This from the continent…
Germany’s leading car parts supplier ZF has recently been forced to cut one-fifth to one-quarter of its workforce, owing in part to Chinese competition and in part to “weak demand for electric vehicles.” Other firms like Bosch, Continental, and Webasto have also been forced to “restructure.” Yet the CEOs of these companies continue absurdly to believe in the future of “electromobility,” since the European Union plans to outlaw fossil fuel-powered vehicles as of 2035. The short-sightedness of EU bureaucrats will lead inevitably to market implosion and an economic collapse, and the car-makers have no option, it seems, but to comply with government fiat.
Full article, HERE from PJ Media.
As numerous people have said, they just ‘don’t’ work in rural areas. Not enough charging stations. And now, apparently the EU customers are finding ‘issues’ with charging, and with Germany closing their nuke plants, I can’t help but wonder if they are going to have power issues too.
As we’ve said here too, it’s about control. If you can’t charge your EV, you can’t go anywhere. And the EU seems to be ‘still’ determined to ban ICE vehicles by 2035. And there is definitely a move by those in power for the 15 minute cities.
Canada is also feeling the ‘pains’ and similar issues as we have with distances, etc.
And none of this really takes into account the amount of losses (in the billions of $$$) the big three in the US are taking and the fact that they are pulling back from manufacturing EVs. There are rumors Mercedes, BMW, and Volkswagen may also be relooking at their options, in light of the Chinese cornering the Asian market.
The next few years are going to be interesting, to put it mildly…
Microcosm: my new electric bike has less than 3 miles on it. Back tire is flat with no obvious damage. Won’t hold air. Removal of the wheel is currently a mystery as the manual has zero info on maintenance.
Haven’t had to answer questions for homeowner’s insurance in several years. Do current factors include whether or not an EV is parked in an attached garage? If not, I’ll bet that increased fire risk will be factored in for rates sometime in the future. For that matter, I’d imagine some companies might not write a policy in such a case.
And speaking of batteries:
https://avherald.com/h?article=51c0816b&opt=0
Diverted (only 21 miles shorter, to max 9000′ runway versus MIA max 13,000′) and still on the ground 21 hrs later.
Got my new homeowner’s policy this week. No mention of EVs, but they did want to know if I have a swimming pool or trampoline or portable kerosene heater.
An 82 year old friend built his four car dream detached garage a few yeas ago. Lithium batteries on a charger caught fire. The entire contents (less vehicles that he was able to move) are ruined/contaminated. Insurance nightmare. My sister, an insurance adjuster, hooked him up with an independent public adjuster. The claim is being settled for just under $50k. All over a couple of hundred dollars worth of rechargeable batteries.
I was reading where either Fort Collins or Larimer County was pondering what type of legislation is now “necessary” concerning ALL types of batteries and the storage requirements for them.
LiPo batteries, especially the big ones, can turn into small incendiary devices if mistreated. I have some big ass ones for my R/C cars, and I treat them like live Thermite grenades!
It looks like horses and wagons might be making a comeback. Has the patent on buggy whips expired?
The patent expired, but the copyright may still be valid. Thanks, DemonMouse.
There is a small bank of chargers in our town. Yesterday was the first time I’ve seen any in use – by a city bus clearly passing through to it’s buyer, emblazoned with green logos…
Only charger I’ve seen is at a local gas station at the end of a row of parking spots; it’s one 120vac outlet with a cord draped over it and a tiny sign “electric vehicle charging station”. No, the sign isn’t written in crayon.
Add in winter temperature issues with batteries and most of Canada is a no go. One local school district bought a ebus and it sits in the garage. It failed miserably in our SOKY winter.
EU bureaucrats running rampant with regulatory power maybe the very thing that breaks up the union.
