Politicians have to balance competing priorities. Yes, advancing EV’s is a noble venture, but not at the cost of the entire US auto manufacturing industry. If China is able to dump heavily subsidized EV’s onto the market they can take over the market and set US development back.
When do you think you will buy a 100% pure electric vehicle?
- Thread starter dmclone
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Politicians have to balance competing priorities. Yes, advancing EV’s is a noble venture, but not at the cost of the entire US auto manufacturing industry. If China is able to dump heavily subsidized EV’s onto the market they can take over the market and set US development back.
I agree that tariffs can be necessary to prevent market imbalances caused labor/material subsidies/differences.
But the threat of Chinese competition should open the eyes of US manufacturers. Some of us are old enough to remember the 1970's oil crisis. US auto companies were slow to adjust to Japanese automakers making quality/ fuel efficient cars and meeting US consumer demand. The US Government was forced to bail the industry out.
Was in Ames last week. There was one in the parking lot of the office building just west of Provisions. Gotta say I don’t see anything visually appealing about them, but no mistaking it for anything other than a Cybertruck. I do miss the days where designs had variety, so I guess that’s a win for Tesla
I happened to see a Ford Lightning and a Cybertruck parked right next to each other on my block today. I've seen them both around a lot but not right together, maybe a neighbor.
I'm not a full size truck guy but I did imagine to myself if I was going to take one of these on one of my backpacking/hiking/camping trips how fun the Lightning would be and I honestly think I'd feel embarrassed taking the Cybertruck on looks alone. Maybe that's shallow or irrational but just being honest with myself. I'd feel a little awkward driving it around LA and really awkward taking it out into the wild.
It got me thinking standing there next to it physically for the first time, if the Cybertruck is this revolutionary efficient design, how many years/months until some Tesla sedans and crossovers all should look like this?
I'm not a full size truck guy but I did imagine to myself if I was going to take one of these on one of my backpacking/hiking/camping trips how fun the Lightning would be and I honestly think I'd feel embarrassed taking the Cybertruck on looks alone. Maybe that's shallow or irrational but just being honest with myself. I'd feel a little awkward driving it around LA and really awkward taking it out into the wild.
It got me thinking standing there next to it physically for the first time, if the Cybertruck is this revolutionary efficient design, how many years/months until some Tesla sedans and crossovers all should look like this?
Isn't the CT the least aerodynamic Tesla by a bunch? When it came out, I think it was even worse than the rivians.
Don't hear much about it as tariffs and regulations prevent the Chinese from entering the USA market but they don't need our market and are starting to dominate the world hybrid scene. Chinese BYD overtook Tesla at the end of 2023 as the top worldwide seller of electric. They are now pushing a new hybrid model.
CNN - The top reason US customers won’t consider an EV — cited by 52% of consumers in a recent JD Power survey — is lack of charging station availability.
Instead, we’re buying more hybrids, which are largely cheaper than EVs, reduce the cost of fuel over the long term and are ever so slightly better for the environment than regular engines. (Emphasis on slightly… Hybrids still run on fossil fuels, they’re not doing much to help the world meet its climate goals the way mass adoption of EVs would.)
For now, Tesla and other US carmakers are being thoroughly shielded from Chinese competition via strict tariffs and major regulatory hurdles. But it’s not clear how long those protections will hold if American consumers begin demanding the cheaper options available overseas.
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Probably picked it up in DesMoines. Purchase through KC and pick up here. Iowa is going to have to change some laws before Tesla can direct sale here
They don't have half their population brainwashed with crippling fear of the technology either.
It's actually the opposite where they have a significant % who are getting a car for the first time ever and gas is just as new to them as electric. The market is a blank slate.
Looks like Chevy may have a winner with the Equinox EV. Finally a vehicle that you can compare head to head with the gas equivalent.
cleantechnica.com
"For those eligible for the $7,500 tax credit (which is pretty much everyone who would consider this car), it costs about the same as the gas version at the low end (both start at about $28,000 once the 1LT model becomes available). The performance of the gas Equinox is a lot slower (1 second slower on the FWD and 2 seconds slower for the AWD). The gas Equinox interior has tiny screens and analog gauges that look dated, and it doesn’t offer advanced features like Super Cruise or Rear Park Assist, but at about $40,000, it once again costs about the same as the much superior Equinox EV 3LT."
I Like Driving The Chevy Equinox EV — Comprehensive Review of 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV - CleanTechnica
The entry level 1LT 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV sets a new standard for value with its performance, features and fuel savings. The higher trims have great features but face stiff competition.
cleantechnica.com
"For those eligible for the $7,500 tax credit (which is pretty much everyone who would consider this car), it costs about the same as the gas version at the low end (both start at about $28,000 once the 1LT model becomes available). The performance of the gas Equinox is a lot slower (1 second slower on the FWD and 2 seconds slower for the AWD). The gas Equinox interior has tiny screens and analog gauges that look dated, and it doesn’t offer advanced features like Super Cruise or Rear Park Assist, but at about $40,000, it once again costs about the same as the much superior Equinox EV 3LT."
You can, but there are some loopholes you must go through.
Iowa law currently prohibits manufacturers from owning dealerships.
Yeah, we bought one last year, so I'm aware. Similar to when I've bought other cars out of state.
The only scary part was paying for it before getting it, but it worked out good.
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Peeps do seem quite interested in hybrids until the charging station infrastructure improves/catches up. "Gifting" this piece so CF folks should able able to open it. I thought it was a fair take, acknowledges the politics of it but also people legit concerns in the short-term.
Hybrids offer some of the benefits of electric vehicles — lower fuel costs, less pollution — but don’t trigger Americans’ anxieties about charging.
I have a 4xe like pictured with 26 miles electric roughly. It also has the worst of both worlds because gasoline mileage is worse with the battery weight and you still have to maintain a gas engine.
I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but it almost seems as if the car manufacturers lagging behind are planting these fears in the minds of American consumers. American consumers are getting it from all sides. Many of the politicians, most salespeople, the manufacturers, FB friends who have never owned or driven an EV, media, unions, etc. All that concern and 93% of EV owners will stick with an EV for their next vehicle. I really hope this doesn't slow down the new EV models that are coming to market. I'd love to be able to have more selection.
I wish they'd go to tons of PHEV models vs so many hybrids.
Outside of a few truly high MPG cars like a Prius in the city, hybrids are mostly "I still want a large size vehicle but I want it to use slightly less gas". A PHEV is mostly an EV if someone has any wall outlet and drives under 50 miles a day, don't even need to install a level 2.
If I actually lived near the mountains where I go backpacking that's the car I'd have for sure. Electric car for driving around doing errands, then a jeep to drive to trailheads/light off roading.
But because I drive about 200 miles to get there I passed on it for a model that got way better highway mpg.
The other problem is many people don’t actually charge their PHEV.
