Seems to be a popular topic, so I am starting this thread. Just need to keep it civil and follow the forum rules. Thanks.
@MountainHunter we probably need to move our conversation here instead of the corny and funny thread.
So my stance is that I spend an average of 5K on my used vehicles. Even with gas around $5 a gallon, I can’t justify or currently trust the reliability of an electric vehicle. For my use, I would need to spend around 30 to 60K to get a comparable sized vehicle. Batteries are expensive to replace and I feel electricity will continue to increase as demand continues.
If you look at it from an environmental or green perspective, 60% of energy produced in the US still comes from fossil fueled plants.
Something overlooked, IMHO, is the grid. With rolling brownouts and even blackouts from coast to coast there isn’t the current to add more load. Locally the electric co. shuts off power in an effort to curb wildfires. Further, up to 25% of public charging stations are “out of service” at any given time. An industry SNAFU, no standardization of charging plugs. It’s a simple matter of not ready for prime time.
I meant the rear end gears…or wherever the truck they are…
A lower (taller) gear ratio provides a higher top speed, and a higher (shorter) gear ratio provides faster acceleration . . Besides the gears in the transmission, there is also a gear in the rear differential. This is known as the final drive, differential gear, Crown Wheel Pinion (CWP) or ring and pinion.
The gear ratio of the highest gear on a car is very important. It determines what RPM the car will cruise at, which in turn determines fuel efficiency on the highway and the noise level. In general, a taller gear ratio means better fuel mileage and less noise , although you’ll have to shift down if you need to overtake.
I am pretty sure my rear diff. is 3.42:1 ratio on my 1999 Chevy Silverado 1500. I will need to double check
I called several large apartment complexes here in North Dallas. None have, nor have plans to install chargers. So… what about the millions of folks in high rises and apartments without a garage?
A basic rule of thumb. The final drive ratio must also consider the power plants power band. I.E. if an engine produces a combination of best economy and power at, say 2250rmp, the final drive is typically designed to have the engine operating near this speed, at the mean average of posted highway speeds. Overdrive ratios will lower this engine speed, increase mpg, on the flat and level. Some engines may not have enough power to use the O.D. on the incline and will downshift accordingly.
Most of the ones I’ve seen around have been in Walgreens’ parking lot. Because you know, people spend enough time in there to get an ample charge.
And to add to what @Festus was saying with the grid, many people would also need to upgrade their home electrical system in some way for home charging.
Of course this is heavily based on if you believe Co2 is as detrimental to the environment as advertised. That is a totally different discussion. Plants process and need Co2 for goodness sake.
The videos also do not discuss real cost constraints to regular folks in purchasing an electrical vehicle, the real cost of replacing batteries and recycling used batteries, or availability of charging stations.
North Carolina is probably a little behind the other states. We have ~49 EV charging stations in my county and a few within 8 miles of me.
The power companies are plugging into the sun here:
Today, NC state is home to approximately 670 solar facilities that total just over 5,000 MW in capacity. Across all electricity generation sources, there are more than 1,100 power plants in the state, totaling more than 38,000 MW in capacity.
49 Public Electric Vehicle Charging Locations Available in Buncombe County, North Carolina
Discover popular charging station locations by cities of Buncombe County, NC.
Liberty Plugins provides available EV charging stations and public charging rates in Buncombe County, NC (when it’s availabe).
Get charging prices and find free charging locations to quickly charge your car. View Buncombe County ZIP Codes.
Near the Winery, a nine-acre, 1.7 megawatt system that includes more than 7,000 solar panels helps offset estate energy usage. Grape byproducts such as crushed stems and skins are used for mulching and compost. Retired barrels become planters and cork recycling receptacles across the estate or are repurposed as wine racks to display our wines in retail locations.
There’s zero public charging stations in my county. Downtown Duluth is the closest to me. Traffic and parking in Duluth is a joke, and nothing brings me to downtown.
US average install prices for EV home charging stations. Mind you, this does not include a service change should it be necessary. Home EV Charging Station Costs
Electric cars just aren’t for me yet. There’s not a single EV on the market that could fit the family for a road trip. Two adults, three kids aged 12, 11, and 4, a 120 pound dog, and luggage. The closest thing would be the Ford F-150 Lightening, but then there’s no place for the dog. Plus we couldn’t afford the Lightening lol. With the winters we get, it would have to be either AWD or 4X4 and have descent ground clearance. How does the battery perform in bitter cold? How much range do you lose when the temps are below zero?
Well maybe there’s another Duluth? More than my county with 234!!!
8 charging stations are FREE !!!..so is the parking while you take a 30 minute supercharge and have a latte…
I did a lot of business with World Power Technologies…wind generator manufacturer in Duluth in the 80’s-90’s…ish. Still have lots of blades, controllers, windings, magnets etc…in my dead wind bird parts graveyard…and more…
It wasn’t perfected but was good while it worked…I sold, installed and repaired them.
Elliot Bailey was an electrical engineer with a dream…
