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To: Blueflag

We love our 2015 plug in Fusion Energi hynrid.
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I bet you don’t live in the cold winter parts of the country where cold saps battery energy and salt/roads erode the vehicle’s metal undercarriage and wire connections. When the batteries need replacing, the car is worthless because the batteries exceed the used vehicle’s value. It’s a nice idea but a very expensive venture when factoring in the depreciation and travel range limitations.


42 posted on 11/08/2023 4:44:57 PM PST by iontheball
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To: iontheball

Obviously you don’t know what a hybrid is ...


49 posted on 11/08/2023 5:00:07 PM PST by TexasGator
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To: iontheball

I am ambivalent on EVs. If you want one, go for it. It’s a free market (other than the taxpayer subsidy!). As for the range issue - it’s a question of habit. There is a reason why Tesla invested heavily in a network of EV fast charging stations. And plenty more will come online at all kinds of locations. If you are going 300 miles or even farther, chances are you are going to make a stop and stretch or eat or break for nature every couple of hours. That would be the time to take 20-30 minutes to charge, a little longer than gasoline but at this point cheaper too. And the Tesla will map the locations for you, apparently, if you use their GPS it will tell you when it’s time to charge and where you may want to go to charge it up.

The new In-n-Out burger they just built near me has 4 charging stations and a rooftop solar panel patio. But I’m in sunny SoCal where it makes sense - the issue is storage of energy from the sun, or redirecting it back to the grid; and pulling energy from the plant on days when the sun doesn’t shine.

You make good points about cold climates and salted roads, no doubt about it. Another negative factor is maintenance. You are entirely dependent on the car maker for just about any replacement parts... and that is what it is - replacement. They seldom repair anything. Just swap it out like a piece of Lego. When the batteries go out with the warranty, it may no longer be worth it financially to replace them and may have to just throw the car away. And for that the government may sock you with a hazmat disposal fee to boot!


51 posted on 11/08/2023 5:04:56 PM PST by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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To: iontheball

Nope. We live in N GA. I left the Salt and snow in 1973.

Replacement battery for the plug in hybrid car is about ~$7500.

But at 135000 miles and 8 years later, the battery still gets my wife to/fr work (SHORT commute) daily.

Remember this car is a regular hybrid that also has a plug in battery. It’s THE best EV design for most people.

We have none of the published illusions about EVs. Trust me. EVs only make sense for the right use cases. They do NOT save you money on a total cost of ownership basis. They are very nice to drive ... effectively as a luxury purchase. Batteries MUST get cheaper and the charging infrastructure must improve by leaps and bounds.

I DO believe that Batteries will get cheaper as technology advances, and just like gas stations proliferated last century, so will charging spots.

But even so it’s probably a FIFTY year transition.

For now I’ll happily drive my 2012 F150 4x4 😉


122 posted on 11/09/2023 3:26:24 AM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur: ad ferre non, velit esse sine defensione)
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To: iontheball

One last point- our plug in hybrid will go about 650 miles ... on a full tank. My bladder will only go 200 or so 😉

We have no range anxiety.


123 posted on 11/09/2023 3:28:29 AM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur: ad ferre non, velit esse sine defensione)
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