Are Electric Cars Feasible in the Midwest?

gim wrote:

Aren’t most you guys using battery powered augers nowadays?

Seems slightly hypocritical to go with a battery power on things like augers but complain that EVs have no use or future.

Just sayin’

SPOT ON.
My question is why the hate for EV? I am not having any EV mandated or pushed down my throat, it is voluntary if i want to buy one. So, again my question is why the hate? Just dont buy one and shut up about it already.
EV are lithium batteries, like the lithium in your phone you are using to read this or possibly in your work tools. Now, someone will jump up and say bad comparison but last I checked, lithium is lithium.
Reminds me of the old man when they made unleaded gas…. you would have swore the end of the world was here and engines would never survive. back then, it was mandated you buy unleaded gas….. as of now, no mandates you have to buy a EV.

its not very environmentally friendly diggin for that lithium stuff……..

riverbassman wrote:

as of now, no mandates you have to buy a EV.

As of today yes, but look at what California has introduced. Good luck.

B-man wrote:

From what I’ve read the consensus is that it’s best to have a heated garage if you’re an EV owner.

People that don’t have one keep speculating that you should but plenty of people don’t have heated parking or keep one in a garage at all. For cold weather it may be necessary to have a level 2 / 240v charger though, a 120v charger might not be able to keep up with the battery warming.

B-man wrote:

From what I’ve read the consensus is that it’s best to have a heated garage if you’re an EV owner.

Best? Perhaps, but not necessary. My son doesnt have a heated garage and his does just fine.

glenn57 wrote:

its not very environmentally friendly diggin for that lithium stuff……..

That’s why we should stick to clean oil, that’s never had any negative environmental effects

Reef W wrote:

For cold weather it may be necessary to have a level 2 / 240v charger though, a 120v charger might not be able to keep up with the battery warming.

My sons builds a charge overnight when plugged in and he uses the lowest charge power due to worry about the wiring in the house. Even when he doesnt plug it in at night it only loses like 10 miles of range.

To the original OP question. I would say they must be as I see Teslas every day. Usually several.
Yet to see one dead on side of road.

CaptainMusky wrote:

IMO hybrids are the way to go for almost anyone. Unfortunately there are limited options especially for a truck or SUV. I actually don’t think there’s a truck made that is a hybrid besides the new tundra. The Silverado and Sierra or even the Hummer ev have a long range. Longer than a tank of gas in many trucks. But as you said how do you charge it on trips to Canada. The Ford lightning EV has been a complete failure.

F-150 has a powerboost drivetrain. Normal hybrid. 3.5 eco boost with an electric motor in the transmission. Been out for a couple years but wasn’t a large percentage of the overall f150 mix. For 2024 Ford wants them to be 25% of the F-150 mix. I’m going to try one. I’m in the biz and get in and out of new vehicles all the time so this will be a test. I’m assuming I’ll see no real difference in economy on the road but my city driving economy should improve a bit. They did cost more but ford put a package discount of $1900 on them to make the the same as a regular engine. Plus the residuals are better on a lease. My guess is they are trying to entice payment driven lease customers into these, as they lease out better than a gasser, in order to move the needle for the cafe standards.

Plus they come with the pro power onboard. So basically a built in generator.

I’ll report back if anyone is interested after I have it for a while. Should get it next month.

Yes, there are mandates in place. Yes, they will be overturned by the sensible people. Nonetheless, just listen to the experts on our grid system in the USA… no way, no how, they can get the grid ready by the mandated dates… which doesn’t matter once they are reversed. But yet, we have idiots mandating things that will never happen on their timeline. If you want an EV, go buy one. If you don’t want one, don’t buy one. If you don’t like them, that’s your prerogative, not anyone else. If you don’t want to debate the actual topic and just spew your wisdom and tell people to STFU… see your way out.

Reef W wrote:

People that don’t have one keep speculating that you should but plenty of people don’t have heated parking or keep one in a garage at all. For cold weather it may be necessary to have a level 2 / 240v charger though, a 120v charger might not be able to keep up with the battery warming.

