Electric cars are coming faster then what we think. The problems I see for now with the electric car is range, charging time, battery replacement costs, and inter-structure for recharging. They will figure some of this out, but not all of it.

I drive cross country alot. Mostly from Pittsburgh to Denver and back. Takes about 14 hrs one way. How long will it take me with an electric car? Days? Close to a week? :eek: I get about 400 miles out of a tank of gas. Electric is limited to what? 200 miles or so. Takes me about 10 minutes to fill up. How long does it take to recharge the battery? Hours? How many place are there for recharging on a interstate? I've only seen one place. And it was close to a city. You won't find any on I70 or I80. So much for taking a long road trip in the future.

Battery replacement for now is about 1/3 the cost of the car. Because of this. Low end families are going to be hurting. You'll end up with less people driving. And what are you going to do with the old batteries? If you're in an accident. Now you have to fear from getting executed. Survive the wreck, then get zapped getting out of the car. :eek:

Another problem. Being in power generation for years. Our grid right now can not handle a massive increase in electric cars today. Transmission lines will have to be up-graded and new lines put up. And guess what. You will have the N.I.M.B.Y group yelling about the new lines. So until you fix that problem. You may be looking at brown outs.

And lets not forget about the big one. TAXES. Instead of paying road taxes with each gallon of gas. You will be paying for each mile driven. Two ways of what the gov't is thinking. Pay at the time of each recharge. Or pay yearly for each mile. That will be a big bill!

:iagree:

No horse racing either. I watch some track and field during the Olympics...lol.

Like I said, I don't have much experience watching racing. I've done a little autocross and enjoy watching car reviews where they track the cars but I've never been into spending hours watching cars actually race.

I suppose I assumed that you weren't as engaged since you fell asleep...lol.

I sold the Z because I am a financial idiot and thought I could afford it when I couldn't. I'd like nothing more than to get back into a Z but am trying to get my **** together financially and quit making stupid choices. I think the Z sounds decent, though, there are obviously cars that sound better. I do, however, prefer quality sound over loud for loud's sake and try to protect my hearing as much as possible.

As you say, they'll figure it out. Right now, with just a few EV models on the market, one is already getting over 300 miles per charge. Tesla must be confident because they are about to produce an over-the-road, all electric rig. (You've probably seen the concept photos).

Motor Week showed a battery pak replacement "station" where the vehicle drives over, and is positioned over, a lift that extends up to the battery pack, lowers it below surface, and raises a new fully charged battery pack into place under the car. It worked slick, and was fast. That's one possible solution besides "quick charge" stations that exist now for Tesla vehicles.

As far as our power grid not being able to carry the new load, that hasn't stopped our gov't from promoting and subsidizing more wind power generator fields that can't be utilized during peak wind conditions. All because the power grid can't handle it. (I hate looking at those things, they just clutter the view of the countryside IMO. Oh yah, and they kill endangered bird species:icon17:). But again, the power grid will get upgraded one way or the other.

I think all of the problems you list will be solved. They'll have to be. And Uber and Lyft may take care of the transportation requirements of those who can't afford all the costs of owning a vehicle. Plus, they'll be self driving.....another technology that's coming fast and furious. Its a brave new world.

With the power grid. The N.I.M.B.Y group. (Not In My Back Yard) Has already shot down over 4 dozen transmission line up-grades, new lines, and sub-stations in the last 10 years that I know of.

Wind and solar depend on gov't subsidies. Without that. They would not be cost efficient. They would operate at a lost. Nuke is the cheapest to produce electric, followed by natural gas, coal. Wind and solar are the most expensive.

I seen the truck video. And the comments from the truckers I have talked to. They all wonder if it will go 500,000 miles before needing heavy maintenance. And are scared of what a battery replacement would cost. They seem to think that the truck would be better suited to inter-city delivery then long haul.

Not impossible but, IMNSHO, it's highly unlikely that there will be any major upgrades to the electrical grid.
Running more long-distance lines is very expensive. In many urban areas, there's not enough room to run more lines. More generating capacity is expensive and takes a long time to build.
And then you have to deal with the NIMBYs.

My prediction is that much of the recharging power will come from solar panels or other "non-grid" sources.

YMMV

A 600 to 700 MW natural gas combine cycle 2 on 1 (2 gas turbines and 1 steam turbine) power plant takes 18 months to build and costs about $500,000,000 depending on area. They have to be close to water for cooling, gas supply, and grid hook up. Farther away, the higher the cost. If it runs 24/7 at close to max load. It will pay for it's self in about 4 years. Getting permits is another thing. That may take years.

Wind turbines produce about 3 MW's each on a good day (the new ones, 300ft). Cost about $250,000 each. Takes 30 years to pay for it's self. Plus they have to be built where the wind conditions are just right. Low wind will not produce enough electric. Too high of wind will over-speed the turbines, and kill them. When wind speeds are over around 25 mph. They lock the blades in place so that they don't spin, and turn them to a neutral position. So now it's not producing anything. Most of the wind farms are in the mid-west. I'm waiting to see a tornado wipe a farm out. Then see what the experts say.

Electric cars and all... This is why our government should be getting ahead of all this, new technologies to improve power generation and transmission, not going back to coal and drilling for more oil. The US is going to be left behind with China and others taking the lead. We just have to get used to idea of smelling hot electronics coming from a car instead of the smell of oil, gas, and exhaust. An electric Z with the acceleration of a Tesla and with the same range would be awesome!

If it has a range of 400 miles, recharge in about 15 minutes, run and handled like my Nismo. I'm all for it. :driving:

Do you have 200k? :tiphat:

Yeah. :D Got a $350,000 motorhome. So..................that's my Ferrari 488 that I should have bought instead. :shakes head:

Rusty Marry me!!! Lol

Your supposed to be on vacation man!

reading the comments and wondering how fast this will happen...
thinking, hopefully by the time this happens I am not driving anymore and one of those autonomous cars can drive me around :roflpuke2:

:santasleigh2:

Thats the end of motoring world!!

Life would be boring! But wait at least you can text and have sex while going to work!!!

I take it back the Future is Bright!!! Lol

hmmm... great idea..
give me a good laugh :bowrofl: