Ukraine / Russia

[Nick87]

I don’t see either one of those pints being “issues” any more than the myriad of issues with fossil fuels. How many billions have we spent I. Wars in the Middle East to protect oil supplies? What if that same money had been spent upgrading the grid and generating capacity instead?

Why do you think were not ready for it....

 

[Wildabeest]

Why do you think were not ready for it....

Wasn’t really saying we’re not ready for gas powered cars - more making a point that we’re just as ready for electric. I’ve been driving an EV for over 10 years now. Yes, there’s been some mild inconveniences along the way, but nothing that couldn’t be dealt with through a little planning. And it’s gotten WAY better over time.

My response to concerns about our infrastructure’s ability support a mostly EV future hasn’t changed - demand will drive innovation and improvements over time. It’s been true for every innovation. In the early days of cars, there weren’t gas stations on every corner. There were plenty of liveries where you could get some hay and tie your car up for the night though…

 

[SAJ-99]

I think a lot more people eould be accepting of the vehichles if we were actually ready to power them. Doesn't make much sense otherwise. Of course you've got the whole battery issue as well.

I have a lot of charger around me, but each area can vary. I can imagine that corn-field country probably doesn't have a lot.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I have a lot of charger around me, but each area can vary. I can imagine that corn-field country probably doesn't have a lot.

Youd be wrong. The midwest is littered with them.

Id drive one if i lived somewhere east. If trips over 200 miles were rare i think itd be crazy to not have one.

 

[SAJ-99]

The midwest is littered with them.

I stand corrected. Thanks

 

[Alpine01]

Of course not, but it doesn't happen that way anyway. It takes time. But the vitriol from the White House on anything not linked to the Jurassic is ridiculous. Over 20% of new vehicle registrations in Europe are electric. This is partially because the cost of gasoline is much higher. It is also because they let China import small, and cheaper, Evehicles. They are making economic decisions. Americans love to just sit on the internet and complain about the cost of gasoline. We built the Alaska pipeline the last time we were held hostage by Mid East oil, but that was a one-time fix. We didn't learn anything and are just so reluctant to change it is almost sad.

Was a forced mandate that recently has been relaxed. Also, 20% doesn't really reflect "most" of the European Union. It is highly skewed by Norway and to a lessor extent, Denmark. This link is from 2025 but things have only shifted away from EV's even more since.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/eu-relent-combustion-engines-ban-after-auto-industry-pressure-2025-12-16/

I spent six weeks in Norway last year, touring the southern and northern thirds of the country. I have to say I enjoyed the quietness of the larger cities (Oslo, Bergen, etc.) because of the high EV usage. It's not an easy path to replicate in the US for all of the reasons stated in the article but there are many regions in the US that would benefit significantly by getting to a higher EV usage percentage.

But that electricity needs to come from somewhere and moving the pollution that results from that electricity generation from say CA to WY is great for CA citizens, but sucks for those in WY. Just another form of NIMBY'ism. Not to mention the rather large consumption of Jurassic resources needed to make the parts that go into an EV nor the looming environmental waste catastrophe that is coming as old batteries are discarded at an ever increasing rate. And recycling doesn't seem to be panning out.

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5847025/ev-battery-recycling-economics

 

[mtmuley]

Doing burnouts without the American V8 sound wouldn't be right. Gonna be a long time until Americans are weaned off of fossil fueled rigs. mtmuley

 

[F250]

I don’t see either one of those points being “issues” any more than the myriad of issues with fossil fuels. How many billions have we spent on wars in the Middle East to protect oil supplies? What if that same money had been spent upgrading the grid and generating capacity instead?

Kind of goes hand in hand with the caribou thread. The main reason for the decline of the Quebec/ Labrador caribou herds, is the flooding of the tundra by Hydro Quebec to create huge reservoirs behind dams built to produce electricity. River flow direction was altered. The huge reservoirs (been there, seen it) blocked migration routes of the caribou interfering with travel between wintering grounds, calving grounds, summering grounds . All for the cause of producing $$$$ electricity.

 

[buckbull]

Youd be wrong. The midwest is littered with them.

Id drive one if i lived somewhere east. If trips over 200 miles were rare i think itd be crazy to not have one.

My county in illinois does not have a single public charger. My county has a grand total of 5 ev's registered in the state. I'd buy one if I could actually get it down my county road. County road requires a 4x4 truck.

 

[Bonasababy]

The rural resistance to:
-e vehicles
- hybrid vehicles
- solar energy
And more...is directly related to the news sources they consume or follow, IMO

I still get surprised by the ignorance of some folks to the realities of renewable options and sources.

Often was some truth to their beliefs but the problem they ascribe to all has been solved or greatly eased.

I know we get more questions about our hybrid SUV when gas prices go up!

 

[Bonasababy]

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-approves-landmark-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-in-big-win-for-kingdom-2ed77584?st=c1SQG2&reflink=article_copyURL_share

T just approved giving Saudi Arabia a path to nuclear weapons. Iran 2.0 in a few years.

