Posted on 03/07/2021 8:08:35 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Car dealer Brad Sowers is spending money to prepare for the coming wave of new electric models from General Motors Co. He is installing charging stations, upgrading service bays and retraining staff at his St. Louis-area dealership to handle the technology-packed vehicles.
But when he considers how many plug-in Chevy Bolts he sold last year—nine, out of the nearly 4,000 Chevrolets sold at his Missouri dealerships—it gives him pause.
“The consumer in the middle of America just isn’t there yet,” when it comes to switching to electric vehicles, he said, citing the long distances many of his customers drive daily and a lack of charging infrastructure outside major cities.
As auto executives and investors buzz about the coming age of the electric car, many dealers say they are struggling to square that enthusiasm with the reality today on new-car sales lots, where last year battery-powered vehicles made up fewer than 2% of U.S. auto sales.
Most consumers who come to showrooms aren’t shopping for electric cars, and with gasoline prices relatively low, even hybrid models can be a tough sell, dealers and industry analysts say.
Auto makers are moving aggressively to expand their electric-vehicle offerings with dozens of new models set to arrive in coming years. Some like GM are setting firm targets for when they plan to phase out gas-powered cars entirely.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
“Right now I think the use case for EVs is as a second or third car for affluent commuters who live in suburban areas and have a regular 40-60 mile daily commute. “
Sounds like a FIRST car! And not just for the affluent.
” but my point was there’s only so much annual capability of lithium battery production “
What is that limit?
The problems of yesteryear was the time required to recharge the batteries and limited range, same as today. At least they didn’t have Lithium-Ion batteries to worry about.
Once the states tax EVs at the same cost per mile equivalent to what ICE drivers pay in gasoline taxes and end the EV subsidies ,EVs will be much less attractive.
EVs are like obamacare;a boondoggle pushed by elitists in government.
“there is no major recycling efforts in place for mineral recovery from old batteries, “
WRONG!
And that need has been delayed as most degraded batteries now go to Russia and Ukraine.
“The problems of yesteryear was the time required to recharge the batteries and limited range, same as today. “
No facts presented. Your hypothesis is rejected.
Guess you have your reasons to lie. But I think you hurt your case by doing it.
“They don’t work for golf carts in a large area where travel of several miles is expected.”
Golf carts have a range of about 25 miles. Case closed.
“Guess you have your reasons to lie. But I think you hurt your case by doing it.”
I don’t lie. Stick with the facts.
One of the problems is lithium mining.
Not an econut but it is VERY destructive.
And charging time.
Big positive is the engines run cleaner and are mechanically simpler.
How much EV stock do you own or in what other investment do you anticipate making a lot of money because of the government push for EV?
I don’t live there but the last time I drove through, the vast majority of people drove around on their propane powered golf carts and no one seemed to have battery carts.
But, I guess you know more than them so if you’d like, I can get you an address where you can stand on the town square and call them stupid.
One of my daughters has a hybrid car, it's 14 years old and still drives like new. She replaced the batteries a few years ago and it cost her only $1500. She's extremely happy with the low maintenance costs, having driven it multiple times between California, Kansas, Iowa and Texas.
I think the fighting between ICE and EV camps is destructive and full of erroneous bias. There is room for both types of cars. As I said, I think it will end up a three-to-one ratio of ICE and EV vehicles.
So quick question. At less than 10 miles a day, does it matter at all at the end of the day what you drive?
I tend to be cheap when it comes to cars. I drive them till they die. Never sold one for more than $1000. I also don’t do preventative maintenance. Brakes start to squeal or pulse, then I change them. Doesn’t start-Time for a new battery and not before.
My last car got 300,000 miles and the only repairs were brakes and tires.
That said, I truly don’t see the benefit of an EV when you don’t drive much. I also don’t see the benefit of any sort of new car when you don’t drive much.
You can make a personal preference argument but there is absolutely no economic argument for an EV or a new ICE car with that little mileage.
I drive a company car. it’s two years old with 74000 miles.
You lose on both counts. I do not have subsidized electricity and CA charges up to an additional $175 dollars annually with registration fees in lieu of gas taxes.
dont recall
but there’s a good video out there that did discuss it
who in america has major recycling/recovery li-ion plants running? its something that isn’t highlighted and the greenies would be touting it.
at present all the pieces i’ve seen discussing it have generally said its too cost prohibitive, currently.
“How much EV stock do you own or in what other investment do you anticipate making a lot of money”
My core holdings include:
ETN
ATRI
CVX
JPM
PNC
CSX
CNI
INTEL
CISCO
EQR
CLI
VZ
I had some Tesla which I posted at the time my buy and sell.
...then rent a car when you get there.
“I don’t live there but the last time I drove through, the vast majority of people drove around on their propane powered golf carts and no one seemed to have battery carts.”
Which country are you referring to?
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