Hey Old NFO;
I still own a bunch of Ford Stock I bought back in the days in the 90’s and early 2000’s when I worked for them, I won’t sell them because if I sell the stock, the “paper loss” is realized. and right now Ford is taking a bath trying to comply with the EV “suggestions” from the Biden/Harris administration. Ford and the other American car manufacturers are backing off the EV;s because they are losing their asses on them but they are being forced to by .gov, I am convinced that they are pushing for the futuristic version of the EV “K” car where it goes only a short distance, slow and forces people into the “15 minute” cities that our betters want to shove all us “dirt people” into but they will be exempt. The gas cars out there will soon be a status symbol of the super elites and rich, they ain’t gonna care the cost of gas, it will be priced our of existence for the rest of us. Now I ain’t “cottoning” to all that crap to use an old southernism.
How many of kammie baby’s yellow school buses are still running?
No info but apparently they dropped close to $2.7 Billion over a 5 year period. An inspector general investigation into the initiative has already concluded that the program has been rife with “potential fraud, waste, and abuse.”
The only EV/hybrid I’m interested in is the new Ram Ramcharger. Indirect drive, there is no drive shaft. The engine is connected to a generator that supports the battery pack. Can run from the battery or use the ICE via the generator to propel the truck. The big question, how much $$$.
EV for me? Heck no. The only chargers on the Base I work at, are at the NEX. On the opposite side of the Base from my building.
On top of that, I’ve got over three miles of unmaintained gravel road before I get to the highway. And range with a loaded stock trailer would be double-digits.
So, no, not here, no way, no how.
You might want to look at the F150 Hybrid. It is still direct drive/EV support but it can actually use the main generator to deliver power too (up to 6KW rating). My truck has the FX4 full 4×4 system and the 2,500W inverter system. It is good for 600 miles of range conservatively.
I’m on my 4th Ford Hybrid now (Escape AWD, Fusion AWD, Explorer AWD, F150 4×4) and have enjoyed driving them all.
All- Thanks for the comments and perspectives. Bob, that IS interesting, and I’m betting it’s because the FAA is involved in the investigation.
The only reason EVs are anything more than a niche market are mandates.
Hybrids actually work, and work very well. Stay away from Plug-In “PHEV” types, as their additional cost isn’t justified.
Mr. NFO, they won’t rest until we’re reduced to utter serfdom. Will the people rise up? Remains to be seen.
How odd that when the government overrides the free market, problems ensue. Who could have seen that coming?
On a separate note, just got back from a week in Texas. San Antonio, Austin, Killeen, Waco. Thoroughly enjoyed myself, the heat wasn’t unbearable, even at 100+ degrees. I was a bit surprised at the latter. Visited the Alamo (+), River Walk (+), Natural Bridge Caverns (+), wildlife refuge by the caverns (-), Fort Cavazos (pretty cool, not normally available to tourists but my buddy was stationed there so he drove me around where he goes hunting), Texas Ranger Museum (+), and Dr Pepper Museum (-), plus various little things here and there.
Floated the Comal River.
Visited Poteet to go to a car show being run by a friend, and then discovered that George Strait was born there.
Bought a cowboy hat because my straw hat is too tight (correct size but the Resistols seem to run small) and even though I probably could have bought the same hat for the same price here in Washington state I can now say I got my hat in Texas, to go with the cowboy boots I bought in Albuquerque several years ago for similar reasons. (Unrelated to and preceding my visit to Poteet, I bought the George Strait model hat because it looked good on my head.)
I liked the fact that there are a lot of trees which I didn’t expect. I liked less the fact that I rarely saw a tree taller than about 20 feet tall and there were no mountains (by the way, amazing what they label as “mountain” in Texas).
I now think I could live there although I have no immediate plans.
Now replying to my own post because I forgot to mention the Menger Hotel Bar where Teddy Roosevelt apparently hung out while recruiting for the Rough Riders. Pretty cool although drinks were expensive. Don’t blame them. You want people coming because of the history, not to drink.
That a politician was recruiting in a bar says something.