Where are these mandates I must buy an EV? Here to debate the actual topic

riverbassman wrote:

Where are these mandates I must buy an EV? Here to debate the actual topic

Took .4 seconds to retrieve this. Try it. California is requiring that all NEW cars sold in 2035 and beyond are zero-emission vehicles which includes battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Took .4 seconds to retrieve this. Try it. California is requiring that all NEW cars sold in 2035 and beyond are zero-emission vehicles which includes battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles.

The notable “loophole” there is plugin hybrids. When the battery runs low on a plugin it just operates as a regular hybrid which runs as long as you keep putting gas in it.

Thanks Musky. California mandates everything and I know some States have followed their suit, but nowhere do I read a mandate saying I (personally) have to buy one by a certain date. I dont have time to be a google sleuth but last I read they were production and sales mandates, NOT one saying CaptainMusky or Riverbassman have to go buy one by a certain date. I could be wrong though.
On another note, did people take it this hard when EPA made emissions mandates to essentially get rid of carb motors? EFI? and 2-stroke marine motors in general?

If you’re going to buy a new car in CA after that date it will have to be electric. No idea if you can buy elsewhere and register in that state however, but as others have stated these will likely get repealed before then. No chance CA power grid can handle all that charging theyre already having issues.

Reef W wrote:

The notable “loophole” there is plugin hybrids. When the battery runs low on a plugin it just operates as a regular hybrid which runs as long as you keep putting gas in it.

I would get a hybrid no doubt. A plug in hybrid I dont think is necessary. A while back I spec’d out a new tundra loaded to the gills with hybrid and everything and it was less than my GMC which surprised me.

Dan Kane wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>CaptainMusky wrote:</div>
IMO hybrids are the way to go for almost anyone. Unfortunately there are limited options especially for a truck or SUV. I actually don’t think there’s a truck made that is a hybrid besides the new tundra. The Silverado and Sierra or even the Hummer ev have a long range. Longer than a tank of gas in many trucks. But as you said how do you charge it on trips to Canada. The Ford lightning EV has been a complete failure.

F-150 has a powerboost drivetrain. Normal hybrid. 3.5 eco boost with an electric motor in the transmission. Been out for a couple years but wasn’t a large percentage of the overall f150 mix. For 2024 Ford wants them to be 25% of the F-150 mix. I’m going to try one. I’m in the biz and get in and out of new vehicles all the time so this will be a test. I’m assuming I’ll see no real difference in economy on the road but my city driving economy should improve a bit. They did cost more but ford put a package discount of $1900 on them to make the the same as a regular engine. Plus the residuals are better on a lease. My guess is they are trying to entice payment driven lease customers into these, as they lease out better than a gasser, in order to move the needle for the cafe standards.

Plus they come with the pro power onboard. So basically a built in generator.

I’ll report back if anyone is interested after I have it for a while. Should get it next month.

Boss has been driving one for about 2 years. No issues from what he tells me. It does make my head turn when he drives by me close and there is hardly any noise.
He has a cabin hunts in South Dakota etc.
Not sure he has done much towing with it.

riverbassman wrote:

My question is why the hate for EV?

I don’t see the comments as hate. Just people simply pointing out some of the Obvious issues with them. Some of these issues are just now being found out by some EV owners. Just read some of the comments of people who are being effected by this in Chicago – Some rather not happy customers to say the least

That’s why we should stick to clean oil, that’s never had any negative environmental effects
[/quote] thats my point………….this EV crap is all about being Enviromentally green…… and its far from it……just gotta look past your nose a little bit.

There are significant issues with EVs… just like there are significant issues with relying on a couple countries and/or companies for our significant oil needs.

A horse a piece

Those that are extremely against EVs, what are your long term solution ideas for our dependence on the finite resource of oil?

ARE ELECTRIC CARS FEASIBLE IN THE MIDWEST?

