Featured Americans insist on 300 miles of EV range. They’re right

Maine has two Senators so I blame their fast DC charging on Susan Collins. <GRINS>

In reality, there are often primary elections both parties hold. Choose wisely then.

I was trying to avoid this: Tesla Contacted By Senators Regarding Its Arbitration Clauses

Seven US . . . Senators have penned a letter to Tesla about the way it handles worker and customer complaints. Several of the politicians on the list have voiced their disagreements Tesla and Elon Musk in the past, but this is now moving to another level. Essentially, the group believes Tesla is using forced arbitration to hide information from the public.
. . .
At any rate, Tesla has been questioned before about its non-disclosure agreements, and this is a somewhat similar situation. A company can compel people to agree to enter into an arbitration clause or build it right into a contract. This way, if there's an issue down the road, it will be addressed by an arbitrator instead of taken to court.
. . .
Senators Richard Blumenthal, Edward J. Markey, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Tesla encouraging it to get rid of these arbitration clauses.
. . . ​

It always hurts credibility when an article begins "seven Senators" but only list four names.

Bob Wilson

 

These clauses go beyond Tesla.

 

liz has done nothing (to my knowledge) to promote ev's. and i never see electric prices or renewables on any campaign platforms. all they ever talk about is reliability. that's why we have a home generator

 

We agree. Here is the letter: https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/05082023teslaforcedarbitrationletter.pdf

Bob Wilson

 

Do your trips resemble the route I have described in this and several past threads, a scenic non-Interstate route across northern WA-ID-MT-ND-MN? As mentioned previously, the MN portion was do-able when this was part of our path across the continent in 2015, and has been significantly improved since, but the other mentioned states are still Supercharger deserts.

 

Always got a kick out of Mr. Sanders and Mrs Warren 'sticking up for the common man'.

The Secret of Bernie’s Millions - POLITICO Magazine
"How did he amass three houses and a net worth approaching at least $2 million? The surprisingly conventional middle-class climbing of a radical-sounding socialist."

What Is Elizabeth Warren's Net Worth? (thelist.com)
"Warren's household net worth is estimated to be approximately $12 million, with no debt. "

Actually, I congratulate both of them for being financially successful - but there is about as much a chance of them giving away their actual wealth to the poor downtrodden man they proport to protect as the sun falling out of the sky.

 

I purchased my 2017 Prius for $32,000.- it has a 465 mile range, it costs $40 to fill up.... Until an EV can match this mileage range on a single charge - at this price point. I am staying with my hybrid.

 

In our state proliferation of solar is making the electric rate higher. Yep, not lower, higher. If approved our electric rate will jump starting July 1 this year because of solar power generators.

Electricity costs to increase more than expected in Maine due to community solar farms

 

Home ownership is ~65% of households in the US.
But when you consider that many that do not own also live in a dense city and do not own a car it is more like 70%. If you adjust for number of cars owned it is more like 75%.
That means that about 75% of cars are owned by a household where they have a garage or carport.
In dense cities and in the northeast the numbers are lower. In the west the numbers are higher

Mike

 

Hybrid SUV, 560 mile range, refillable at almost every exit within 100 yards of the road traveled in 5 minutes including bio breaks, no need to use an app or search for a refilling source or worry about hose compatibility, cost of fuel since 3.5 years ago purchase less than $1,900 for 28k miles. Could sell today for more than I paid for it. Familiar. No cord at home to trip over.

versus

Refill in 200ish miles for 20 minutes.

Cost of wall charger $3,000 installation in early 2022 prices plus $600 or so purchase. ~$15k excess capital tied up in car. Difficulty in finding and buying one with cargo carrying needed. Need to carry duplicate apps and cables/adapters.

And I'm pro climate, able to afford, early adapter. But your marketing message Bob has to show how my life is enhanced and not complicated by this vehicle which is nothing more than an appliance to make my travel easier. Not stress how difficulties can be got around.

 

You're right! Don't get an EV because you are not bright enough to understand it:

• $24,000 for 2019 Tesla Model 3 Std Rng Plus with trade-in Prius Prime
• $20 = (465 mi / 150 mi) * $10 SuperCharger fees
  1. 150 miles, $10 total
  2. 300 miles, $20 total
  3. 465 miles, $20 total arrive for L2 free charge

Bob Wilson

 

Why do you have to insult someone like that? Just because you drive a BEV that makes you brighter?

