Posted on 07/24/2021 9:01:09 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
He developed gasoline engines for family sedans as well as thunderous Nascar racing machines.
By last year, though, the excitement was gone. His projects were no longer about advancing the engine, just nursing along existing technology. All the buzz had shifted to electric vehicles. In December, Mr. Penkevich took early retirement at age 59.
“It’s been a fun ride,” said engineer Dave Lancaster, who spent 40 years working in engine development at General Motors Co. “But I think we’re coming into the homestretch for the conventional engine.”
Over the past several decades, auto makers in most years rolled out between 20 and 70 new engines globally, according to research firm IHS Markit. That number will fall below 10 this year, and then essentially go to zero, the research firm said.
“We don’t want to be left making the best buggy whips,”
For the UAW to prevail, workers would have to vote yes, and wages likely would be far lower than at a car factory. Other battery plants typically pay $15 to $18 an hour, compared with a top hourly wage of around $30 for a UAW-represented worker at an assembly plant.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
So great it is mandated by government and massive subsidies are required.
—” he said the current grid can’t even come close to providing enough electricity to replace fossil fuels.”
At some far-off point with the current build.
—” he said the current grid can’t even come close to providing enough electricity to replace fossil fuels.”
At some far-off point with the current build.
A co-worker recently got solar panels here in southern California. I think it was 14 panels and 4700kw and he pays $85 a month for 25 years.
The electric rate is around 19 cents a kw now which is 70% higher then most of the nation and will only go up to pay for the fat gov’t pensions.
Over 300,000 retired are getting over $100,000 a year.
—”It’s just not there yet. “
True.
Price parity is getting close... but like the things in the rearview mirror...
Dammit you’re dumb, and haven’t read a fkn thing coming out of California. The grid can’t even handle them now.
7pm is EXACTLY when they’re asking them to STOP charging, because of stress on the grid.
They can’t charge EBs at all when the grid is down, which is often these days.
Are you Chinese?
Mrs Rainman and I had that discussion yesterday. She told me Mercedes announced they would not make gas cars by 2030. I told her that was marketing hype. They can build all the EVs they want, the grid cannot support them. When faced with selling NO EVs because nobody can charge their car, and gas engines, they will sell gas engines. Last year with the fires in CA ... first thing they did was shut down the grid. Now you are stuck in a burning hellhole with no way to get out. Fortunatly, EV’s are a way that Darwin will thin the herd.
They are here to stay imo. As the batteries get better and better they meet more and more requirements and become more applicable to our lives.
It’s the same reason I’ve switched to all battery powered garden tools. With two chargers and a few batteries I can charge while working and work perpetually. The technology fits the application. I didn’t do it to be ‘green’. They’re far more reliable, especially vs. two-stroke tools like trimmers. Drop the battery in and go. I got tired of troubleshooting gas powered tools. The same batteries run in my snow blower, when it’s below zero I want that reliability.
Cars aren’t there for me YET. We usually have 2-3 cars, I can see having one for the bulk of local driving, it’s on the horizon for me....because it meets my application requirements.
Ha! I used to partake, but as my screen name more than avers, just cheap beer for now.
I have had time to watch, to read, and to contemplate both history and recent developments in the way of transportation, energy, and society. I am no expert in any of those fields, but sense that gasoline-powered transportation as we know it is going to fade. My opinion is that it should, but not out of concern for the environment. It’s just that we are endowed with creativity and resources far above what we have comprehended and employed thus far.
Also, in words somewhat contrary to the spirit of FR, the use of government resources in the interest of developing cheap, safe, relable, efficient, personal transportation is not necessarily a thing to be shunned. Private resources have their limits, as the Transcontinental Railroad has borne out.
They are definitely going to need improvement in terms of refueling. Why not have a pre-charged cell, ready to exchannge in 30 seconds?
Mass transit would not be so bad if we were able to isolate within the vehicle, i.e. a personal compartment to screen out objectionable sights, sounds, and people, while capturing what is beautiful. VR devices could go a long way in helping, but don’t forget to deboard when you arrive.
“...let alone never mentioning that they currently are paying no road tax on the fuel they use like the ICE engine cars do.”
Hah! Pennsylvania is proposing to replace it’s 57 cents per gallon gasoline tax (2nd highest in the nation) with an 8.1 cent per mile highway tax. No word on how they would determine the mileage, BTW. I ran the numbers using my 2.4L ecoboost Mustang and my cost per mile would increase by a factor of 2.5 So the everybody is going to get it in the neck when that change occurs.
Someone here posted the Math that calculated the energy to drive 3 trillion miles, which is what we drive annually which proved we can't possibly produce the energy needed without going nuclear, or discovering dilithium crystals.
Think about it. You’d have to standardize on a battery type AND standardize on the battery pack design. Certainly do-able in theory but consider the screaming every time Microsoft comes out with a new piece of software that isn’t “backward compatible” to your old laptop/desktop. Multiply the anger 1,000 percent!
don’t forget to deboard when you arrive.
—
The Dems are not talking about your city buses and trolleys, but nationwide passenger rail transport; making roadways, eventually, for the wealthy only;
Don’t mind when you home is condemned for a fraction of the actual value to make a right of way for super trains that in theory go hundreds of MPH, but actually only average 60- 70 MPH with all the myriad of stops at every town along the way;
Don’t forget the massive tax subsidies needed to keep rail systems running nationwide where ridership is few for the number of seats, and tickets are subsidized for a fraction of the cost, while taking a vehicle will either get you there at the same time or quicker;
Don’t forget that the high-speed trains will be made in China;
Don’t forget the massive Federal tax hike to pay for it all.
We pay about 12 cents per Kwh, but our state has enacted a law which requires the electric company to shut down all coal fired and natural gas plants within twenty years. Some of that will be replaced with solar farms, and some with nuclear, but most of the gap will be filled by electricity bought on the spot market from other states. I am sure the legislature felt good about doing something for the environment -- although it didn't -- but we will never be told the true cost of these measures. As more EVs are purchased, the system will be strained further; inevitably, the Invisible Hand of the marketplace will appear with a vengeance, and the cost of electricity will skyrocket.
Add 18.1¢ Federal tax on that too.
And that’s the kicker, “...as battery prices fall...”, during an inflationary period, chip shortage, energy crisis, etc.
“They’re (electric garden tools) far more reliable, especially vs. two-stroke tools like trimmers.”
I take your point, but consider that your 2-stroke power tools have been screwed by another government designed boondogle — Ethanol. That’s a farm policy masquerading as an energy policy.
Yeah, no word yet on how the feds will replace their gasoline tax revenue. Probably it will remain like that revenant of a telecommunication tax that dates from WW1.
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