Today, would you buy an EV vehicle.

[ultrarunner]

One simple storage is pumping water back to hydro plants for peak demand release…

For production a series of turbines as elevation falls has been used in smaller projects.

 

[ljjhouser]

One simple storage is pumping water back to hydro plants for peak demand release…

For production a series of turbines as elevation falls has been used in smaller projects.

We have that here in Missouri. It is a 1.5 billion gallon on top of Proffit Mtn., about 90 miles south of St. Louis. It is called Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Plant. The reservoir looks like a concrete lake that you could ski on. In 2005, there was a failure and breached the walls, flooding the Black river and all of Johnson Shut-ins park. Rebuilt and reopened in 2010.
The description:

The Taum Sauk plant is an open-loop pure pumped operation: unlike some other pumped storage sites, there is no natural primary flow into the upper reservoir available for generation. It is therefore a net consumer of electricity; the laws of thermodynamics dictate that more power is used to pump the water up the mountain than is generated when it comes down. However, the plant is still economical to operate because the upper reservoir is refilled at night, when the electrical generation system is running at low-cost baseline capacity. This ability to store huge amounts of energy led its operator to call Taum Sauk "the biggest battery that we have".[9] An unusual feature is the upper reservoir which is constructed on a flat surface, requiring a dam around the entire perimeter.

While still economical, it may not be so if and when night time ev charging causes a loaded grid and increases prices to match daylight electrical use costs.

 

[goeduck]

^^^^ What goes up must come down.

 

[lman]

^^^^ What goes up must come down.

Still waiting for the price of fuel to come down.

 

[RoyJackson]

Still waiting for the price of fuel to come down.

It will, but probably not for a couple years...

 

[goeduck]

Still waiting for the price of fuel to come down.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that one

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

How much does it cost, to save money on gas?

Solar panels?
Power walls?
Plus the EV?

Sweet Jesus…

The Ford Lightning supposedly can power a home for several days…

For the low low price of $60k-$90k

Helluva way to save $5/gal on gas… especially when utilities are now increasing electric rates, in MI 50% increase during peak hours.

 

[jyoutz]

How much does it cost, to save money on gas?

Solar panels?
Power walls?
Plus the EV?

Sweet Jesus…

The Ford Lightning supposedly can power a home for several days…

For the low low price of $60k-$90k

Helluva way to save $5/gal on gas… especially when utilities are now increasing electric rates, in MI 50% increase during peak hours.

Just about any new Ford truck costs that much; gas, diesel, or electric.

 

[Jstpssng]

Just about any new Ford truck costs that much; gas, diesel, or electric.

It doesn't have to cost that, though. Base price on any of the big three pickups is around 30K. A 4WD 3/4 ton from those same manufacturers is under 40; which is also where the Lightening starts. It's your choice to jack up the price by adding all sorts of options, yet the truck won't last one mile longer than the base truck.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Just about any new Ford truck costs that much; gas, diesel, or electric.

Which is why I don’t buy new. If $5 gas is an issue to someone, they aren’t either.

 

[jyoutz]

Which is why I don’t buy new. If $5 gas is an issue to someone, they aren’t either.

I still have my 2007 Dodge Cummins.

 

[jyoutz]

It doesn't have to cost that, though. Base price on any of the big three pickups is around 30K. A 4WD 3/4 ton from those same manufacturers is under 40; which is also where the Lightening starts. It's your choice to jack up the price by adding all sorts of options, yet the truck won't last one mile longer than the base truck.

Very true, but it’s difficult to find a base truck on any dealers lot.

 

[Jstpssng]

Very true, but it’s difficult to find a base truck on any dealers lot.

I would rather order one and wait a few months than spend 50-60% more for addons which I don't need. Granted that's hard in today's market.

 

[California]

Kelly Blue Book data shows that the average transaction price for a full-size truck in January 2022 is just over $59,000.

I guess the Tesla model Y I've been considering that increased to $65k recently, isn't as unusual as I had thought. But so far, my 16 and 23 year old cars haven't given me an excuse to replace either of them.

