EVs are impractical for a variety of reasons.....so much so that for every argument that they are a good idea there are at least two as to why they are not.
DJT brought up a good point the other day, the bridge and overpass infrastructure on our roads was never designed to handle the weight of EVs...especially tractor trailers.
EV semi are only allowed to be 2000# heavier than regular semi 82,000 vs 80000 unless it’s a permit load and then the individual load is permitted like oil refinery equipment or concrete bridge rails those go upwards of 120,000lb.
PepsiCo is running tesla semi because they max out volume well before they max out mass with chips or sodas in the trailer. Floor to ceiling sodas and chips doesn’t hit 80,000# limits. That and that do regional delivery with a 500 mile range on a Telsa semi more than enough for multiple stops per day.
87% of all truck freight by weight was shipped less than 250 miles. Tesla doubles that. Here is the industry data.
As for cars I have a 5 passenger S60 Volvo AQD T5 that is 200# heavier than the Tesla Model 3 sitting next to it also a 5 seater and both are within one inch of each im footprint size. Both ride on identical P4 Pirelli tires 18” low pros so tire footprint weight is less for the Model 3. Not every EV is a hummer even the Model S my lawyer drives weighs less than my Ford Expedition both have about the same tire patch width with the tesla having wider low pro tires. Wear is directly related to tire footprint psi. This is what semi trucks have 16,000 times the wear rate on roads vs LDVs. So it’s not black and white . If I take the Expedition out I am doing more road wear than the Model 3 every time. Same for my F250 it’s not on wide tires it’s on narrow commercial truck tires even more wear. Those are at 65psi front and 75 rear that’s double the Expeditions psi. Road wear is a exponential function of tire patch psi that’s quantifiable data.
I use my trucks for truck things and truck things only. For in town driving the Model 3 gets the pick it cost me near zero in fuel since my panels charge it or I bank power and use that either way it only sees retail power on road trips which it is being used more and more for given my confidence in FSD and the access to destination charging is ubiquitous in Texas or really any major city now. I do have the CCS/J1772 to Tesla adapter so every charge port is open regardless of brand. Tesla was happy to send an over the air update so my Model 3 would recognise every other brand of charger. That $16 plug adapter opened up 15,000 more fast ports and tens of thousands of destination ports, already had the mobile charger in the boot for 240V AC dumb plugs and the plug tails for 30/50/80amp plugs. Airbnb is good about listing rentals with 240V plug access,or a dryer plug works too with a extension cord. Most hotels above 2 stars have valet that will charge for you or on-site L2 ports. Every Hilton property does, same for every casino. I was hesitant only on my first 1000 mile trip after going to Biloxi and back with zero effort the tech schedules a stop for 15 min then zoom zoom on long enough for a leak and a stretch. My Volvo is about to be sold I use it so little now.
“DJT brought up a good point the other day, the bridge and overpass infrastructure on our roads was never designed to handle the weight of EVs...especially tractor trailers.”
That’s a good point. The same goes for parking decks (wasn’t there a parking deck collapse last year that was caused by excessive weight of the EVs?) And what about ferries? They would have to reduce their capacity to account for the extra weight.