Posted on 03/06/2021 8:12:26 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT
Volkswagen says the ID.4 is their most important vehicle launch since the Beetle. That's big shoes to fill! This long-range all electric vehicle is competing in a highly sought after market, and America's latest crave: the crossover. The ID.4 features 250 miles of range with a 82 kWh battery pack (77 kWh useable), 201 HP and 229 lb-ft of torque, and RWD. The permanent magnet synchronous motor spins up to 16,000 RPM!
It all sounds very exciting, but unfortunately the ID.4 feels like it has come a bit short on the promise of bring "electric cars to the millions, not the millionaires." Even with the $7,500 tax credit, the starting price of nearly $40,000 is still a tad high. Especially considering the AWD variants will easily push to $50k with options. But the bigger disappointments come from the current charging system: Electrify America. You'd think charging and navigating a VW on VW's own funded and created network would be seamless, but for now, it's anything but. Check out the video for all the details.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
Sorry.
I would also caution against cheering for "self-driving cars". Our eminently trustable government will see a wonderful opportunity for stepping in with "safety standards" which will unify the control network to allow uniform intra-vehicle safety, such as ensuring proper distances between vehicles, guiding vehicles along alternate roadways to free up congestion and of, course limiting speed to the approved upper speed limits.
Naturally, the government will improve things as the camel's nose fits under the tent: due to "climate change", these well-controlled self-driving cars will be prevented from driving at all if you have had a Bad Record for traffic violations or you have exceeded your "carbon limit" (which they will define for us) or anything else they feel like. Your self-driving car won't be allowed to drive on certain routes when they pull the switch and likely won't even start if you haven't enough passengers or all vehicle driving is denied (such as you QAnon membership is discovered).
Remember - the Constitution doesn't guarantee any "freedom of movement", does it?
Well when the woke folks make it mandatory .....
You can see the statist trajectory....if you make gasoline expensive enough via oil pricing and taxes and fees...the electric route becomes the better choice, even if it’s inferior to what we have now.
Current charging port 'standards':
We had a couple of Jettas long ago. One of them required a quart of oil with every fill-up.
The many plastic parts in the interior all broke off.
Worst pieces of junk we ever bought. At least Jetta #2 was good for teaching the kids how to drive.
I can visualize folks driving in sub-zero weather in WI/MI/MN with no heater or desert heat in AZ/NM/TX etc with no A/C since it’d be a huge drain on the batteries. Then too, I read where you’ll have to change out the batteries every so often for around $5,000 plus disposal fees.
We will be like the East Germans who only had a choice of the Trabant.
There are two kinds of Tesla drivers.
Ones with a good charge are typically very aggressive in traffic using that instant torque to zip through traffic.
And then you’ll see a $100,000 car on the interstate limping at 40mph in the right lane trying to make it to the next charging station.
Wonder how long it takes to fully charge one of them.
These electric vehicles need to come with a gasoline powered apu for heat/air and emergency power generation. Yes it defeates some of the purpose but it does make it much more practical.
Wolkswagon
I mean Wokeswagon.
What’s the backstory on this?
This doesn’t seem too far away from where are currently at right now. Next 5 to 10 years, or is it closer to 2-5 years?
I just think hybrids should be the standard not full electric. Hybrid pickup trucks that get 40-50 mpg would be great.
—”EVs take a long time to charge, compared to good old gas-powered cars and their range is necessarily less.”
Every day there are new faster charging times but makes little difference to me, because I like to sleep at night.
—”I would also caution against cheering for “self-driving cars”.”
All of what you suggest is currently being implemented by any means they can glom on to.
The power source has little to do with government regs.
I see what you did there :)
Agreed, but they seem to be moving away from hybrids to only electric. Electric only vehicles wont fly in places with cold winters.
Not totally certain, but I believe the max rate of charge is controlled by the car? And how much you choose to spend$$$
The connectors are a problem. Interesting I think the Euros have come close to nailing it down?
Charging is the choke point for EV use in the city where they would work very well.
On-street parking and charging without an armed guard are destined to fail.
Yes, power is theoretically available at every lamppost; and the city has thousands of thieves that will chop your charging cable off in the blink of an eye.
Wireless charging? That is a good laugh.
Energy loss with wireless charging? The ICE is looking better...Transmission efficiency and conversion efficiencies... It is a wonder any electrons make it to the battery?
Add in city approval for everything and everything, sticky fingers everywhere... the money goes in and disappears?
City dwellers do not stand a chance, and that is where the market is strongest.
—”These electric vehicles need to come with a gasoline powered apu”
BMW i3 has exactly that!
They call it a range extender.
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