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Post by david1 on Aug 31, 2023 6:07:19 GMT
It seems if your in a stormy or in a hurricane area it may not be a good idea to buy an electric car. I have been reading of instances of electric cars catching fire, blowing up because the batteries have gotten too wet during a heavy storm or flooding. Guess all the proponents of electric cars didn't think of that problem.
Dave
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Post by Joe Saggese on Aug 31, 2023 7:40:46 GMT
My town had to purchase special equipment to put out an electric car fire. Using water creates a toxic brew (so I'm told).
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Post by ptc on Aug 31, 2023 16:32:53 GMT
Too many negatives.
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Post by josef on Aug 31, 2023 18:32:36 GMT
Have a close friend in Germany that was charging their electric car and 1/2hr later it burst into flames. Luckily they were charging it outside. Yes, they're not easy to put out and the smell and vapors from the fire can and are a health issue.
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Post by Bill on Aug 31, 2023 19:02:54 GMT
and they also said no one could survive a train going 60
we gotta do what we gotta do I doubt I'll be buying another car, but if I did - it would be electric.
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Post by Adam on Aug 31, 2023 19:37:50 GMT
I think an electric car makes sense as a regular work commuter vehicle but you also need a long haul. My wife has Toyota Sienna minivan for that.
I currently have a 20 year old SUV that refuses to fail. I have been consider an electric car for my next vehicle primarily for the potential cost savings on maintenance. My parents have a Tesla and love it but they love in FL where electricity is much cheaper. The only thing holding me back is that electricity prices in Massachusetts are crazy high right now so electric only makes sense if I get a solar system, about the same price as the car. The economic benefits of electric cars start to break down for me as I think through it.
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Post by Joe Saggese on Aug 31, 2023 21:33:12 GMT
Nothing like new technology!!!!!
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Post by Traindiesel! on Aug 31, 2023 22:24:50 GMT
WHEW! I'll never buy an electric car unless there are no other personal modes of transportation. I doubt we'll see that in my lifetime! I wouldn't mind a hybrid though, but there needs to be an infrastructure.
We just can't convert to all electricity as the only power source. If that happens there will be no such thing as cheap electricity. As the only power source electric rates will go through the roof! And how is that electricity made? By burning coal, the very thing they are trying to eliminate along with clean natural gas. But nobody puts pressure on China or India to clean up their environment. And where are the car batteries made? In China, where they also have the monopoly on the minerals to make them through their influence in African nations and Afghanistan.
And where's the infrastructure? It can take up to 30 minutes to charge these things. Can you imagine the long lines at the few charging stations along highways and neighborhoods? Remember the gas shortages in the 1970's and those long lines? And the resulting violence? When the batteries die, they can't be repaired, they need to be replaced. How much would that cost? I'm guessing pretty expensive since it's about 60% or more of the car itself. How long to get a replacement? Where do you dump the dead battery? Can they be refurbished? No information on any of that from the clean energy proponents. The dream is outpacing the solutions.
I'm all for clean energy, but there needs to be more than once source of it. Wind and solar only supply a fraction of the power we need, and only if it's windy and sunny. No power source is 100% safe like anything else in life. There needs to be multiple sources of power to keep the economy humming, that way OPEC or China or Russia can't control the lifeblood of our existence. The people/corporations pushing the hardest for 'clean' energy are the ones profiting from it.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Aug 31, 2023 23:07:00 GMT
Another thing to think about. If everyone or a majority of people owns an electric vehicle, wouldn't there need to be a charging station at everyone's home? What's the cost of those installations?! What about people who don't have garages or people living in apartment buildings? Would their charging stations have to be outside with electric service tied into their home, like in intercity row homes? Can you imagine neighbors fighting over parking spaces in front of other people's homes, theft of service and the inevitable vandalism of charging stations everywhere.
Not a pretty picture!
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Post by Adam on Aug 31, 2023 23:27:45 GMT
Another thing to think about. If everyone or a majority of people owns an electric vehicle, wouldn't there need to be a charging station at everyone's home? What's the cost of those installations?! What about people who don't have garages or people living in apartment buildings? Would their charging stations have to be outside with electric service tied into their home, like in intercity row homes? Can you imagine neighbors fighting over parking spaces in front of other people's homes, theft of service and the inevitable vandalism of charging stations everywhere.
Not a pretty picture! Very true. There are a lot of challenges with electric. I am unlikely to go that way as a result.
