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Electric Vehicles Are the U.S. Auto Industry’s Future—If Dealers Can Figure Out How to Sell Them
The Wall Street Journal ^ | March 7, 2021 | Nora Naughton |

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: autonomousvehicles; chatforum; elonmusk; ev; fakenews; fastcharging; fossilfuelforever; tesla; v8powerbaby
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To: MinorityRepublican

There is NO future with electric cars without an almost inexhaustible supply of electrical power, and the only way we can get there is with Nuclear Power.

Something I don’t think the Environmentalist side of the Rat Party would be too thrilled with supporting.


41 posted on 03/07/2021 8:44:05 PM PST by puppypusher (The world is going to the dogs.)
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To: TexasGator

We’ll yeah, ya plug in 40,000,000 electric vehicles it would probably shut down this entire fragile grid.


42 posted on 03/07/2021 8:45:29 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Please do this. I’m an oil and gas guy. The lng needed for this would keep me busy for life lol.

In the meantime, I’ll keep my diesel.


43 posted on 03/07/2021 8:46:09 PM PST by Bulwyf
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To: TexasGator

Now do that 500 miles in -20 temps with a foot of snow and the heater running...

Then build it so that the average Shade-tree can service it and it’ll last twenty years.

Then get back to me and I’ll buy one.

Until then, not interested.


44 posted on 03/07/2021 8:46:13 PM PST by Dead Corpse (A Psalm in napalm...)
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To: TexasGator

This is the first car we’ve had with power windows - and the first expensive repair we’ve had to do. We don’t drive a lot, and don’t need to spend a lot of money on something that only needs to be reliably utilitarian for us.

I recently bought a new toaster - the one we’ve had for 20 years finally gave out. The new one is all whiz-bang and modern; but the toaster I had 40 years ago, with none of these special settings, worked a lot better.

(One thing I was expecting in a new toaster was a grounded plug; but this ‘modern’ one didn’t even come with that...)


45 posted on 03/07/2021 8:46:58 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: dragnet2

LA can’t even run AC in the summer without rolling brown outs. Add a few ten’s of millions of EV’s to replace their ICE’s?

*insert gut busting laughter*


46 posted on 03/07/2021 8:47:36 PM PST by Dead Corpse (A Psalm in napalm...)
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To: DarthVader

Shh, don’t tell people that. I’m hoping they’re dumb enough to do this, it will drive up demand for lng.


47 posted on 03/07/2021 8:47:39 PM PST by Bulwyf
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To: dragnet2

“200 mph top speed and a 0-60 under 2 seconds? LOL! And where do you do that? On the way to Walmart?”

Care to come ride with me? You would lose your cookies.


48 posted on 03/07/2021 8:47:56 PM PST by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: TexasGator
Who can go 500 miles without a rest break? Recharging in 20 minutes gives you time to go take a leak.

Which EV can go 500 miles on a 20 minute recharge? Hmmm????

49 posted on 03/07/2021 8:48:46 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Adder
taking a leak.

Don't throw away your empty coffee cups because they can come in handy.

50 posted on 03/07/2021 8:50:03 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Dead Corpse; TexasGator

How about air conditioning while driving those 500 miles? And how big are the trunks? Can they tow utility trailers for 500 miles in 105 degree temps with the AC on? And what happens to the RV world?


51 posted on 03/07/2021 8:50:06 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: TexasGator

Have fun with the bill, meanwhile I’ll rake in the extra income. Thank you.


52 posted on 03/07/2021 8:50:32 PM PST by Bulwyf
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To: TexasGator

No thanks. I only trust me driving skills.


53 posted on 03/07/2021 8:51:13 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

Imagine the fun with EVs in a pre or post disaster evacuation. Most gas stations that have back up generators only have the capacity to run the basic systems and the pumps. I would imagine the back up generator required to support several charging stations would have to be the size of a house.


54 posted on 03/07/2021 8:51:18 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult (This space for rant.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

But I thought DRIVERLESS CARS were the way the winds were blowing. That’s what I kept hearing a year ago, before the pandemic threw everybody off their gameplans.
I don’t want one of those either.


55 posted on 03/07/2021 8:51:42 PM PST by lee martell
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To: TexasGator

You’ve obviously never owned an EV, nor tried to take one on a cross-country trip. I owned a Tesla S, and took it on a number of cross-country trips. You’re so full of it you stink. Yes, it’s doable, but for you to say “20 minutes” to get going again is a joke.


56 posted on 03/07/2021 8:52:29 PM PST by dinodino ( )
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To: dragnet2

“We’ll yeah, ya plug in 40,000,000 electric vehicles it would probably shut down this entire fragile grid.”

Most charging would be done at night when there is excess capacity and rates. are cheaper.


57 posted on 03/07/2021 8:52:29 PM PST by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: JMS

Driving a EV is like driving an ICE car with the needle almost on ‘E’.


58 posted on 03/07/2021 8:52:31 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Bulwyf

What bill?


59 posted on 03/07/2021 8:53:44 PM PST by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: TexasGator

So even though our grid is outdated and we lack new electrical generating facilities, charging 40 million electric vehicles is no problem as long as it’s done at night?


60 posted on 03/07/2021 8:56:19 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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