 

But the cost increase isn't because solar itself costs more. It's do to with the design of the incentive. The lack of E85 pumps in the US, and CO2 emissions increases from PHEVs not being charged in Europe, wasn't the fault of the cars.

The price increase might actually have nothing to do with the incentive or solar at all. "But community solar developers are receiving higher-than-expected rates for their power because the Legislature tied the price of this power to fossil fuel-derived electricity rates."

Solar is getting an increased price on the whole sale market to encourage its development. Now any increase in electricity consumption has to come from somewhere. I suspect the hydroelectric generation can't be expanded, and new nuclear doesn't seem likely. Without the incentive, less solar would go in. Leaving the most likely energy source to get added. With the incentive tied to the price of fossil fuel generated electric rates, wouldn't these price increases happen without the solar?

How viable are other renewables? This solar incentive could cause investment away from other renewables.

 

I believe that includes condos and town- or row-houses.

How do you support the jump to including garages or carport? Plenty of owner-occupied homes lack garages or carports.

 

Probably not as remote. MN-SD-WY-CO-NV-CA-AZ-NM-CO-WY-SD-MN.
We stopped by MT Rushmore, Denver sites, a ghost town in AZ and a number of other sites.
Our EV took us everywhere we wanted to go.
I am not saying it would take you everywhere you want to go. I am saying blanket statements such as EVs aren’t suitable for anything other than commuting cars are patently false.
That may be true in specific cases, but it is not true for all people.

EVs won’t work for everyone, but they do work for some.
And the sales numbers seem to support the idea that they work for quite a few people.

 

Mainers are already paying high costs for power, but now they can expect to pay even more once incentives for community solar programs get tacked onto their electricity bills starting July 1.
. . .
Maine’s biggest utilities, Versant Power and Central Maine Power, said the anticipated cost increases are largely a result of generous incentives approved by the Maine Legislature to boost community solar development.

Community solar, which is one of several forms of solar development in Maine, allows people who subscribe to a small-scale solar farm to reduce their electricity bill. But the cost savings granted to subscribers are paid for by all other utility customers who don’t participate.
​

Reads like your State is working hard to screw up solar installation and payoff. It might be OK to just do individual home solar. Curious they didn't quantify the amount added to the bills and how much the community solar users were saving.

Bob Wilson

 

A condo likely would have an issue. Even a regressive HOA could cause them for charger installs. While the lack of a driveway could be one, the lack of a garage or carport isn't.

Or join a community solar development.

 

I understand that. It is the price to pay for new renewable development. But I am not sure if it is being welcomed by many ratepayers who can't afford the high cost of energy already. I read there was an unprecedented increase in the number of termination notices sent to electric ratepayers who couldn't pay the bill this winter with a heating cost increase. I just don't see everyone willing to pay more so that the lucky few can save some while renewable developers gather a huge profit.

For the record, I am one of the lucky ones who put my name early enough to be able to sign a contract for a community solar starting last year. For years before I signed up for a community solar, I was paying a voluntary "green fee" to purchase our electricity from renewable sources. I was paying ~$15/mo extra to purchase 100% renewable sourced electricity from the utility. The program is still continuing now, but I stopped paying into it when I signed up for the community solar contract. But, after reading this article that any discount/incentive paid for the community solar users is paid by an increase in electric rate across the entire ratepayers, I am considering terminating the community solar contract. I just don't feel right to support the movement in this way. I have checked with my utility already, and I know that I can't put a grid-tied solar panel on my own roof. They will not allow it to grid-tied, i.e. Net Metered, due to an old and inadequate grid system, so they say. So, my only choice is battery backup off-grid solar. But this is going to be even more expensive than any rate hike.

 

likely it is more about low population density, but it should be covered by the IRA to build more there unless that gets repealed.

The other 3 on the letter are Jeff Merkley, Brown, and Durban. There were 7 who really have much worse offending companies to go after. Perhaps if they believe the arbitration rules are bad they can write a law covering all companies not just one whose CEO they dislike. Really IMHO a bad letter, but nothing that will slow plug-in adoption.