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Post by Bill on Aug 31, 2023 23:34:58 GMT
My goodness. So many points to debate, so little time. Battery technology is growing rapidly in the US and improving every year. With a range of 300 to 400 miles, and increasing with each new model, they now can cover the majority of travel needs. With increased sales comes economy of scale. Fleet sales are driving a lot of that. Imagine taxis, delivery vehicles, government vehicles, and more adding many numbers towards economy or scale. Charge times are getting shorter with new technology, A lot of that with US manufacturing and research. Charging stations are rapidly being built, starting on the interstates. Shell gas has started putting them in their gas stations. I'm reminded about the infrastructure that popped up at interstate exit ramps. The same will happen around charging areas. We already have rows of chargers at New Hampshire rest areas. I wouldn't be surprised to see chargers at fast food places, movie theaters, motels, etc. anyplace people spend a little time. Currently bj's wholesale club (at least around here) sells gas at reduced prices to members. Not too hard to imagine that business model also working for charging facilities. Even if every car in the world was electric, there STILL wouldn't be just one source of energy. There are other needs besides automobiles. The main point I'd like to share is that this is only the beginning. A lot of problems mentioned have, or will be, corrected in the near future.
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Post by Bill on Aug 31, 2023 23:44:13 GMT
It seems if your in a stormy or in a hurricane area it may not be a good idea to buy an electric car. I have been reading of instances of electric cars catching fire, blowing up because the batteries have gotten too wet during a heavy storm or flooding. Guess all the proponents of electric cars didn't think of that problem. Dave ALL flooded cars are totaled.
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Post by Bill on Sept 1, 2023 0:03:09 GMT
Another thing to think about. If everyone or a majority of people owns an electric vehicle, wouldn't there need to be a charging station at everyone's home? What's the cost of those installations?! What about people who don't have garages or people living in apartment buildings? Would their charging stations have to be outside with electric service tied into their home, like in intercity row homes? Can you imagine neighbors fighting over parking spaces in front of other people's homes, theft of service and the inevitable vandalism of charging stations everywhere.
Not a pretty picture! Yes there would likely be a charger in the garage. It could be a relatively cheap non-fast charger because it would have time for a slow charge. Apartment buildings could have chargers as part of the rent. Not hooked up individually like other utilities. Most do provide a parking space, laundry room, or other amenities. No garage? Yes, an outdoor charger, but a simple circuit breaker shuts it off. Vandalism is a problem today, no doubt about it. Stealing catalytic converters is a big problem lately. Neighbors fighting over parking spaces? They do that now. Especially in the northern cities when shoveling snow. c'mon, it's not the end of civilization - just a better means of transportation.
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Post by curtis on Sept 1, 2023 1:18:11 GMT
Bill
As I agree we need to look towards it, the technology just isn't there yet. As you stated more and more things are being pushed to electric. (think California and the train engine mandate that will put all short lines out of business and some class 1's will have to cut back.) Putting mandates of having to use electric vehicles is NOT the way to go. First we need to get a base that can supply the electric. Even NY had rolling blackouts and we won't even talk about CA. Again I am for saving the environment but we also have to remember that when horses were used and the car came into existence that it did not happen overnight or at the pace they are trying to move everyone to electric. The base was built to encourage the move then people moved.
As for staying quiet on this forum - NEVER! That is one of the bonus's of this forum. You can talk about anything and even disagree as long as it is not vulgar or condescending. Everyone is entitled to their OPINION. My only thing is let us get the facts straight and not myths. As a fire fighter I can vouch that a neighboring FD dumped 35,000 gallons of water on a Tesla and DID NOT GET IT OUT. Our training tells us to let it burn or push it into a pond or lake. When electric buses going down the road or cars and in the future trains, ignite and burn without any hope of being extinguished I have concern for the safety of the occupants as well as the environment.
But PLEASE do NOT keep quiet. Your voice is heard and people are not against what you say. Your opinion does get heard and respected.
Curtis Homan
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Post by Traindiesel! on Sept 1, 2023 2:52:54 GMT
I'm not saying it'll never happen. But all the hype doesn't mesh with the realities yet. There's a lot to figure out that is going to take more time than anyone is saying.
And here in the Democratic Peoples Republic of California, who like to say they are progressive, is mandating the elimination of gasoline powered vehicles to usher in electric vehicles in ten years. Days after that announcement last summer, the electric companies in the state issued power shutdowns because of excess use of electricity and asked residents not to power their electric cars. Brilliant timing!
The vandalism of the curbside home charging stations will be rampant. Cutting the charging cords and/or the plug handles. Imagine someone parking in front of your house blocking you from charging your own vehicle. What fun!
Another example of 'progressive' thinking in this state are the rate increases already planned to be imposed in San Diego County. California utility companies rolled out a new fixed-rate bill proposal. The basics of the proposal are the more you make, the more you pay for the flat rate. Then there will be a reduced usage charges, subsidized for all households by the flat rate.
Here's the breakdown in pricing for San Diegans.
Household income $28,000 – $69,000 would pay $34 a month. Households income from $69,000 – $180,000 would pay $73 a month. Household income above $180,000 would pay $128 a month.
All these fees are tacked on before using a single kilowatt hour, meaning median-income San Diegans will pay $876 a year in electricity rates, regardless of whether they use any electricity. Also, San Diegans will still get charged these monthly rates if they have residential solar. So they're getting us even before we get an EV.
As Flyers Hall of Fame goaltender Bernie Parent use to say, "Some fun, eh?!"
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