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What will it take to make you seriously consider an EV?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by jiggyfly, Mar 31, 2021.

  1. rimrocker

    rimrocker Member

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    I've got a 2010 Tundra 4WD/Tow Package/V8. It's a horse, a gas hog, and our trip car/take the dogs to the trails and vet rig. We also have a camper I pull with it that we are about to sell (a vintage Hi-Lo if anyone wants to make a deal early). With selling the camper and having both kids out of college and in a place where we won't need to move them again, I won't be replacing the Tundra and it will be our last ICE rig. Will probably keep it for a few more years (or until the dogs die) and just drive it sporadically while the Mach-E does most of the daily stuff. With both of us now retired, we really only need one car or maybe two if they are small. I really don't want to have another vehicle that doesn't fit into the garage.

    I could see getting a Maverick--once they come out with an EV version..
     
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  2. Mango

    Mango Member

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    Depending on how one interprets this, maybe for the 2027 Model Year. Otherwise for the 2028 Model Year.

    Ford To Build EREV SUVs, Super Duty Trucks As EV Plans Shift

    Despite pickup trucks being wildly popular in the U.S., the ones running on pure battery power are struggling to strike a chord with the masses. They tend to be more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts and buyers don’t seem convinced by their towing and hauling capabilities.

    Now, automakers are increasingly embracing a new solution: extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). Ram and Scout Motors have already announced their EREV plans for the U.S. and Ford is now joining that growing list. The Dearborn automaker is preparing to offer EREV versions of its SUVs, crossovers and the Super Duty pickup, Bloomberg confirmed on Tuesday.

    EREVs get an electric powertrain with a large battery and motors. They also get a traditional internal combustion engine. The role of the gas engine is only to act as an onboard generator to recharge the battery. The wheels run on electric power only. Owners can also recharge the battery directly, but the onboard gas generator can be a backup when charging isn’t accessible.

    EREVs are already a burgeoning category in China. Chinese automakers sold some 623,000 EREVs in 2024, according to data from the China Association Of Automobile Manufacturers. The segment will land in the U.S. this year, with Stellantis preparing to launch the Ram 1500 Ramcharger that has been promised to deliver about 690 miles of range.
    Ford’s EREVs won’t arrive until 2027. But when they do, they’ll likely play a crucial role in making its EV business profitable—something that has so far proved elusive for Ford even as it moved into the electric space early on.

    Ford's EV business unit, christened Model e, was forecast to lose about $5 billion in 2024. Even though sales of the fully electric F-150 Lightning have been growing, they account for a fraction of sales in the broader F-150 family, which also includes gas-powered and hybrid models. As we reported last year, Ford has canceled a three-row electric SUV and delayed other models, including an all-electric pickup truck expected to be a Lightning successor.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Buck Turgidson

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    Now we're talking, i'm sure they'll have it perfected in about 5 years
     
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  4. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

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    EREV's, from my recollection, combine the best and worst of ICE and EV vehicles to arrive at a solution to more range. Kind of like a hybrid version of "this is the best we can do at the moment". With electric's batteries (usually a smaller amount) as well as ICE's engine, that's a lot of space being taken up. Mazda has an advantage with its rotary engine being used as the ICE engine for an EREV model they're selling (I think in the US, not sure) since it's a smaller engine. But that thing has the performance of a slug from what I remember reading last year.
     
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  5. Mango

    Mango Member

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    A Prius has had a ICE - Electric combo for years and EREV is flipping the relationship with the Electric as the primary and ICE as the helper.

    I don't know if they are going to adjust to a clearly smaller battery with the ICE able to both extend the range and compensate for a smaller battery.

    ps
    Yes, one shouldn't got to a Drag Strip with an older Prius either.
     
  6. Sajan

    Sajan Member

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  7. Mango

    Mango Member

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    The US is currently producing over 13 million barrels of Crude per day while China is probably producing 5 million (or less) barrels per day.
    The European countries also don't produce much Crude once Russian production is subtracted.

    Daily Oil Production -- European Countries

    China and the European countries have more incentive to move away from ICE vehicles because of the huge amount of imports needed to maintain a transportation system heavily reliant on ICE. China still has a huge amount of electricity production from coal, but they are making a harder push than the US to transition to Renewables.

    China being on the leading edge in EV design & production makes sense because their government gives a nudge towards EVs rather than ICE vehicles.
     
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  8. Mango

    Mango Member

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    This suggests a Controlled- Soft Launch for the Taxi service rather than immediately being open to the General Public.

    Tesla Sends Out Robotaxi Ride Invites — Robotaxi App, Safety Monitor and More Details

    Tesla is officially opening up its long-anticipated Robotaxi service — but only for a select, invite-only group. Invitations have gone out to influencers to experience the first autonomous rides this Sunday, June 22, in Austin. Dubbed an “early access” program, this marks the official launch of Tesla’s Robotaxi service and the new Robotaxi app.

    Invitation Details

    Tesla is taking a cautious approach to its initial rollout. Only invited users — largely influencers and carefully selected individuals — will get to hail a ride using the new Robotaxi app. These early testers will be among the first t
    the Robotaxi service, the app and ride restrictions.

    Human Safety Monitors
    Elon Musk previously stated that there would be “no occupant in the driver seat,” and while that’s technically accurate, it’s not exactly what we expected. These Robotaxi rides will have a Tesla employee seated in the front passenger seat. This “safety monitor” will oversee the ride but not intervene unless necessary.

