For the past 22 years, I have been driving passed the 4 massive wind turbines that the county put up.  I have kept a mental note of how many are spinning, how many are not, and when.  My non-expert observation is, on any given breezy day, if the county is lucky, 1 might be spinning.  I can't remember the last decade I saw all 4 going at once.  I don't see electric vehicles taking over until electric producing technology has caught up.

We are still in the early generations of batteries for electric cars. When the lithium metal batteries come out that will be lighter, cheaper, safer, more powerful, last longer and recharge faster, the switch to all electric will really take off for the masses. That could be in as little as 5 years. I can wait till then. 

13 minutes ago, Holetail said:

I am all for progress in technology, but as far as these electric vehicles being the answer to the so called “climate crisis”, I am skeptical. I wonder why the people pushing these things never seem to mention how the electricity needed to charge these vehicles comes from power plants that burn coal or natural gas. Nuclear is another (more efficient) means, but no one wants to have that in their backyard. 

I'm against nuclear power. The price of, albeit VERY rare, catastrophic failure is too high for me.

Just now, Michigander said:

I'm against nuclear power. The price of, albeit VERY rare, catastrophic failure is too high for me.

If they'd stop building plants using low-bid contractors, it'd solve 90+% of the issues.

I’m holding out for Mr. Fusion and the flux capacitor!

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If they'd stop building plants using low-bid contractors, it'd solve 90+% of the issues.

Even if it was top notch, the possibility of catastrophic failure still exists. Stuff happens.

27 minutes ago, Holetail said:

I am all for progress in technology, but as far as these electric vehicles being the answer to the so called “climate crisis”, I am skeptical. I wonder why the people pushing these things never seem to mention how the electricity needed to charge these vehicles comes from power plants that burn coal or natural gas. Nuclear is another (more efficient) means, but no one wants to have that in their backyard. 

I was going to post that, gotta burn coal to charge the car. Not much different than burning gas 

5 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I’m holding out for Mr. Fusion and the flux capacitor!

Yeah,  and the great thing about it is you can spend the whole day figuring out how to catch fish, then time travel back to the beginning of the day and wear-um-out!

4 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Even if it was top notch, the possibility of catastrophic failure still exists. Stuff happens.

Possibility of your truck's engine exploding 'just because' exists too. If we went with 'no chance of failure' - we'd all be hermits, never going anywhere outside out homes.

 

Oh, wait - even that's dangerous....

 

Sorry, with a father who has a masters in Nuclear Physics and is an early member of the American Nuclear Society...I have much more faith in nuclear power than the average person based on what he's told me over the years.

I think the new F-150 Lightening looks awesome! I've owned trucks, muscle cars and sports cars and appreciate gas power, but I am looking forward to instant electric motor torque. A frunk and 4.4 seconds 0-60 for $40k. Sign me up!

Just wait until your boat motor is all electric too.

10 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I’m holding out for Mr. Fusion and the flux capacitor!

You and me both. Was watching some of that movie the other night. Wish my pick’um up had one of those capacitors on it. Feed it a rotten banana skin, an old tuna fish can, an empty insulin pen and a Pepsi bottle everyday. I could handle that

Wanted add that I am happy to see American innovation built in Detroit by union labor. This is the best looking American vehicle I have seen in decades.

38 minutes ago, NavyVet1204 said:

Just wait until your boat motor is all electric too.

That ain't happening?:-) 

2 hours ago, Michigander said:

Not having an actual trunk is my only real complaint about truck life. I would go electric just to get a Frunk. It'll be bittersweet because I really like my truck.

 

You could get yourself one of these

 

42 minutes ago, NavyVet1204 said:

Just wait until your boat motor is all electric too.

Electric outboards have been around for some time now. If i recall, the E Fusion 200hp motor and battery pack had a cost close to 60 grand....and that doesn't include the boat. 

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Petroleum is big business.

Employs a lot humans in many different ways.

The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline.

Don't see it going too far away particularly quickly.

Unless the 'silent' rigs are close to free of charge and

possess some massive upside (I'm not seeing now),

for as long as I can manage it,

I expect to be lead footing the 6.2L V8 for the rest of my driving days.

