Ford Plans for All Cars Sold in Europe To Be Electric by 2030 (theguardian.com) 246
Ford has pledged that all of its cars on sale in Europe will be electric by 2030, in the latest move by the world's biggest auto manufacturers to set out plans to move away from polluting internal combustion engines before looming bans on fossil-fuel vehicles across the world. From a report: The US car giant said on Wednesday that it was going "all in" on electric vehicles and would invest $1 billion converting a vehicle assembly plant in Cologne, Germany, to become its first electric vehicle facility in Europe. It said the first all-electric cars would start rolling off the production line there in 2023. Ford promised that all of its passenger cars in Europe would be "zero-emissions capable all-electric or plug-in hybrid" by mid-2026, before ramping up its ambitions to be "completely all-electric by 2030." "We are charging into an all-electric future in Europe with expressive new vehicles and a world-class connected customer experience," Stuart Rowley, the head of Ford's European operations, said. "Our announcement today to transform our Cologne facility, the home of our operations in Germany for 90 years, is one of the most significant Ford has made in over a generation. It underlines our commitment to Europe and a modern future with electric vehicles at the heart of our strategy for growth."
It's the distance, stupid. (Score:2)
Well that'll give them time for nine years of battery development.
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This is for Europe not the United States.
250km range is more than adequate for a good portion of EU Drivers. That would be considered an overnight trip for a lot of them. While in the US. 500km is more appropriate. Compared the US, Europe is very densely populated and there isn't so much of a need to go more than a few dozen kilos. If there is, then you have charging.
Even in the US a 250 mile range electric car isn't that unheard of, and that will give you about 2-3 hours of driving on a charge. In which
Re: It's the distance, stupid. (Score:2, Flamebait)
Seconded. Americans that come here always find it interesting, that you can travel to five countries in fivr days, or often, more than one other country in a single day. (And back if you are quick.)
There really is no need for long range vehicles unless you go to the far east of Europe.
That being said, I still think batteries suck, and them being popular right now ruin the motivation for developing actually not shit technologies.
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Americans that come here always find it interesting, that you can travel to five countries in fivr days, or often, more than one other country in a single day.
Well yes, a large portion of Americans are stupid and know little to nothing about the outside world. They think everything revolves around them.
Driving through five countries in five days while interesting, isn't that big a deal when one considers you can drive across the U.S. in five days and go through ten states, some of which are larger than some
Re: It's the distance, stupid. (Score:2)
There is still demand for better power storage so if someone comes up with something better than batteries (how can they "suck" if there is nothing better?) then they will have no trouble selling it.
Re: It's the distance, stupid. (Score:2)
The difference is that if you drove that long with that little break, you are not alert and driving safely.
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Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
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Many jurisdictions the world over, have already thought about the changes in taxation and are adjusting. Don't think that they won't have their fingers in your wallet when you buy electricity.
Preparing now and using solar generation will get you a bit ahead of the game, but already several US states charge an surcharge for electrical and/or hybrid ownership. If you don't pay, you don't get a valid license plate.
COVID debt or not, at least the air gets clearer if the local grid isn't powered by coal.
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Upgrading isn't so bad. It would be a 220 power cable, being dropped with charging ports.
An enterprising company can probably do the work for free, and collect 80% of the revenue for charging, and paying the property owner 20%.
For the property owner, they get a feature which they can advertise to attract higher rent buyers, and will get a few bucks from the charging as well.
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It would be a 220 power cable, being dropped with charging ports.
OK, don't charge the car when running the clothes dryer. Got it. :-)
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In Europe hardly one would rent something were he can not choose freely which power company is providing the power.
I certainly would not.
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Many European countries have said they will ban fossil cars by 2030. Some have got on with installing the charging, some have not.
Ford doesn't need to do anything though, the law will be that you can't buy a fossil car anyway. It's up to citizens to kick up a fuss about charging.
In the UK I think the pavements will be covered in charging cables running out of houses.
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Are they going to be rolling out free charging ports to every home as well?
Of course not. The government does that on request. It's why you see a lot of charging stations in the street.
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Grid capacity is measured by its peak usage, which happens during supper hour in most locales. EV charging generally happens overnight, during the time of lowest grid usage, because people charge when electricity is cheap. Little or no grid upgrades are required.
