And now the end is near......

[..]

Following the French decision here come the English 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4730134/All-petrol-diesel-cars-banned-2040.html

[Gavin_Sons]

They better get to designing better electric motors and batteries the next 22 years

[Jess from VA]

I've decided.  In 2040, I'm going to be 6'2".  

I've been 5'9" most of my life.  But in 2040, I'm going to be 6'2".  

Why not shoot for the stars?  Instead of no fossil fuel cars, how about no cars at all?  Instead, by 2040, we can all have flying shoes.  

[John Schmidt]

Jess, in 2040 I'll be 6'.....under. Doubt I'll live to see 102, but you never know. Probably be wheeling around with a cath bag strapped to my leg. 

[art]

HA! Do i give a da-m? Nope. Iwas born in 1943 an I'm not worried about my 93 F150 being illegal

[Robert]

Electric cars save nothing, so with all these electric cars around how are we going to charge them?

[Serk]

Electric cars save nothing, so with all these electric cars around how are we going to charge them?

Unicorn farts and fairy dust.

(Ironically the most realistic environmentally non-impacting way to charge them would be nuclear power, which gives leftists a case of the vapors when you even mention it.)

[Alberta Patriot]

I climb into my Nissan Leaf and head home from work on the 405...2 lanes are closed ahead and the freeway is a parking lot for the next 20 miles...no one has moved in half an hour and it is 105 in the shade...125 sitting here on the slab....I have a choice...keep the air running... or shut it off so I can eventually get home...damn the battery is dead...no air for half an hour now...I am really starting to feel dizzy...like I could pass out...maybe I could beg the guy next to me with a fossil car if I can join him to get some relief...damn...I really have to do something soon...
How about that blizzard...on my way to Fargo...2 lanes are closed ahead and.............

[Chrisj CMA]

That seems so funny to me.  When I was stationed in England (around 1985 or so) they announced a new product.  They had just discovered the catalytic converter and unleaded fuel.  Lol.

Now all of a sudden they think they are entering the space age or something.

[Alberta Patriot]

"New age energy"...wind is a bust(way too expensive, turbine failures, health issues for nearby residents, dangerous to birds and bats ..etc ..etc, Solar is a bust as well(way too expensive to build and especially maintain) Calm and cloudy weather absolutely requires fossil, hydro and nuclear back-up.
So where does that leave us Re: pluggins...it leaves us here...we will NOT be able to shut down coal generating because of the massive extra demand on the grid these vehicles will impose once millions of them hit our roads.
The eco justice warriors wear blinders as usual.

[..]

I climb into my Nissan Leaf and head home from work on the 405...2 lanes are closed ahead and the freeway is a parking lot for the next 20 miles...no one has moved in half an hour and it is 105 in the shade...125 sitting here on the slab....I have a choice...keep the air running... or shut it off so I can eventually get home...damn the battery is dead...no air for half an hour now...I am really starting to feel dizzy...like I could pass out...maybe I could beg the guy next to me with a fossil car if I can join him to get some relief...damn...I really have to do something soon...
How about that blizzard...on my way to Fargo...2 lanes are closed ahead and.............

 

The weather in the UK is not mild enough that the above can't be used as a scenario for them as well.

I climb into my Nissan Leaf and head home from work on the M23 ...2 lanes are closed ahead and the motorway way is a parking lot for the next 20 miles...no one has moved in half an hour and it is 85 in the shade...105 sitting here on the slab....I have a choice...keep the air running... or shut it off so I can eventually get home...damn the battery is dead...no air for half an hour now...I am really starting to feel dizzy...like I could pass out...maybe I could beg the guy next to me with a fossil car if I can join him to get some relief...damn...I really have to do something soon...
How about that blizzard...on my way to Aviemore... lanes are closed ahead and.............

[Serk]

I climb into my Nissan Leaf and head home from work on the 405...2 lanes are closed ahead and the freeway is a parking lot for the next 20 miles...no one has moved in half an hour and it is 105 in the shade...125 sitting here on the slab....I have a choice...keep the air running... or shut it off so I can eventually get home...damn the battery is dead...no air for half an hour now...I am really starting to feel dizzy...like I could pass out...maybe I could beg the guy next to me with a fossil car if I can join him to get some relief...damn...I really have to do something soon...
How about that blizzard...on my way to Fargo...2 lanes are closed ahead and.............

 

The weather in the UK is not mild enough that the above can't be used as a scenario for them as well.

...especially if you're talking to a True Believer in the religion of Global Warming... By their beliefs the UK won't have mild weather soon enough...

[hubcapsc]

Soon... batteries will last as long as a tank of gas and recharge
quick, like a gas fillup. I understand that a lot of y'all are railing
against sky-is-falling-politics here, but I like electric motors and
I look forward to having electric vehicles.

-Mike "and I like nucular power   "

[..]

Soon... batteries will last as long as a tank of gas and recharge
quick, like a gas fillup. I understand that a lot of y'all are railing
against sky-is-falling-politics here, but I like electric motors and
I look forward to having electric vehicles.

-Mike "and I like nucular power   "

But where does the batteries fuel come from? Nuclear?

[Serk]

Soon... batteries will last as long as a tank of gas and recharge
quick, like a gas fillup. I understand that a lot of y'all are railing
against sky-is-falling-politics here, but I like electric motors and
I look forward to having electric vehicles.

-Mike "and I like nucular power   "

I agree, and love watching a Tesla spank the most muscley of muscle cars.

...but such changes should happen via the market, not the heavy hand of government.

[..]

Soon... batteries will last as long as a tank of gas and recharge
quick, like a gas fillup. I understand that a lot of y'all are railing
against sky-is-falling-politics here, but I like electric motors and
I look forward to having electric vehicles.

-Mike "and I like nucular power   "

I agree, and love watching a Tesla spank the most muscley of muscle cars.

...but such changes should happen via the market, not the heavy hand of government.

If I had the money a Tesla would be mine. The ugly SUV one. Yeah yeah I know it's ugly but I like the doors and THE POWAH!!!

[old2soon]

WHEN I can do the 540+ miles to my Brothers place on one charge THEN take them out to eat and NOT worry that I do NOT have enough battery for heating or cooling in that Windy City metroplex AND git back to their place AND then a detour for Tastee Freez. When I confront the tree huggin greenies and ask them WHERE Zackly duz ya think yer tricity be comin from?? Absofrikkinlutely LOVE the blank stares.   THEN Try to Splain to them SOMETHING Must to be burned to generate yer tricity. OR maybe a rather Large Nuclear tea kettle MUST come on line. RIDE SAFE.

[JimmyG]

I'm waiting for my ,"Mr. Fusion", accessory now

[Robert]

Are Electric Cars Really Green?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17xh_VRrnMU

Do you realize there is a government subsidy of 7500.00  for electric powered cars not to mention the subsidy for the manufacture of the car.

I think this is unfair and we all should be given subsidies for buying cars. 

[..]

The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 granted tax credits for new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles.[204] The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) also authorized federal tax credits for converted plug-ins, though the credit is lower than for new PEVs.[205] The 2009 ACES also has extensive provisions for electric cars. The bill calls for all electric utilities to, "develop a plan to support the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles, including heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicles". The bill also provides for "smart grid integration," allowing for more efficient, effective delivery of electricity to accommodate the additional demands of plug-in EVs. Finally, the bill allows for the Department of Energy to fund projects that support the development of EV and smart grid technology and infrastructure.[206]

As defined by the 2009 ACES Act, a PEV is a vehicle which draws propulsion energy from a traction battery with at least 4 kwh of capacity and uses an offboard source of energy to recharge such battery.[204] The tax credit for new plug-in electric vehicles is worth $2,500 plus $417 for each kilowatt-hour of battery capacity over 4 kwh, and the portion of the credit determined by battery capacity cannot exceed $5,000. Therefore, the maximum amount of the credit allowed for a new PEV is $7,500.[204]