Get off my lawn . . . . 

 

A-Jay

 

 

 

Black trucks rule!

1 hour ago, b2187101 said:

For the past 22 years, I have been driving passed the 4 massive wind turbines that the county put up.  I have kept a mental note of how many are spinning, how many are not, and when.  My non-expert observation is, on any given breezy day, if the county is lucky, 1 might be spinning.  I can't remember the last decade I saw all 4 going at once.  I don't see electric vehicles taking over until electric producing technology has caught up.

There are hundreds of them in the corn/bean fields all around where I live.  They are almost always moving.  There are some right next to my favorite county-owned pond.  Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.  Man they are annoying, but I still am in favor of their use.

 

Edit: Forgot to mention that the closest charging station to me is about 17 miles away.

56 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Possibility of your truck's engine exploding 'just because' exists too. If we went with 'no chance of failure' - we'd all be hermits, never going anywhere outside out homes.

 

Oh, wait - even that's dangerous....

 

Sorry, with a father who has a masters in Nuclear Physics and is an early member of the American Nuclear Society...I have much more faith in nuclear power than the average person based on what he's told me over the years.

Sure, but if my truck explodes, I just get annihilated. If a power plant has a fail, you get Chernobyl or Fukushima Daiichi. The scope of the disaster is totally different.

An interesting read on battery research.

 

https://www.pocket-lint.com/gadgets/news/130380-future-batteries-coming-soon-charge-in-seconds-last-months-and-power-over-the-air

1 hour ago, Holetail said:

I am all for progress in technology, but as far as these electric vehicles being the answer to the so called “climate crisis”, I am skeptical. I wonder why the people pushing these things never seem to mention how the electricity needed to charge these vehicles comes from power plants that burn coal or natural gas. Nuclear is another (more efficient) means, but no one wants to have that in their backyard. 

Or the cost of replacing the batteries. A friend of mine had a Prius. I don't remember the price of replacement batteries, but it wasn't cheap and there are right of them I believe.

 

2 hours ago, HookInMouth said:

I'll stick with my gas powered Rams as long as I can. 

I agree! I have a hemi Ram, my wife has a hemi Challenger.

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Sorry guys but I think it's game over for gas powered vehicles.  This thing can tow 10,000 lbs and has 230 mile range or 300 miles for more money.  Zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.  How long are people gonna pay extra for a truck you have to buy gas for?  Only problem I see is finding a charging station that will accommodate a trailer behind the vehicle.   I'm sure it won't get 300 miles towing a boat.  Some of the lakes I fish are over 250 miles round trip.

 

electrics have big problems towing long distances.

 

 

I got no problem with electric. But without the infrastructure it’s a non-issue. I have a truck to tow a trailer and camper. What good is it if my range towing is 100 miles per charge per day?  And that’s if it was even that good and I could find a charging station on the way.  Solar seems a viable option to charge while driving. But not in its current state. 
 

My only gas lawn equipment is self propelled mower. Cause it would take 3-4 batteries or a d**n long cord. Just stupid. But I love my battery everything else.  No oil to mess with, no fumes, not nearly as loud, haven’t had one problem in 5 years with my weed eater or blower. Just not enough moving parts to break I guess. 
 

The renewable vs non debate is just stupid. Wait long enough and renewable obviously wins. People fighting against it just amuses me. Better luck telling the moon to power your home...since the sun already can...

 

 

3 hours ago, Harold Scoggins said:

Ford's base model will run 39K and I'm betting there will be sizeable government rebates as an incentive to get folks to switch.

no way its gonna be 39k, the dealers will put a premium on it just like the new vette, hellcats, ..........

2 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

no way its gonna be 39k, the dealers will put a premium on it just like the new vette, hellcats, ..........

The Lightning Raptor surely will, but they could offer the initial ones at a lower cost just to get them out there and let other people see them.

 

I feel like the Thunderbird could get released as electric. The marketing materials write themselves.

This discussion came up on an RV forum and went into great detail by seemingly knowledgeable members. 

 

After reading the 100 or so responses, I gathered battery technology and petroleums roll in the economy puts electric further out then most realize.