Would you by an non-electric car in 2028? (Score:5, Insightful)
About 33% in 2028? (Score:2)
I reckon that about a third of all new cars will be electric by then, assuming that battery prices continue to fall. It will depend on how far people drive, and whether they can charge their cars at home (i.e. not renters or people that park on the street). And how fashion conscious they are. The total cost of ownership will be about the same by then.
But that will not be good for the environment in either the USA or Australia. We will still be burning lots of carbon to make the electricity that charge
Re:Would you by an non-electric car in 2028? (Score:4)
Bingo. There will be some use cases for quite some time that rely on gas, but most of the automotive market will shift much faster than people expect that haven't driven an EV yet and don't understand how good they are.
It's not about environmentalism, it's simply a better product. The environmental benefits are a nice side benefit.
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Also, public transportation has improved to the point I haven't commuted to work in a vehi
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Going the right direction, in the wrongest way. (Score:2)
Instead of quick battery swap in 30 seconds at the "gas" station, with a standardized battery with a guaranteed minimum charge and a fair deposit, we get ... this.
Instead of high-energy-density synthetic fuels in a fuel cell and carbon-recapturing with free solar energy, we get ... this
Instead of a good HUD and controls you can control without looking at them, we get ... this.
These half-assed abortions of a solution are why we can't have nice things.
If cars had been designed that way when they were invented
Creating a market (Score:2)
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Re:Just Europe? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Just Europe? (Score:5, Informative)
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It hardly matters though. Wind power is the cheapest option there. That trumps all objections, even incorrect ones.
Re:Just Europe? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Just Europe? (Score:5, Funny)
Hell, we got hydro-electric power in Québec and Ontario. You know, powered by water? You know, that stuff that turns into freakin' ice during winter?
I guess everything really is bigger in Texas, including power outages.
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Lol. We've got wind power in Canada too. In places with winter temperatures that Texans probably don't believe are possible.
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Yep and it works GREAT...until it freezes up and doesn't.
And how should that technically be possible? For that you would need conditions so bad that your power infrastructure - aka cables on land poles - is gone anyway.
Re:Just Europe? (Score:5, Insightful)
https://www.texastribune.org/2... [texastribune.org]
The main problem in Texas is the natural gas infrastructure freezing up, resulting in both a lack of electricity and fuel for home heating statewide.
Of course, both freezing turbines and freezing gas processing plants are both totally avoidable if the operators invest in appropriate equipment, but that costs money and Texas is all about free market solutions so of course they didn't make those investments.
=smidge=
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Re: Just Europe? (Score:2)
Preventing icing over adds just 5% to the capital costs. If they can't afford that they are failures on all levels.
Re:Just Europe? (Score:5, Insightful)
Yep and it works GREAT...until it freezes up and doesn't.
Our hundreds of wind turbines along the Allegheny escarpment in PA ran just fine through a recent thick ice storm, and the Escarpment has weather that is worst than anything Texas has ever gotten. Every year.
Sorry, but that piddling weather that has your huddled masses freezing in the dark wouldn't even be noticed by our system.
Problem is, modern crypto conservatives didn't build or plan for anything other than nice weather. You desicng an electrical grid for the worst conditions expected, not profit margins. Profit margins got you what you are experiencing
Extra bonus points for the irony I placed in my post.
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If it is "deregulated" it most likely does not work, neither in good nor in bad "weather" or "market" conditions.
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when Texas is primarily powered by fossil fuels.
A shame as Texas has the perfect location and land scape for wind and solar.
Re: Just Europe? (Score:2, Troll)
Like you have ever seen any regulation that wasn't written by corporations for anti-competitive and anti-free-market purposes...
Nobod hates a free market more than a profit-maximizing corporation. Because profit is preciely the indicator for the missing freedom in a market.
But they all scream "OMGFreeMarket" every time it's not their own lobby doing it. So people like you keep demolishing the only corporation that used to exist to represent *your* lobby. Which is why you are the only ones, whose lobby is ne
Re:Just Europe? (Score:5, Informative)
> Government interference and burdensome regulation is not a "free market".
By that I assume you mean Republicans voting against requiring utilities to winterize their equipment [texas.gov] right? You know, opposing the very kinds of action which would have prevented this whole debacle?