FIts the pattern of what Trump admires and strives to achieve.

Thorns in your side, detractors, political foes? Just get rid of them!

If he could get away with it we'd have dozens of Khasoggis in this country.

 

[SAJ-99]

The rural resistance to:
-e vehicles
- hybrid vehicles
- solar energy
And more...is directly related to the news sources they consume or follow, IMO

I still get surprised by the ignorance of some folks to the realities of renewable options and sources.

Often was some truth to their beliefs but the problem they ascribe to all has been solved or greatly eased.

I know we get more questions about our hybrid SUV when gas prices go up!

Americans are led wherever the corporations want them to go. And they go so easily it's almost pathetic.

 

[TOGIE]

An electric vehicle would be perfect for my commute. I'd embrace it in a heartbeat. But, even if we bought one it wouldn't cause us to ditch the truck, we'd still keep it. I just don't see a truly functional and reliable replacement for the family adventure rig and my hunting. So that means we'd be a three car family.

Add in that new insurance premium and tires then do the math, even a cheaper used EV is going to take me 10+ years to break even on with gas and maintenance savings.

I have negative environmental elitism in my genes... I'd only get an EV for the gas $ savings and the savings don't really work out in the end.

So, 13 mpg commuting remains!

Maybe my wife needs to ditch her car and we make the truck the general town workhorse + adventure vehicle.

 

[Nick87]

An electric vehicle would be perfect for my commute. I'd embrace it in a heartbeat. But, even if we bought one it wouldn't cause us to ditch the truck, we'd still keep it. I just don't see a truly functional and reliable replacement for the family adventure rig and my hunting. So that means we'd be a three car family.

Add in that new insurance premium and tires then do the math, even a cheaper used EV is going to take me 10+ years to break even on with gas and maintenance savings.

I have negative environmental elitism in my genes... I'd only get an EV for the gas $ savings and the savings don't really work out in the end.

So, 13 mpg commuting remains!

Maybe my wife needs to ditch her car and we make the truck the general town workhorse + adventure vehicle.

Boot licker.

 

[SAJ-99]

An electric vehicle would be perfect for my commute. I'd embrace it in a heartbeat. But, even if we bought one it wouldn't cause us to ditch the truck, we'd still keep it. I just don't see a truly functional and reliable replacement for the family adventure rig and my hunting. So that means we'd be a three car family.

Add in that new insurance premium and tires then do the math, even a cheaper used EV is going to take me 10+ years to break even on with gas and maintenance savings.

I have negative environmental elitism in my genes... I'd only get an EV for the gas $ savings and the savings don't really work out in the end.

So, 13 mpg commuting remains!

Maybe my wife needs to ditch her car and we make the truck the general town workhorse + adventure vehicle.

I would guess that over 95% of "trips" Americans take in their car would fit an EV. Even then the math doesn't pencil out to change vehicles, but it doesn't stop people from complaining about gas prices. Seems the failure is with car rental companies. It would be cheaper to own the EV for daily driving and rent the family fun vehicle.

I certainly change my driving habits. Since the start of this kerfuffle with Iran at the end of Feb I estimate I have used less than two tanks of gas in the F150, so about 1000 miles. I understand it is a choice not available to many, but we collectively got ourselves into this mess.

 

[brymoore]

I would guess that over 95% of "trips" Americans take in their car would fit an EV. Even then the math doesn't pencil out to change vehicles, but it doesn't stop people from complaining about gas prices. Seems the failure is with car rental companies. It would be cheaper to own the EV for daily driving and rent the family fun vehicle.

I certainly change my driving habits. Since the start of this kerfuffle with Iran at the end of Feb I estimate I have used less than two tanks of gas in the F150, so about 1000 miles. I understand it is a choice not available to many, but we collectively got ourselves into this mess.

I agree. I looked at a Rivian and could make everything work except long trips into wilderness areas. Rivian didn’t follow Musk in reducing prices to match tax incentives and my math stopped working. Although, love the diesel GMC I bought much more than I would have liked the Rivian.

I try to talk my wife into buying a Tesla egg for our commute together. She hates Tesla and starts mentioning expensive BMW E cars and the conversation stops.

 

[Bonasababy]

An electric vehicle would be perfect for my commute. I'd embrace it in a heartbeat. But, even if we bought one it wouldn't cause us to ditch the truck, we'd still keep it. I just don't see a truly functional and reliable replacement for the family adventure rig and my hunting. So that means we'd be a three car family.

Add in that new insurance premium and tires then do the math, even a cheaper used EV is going to take me 10+ years to break even on with gas and maintenance savings.

I have negative environmental elitism in my genes... I'd only get an EV for the gas $ savings and the savings don't really work out in the end.

So, 13 mpg commuting remains!

Maybe my wife needs to ditch her car and we make the truck the general town workhorse + adventure vehicle.

Trade your truck in on a 1/2 ton diesel from GM...will more than double your mpg if its highway miles, tows 9k easy or up to 12k I think with a package.