ua549

For the most part EVs are not suitable for a one car family. In Florida it is easy to deplete the battery due to the 100% A/C duty cycle. I rented a Tesla for a week and the purported 310 mile range turned out to be closer to 200 miles. Battery charging is a major issue. EVs cost more to purchase and service is almost non-existent. The closest service for my neighbor's Tesla is 40 miles away. Her car has needed lots of warranty service for everything from battery to suspension. Maybe in 20 or 30 years when charging is as easy as filling a gas tank EV's will be practical.

fju2112

Political appointees should not be "captaining" anything - the free market should be deciding what we drive, not government officials.

I don't think EVs are "combating climate change" - there's a breakeven point that takes years and years vs. a petrol powered car in terms of the manufacturing process, total emissions, etc. And what happens to the battery waste?

Nuclear is pretty much zero emissions - why don't I ever hear environmentalists talk about that? Do some research on where the waste goes and how heavily regulated the radioactive waste is - that's where you want to be for cheap, reliable energy, not renewables. People are understandably hesitant, so I say, natural gas is the next best thing, which again, is responsible for most of the electricity I use - with coal, oil, and nuclear the next three sources, based on my electric bill. How are EVs combating climate change if the grid is fueled by fossil fuels, exactly? My point with the comment you quoted is that fossil fuels are essential to every civilization on earth right now, and that will be the case for a long, long time.

By the way, how is all that lithium currently mined? By heavy machinery and a LOT of diesel fuel.

ICE engines have come a long, long way just in the past 20 years, let alone previously, to do a lot more with a lot less in terms of power output and pollution. They just aren't the polluting, smoky machines from the 60s and 70s people imagine.

I'll stick with my ICE engine. If you think you're doing the world a favor with an EV, keep thinking that and have fun. Your choice.

MB2timer

[QUOTE=Crito;8960383]That's interesting because I'd say that the price gouging energy racketeers at Shell and Exxon aren't our friends. And despite fake TV news blaming coal burning China for global warming, they've actually done more to combat climate change than the USA has. 25% of all cars sold in China are now electric. In fact, if you look into NIO they've invested heavily in nuclear fusion energy and their battery swapping technology also eliminates all your recycling concerns.

The real problem is political appointees who know little or nothing about the industries they're been allowed to captain.

/QUOTE]

Chinese electric powered vehicles, aren’t zero emission. They are coal powered. China has not done more to reduce emissions than the US. They have averaged building a new coal fired power plant(to power electric vehicles) every week.

MB2timer

Talk about big ugly radiator grills, look at the Lexus line, then compare them to an open baleen whale mouth.

wildta

It seems that someone has found value in recycling the lithium batteries in the US:
https://electrek.co/2024/04/11/north...terials-plant/

I was surprised to read this but I guess the numbers added up and made sense because I'm sure it's not cheap but it must be cheaper than mining new lithium for this to come to fruition.

streborx

The article doesn't say how large the government grants are that make it a viable business.

wildta

It doesn't appear that they have received any federal funding so far:
https://www.usaspending.gov/recipient

The most recent round of federal funding related to this space was awarded here:
https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles...se-iii-winners

wildta

And here's an article from Bloomberg News today. While we might be seeing EVs failing to sell on dealer lots today. They will be forced to rid of their inventories by selling them at a discount, and further increasing EV ownership and adoption with buyers finding "good deals." A second wave of cheaper EVs might come sometime afterwards using lower cost batteries made with recycled lithium, cobalt, etc.

Streamliner

I cannot speak to the new BMW 5 Series, other than to say that I feel it is a very handsome exterior design. However, the concept of developing the new 7 for both ICE and EV, appears to be a home run. I’ve driven both versions and ordered a new I7–the electric model—as it drives like pretty much nothing else on the road and in a very good way. It was painted yesterday and is now being assembled as I write this. I feel that MB screwed up using a dedicated platform for the EQS Sedan, as the car is not of S Class caliber and is too much of a compromise, in my opinion.

My last BMW was a 1995 12-cylinder sedan—that car was bought back by BMW due to glass issues if you can believe it—so it’s been a long time since I’ve given the folks in Munich another try and I’m hoping for the best. Similar to you, I’m still keeping my SL. I wish you the best of luck with your new E.

streborx

The WSJ's Dan Neil reviewed BMW's i5 M60 xDrive in last week's column. Neil is a guy who's never seen a battery he didn't love, but was mildly critical of the i5. I find combining 593 hp with a 240 mile driving range and pricing it at $95K somewhat off the mark for an EV. I assume the i7 will share the same power train, so I'll be interested in reading more on the bimmerfest forum as i7 owners take delivery.

My '22 X7 M50i V8 TT is a blast to drive.

Streamliner

I agree. Electric is not for everyone. In my case, as a mostly retired fellow, who doesn't drive all that much or that far, going electric was pretty much a no brainer. I can charge overnight in my garage. When I get solar panels up on the roof, charging should be at almost no cost, in this crazy land of $6 gasoline. My I7 will be an xDrive60. Not needing all that power, I might have gone with the single motor eDrive50, but a suspension option that I wanted was not available on the lesser car. But I went for the I7 not because of the blistering acceleration, but because it has a ride quality that is absolutely spectacular, a very hushed cabin and a wonderfully luxurious interior. That and the fact that MB bought back my last TWO new S Class sedans, a 2020 and a 2022. Time for a change!