This is the topic question. No. No they are not feasible in -10f weather. In Maui, if you have enough money to live there, unless you are homeless, you should be able to afford the power. Now if EVERYBODY had one on Island, the grid would collapse. They will figure them out and lithium may become a thing of the past… technology is constantly changing. That doesn’t mean, it won’t work, it just means there is more work to do to get there. For a politician to wave his wand and proclaim mandates, is just dumb. I am sure those with insight to what the EV plans were, bought the right stocks, dumped the wrong ones and made a boatload of money with the mandates.

big_g wrote:

No. No they are not feasible in -10f weather.

Is this debating the topic or just spewing your wisdom? Seems like a debate would have some kind of point or supporting argument

Just spewing my opinion…. why so negative always ? Did you see the story in Chicago with the chargers and all the happy EV people ?

You edit like CNN

big_g wrote:

You edit like CNN

Oh, sorry, was the Maui stuff about the original question?

My dad has a brand new hybrid f-150.

Hybrids are a completely different animal and are not what this thread is about.

They are self-reliant by directly burning fossil fuels.

They offer a small gain in MPG. In his case, it’s 3mpg better.

They also cost substantially more, but subsidies (socialism) make the price “appear” that there’s no more to it than any other truck.

Back to EV’s. Do they make sense for the average Joe in the Midwest?

What happened to the Ford Lightning??? Why is production being cut in half???

Biggill, how is your all electric vehicle performing this winter? Do you charge at home? Do you charge it cold or in a heated garage? What do you see for mileage range when it’s cold?

I don’t “hate” the idea of EV’s. I just don’t think they make a lot of sense for a lot of people.

Yes, Maui is the perfect place for EV’s… Cali too. They can handle rolling blackouts in January, unlike the midwest.

B-man wrote:

My dad has a brand new hybrid f-150.

Hybrids are a completely different animal and are not what this thread is about.

They are self-reliant by directly burning fossil fuels.

They offer a small gain in MPG. In his case, it’s 3mpg better.

They also cost substantially more, but subsidies (socialism) make the price “appear” that there’s no more to it than any other truck.

Back to EV’s. Do they make sense for the average Joe in the Midwest? I fail to see how.

What happened to the Ford Lightning??? Why is production being cut in half???

Biggill, how is your all electric vehicle performing this winter? Do you charge at home? Do you charge it cold or in a heated garage?

I don’t “hate” the idea of EV’s. I just don’t think they make a lot of sense for a lot of people.

I don’t think the average Joe necessarily drives a pickup.
Again Teslas are everywhere in the metro area.
I’m not really for or against just see a lot of them now and have never noticed one stranded on the side of a road.
I guess I look at them like a diesel pickup. Not exactly for the average Joe either but they serve a certain purpose.
What ever floats a guys boat or um drives them to and from.

big_g wrote:

Yes, Maui is the perfect place for EV’s… Cali too. They can handle rolling blackouts in January, unlike the midwest.

Did you see the alert that went out for Albertan’s the last few days?

They advised people to stop using their stoves and to cook with their microwaves…you know…to save electricity

https://www.alberta.ca/aea/cap/2024/01/13/2024-01-13T18_44_42-07_00=AlbertaEmergencyManagementAgency=1489313F-98D9-4737-8FA1-E84EB73520EC.htm

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I was in Chicago last weekend from Friday-Monday and spent some time downtown. Yes, I saw plenty of Teslas sitting idle at a couple of charging stations. Poor buggers, I guess you should try to keep them at or above 50% if you plan on driving in rush hour traffic when it’s -10 degrees out. I guess you could plan on wearing a snowmobile suit and not run the heater to preserve the battery life to get to your final destination.

Let’s pull all of our tax subsidies (for those who actually pay in) going towards the charging stations and the vehicle purchase itself and let’s see if they can survive on there own.
I don’t recall getting a $ rebate for my Milwaukee battery operated tools or my lithium boat battery…