=Smidge=
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Rick Perry just announced that Texans should "just endure" the power failure in order to keep Federal Regulation at bay.
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I guess it is more a problem of "building codes" as you call it.
If I confine myself to a single room and close the door, it hardly can get so cold inside (without any heating) that it is dangerous. But well, I live in a ca. 150 year old house with a half a meter thick solid stone walls and 2 layer glass windows + blinds.
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Re: Just Europe? (Score:2)
"Yep...if only the wind turbines didn't freeze over."
Costs only 5% more to prevent this. If you can't find the citation with google just ask and I will post it later when I get home. But I will also see how easy it is to find and if it was very easy I will mock you relentlessly.
Texas is the only state without federal regulation (Score:4, Informative)
Trouble is, govt interference in free market is largely responsible for this....
Nope. You missed the point: Texas is the only state that does not have federal regulation of the electrical utilities.
https://www.star-telegram.com/... [star-telegram.com]
https://www.statesman.com/stor... [statesman.com]
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The power plants(all types not just wind) in Texas were not built to handle the cold conditions.
Does that seem like an intelligent thing to do? We keep seeing these infrastructures that are not built to handle known stressors. It doesn't get cold that often in Texas, but there is plenty of historical data that they could expect cold weather at times.
And do they actually have turbines designed for warm weather only? I mean they have wind turbine power in Antarctica that probably need special lubricants. But damn - hard to imagine that running wind turbines with regular lubricants weren't warm enoug
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It would cost $900 to fully charge a Tesla in TX today with the current spot energy prices.
I would love to see the math and sources on this. What are the spot energy prices that you were/are working from, and what are the numbers on the capacity, charging efficiency, etc. that you used to get $900?
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Re:Just Europe? (Score:5, Informative)
Tesla is providing free charging during this emergency. Tesla owners are sleeping in their cars to keep warm. Teslas have a "camp mode" which keeps the heat on and puts a nice campfire on the screen. The big battery can heat the car for days.
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And who cares?
Households do not pay spot market prices.
Only people/organizations who buy on the spot market do.
And that means: they did not make a contract beforehand, oops, so simple.
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And who cares?
Households do not pay spot market prices.
Only people/organizations who buy on the spot market do.
And that means: they did not make a contract beforehand, oops, so simple.
Except in Texas, their deregulated electricity provider is now asking to charge people more [9cache.com] because they, ERCOT, want to buy natural gas on the spot market, whereas before they shut electricity down so they wouldn't lose money by having to buy on the spot market.
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It would cost $900 to fully charge a Tesla in TX today with the current spot energy prices.
In one article I read, it indicated Texans pay 12 cents per kilowatt hour. I had to make sure I wasn't misreading that number because in the Mid-Atlantic state I reside, I'm paying 4.9 cents. And I get to choose who provides that electricity to get the lowest rate possible.
They like to brag everything is bigger in Texas. Apparently that includes their electric bills.
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It would cost $900 to fully charge a Tesla in TX today with the current spot energy prices.
Ah the glorious unfettered free market at its finest. Profit in the wake of disaster. Profit over people lives themselves.
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Tesla is providing free charging in Texas during this emergency.
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FUD
Tesla announced they they are offering free charging during the climate emergency in Texas.
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Tesla charging is free now in Texas. Tesla owners are sleeping in their cars to keep warm. The big battery provides days of heat in "camp mode" (and also includes a campfire on the screen).
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Oddly enough Tesla is building a huge factory in Texas. So to they can make electric cars and trucks in bulk. Chances are other electric car makers may gravitate to that area to find workers more easily. Kinda how Silicon Valley is for Tech, Austin Texas may be a hub for electric cars, Probably at the expense of Detroit.
The Specs on Electric Trucks that are planned to be in production from Tesla, Ford, GM, Rivian, Lordstown, to be released in the next few years, are actually very impressive compared to
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Wait until Texas finds out Tesla makes its profits from tax credits, and not automobiles.
And those tax credits, i.e. carbon offsets, have gone away. Tesla even admitted on its last conference call they can't predict where they'll be this year without those offsets.
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They pretty much canceled all cars in US (Score:3)
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How about.... Texas?
