this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2024
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You must have really driven a golf cart, as what you describe is nowhere near the real EV experience.
You’re comparing a 2nd hand car to a new EV? Then yes the initial coat is higher, of course. While the 1968 Ford Galaxy is a marvel to behold, it doesn’t compare to modern ICE cars. Even the base VW Golf has better specs… But I digress… Cars like that are the reason we need EVs if we want to control climate change. The amount of CO2 that baby expells is just way of the charts…
Is electricity cheap? No. But I would be more interested to see how much kW/h your AC unit is using. And how much gallons per mile you’re consuming. That is the only valid comparison to make here. And I would seriously encourage you to look at heat pumps.
EVs are good for people who actually look at cars and who know about cars. Not people who are dinosaur guzzling go-carts prejudiced.
I am a professional mechanic, and I have worked at multiple dealerships that frequently service EVs and Hybrid EVs. Most notably Kia, Hyundai, and Jaguar Land Rover. I very regularly serviced both ICE and EV vehicles, since I was certified for both ICE and EV heavy line work. I mainly do engine, transmission, EV motor repairs, etc, basically the big complex jobs that take a long time. Which is another point to mention: EV repairs are expensive in comparison with ICE repairs.
I'm gonna be honest, buying an EV does not really do anything for the environment. It isn't way better than an ICE car, that's just marketing. It just moves the pollution to places you don't see it, like power plants, rare metal mines, etc. I would encourage you to do your research and due diligence. A properly tuned carbureted engine does actually have the potential to pass CA emissions, which are ridiculously strict. Reason most don't is usually old tired engines have worn rings or umbrella seals and burn too much oil thus needing a richer tune.
Its a brand new AC unit, don't know the numbers it outputs but it is what was recommended for the size of the home, which is not a huge manor but also not a tiny apartment. No leaks in the vent tubes or anything, and none of the vents are closed or restricting flow. MPG on the Galaxie is like, 14/15 city, which is actually super good. But that's because I just rebuilt the engine, before I rebuilt it it was running on 200k miles and got like 9/10 MPG. Which was caused by worn piston rings and umbrella seals so old they had literally disintegrated and oil was just dropping through the valve guides.
EVs aren't evil, never said they were. But for Americans that don't live in New York City or Los Angeles, an EV will probably be impractical/unaffordable in the long run.
I understand that EV fans can often feel attacked in these kind of conversations, but let's please try to remain civil in this community, thank you.
The thing is, many places already have power that is free of CO2 emissions and mines are not huge CO2 emitters (afaik).
As a case point: In Toronto, 30% of our emissions are from vehicles, 60% from buildings (natural gas heating mostly). If we ran all EVs, that 30% emissions from vehicles would be eliminated because nearly all our power either comes from hydro dams or nuclear power plants. And there's no shortage of power either - we have loads of excess capacity at night, when everyone would charge their cars.
I think you're getting downvotes because you're misinformed about the cost/benefits of EVs and the broader important (and urgency) of reducing carbon emissions. It's such a critical and urgent challenge that we have to tackle this to avoid huge impacts on our economies due to heating of the climate (crop failures, flooding, more severe weather, erosion, wildfires, etc.).
I am not a professional mechanic, and I know 0 about car maintenance. I do know my EV is cheaper in maintenance than my last ICE. Over the last 15 years i drove an ICE (3 different cars, all new), I had to go to the garage at least 2x a year for a full check up costing me at least 800€ for each check up. First time I asked a Tesla service center to plan a full check up, they jokingly told me they would be happy to change my wiper fluid and charge 1k for that. The only thing I pay money for is my tyres.
I get it that not all cars are built the same and sometimes you have a car which is “built on monday” (one that falls abart at every turn), but judging by my experience, and my friends’ experience with their Teslas, EVs are cheaper in maintenance. But again, I am not a mechanic.
I will not go into the advantages of EV over ICE in environmental issues, as @GameGod has done a better job than I could.
I don’t feel attacked at all. But when you misrepresent EV cars because of your lack of experience with them, and prejudice because 2nd hand cars are chaper than new cars, I do feel I need to speak up. Other people might get the wrong idea…
I drive between Chicago and stlouis regularly. It's adds 18min to the 4.5 hour drive.