Battery based electric vehicles of today and tomorrow.

[Gale Hawkins]

How dangerous are burning electric cars?

It is good to see this testing being done so emergency workers and interested parties have this research data.

 

[PuffyC]

I dont believe EVs should be subsidized. I believe free markets should battle it out and let the winner earn our business.

Honest question but do you feel that way about all subsidies or just those for EVs?

 

[txdon]

Honest question but do you feel that way about all subsidies or just those for EVs?

Subsidies are activated to produce demand. With number of people on the EV waiting lists in the hundreds of thousands the subsidy incentives are not needed.
It’s not a done deal yet. The subsidies bill still need to face a full vote in the Senate and the House of Representatives, but the waiting list still grows, so it is really not needed.

 

[PuffyC]

Subsidies are activated to produce demand. With number of people on the EV waiting lists in the hundreds of thousands the subsidy incentives are not needed.

Maybe demand is so high because of the subsidies? Personally I have no major problem with subsidies although that's really just a first cousin to socialism IMO. I was mostly curious if people were against all subsidies or if there's something about EV subsidies in particular people didn't like. One could argue that new, emerging technologies need subsidies the most, while established industries like farming and oil should be able to stand on their own two feet at some point.

 

[kenmbz]

For nuclear power, They don't build new plants since they can't take the higher load of spent fuel in any of the current dumps.
This needs to be the focus before building new plants, and no one wants to spend for this as coal is cheaper and except for the filters, mostly dissipates and doesn't need huge, secure, underground dumps.

EV production will drive more oil/coal fired plants and hopefully more solar. But solar and wind have maintenance and replacement issues over time, like dams and hydro.

 

[txdon]

Maybe demand is so high because of the subsidies? Personally I have no major problem with subsidies although that's really just a first cousin to socialism IMO. I was mostly curious if people were against all subsidies or if there's something about EV subsidies in particular people didn't like. One could argue that new, emerging technologies need subsidies the most, while established industries like farming and oil should be able to stand on their own two feet at some point.

The new subsidies have not been passed so IF the demand is only because of the subsidies it is only speculation at this point. All prior subsidies have been limited by number of sales and the waiting lists are too longer for that. Comparing EV subsidies to other entities enters the political realm and we should probably stay clear of that discussion here because we do not want this interesting thread shut down.

 

[cqaigy2]

For nuclear power, They don't build new plants since they can't take the higher load of spent fuel in any of the current dumps.
This needs to be the focus before building new plants, and no one wants to spend for this as coal is cheaper and except for the filters, mostly dissipates and doesn't need huge, secure, underground dumps.

EV production will drive more oil/coal fired plants and hopefully more solar. But solar and wind have maintenance and replacement issues over time, like dams and hydro.

It looks like some good tech can be added to most fossil fuel generation to reduce pollution even further, including co2, but we're still stuck with extraction issues. Even locally, one can see where small coal mining area was "reclaimed" and it still looks like heck with some greenery. I can only just imagine what those mine in the east look like after they've pushed a mountain top into all the local water drainages.

There are some "new" methods that could be used in nuclear power plants that would produce a fraction of the waste the current legal method. There will have to be some laws changed to use them though.

 

[k0ua]

I am seriously considering a 2022 Ford f150 Lightening truck next year to replace my wife's truck; I've read the hype and the ads, what are your guys opinions?

Possibly look at the you tube vids comparing the cybertruck with the lightening. Seems the cybertruck will have a lot more performance for actually less money. The $40,000 is just a bait and switch offer. As far as looks goes the Ford looks better (possibly because we are conditioned to think that is what a truck should look like), but the cybertruck delivers more for less.

 

[airbiscuit]

Coal is dead. Every year, more coal fired plants are taken OUT of service. Renewables will continue to grow, and if fossil fuel generation is needed, it will be cheaper cleaner natural gas. RIP Dirty Coal.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Elon Musk is ok with new nuclear power plants as long as not built on the ocean beaches or fault lines.

On EV rebate reasoning (if there is any) it may be to try prevent the massive down sizing of Ford and GM by Chinese firms. BYD just picked up a Mercedes account selling them the EV Blade Battery technology. Toyota has decided to jump into the world of EVs by doing a joint venture with BYD for their skate board chassis loaded their EV Blade Battery technology.