Ba-dump-bump
Sounds great - won't work. Texas has shown that their electrical system is not up to the task - very fragile. And strange - they are blaming it on Wind turbines. Our hundreds of Wind Turbines along the Allegheny escarpment in PA are running great - and they get worse weather there all winter than Texas has ever had. And just kept running through a nice thick ice storm a couple days ago. Go figure.
Re: Just Europe? (Score:2, Troll)
First .. world ... country . . .
Rolling blackouts ... with blackouts . . .
Jesus fucking Christ, what is this? Rural Mauretania?
Why aren't you up in arms, on the streets, walking towards your nearest power station? What use is your second amendment, if you can't even make them build you a reliable grid?
I know for you this is every day life. But like an abusd child, it's good to tell it from time to time, that what it is going through is not normal, and not acceptable, and tell it what its rights are and what
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Work on their reliability issues and they can have it.
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They are reliable cars, in terms of getting you from point A to point B. No they are not perfect, but neither is a Toyota. Most of the Consumer Reports Problems with Tesla is usually due to cosmetic issues, and some fit and finish issues that they need to get Tesla to fix.
It is one of the side effect of not having a dealer model, vs the actual car build. Often when a car is sent to the dealer, they will make some minor adjustments so it would be presentable to the buyer.
Re: It's unpossible (Score:2)
In other words: Sloppy work. And no, I do not let you tell me that somehow is only the case for the visible parts.
If you cannot even align body panels without gaps, I'm sure as hell not trusting your seals and bearings.
And ... Huge touch screen in the middle of the car... The mother of all unprofessionalist flashy consumer trash... That really says it all.
Re: It's unpossible (Score:2)
Most cars sold in America have plenty of bad gaps. There are exceptions, like say Audi, only they can't build a reliable car worth a fuck so who cares?
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Yes. This is because of future bans on ICE cars in Europe. You might as well say that Tesla jumped on the Prius bandwagon.
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Compared to what?
I have a Camry Hybrid. While it's true that the mileage gains are biggest in stop-start city driving, the hybrid will beat the conventional Camry on a freeway cruise as well because the engine is tuned for maximum economy and can use the electric motor to compensate for the loss of (conventional) power.
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Agreed. Tesla showed that yes, people will buy an electric car. Now here at slashdot nobody would be caught dead driving a Tesla for some reason. You know with those weekly 600 mile road trips and hauling tons of cargo daily a Tesla would be useless!
It's an exciting time for energy technology but slashdot is way behind the times. Go back 15 years and say that you will be able to buy an electric car that runs Linux. People here would be losing their goddamn minds lining up to buy one.
Now its like oh fuck tha
I was agreeing with Elon Musk (Score:2)
> Now its like oh fuck that company and their electric bullshit.
I don't have a problem with the company or their car.
I simply agree with Elon Musk that the stock valuation is completely ridiculous. It assumes that Tesla will soon be larger than the entire automotive industry - with certainty. No discount for the possiblity that might not happen, or for the fact that it'll be a while if it ever happens.
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Well, for me, the "for some reason" is the price tag.
Depending on model, you're looking at $40K minimum.
I won't pay that for a car that doesn't come with a chauffeur....
Tesla long term costs lower than many think (Score:2)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/g... [forbes.com]
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A chauffeur costs more than $40,000 per year.
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Tesla fixed that last year by using a heat pump instead of resistive heating.
https://thedriven.io/2020/03/1... [thedriven.io]
You have any more tired arguments?
Re: It's unpossible (Score:2)
They buy a new car in like five years anyway, if history is any indication.
Lithium batteries fine in the cold. (Score:2)
What happens to an EV's range in 0 degree temperatures?
Well given that people are using cars for heaters right now it probably reduces the mileage. On the plus side there is no CO poisoning.
Given the Teslas lithium based batteries they are probably just fine. Note for really hot and really cold environment people switch to lithium batteries in flashlights and other items. Plus no leaks.
Re: It's unpossible (Score:2)
Stock exchanges...
PROTIP: One day, all your products will be gone, and you will notice that you cannot drive stock.
PROTIP2: Tesla is used by the gambers as a Ponzi scheme. The stock has almost no relation to the actual business. Might aswell call Flappy Bird the best game of the year in whenever that was all the rage.
