10 Facts on EVs
From iGeek
PJ Media article "10 Facts Electric Vehicle Advocates Don't Want You to Know". I want you to know.
~ Aristotle Sabouni
Created: 2022-08-27 |
- (1) EVs are powered by fossil fuels. 60% of America's power is fossil fuels (another 20% is Nuclear). But that still means that EVs are cleaner than something thats' 100% fossil fuels. Even if it's not as great as some pretend.
- (2) EVs batteries rely on cobalt. Cobalt is mined by child-slave labor. Yeah, that's not all battery chemistries. But yeah, sanctimony about my products are better than yours in ESG scores, is always bullshit metrics. So yet, some materials in EVs are gotten unethical. But some materials in your phones, internal combustion vehicles, and sneakers also had some exploitation involved. So motes and brothers eyes applies in all directions.
- (3) EVs charging stations have low reliability. Sure. Tesla has better maintenance on it's charging stations than the new and upcoming competing networks. And failures are high in others. (Most failures are just failure to charge at full capacity, but all kinds exist). It's worse than fuel pump failures, and there's fewer charging stations -- but you need them less often as well. And this will get corrected over time.
- (4) Grid strain. Yes, EVs do add mild strain to the grid. But not as much as some claim. Basically, your AC uses as much (or more) when running. So in troubled areas like California? It's going to be a problem. But in most of America that can run their grid better? It's not THAT big a deal, depending on total adoption rate. And there's some things (like evening charging, or selling back peak power) where EVs could improve the stability of the grid. We'll have to see how it plays out.
- (5) More Grid strain. See #4. They claim it's 1 or 2 AC's worth of power. Yup. And they whine that your AC doesn't run all year. True, but you only charge your car a few hours a night, and usually off-peak hours. So it's not THAT big a grid strain yet. Especially if people start using off-peak charging.
- (6) Electric Bill strain. EVs right now cost much less to operate (in fuel) than cars. So whining about electric costs, when it's less than what the gas costs would be, is a little myopic. If you want to argue that electricity costs will be going up relative to gas? Maybe. But you can generate electricity more easily than your can refine gasoline. So you're betting on which energy will be cheaper in the future.
- (7) $5,800 in upgrades for every new EV. I call bullshit. We don't know the exact price per vehicle. But I can't imagine it's really that much.
- (8)average price right now. Yup, right now there's a premium for them. But average doesn't matter... what matters is what you're going to buy, and when. They are coming down, and the tech is improving quicker than IC's (Internal Combustion). When will cross over be for you? Dunno. But comparing averages might not be the best way to do that. For me, a Luxury EV was much cheaper than a luxury IC for the same performance -- and I couldn't get the same tech in a Luxury IC at any price. So YMMV.
(9) majority of EV charging occurs at home.
Leaving out those in high density Appartments. I've pointed that out. EVs make sense in some usages, less in others. Having a home charger makes EVs a better experience than ICs. But not having one may or may not be worse.
Tradeoffs:
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- (10) drivers charge their EVs overnight when solar power is less available. My goal is not to charge by Solar, so who cares? Realistically, if I can sell power during the day (near peak prices) and buy back at night from the grid at cheaper prices, this isn't much of a loss (and you might come out ahead).
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
So I don't care. Like or don't like EV's. An article like this is good to remind people that not everything about EVs is better than IC's. (I could do 10 reasons why they're better, that people don't know). But a few are overstated.
Also, are you buying a car for right now, or the lifespan of the car? Do you keep your car 3 years, or 10+ years. (My wife has had her Mini for 16 years). I suspect a lot of things will have changed over the next decade, or two. (The lifespan of the car).
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