Electric vehicles - what does the future hold? · Page 50

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Brewha
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#981

I own stock in Tesla and am sweating out this earnings report. At this point owning Tesla stock is a contrarian play.

EV sales growth absolutely requires mandates. Can’t afford a EV or don’t own a house with a charging station…ride the bus. This is concerning.

HockeyDad wrote:

I think you'll love taking the bus - "...and leave the driving to us!"

Edited by user 2 years ago | Reason: Not specified

DrafterX
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#982

Can't ride an electric bus in Asheville, NC...

Brewha
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#983

Poor HD.....

HockeyDad
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#984

I ain’t riding no bus. That requires something like 8 ‘Rona vaccines. Driving a Tesla just requires 3 ‘Rona vaccines and a mask.

Brewha
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#985

How bout if DMV sent you some of his Ivermectin?

MACS
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#986

How bout if DMV sent you some of his Ivermectin?

Brewha wrote:

Turns out that stuff works. Has been used widely for some time... and doesn't make people "drop dead suddenly" like the jab.

YMMV [whip]

Brewha
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#987

So recently, I was at the gas station here in Texas as a Blue Northern blew in. Artic air, damp, 30-35 mile per hour from the North. Of course the card reader didn't work on the pump, so I got to walk to the station - and stand behind those who were buying Lotto Tickets (playfully know a Texas retirement plans).

Once the pump was running I sat in the car (my wifes car), and when it clicked I got out in the cold, and went back into the station to settle up.

Cold weather sux. Even worse if you are a Texan not used to it. Even worse if you live down by the lake. And if you are a Texan that lives down by the lake....well, you get it.

I bring this up because it was the first time in over a year that I had to go to a gas station at all. My car get a "full tank" in the garage every night.

I told my wife that from now on I was going to call a trip to the filling station "Prime Time" - to respect my BOTL.

DrafterX
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#988

I live by da lake... 😟

DrMaddVibe
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#989

The Unexpected Problem With EVs: They 'Tire' Quickly

Electric vehicles go through tires 30% faster than gas-powered vehicles, Bridgestone says, so it developed its first EV-specific replacement tire that protects range and improves durability.

Some electric vehicle owners are finding themselves in the market for new tires sooner than they would be with a gas-powered vehicle.

EVs burn through tires 30% faster than combustible engine cars thanks to hefty weights and speedy acceleration, according to Bridgestone, which this week unveiled a new tire developed specifically for electric vehicles. Dubbed the Turanza EV, it starts at $289, depending on tire size. It's now available at Bridgestone retailers in the US and

“The Turanza EV is the answer to the most common question my team gets: What tires do you recommend for an EV?” a Bridgestone rep said at this weekend's Electrify Expo in Long Beach, California. "People love their EVs but not the tires, so we see an opportunity to deliver a product that can fulfill needs for those consumers."

The company projects 30% of new vehicles will be electric by the end of the decade.

Bridgestone's new Enliten technology aims to solve the wear-and-tear problem. Tires also affect range, so Bridgestone developed a new polymer, called PeakLife, that reduces rolling resistance. A QuietTrack tread design also tackles road noise; the Turanza EV takes inspiration from the company's touring tire line, which aims to keep road noise at a minimum.

“A 2017-19 Tesla has been around long enough to see the wear show," says Josh Bulrice of Bridgestone marketing. "People are...looking for their next option based on what they’ve learned during their ownership. Treadwear is a constant conversation."

Increased tire wear can also contribute to air quality issues. In Oslo, Norway, where electric vehicles make two-thirds of registered vehicles but a higher proportion of traffic, the "air has unhealthy levels of microscopic particles generated partly by the abrasion of tires and asphalt," The New York Times reports.

In developing the Turanza, Bridgestone tested it on the most popular EVs: The full Tesla lineup (the Model 3, S, X, and Y), as well as the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It now offers five sizes for these vehicles, with 13 additional sizes launching in early 2024, says Bridgestone.

The new tire contains 50% renewable and recycled materials. The manufacturing process also uses a "synthetic rubber associated with recycled plastic, helping keep more used plastics out of landfills and the environment," Bridgestone says.

Continental also developed an EV-specific tire, which it calls the EcoContact 6. And Michelin recommends specific tires for EVs. All three companies—Bridgestone, Continental, and Michelin—cite the importance of reducing wear, minimizing road noise, and protecting range.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-unexpected-problem-with-evs-they-tire-quickly

Saving mo money, mo money, mo money!

DrMaddVibe
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#990

GM and Honda join forces to make hydrogen fuel cells for ‘various products’

The two companies are now producing fuel cells out of its jointly owned facility in Michigan.

General Motors and Honda announced that their joint venture company, FCSM, has begun production of hydrogen fuel cells that will eventually make their way into “various product applications.”

Hydrogen fuel cells use compressed hydrogen as their fuel, releasing water vapor as its only emission. A number of automakers have recently seized on the technology for its advantages in the development of heavy-duty vehicles and mobile power generators — and as a way to further transition away from polluting gas-powered vehicles.

Hydrogen fuel cells use compressed hydrogen as their fuel, releasing water vapor as its only emission

FCSM, which stands for “Fuel Cell System Manufacturing,” was established in 2017 as a joint venture between GM and Honda. The two automakers have also collaborated on battery electric vehicles, including the Honda Prologue, Acura ZDX, and Cruise Origin.

FCSM’s 70,000-square-foot facility in Brownstown, Michigan, was built with an $83 million joint investment by GM and Honda. The companies call it “the first large-scale manufacturing joint venture to build fuel cells.”

