[luckymaf]

The Misinformation Around Electric Vehicles
From Forbes.com
By line: Enrique Dans

Click Here: https://tinyurl.com/ycabgpx9

A hyperlink about half way down the page : “Rigorous scientific studies show battery degradation of around 1% every 30,000 kilometers…”

 

[redpoint5]

Ah well, the article started out good enough. At midway it contradicted itself precisely where you quoted it.

...contrary to what many think, batteries do not degrade with use or over time. Rigorous scientific studies show battery degradation of around 1% every 30,000 kilometers

This may be true of certain makes of EVs, but certainly isn't true of the Leaf, which is among the most widely EV sold. Criticism of battery longevity is warranted for some EVs, and some degradation occurs to all brands.

Towards the end, the article falls off a cliff as the author rushes to assert a superior ideological position rather than take the time to further examine the facts.

This is how the cliff reads;

hybrids are inefficient and are only meant to extend the life of the internal combustion engine, an already out-of-date technology that should be banned sooner rather than later. Anybody considering buying a car should forget diesel, gasoline or hybrids, and go electric.

Way to let the unobtainable idea of perfection get in the way of the good.

 

[Raymondjram]

I have test driven a Ford Fusion Hybrid twice and a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid once. I love the quietness that they drive, and the gas engine comes on with little interruption and vibration. Hybrids are needed for those who cannot plug in, and/or have to drive long distances. This is why the Toyota Prius took off and the Chevy Volt has taken over. Hybrids are a stepping stone to pure electric drive, so it is never out-of-date.

Maybe some oil magnate provided funds for that Forbes article, so we may just ignore it.

 

[eltee]

One of the issues I see frequently in these discussions is that somehow at this point in history, everyone should drive an EV. I dont really believe that is practical enough for the majority of people yet, if ever. I am the happy owner of a 2018 Bolt, which I love to drive, however it fits a niche in my driving fleet. I have a crossover ICE suv that has reasonable gas mileage, and I also have a very nice 6 cylinder 3 litre 2 seat roadster that is unreasonable in every possible way, except that I love driving it.



That said, my BOLT is the most awesome around town car I've ever owned. EV's, for me, have put the fun back in low speed around town driving. I live in the northwest, so the climate here is pretty perfect for an EV (few lows and highs), the terrain a bit hilly, but wow I get amazing longevity from a charge due to the regen, and I no longer feel horrible idling my ice car in traffic all the time. They have opposite strengths, so they complement each other almost perfectly. I have no defense for owning the roadster, so Ill leave that as my personal quirk.


If I had to go down to one car, I would keep my crossover. It works well, my charge time is nill, and since I cross into Canada often its easier and safer (for me) to take my ICE car on those trips. I just drove up to whistler from seattle, and with two hour delays at the border on both sides each way, I was happy to not have to worry about range issues. I would also say that given 80-90 mph traffic on I5 north past the metro area, along with LOTS of big trucks, I felt much safer that being in my Bolt.


Finally and more to the point of the thread, all cars degrade over time. Yes, you will see battery degradation over time, but you would also see loss of perfect compression and other wear issues on an ICE engine that you wont see in an EV. So, for me I dont expect my bolt to be as perfect as the day I bought it. In the first couple of years I would expect to see at least a 4% degredation in capacity. Its possible to lose 25 percent or slightly higher over the 8 year warranty time period (in a well cared for car). Your battery may vary, and defects will no doubt show up over time. Bolts are still pretty new.



Just my opinions here, but Ev's are almost there, but not quite yet.

 

[shocker]

What's the usual boilerplate? Views expressed are those of the author. Just because it's published in Forbes doesn't make it indisputable truth.

The Bolt is a great commuter that isn't boring to drive. It can't be my only vehicle though. Besides weather, even with a fully built DCFC infrastructure, charging is too slow for long distance travel. So if I had to keep one, it's the Silverado.

 

[redpoint5]

One of the issues I see frequently in these discussions is that somehow at this point in history, everyone should drive an EV.

Many people who hold extreme political/ideological/religious views come to the conclusion that since their somewhat arbitrary way of life works for them, it should be forced upon those who are unwilling to live that way.

The guy literally equated excellent hybrid cars such as the 45 MPG Ford Fusion hybrid into the same environmental impact category as trucks, and called for them to be banned by implied threat of force and violence.

Perhaps the author will be delighted to learn that Ford is discontinuing the Fusion hybrid, along with all other cars except for the Mustang in the US market. Instead they will be focused on their profitable trucks, crossovers, and SUVs.

People who have no understanding of nuance cannot be helped.

 

[Usain]

The Bolt is a great commuter that isn't boring to drive. It can't be my only vehicle though. Besides weather, even with a fully built DCFC infrastructure, charging is too slow for long distance travel. So if I had to keep one, it's the Silverado.

I love taking my Bolt on long trips. I've done lots of them. Recently, I completed a vacation that took me and my family over 1000 miles.

The Bolt is quiet and free of vibration. It's much more relaxing. And the great responsiveness is a huge plus on the highway.

I do have to stop and charge while sharing a long meal. That's not so bad. And the places my Bolt "refuels" are much better than smelly gas stations. We've discovered some really fun stops just because of where the DCFC happened to be.

Try road tripping the Bolt. It might take a little longer, but it can be much more enjoyable than a loud, shaky ICE car.

 

[CallMeBoltDriver]

Maybe when I'm retired an unnecessarily long trip will sound appealing. At this point, the "1 charge" rule that's been posted here sounds reasonable. Beyond one charge, stopping for one hour to charge for every two hours of driving doesn't sound too appealing.

 

[Packard V8]

The Bolt is a great commuter that isn't boring to drive. It can't be my only vehicle though. Besides weather, even with a fully built DCFC infrastructure, charging is too slow for long distance travel. So if I had to keep one, it's the Silverado.

If I had to keep just one, it would be the Bolt and rent an ICE for those three or four road trips per year.

Try road tripping the Bolt. It might take a little longer, but it can be much more enjoyable than a loud, shaky ICE car.

Speaking of nuance; the above might not qualify. Every current $45,000 car I've tried is a quieter, more relaxed highway cruiser than the Bolt. As much as we love our Bolt for everyday urban use, road tripping isn't going to happen; just too many compromises we don't care to make and here in the intermountain west, the infrastructure just isn't there yet. It's like commuting to work on a bicycle, fine for those who choose to do so, but I know the steep hills will be there every day on the way home and the inclement weather will be there six months of the year; ain't ever gonna happen for us.

jack vines