To some part of the population, Tesla means something over and above making cars. I have exchanged thoughts recently with a friend who's enamored of Tesla and apparently Musk as well. He's a believer in electric. He seems to think electric means "good for the environment" and such, and he's what you could call a "true believer". The nitty gritty bottom line doesn't matter as much as the meaning, the association to what is coming that will be better than what is.
I hope he's right.
To me, electric cars are rich kids' toys. They don't help reduce emissions, they have a value near zero when the battery quits (or can you get a car battery re-built for cheap these days?), and even with a substantial tax credit, they are expensive and little.
There are two sources of emissions for vehicles - one is the manufacture of the vehicle, the other is from fuel use. The last time I saw these numbers compared, these are expected to be equal over the life of the car. In other words, a substantial reduction in emissions would be achieved by preventing the manufacture of new cars/trucks, ships, airplanes, houses, commercial buildings, and shutting down industrial food production (we can have a cow, chickens and veggies in the back yard like the great depression or the war!), etcetera.
As of a few years ago, the emissions break even for an electric was about the point in time that the battery would be expended. That is to say, the emissions cost to build an electric is so high, that even though they are not burning gas electrics do not reduce emissions.
What might change this formula would be to have zero emissions sources of electricity - nuclear being the most likely option at this point (not that it is likely for the US to build nuclear). 15 years of solar and wind speculation has brought, from my perspective, disappointment.
My friend says he can drive across country for free. What's the cost of the inconvenience of having to recharge on a specified interval, vice having the chance to stop and add gas in a few minutes whenever it is needed?
What's the cost to others of your $2500 to $7000 tax credit to play with your electric car which does not create a public good?
What if you spend less on a gas powered car - at what point would you reach free given:
-an expected ~$2000 (for my F150) annual fuel bill
-depreciation of the more expensive electric car from full cost to zero over the expected five year life of the battery, whereas my truck at the five year mark had depreciated between $14,000 and $18,000, depending on how this is calculated
-the difference in purchase price for the electric versus a similarly capable gasoline powered car
If these numbers really show he drives the car "for free", I'd like to see them.
Electric cars are like all cars - we choose them based on our identity. To me, Tesla's an ambitious idea, I hope it works, but even if it does, it won't matter much to me - it's not going to create sunshine out of cucumbers. To my friend, Tesla hints at something beautiful and hope filled and better than the current sometimes squalid state of human experience. I'm happy for him.
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=726718267156239993#editor/target=post;postID=5962610422521073459
https://www.fidelity.com/news/article/top-news/201810051527RTRSNEWSCOMBINED_KCN1MF27C-OUSBS_1
I hope he's right.
To me, electric cars are rich kids' toys. They don't help reduce emissions, they have a value near zero when the battery quits (or can you get a car battery re-built for cheap these days?), and even with a substantial tax credit, they are expensive and little.
There are two sources of emissions for vehicles - one is the manufacture of the vehicle, the other is from fuel use. The last time I saw these numbers compared, these are expected to be equal over the life of the car. In other words, a substantial reduction in emissions would be achieved by preventing the manufacture of new cars/trucks, ships, airplanes, houses, commercial buildings, and shutting down industrial food production (we can have a cow, chickens and veggies in the back yard like the great depression or the war!), etcetera.
As of a few years ago, the emissions break even for an electric was about the point in time that the battery would be expended. That is to say, the emissions cost to build an electric is so high, that even though they are not burning gas electrics do not reduce emissions.
What might change this formula would be to have zero emissions sources of electricity - nuclear being the most likely option at this point (not that it is likely for the US to build nuclear). 15 years of solar and wind speculation has brought, from my perspective, disappointment.
My friend says he can drive across country for free. What's the cost of the inconvenience of having to recharge on a specified interval, vice having the chance to stop and add gas in a few minutes whenever it is needed?
What's the cost to others of your $2500 to $7000 tax credit to play with your electric car which does not create a public good?
What if you spend less on a gas powered car - at what point would you reach free given:
-an expected ~$2000 (for my F150) annual fuel bill
-depreciation of the more expensive electric car from full cost to zero over the expected five year life of the battery, whereas my truck at the five year mark had depreciated between $14,000 and $18,000, depending on how this is calculated
-the difference in purchase price for the electric versus a similarly capable gasoline powered car
If these numbers really show he drives the car "for free", I'd like to see them.
Electric cars are like all cars - we choose them based on our identity. To me, Tesla's an ambitious idea, I hope it works, but even if it does, it won't matter much to me - it's not going to create sunshine out of cucumbers. To my friend, Tesla hints at something beautiful and hope filled and better than the current sometimes squalid state of human experience. I'm happy for him.
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=726718267156239993#editor/target=post;postID=5962610422521073459
https://www.fidelity.com/news/article/top-news/201810051527RTRSNEWSCOMBINED_KCN1MF27C-OUSBS_1