The qualified plug-in electric vehicle credit phases out for a PEV manufacturer over the one-year period beginning with the second calendar quarter after the calendar quarter in which at least 200,000 qualifying vehicles from that manufacturer have been sold for use in the U.S. Cumulative sales started counting sales after December 31, 2009. After reaching the cap, qualifying PEVs for one quarter still earn the full credit, the second quarter after that quarter PEVS are eligible for 50% of the credit for six months, then 25% of the credit for another six months and finally the credit is phased out.[204] Both the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle and the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, launched in December 2010, are eligible for the maximum $7,500 tax credit.[207] The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, released in January 2012, is eligible for a $2,500 tax credit due to its smaller battery capacity of 5.2 kWh.[208] All Tesla cars and Chevrolet Bolts are eligible for the 7,500 tax credit.

[Robert]

The tax credit, I personally don't believe is right. I think they should pay just like everyone else and if you have a diesel car why not get a tax credit or even a motorcycle.

[J.Mencalice]

Get a horse.

[scooperhsd]

I'd like to know how popular these electric vehicles would be WITHOUT their subsidies .

As far as the leap in battery technology to give a 300 mile range, 20 minute recharge and then dp another 300 miles - I don't see it happening. Even if you can advance the battery technology, you still need to provide the electric distribution network to provide the recharging.

Maybe someone can figure out a trolley car type system where the power distribution is in the roadbed. But it needs to be safe for the non-electric vehicles as well.

For all these - I don't see the Internal combustion engine going away anytime soon.

[..]

The English are muttering about having charging cords from every street light.

Of course on one would mess with them.

Idiots.

[Beardo]

Running out of battery isn't an inconvenience up here. You freeze to death.

This legislation may speed up investment and technology, but as usual, anything they come up with may work in California but will take another decade or 2 to work up here.

I'm pretty sure my kids will still be using gas for their whole lifetimes.

[Serk]

As far as the leap in battery technology to give a 300 mile range, 20 minute recharge and then dp another 300 miles - I don't see it happening. Even if you can advance the battery technology, you still need to provide the electric distribution network to provide the recharging.

You can, right now, today, drive from coast to coast with a Tesla. Tesla has built a network of charging stations across the country, which are free to use if you own a Tesla.

They can charge your car to have a 170 mile range in 30 minutes of charging or a full charge in 75 minutes giving a Model S a range of 335 miles.

This isn't a "Some day" thing. This is today.

Given another decade or two of technology? Yeah, we'll be there. And it'll be awesome.

...I just don't like it being mandated by law.

Current map of Tesla Super Charger stations:



*Addendum, in my researching for this post, it seems Tesla is taking away the free charging for cars purchased after 1/15/2017, although you'll still get an annual free amount of charging as well as even when paying it'll be less expensive than gas.

[..]

As far as the leap in battery technology to give a 300 mile range, 20 minute recharge and then dp another 300 miles - I don't see it happening. Even if you can advance the battery technology, you still need to provide the electric distribution network to provide the recharging.

You can, right now, today, drive from coast to coast with a Tesla. Tesla has built a network of charging stations across the country, which are free to use if you own a Tesla.

They can charge your car to have a 170 mile range in 30 minutes of charging or a full charge in 75 minutes giving a Model S a range of 335 miles.

This isn't a "Some day" thing. This is today.

Given another decade or two of technology? Yeah, we'll be there. And it'll be awesome.

...I just don't like it being mandated by law.

Current map of Tesla Super Charger stations:



*Addendum, in my researching for this post, it seems Tesla is taking away the free charging for cars purchased after 1/15/2017, although you'll still get an annual free amount of charging as well as even when paying it'll be less expensive than gas.

Until tax revenue is impacted and then ......................................???