Hydrogen has found little success in the passenger car market. Honda was one of the only companies to sell a hydrogen-powered car — the Clarity — before it was discontinued in 2017. The problem stems from the near-total absence of a refueling infrastructure. Automakers are now pivoting to work trucks and construction equipment, theorizing that it will be easier to build hydrogen fueling stations for vehicles that operate in confined areas.

Hydrogen’s energy content by volume is low, which makes storing hydrogen a challenge because it requires high pressures, low temperatures, or chemical processes to be stored compactly. Overcoming this challenge is important for light-duty vehicles because they often have limited size and weight capacity for fuel storage.

The Biden administration recently proposed new tax guidelines aimed at making it cheaper to produce hydrogen as a less-polluting alternative to fossil fuels. The problem, though, is that most hydrogen is made with the help of fossil fuels, mostly through a process called steam methane reforming that produces carbon dioxide emissions. Methane is an even more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2 and routinely escapes along the supply chain, from production to final use.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/25/24049470/gm-honda-hydrogen-fuel-cells-joint-venture-michigan

RayR
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#991

Those GREEN PEOPLE hate CO2 and they hate Methane (Natural Gas). I think they hate chemistry altogether.
But somehow, they think the electricity to charge their batteries doesn't involve the chemistry of the things they hate.](*,) .

HockeyDad
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#992

Tesla stock down 12% today.

Brewha
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#993

So, what does the future hold for EVs?

Unfortunately many see EVs as a political issue. Sandy Monro (a man whom I greatly respect) tells us that automotive engineering 10% technology and 90% psychology. And he’s right. Buying a car is an emotional choice. So going forward we will have many good, red blooded Americans who would never drive some electric POS. And some politicians have told us that “if we move to EVs it will be the biggest gift to China ever”.

But China already has the gift. They own many important battery technologies and companies you never heard of in China are tooling up and taking the lead. But not by selling $100k plus EVs - they have sub $20k EVs that the Chinese can’t wait to buy - because they are so much cheaper to operate and their air pollution is really bad. An their government subsidies the crap out of them - because they see the future.

Come 2035 when a few state “might” stop in state sales of gas cars, the Chinese makers will be here. Remember Toyota in the mid 20th century? We went from “I’ll never own some foreign POS”, to I wish I had a Tundra.

Anyway - keep your eyes peeled for BYD.

Just my opinions here - YMMV

MACS
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#994

Nope.

Most Americans NEED a car. Most American households cannot afford more than one car, so that car has to be able to do everything they have to do... which invariably means traveling more than 250 miles.

And once again... the infrastructure (charging stations) can NOT support the amount of EV's currently on the road in most places. And the electrical infrastructure (power for the charging stations) has to come from some f'n where... and it damn sure ain't solar and f'n wind.

Fossil fuel/nuke/solar/wind can't keep up with current demand in some places right now, ffs.

IF (huge if) charging stations were as available and as fast as refueling gasoline, I would not be so anti-electric.

IMO what would be more prudent is dumping that R&D money into hydrogen fuel cell technology, not electric... that is, if they really want to make an impact on the environment. It's cleaner. And making automotive batteries does more to harm the environment. FACT.

Brewha
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#995

MACS wrote:

MACS, what do you think of the Mirai?
Would you own one?

https://www.toyota.com/mirai/

MACS
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#996

Same issue... they don't have the infrastructure for it. If they did, I would certainly consider owning one. But right now all the $$ is on electric, which to me just isn't ever going to be viable. (unless they start building nuke plants all over)

Hydrogen would require less effort to get to where gas is... if they put the money into it.

Abrignac
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#997

MACS, what do you think of the Mirai?
Would you own one?

https://www.toyota.com/mirai/

Brewha wrote:

My 2 cents.

I’d consider anything that is a net positive on the environment as long as its cost of ownership is within reason.

Like MACS I don’t believe EV’s are ready for prime time simply because the infrastructure needed to support a switch from petro to electric isn’t in place nor is there any indication that it will be anytime soon. In fact, I think most automakers are beginning to rethink the long term viability of EV’s. That in of itself is probably delaying the massive infrastructure investments needed for long term EV viability.

Edited by user 2 years ago | Reason: Not specified

DrMaddVibe
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#998

Unfortunately many see EVs as a political issue.

Brewha wrote:

It ALWAYS was. Those that chose not to see it leaped headfirst.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/biden-could-delay-ev-switch-as-auto-industry-pressure-mounts/ar-BB1iwcDW?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=ff1bdd1e89524431fb82e7fd849cde71&ei=11

With auto manufacturers pleading with the current administration to end their insanity those that leapt are faced with the uncertainity of higher associated costs to maintain their glorified street legal golf cart.

This is ending much much faster than I could've predicted. I did call it by saying the free market should decide the viability of it versus the government meddling and giveaways to entice the weak minded.

PS: Remember we bailed out the US manufacturers. Wanna do it again? Ford is down 6 billion, 1.8 billion for GM. Not exactly winning the hearts and minds when you're closing factories.

Edited by user 2 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Abrignac
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#999

EV momentum has nose dived recently. Tesla’s stock, the darling of the EV movement, is trading at 49% of its all time high. With all the governmental push towards EV’s one would expect better performance from the bellwether.

DrMaddVibe
Herf-A-Holic

2 years ago

#1000

Even China had to put off building 5 aircraft carrier groups!

https://www.axios.com/2024/02/14/chinese-ev-electric-vehicles-sold-america

Edited by user 2 years ago | Reason: Not specified

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