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Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Jaguar I-Pace, Audi e-tron, Porsche Taycan, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Polestar 2, Volkswagen ID.4, Volkswagen ID.3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mini Electric, Kia Niro EV, BMW i3, Hyundai Kona Electric, Hyundai Ioniq Electric...
We actually have a good set of electric models not from Tesla to choose from, if you don't like Tesla. However Tesla is currently ahead about 5 years in technology compared to the others. Better batteries range and electronics.
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It's just corporate virtue-signalling at its best.
I plan on winning the lottery by 2030.
Right, their past decision to pretty much cancel the entire US car line except for the Mustang is totally unrelated. And they are releases a electric "Mustang". Just a coincidence.
Re: It's unpossible (Score:2)
I plan on selling you tickets until then. :)
Hey Softbank! Disruptive unicorn start-up right here! :P
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And what are we? Chopped liver?
Ford doesn't sell cars in the US anymore. They only sell trucks and things that are treated like trucks by regulators. Have you seen the new Mustang? The other models that were cars are all being discontinued in the US market.
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Ford convinced all the idiots that spending $40k on a base model truck is normal. No wonder they scaling back passenger cars when this cash cow shows no signs of slowing down. You can park a 1/4 ton pickup from the 1990s in the bed of a current F150 today.
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The road to hell is paved with good intentions. (And I guess we'll be driving there in hybrids.)
Re:Guess I better get that Miata now... (Score:4, Insightful)
This is a Fox News talking point. Gasoline powered vehicles will be banned and Biden is sending Kamala out to rough anyone up who doesn't install solar panels on their roof. You still using whale oil for illumination?
Whale oil for illumination and calories (Score:2)
You still using whale oil for illumination?
Yes, it doubles as a great cold weather food when the wind turbines ice over. The best things have multiple uses. ;-)
Re: Guess I better get that Miata now... (Score:2)
He probably does! ;)
Gotta see what you're doing when cleaning your teeth with a white rhino horn toothpick!
I need new glasses (Score:2)
I read the first line as:
Guess I better get that new 1080p miata now...
Who knew that Mazdas were now available in high definition?
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No need to buy it now. In 10 years time you'll be able to pick up used petrol cars for their scrap metal price because nobody else will want them.
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"Civilized Society" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
What happened in 1973?
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Jesus, you don't know WTF google is?
OPEC shuts the spigot on the western world for helping Israel
Nixon unhooked the US dollar from the gold standard and turned into a third-world fiat currency, just as bullshit as monopoly money. Instant 10% devaluation.
We lost Vietnam, because we chose to back the wrong people.
The DEA was formed, yay, more wasted money and ruined lives over weed.
Watergate
Also, 1973 is the last year wages tracked with GDP. AFter that, wages stayed flat, GDP went up, but the 1%er's wages
The US Gov't will force a buyback or confiscate (Score:2)
Guess I better get that new 180hp miata now... before all petrol cars are banned.
You assume the US gov't won't outlaw ICU use without a special permit that is may grant not shall grant, rather than simply ban new sales. You might also assume that the US gov't would ignore ICU as the market voluntarily moves to electric. The handful of remaining historical ICUs being irrelevant. But such things assume a rational US gov't not one on a political crusade.
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On the contrary... recent weather events in Texas are making me reconsider my plans to wait on setting up a full backup battery in my garage, to go along with my electric car and solar array. It would be a hell of a comfort to have electricity plus the ability to fuel up your vehicle (gas pumps don't work without electricity) while everyone else is scrambling for blankets and huddling in closets. It also gives you options - an electric car with an inverter is a hell of a backup battery all on its own.
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All Electric = broken-ass grid, blackouts, pandemonium. ... silly Americans.
Obviously you charge at night, at home, when your grid only uses/produces about ~50% of the power as during daytime
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Guess I better get that new 180hp miata now... before all petrol cars are banned.
Why? So you can be embarrassed at the pissweak car you bought when you get smoked by an EV off the line? I don't understand what people's fascination is about petrol engines. I thought you people liked speed and power, yet you actively backing a weaker poorer technology with a crappy weight distribution and a horrible torque curve.
I refuse to buy into this hysteria. The energy has to come from somewhere. All Electric = broken-ass grid, blackouts, pandemonium.
LOL. It's precisely hysteria you're buying into. Certainly nothing in your post resembles engineering, judgement or knowledge.