The English were persuaded to use diesel by Tony Blair and his minions cause it was less polluting and more mpg. The the govt realized that they were losing tax revenue so they increased the diesel tax royally shafting the buyers of diesel cars.

Don't say it will never happen here.

[Serk]

Don't say it will never happen here.

It won't happen here.

It already IS happening here.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/california-fees-fuel-efficient-cars/

[..]

Don't say it will never happen here.

It won't happen here.

It already IS happening here.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/california-fees-fuel-efficient-cars/

Oh No say it aint so.

Government at its finest hand in hand with easily suckered consumers. 

[G-Man]

Get a horse.

Nope, horses fart and exhale during breathing.  Puts Co2 in the air, therefore, no good.

[scooperhsd]

Don't say it will never happen here.

It won't happen here.

It already IS happening here.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/california-fees-fuel-efficient-cars/

You're not saying anything new to us owners of diesel powered cars....

My 2015 VW Golf TDI (40-45 MPG) and my 2000 VW New Beetle TDI (45-48 MPG) (yes - that is better than our Valks can do) have been fun otherwise - heck - my Beetle (that is MY daily driver) can knock off tank after tank of 600 mile range without even trying hard (I've even pulled off a 720 mile tank once) - putting this in perspective - I can drive from Jacksonville FL to Boston MA stopping only ONCE for fuel. (a 17 gallon tank that can be almost emptied helps).

[John Schmidt]

Instead of waiting over an hour for your car to recharge its batteries, why don't they build them on a slide out tray of sorts. Then when traveling, you just pull into a battery station(as opposed to a gas station), the attendant comes out and slides your depleted battery tray out and slides in a fully charged tray of batteries. Hardly enough time has passed for all the kids to take a leak while you wash the windshield. In less than 10 minutes you're on your way for another few hundred miles, where you'll pull into a battery station and repeat. All this will cost you probably more than a tank of gas, but at least the tree huggers will be happy. 

[threevalks]

Instead of waiting over an hour for your car to recharge its batteries, why don't they build them on a slide out tray of sorts. Then when traveling, you just pull into a battery station(as opposed to a gas station), the attendant comes out and slides your depleted battery tray out and slides in a fully charged tray of batteries. Hardly enough time has passed for all the kids to take a leak while you wash the windshield. In less than 10 minutes you're on your way for another few hundred miles, where you'll pull into a battery station and repeat. All this will cost you probably more than a tank of gas, but at least the tree huggers will be happy. 

             Good idea except, the problem would be battery age, condition, and other issues with swapping batteries.

[..]

Instead of waiting over an hour for your car to recharge its batteries, why don't they build them on a slide out tray of sorts. Then when traveling, you just pull into a battery station(as opposed to a gas station), the attendant comes out and slides your depleted battery tray out and slides in a fully charged tray of batteries. Hardly enough time has passed for all the kids to take a leak while you wash the windshield. In less than 10 minutes you're on your way for another few hundred miles, where you'll pull into a battery station and repeat. All this will cost you probably more than a tank of gas, but at least the tree huggers will be happy. 

Car designs would have to be redone and surely there would be difference from make to make?

[Wizzard]

What do the batteries cost? And what life do they have?  That impacts it all.

[Serk]

Instead of waiting over an hour for your car to recharge its batteries, why don't they build them on a slide out tray of sorts. Then when traveling, you just pull into a battery station(as opposed to a gas station), the attendant comes out and slides your depleted battery tray out and slides in a fully charged tray of batteries. Hardly enough time has passed for all the kids to take a leak while you wash the windshield. In less than 10 minutes you're on your way for another few hundred miles, where you'll pull into a battery station and repeat. All this will cost you probably more than a tank of gas, but at least the tree huggers will be happy. 

Tesla experimented with this concept for a while, but for various reasons shelved it and decided to stick with expanding their network of charging stations...

http://www.teslarati.com/tesla-shuts-down-battery-swap-program-for-superchargers/