 

[Jstpssng]

Kelly Blue Book data shows that the average transaction price for a full-size truck in January 2022 is just over $59,000.

I guess the Tesla model Y I've been considering that increased to $65k recently, isn't as unusual as I had thought. But so far, my 16 and 23 year old cars haven't given me an excuse to replace either of them.

I wish that I could say that. On this side of the world a car of that age is generally rusted out. 15 years seems to be the best that I can make them last, and that takes an effort.

 

[JasperFrank]

Can't at least one company, breakout from the bean counters, and give us what we want. Are we so small a population that it doesn't matter? A modular 125 HP truck that we can fix easily and inexpensively with NO creature comfort, no bells and whistles at all? Is there no money in this?

 

[California]

[...my 16 and 23 year old cars haven't given me an excuse to replace either of them.] I wish that I could say that. On this side of the world a car of that age is generally rusted out. 15 years seems to be the best that I can make them last, and that takes an effort.

California cars from the dry Central Valley. No rust at all. The 1999 Subaru Outback at 150k miles has done a half-dozen ski trips up to the snow and went to the car wash for underside pressure wash after each one. No salted roads aside from that. The Focus Wagon has never seen salt.

Both look great and run like new. 10k mile oil changes, the Focus is down a half quart at that point and the Subaru has consumed a top-up quart. For years now I've expected to replace one of these but so far I can't justify it.

Edit: I was looking for something else and found a photo I posted here in 2005. Both look the same today.

 

[Torvy]

Can't at least one company, breakout from the bean counters, and give us what we want. Are we so small a population that it doesn't matter? A modular 125 HP truck that we can fix easily and inexpensively with NO creature comfort, no bells and whistles at all? Is there no money in this?

The bean counters are there for the stockholders. Ordinary people own most stock, despite what pop culture suggests. Ordinary stockholders want the best return on investment they can get for their money. If company A makes a product that has an equilibrium price of $100k and another product with an equilibrium price of $50k, the margin % is likely close to the same. That means twice as much money available to sell the more expensive product. That yields more ROI for stockholders and management keeps their jobs. Ford is not competing just with other auto makers. If they don't make a good ROI, investors will move their money to a company or industry that will. Ultimately, it is the consumers that drive the market. If people don't buy a product that is ridiculously priced, the price will come down.

I feel your pain. I want a specific type of truck. 4wd w/ext cab and normal sized bed. The market is for double-cabs with short beds. Maybe 1 in 10 used trucks even meets my basic requirements. Unlike most people, I can wait years to get exactly what I want. Sometimes it hurts a bit and sometimes my home boss vetoes my decisions, but I usually get what I want for the price I am willing to pay...or I go without.

 

[Jstpssng]

The bean counters are there for the stockholders. Ordinary people own most stock, despite what pop culture suggests. Ordinary stockholders want the best return on investment they can get for their money. If company A makes a product that has an equilibrium price of $100k and another product with an equilibrium price of $50k, the margin % is likely close to the same. That means twice as much money available to sell the more expensive product. That yields more ROI for stockholders and management keeps their jobs. Ford is not competing just with other auto makers. If they don't make a good ROI, investors will move their money to a company or industry that will. Ultimately, it is the consumers that drive the market. If people don't buy a product that is ridiculously priced, the price will come down.

I feel your pain. I want a specific type of truck. 4wd w/ext cab and normal sized bed. The market is for double-cabs with short beds. Maybe 1 in 10 used trucks even meets my basic requirements. Unlike most people, I can wait years to get exactly what I want. Sometimes it hurts a bit and sometimes my home boss vetoes my decisions, but I usually get what I want for the price I am willing to pay...or I go without.

The other problem is that we keep buying them. When vehicle shopping, nobody wants to wait for a special order; we want it now, so are willing to pay for things we don't need. Then there's FMC... to get one popular option such as cruise you need to buy a package with all sorts of other garbage, which may add 2K or more to the price.