    Interestingly, the documents shared with influencers indicate that these safety monitors will be subject to the same restrictions as Tesla owners with FSD Supervised. The cabin camera will monitor their gaze to make sure they’re paying attention and presumably warn them if they stare off to the side for too long.

    Teleoperators
    While there will be safety monitors in the vehicle, there are also expected to be teleoperators. Although Tesla doesn’t explicitly mention teleoperators, it does note that the cabin camera will only be used in the event of a support request or if “operator assistance” is required in an emergency.

    Teleoperators aren’t a surprise at all, as all autonomous vehicles use them today when a vehicle needs help. While in the case of a Model Y, it’s possible for the safety monitor to take over the vehicle, Tesla is preparing for the future when there won’t be a safety monitor in the vehicle and the vehicle doesn’t have a steering wheel like the Cybercab.

    o experience what Tesla describes as a fully autonomous ride, although not entirely without human oversight.

    Cabin Camera and Mic: Off By Default
    Passenger privacy appears to be a priority. Tesla confirms that the cabin camera and microphone will be off by default during the ride. These features will only activate if the rider opts in, requests assistance, or in the case of an emergency. This appears to contradict what Tesla mentions about the cabin camera monitoring the safety driver, but it’s possible Tesla means that these features will be off by default when there isn’t a safety monitor in the vehicle.

    Similar to Tesla vehicles today, Tesla will show green and orange dots on the display whenever the cabin camera or microphone is being used.

    Tesla says that after the ride, the camera may be temporarily activated to check for cleanliness or forgotten items before the vehicle continues to its next destination.

    Will React to Emergency Vehicles
    While we know that these vehicles will be equipped with a newer version of FSD, it’s not yet clear exactly which version it's. However, it appears that this version will now feature sound detection, allowing it to detect and react to emergency vehicles.

    Tesla says the vehicles will use the vehicle’s microphone to recognize sirens or other road alerts. If a safety event is detected, the vehicle will reduce media volume and notify users on screen.

    Recording and Sharing Encouraged
    Tesla is allowing invited guests to bring one additional guest with them to experience the Robotaxi network. Tesla will be allowing the recording and sharing of photos and videos, so we should have plenty of new details on the Robotaxi soon.

    Tesla is also asking users to rate their experience via the Robotaxi app, likely trying to identify any trouble points.

    Restrictions for Robotaxi Rides
    Tesla’s Robotaxi service will operate within a geofenced area of Austin and will be available between 6:00 AM and 12:00 AM. So, essentially, there are only six hours when Robotaxis won’t be available. Tesla states that users will be able to see the geofence area within the app; however, we currently don’t know the size of this area.

    Airport rides are not allowed, presumably due to more complicated scenarios. Tesla also states that the Robotaxi service can be paused at any point due to inclement weather; however, the forecast for Austin over the next week is clear and sunny, so this is unlikely to be an issue.

    Pricing and Fees
    Tesla’s agreement states that all rides will be priced in U.S. dollars and may include tolls, airport fees, and other regulatory charges. It’s not clear whether invited guests will need to pay for rides, but since Tesla is mentioning prices and doesn’t explicitly state that these rides are free, they’ll likely have to.

    We may soon find out what Tesla will charge for Robotaxi rides and compare it to other services, such as Uber and Lyft. However, like all other Tesla pricing, these will likely change over time as well.

    Tesla reserves the right to charge users for damages or litter left in the vehicle, according to documents shared with influencers.

    Robotaxi App, Not the Tesla App
    One of the more surprising revelations is that Tesla is not using the Tesla app for this service. Instead, riders will be required to download a new Robotaxi app. While code related to Robotaxi features has been found in Tesla’s main app, it now appears that the Robotaxi app will serve ride-hailing passengers.

    The Robotaxi details we’ve seen in the Tesla app may be for future support when owners start adding their vehicles to the Robotaxi fleet. This way, an owner can open up the Tesla app and know the status of their vehicle.

    The Robotaxi app won’t be publicly available on the App Store yet. Instead, invitees will receive a separate download invitation, likely through a service like TestFlight, which allows users to test unreleased apps. Tesla emphasizes that only the original invitee can download and use the app, but hopefully, we’ll have our first look at the Robotaxi app soon.

    What’s Next
    While this represents a soft launch for Tesla’s Robotaxi service, it offers our first glimpse at what the service will be like in terms of restrictions, geo-fenced areas, price, and, of course, a look at the Robotaxi app. Like all things Tesla, they’ll iterate and improve the app, service, and process over time.

    We should have a lot more details and the first ride-along videos soon.




     
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  9. Buck Turgidson

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    Not so fast my friend

    https://www.statesman.com/story/bus...-to-delay-austin-robotaxi-launch/84293616007/
     
  10. Sanctity

    Sanctity Member

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    Pets coming to their end is something I wish to never face but healthier humans are like vampires compared to the life spans of dogs and cats.
     
  11. Mango

    Mango Member

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    ...If Tesla plans to roll out the service before September, the state lawmakers asked that it first demonstrate its compliance with the state law. Members that signed are Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin; Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin; Rep. Erin Zweiner, D-Driftwood; Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo; Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin; Rep. Lulu Flores, D-Austin; and Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin.



    It is a request by Democrats mostly from the Austin area, so I have it as doubtful that Tesla (Musk) will comply with their ask.
     

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