EV often don't really seem to care about the details of its dangers and damage to the environment.

yeesh

 

[PAUL161]

I agree that the hybrid car would be more practical, but it's not being pushed for many reasons, mainly political and people who have been convinced they provide a cleaner environment.

 

[John Turney]

EXCLUSIVENow ANOTHER London bus catches fire: Hybrid vehicle bursts into flames in east London just a day after electric double-decker exploded on the school run in Wimbledon​

• Bus caught fire in North Woolwich, East London, just before 7am this morning
• It comes after another bus burst into flames in Wimbledon at 7.20am yesterday

By Mark Duell

Published: 12:27, 12 January 2024 | Updated: 23:06, 12 January 2024

A second London bus burst into flames this morning - completely destroying it less than 24 hours after an electric double decker exploded on the school run.
The hybrid vehicle caught fire in North Woolwich, East London, just before 7am today with onlookers shouting 'what the f***' as they were urged to 'move back'.
A video showed the bus ablaze before dawn at the junction of Factory Road and Store Road, while photographs taken later in daylight showed its burnt-out shell.

View attachment 95318
View attachment 95319

Not for me, two busses, one EV one Hybrid, both in a couple of days. I would rather walk

Just letting the Lucas smoke out.

 

[JPSmit]

Should likely be in Groaners but, hey.

 

[AngliaGT]

I'm sick & tired of the way EVs are being crammed down our throats.
If they're such a great idea,why not let the market decide.What'll happen
if they don't sell like we've been told they will?
I also don't like the idea of giving tax credits to by them,or our Government
paying for the charging stations.

 

[70herald]

My work car is a BYD ATTO3 which I got about 2 months ago.
BYD just outsold Tesla for the last quarter and I suspect is just getting started.
So far have put just over 3,000 km on it.
The car works perfectly, accelerates effortlessly and is almost silent.

My only complaints are related to the European Nanny State (TM) safety requirements and sadly that is something that comes on every new car locally.


The Europeans are worried about Chinese companies dumping cars on the European market, but after driving for a while, I think they really should be terrified by the fact that a virtually new company in the market is delivering a high quality very competitive car.

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks Yisroel. For me, I might drive an EV if someone bought it for me. But despite high quality, they're still unaffordable (purchase or lease) to me. The environmental and safety issues also turn me away.

Tom M.

 

[PAUL161]

Here's a picture of a bunch of EVs in Chicago with dead batteries that won't charge because it's too cold! I guess they'll have to take a bus! Wonder if free towing and cab fare is an option when purchasing one of these things.