BYD and Tesla are the only world class EV makers with BYD being more diverse.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Those are all good questions and thoughts.
My hours are, for lack of a better term, are crazy. Yes, I have worked late into the night and then may have the following day "off", but use it to make repairs, pick up parts, etc. Honestly, I dont know what the range on a hypothetical "Ram 5500 electric truck" would be? What would it be towing 40,000lbs? I would need to know top make an informed decision. My typical day for delivering mulch hay would be 2 or 3 loads travel distance is only about 15 miles each way, so even a 200 mile range would work. Delivering feed hay, I could drive as far as 75 miles each way, so again, a 200 mile rage would be enough.
I would say if itll tow heavy for 300 miles on a 8hr charge, I could make it work-maybe be a buyer, but 500 would be way better. My current Ram 5500 range on a full tank of diesel is 500-700 miles (50 gallons @ 10-15 MPG). Refuels in 5 minutes.
However, I don't see the range of 500 miles or more happening for a while. I would think the first models might be 200 miles. At 200 miles, I could get most any day of work done, but would need a full recharge. How long would that take?
BTW: I have a Jeep Rubicon for running around. Wife & kids have vehicles

To comment on a subject I know very little about, I suspect towing with a battery would be hard on the battery because of increased current and heat. I suspect towing would shorten the battery life; how much it would affect battery life I don't know. Just a guess here. If I were planning on heavy towing, I would also be planning on a diesel or large gasser.

If I were looking for a tow rig that would run forever, I fantasize about converting a V10 to propane. I bet you could get a million miles out of that engine, no problem. Does Ford even make a V10 any more?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Coal is dead. Every year, more coal fired plants are taken OUT of service. Renewables will continue to grow, and if fossil fuel generation is needed, it will be cheaper cleaner natural gas. RIP Dirty Coal.

Where’s the thumbs down button? Coal plants are best!!

 

[Chewwy]

There are some "new" methods that could be used in nuclear power plants that would produce a fraction of the waste the current legal method. There will have to be some laws changed to use them though.

What are these new methods that you are referring to. I worked in the nuclear power industry for over 40 years. I find this just as believable as “to cheap to meter.”

 

[Larry Caldwell]

What are these new methods that you are referring to. I worked in the nuclear power industry for over 40 years. I find this just as believable as “to cheap to meter.”

Thorium-based nuclear power - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[3930dave]

If I were looking for a tow rig that would run forever, I fantasize about converting a V10 to propane. I bet you could get a million miles out of that engine, no problem. Does Ford even make a V10 any more?

IIRC, the V10 carried on for a while in the cutaways, but I'd have to look again to see if it's still there.

P/U gas big-block is now the 7.3. The 6.2L has a factory propane/NG prep option (different valve seats), but I haven't seen that option listed yet for the 7.3L.

That new 7.3 is a great engine, but I could make do with a 6.2L on propane just fine.

Rgds, D.

 

[Hay Dude]

To comment on a subject I know very little about, I suspect towing with a battery would be hard on the battery because of increased current and heat. I suspect towing would shorten the battery life; how much it would affect battery life I don't know. Just a guess here. If I were planning on heavy towing, I would also be planning on a diesel or large gasser.

If I were looking for a tow rig that would run forever, I fantasize about converting a V10 to propane. I bet you could get a million miles out of that engine, no problem. Does Ford even make a V10 any more?

Well, they better figure out how to solve those battery problems, because it isn’t fair saying I’m polluting the environment with diesel truck and not giving me an electric “clean” , non-deplorable option.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Well, they better figure out how to solve those battery problems, because it isn’t fair saying I’m polluting the environment with diesel truck and not giving me an electric “clean” , non-deplorable option.

I sympathize with your quest for perfection, but they're way too late. If they had done a Manhattan Project sized effort 30 years ago, they may have saved the planet. You would do better to concentrate on how to survive crop failures, famines, raging pandemics, droughts, floods, and lethal heat waves. Meanwhile, EVs promise to be reliable and cheap to operate if all you need is a commuter car or in-town utility pickup truck.

 

[/pine]

I sympathize with your quest for perfection, but they're way too late. If they had done a Manhattan Project sized effort 30 years ago, they may have saved the planet. You would do better to concentrate on how to survive crop failures, famines, raging pandemics, droughts, floods, and lethal heat waves. Meanwhile, EVs promise to be reliable and cheap to operate if all you need is a commuter car or in-town utility pickup truck.

That is what man has been doing from the beginning...How do people get so gullible and naive that they are overcome by the Henny Penny syndrome...?

 

[Hay Dude]

I sympathize with your quest for perfection, but they're way too late. If they had done a Manhattan Project sized effort 30 years ago, they may have saved the planet. You would do better to concentrate on how to survive crop failures, famines, raging pandemics, droughts, floods, and lethal heat waves. Meanwhile, EVs promise to be reliable and cheap to operate if all you need is a commuter car or in-town utility pickup truck.

Quest for perfection? Enviromentalists are already vandalizing farming, construction, logging and mining equipment. Diesel powered trucks and equipment are routinely criticized and characterized on TV as polluting, even with DFP & DEF.
Do we have to accept that, with no viable alternative?
Do environmentalists realize people need to eat and have their Amazon packages delivered?
Ive heard “the world is going to end in 10 years” in the 1990’s, 2000’s, 2010’s and now 2020‘s unless we.............

 

[5030]

Elon Musk is ok with new nuclear power plants as long as not built on the ocean beaches or fault lines.

Musk is nothing more than an opportunist, existing on government handouts.

never argue with a greenie, they are always right, even when dead wrong.