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Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
56,912
55,850
Behind the Lens, UK
A chap at my work commutes from the same town as me to work and it costs him £40 a week in fuel in a 1.2 petrol Corsa and my 2.0 TDI engine is more fuel efficient. Mine probably isn’t the best for the environment though but I can’t afford an EV in my budget, so cost comes first for me at the moment. The low powered petrol cars are crap when you’re doing a mix of dual carriageways and steep hills but great for around town stuff.

Also I do wonder if we’ll see a scrappage scheme in a few years to encourage people to buy EV’s and grants for installing chargers? I think it’ll have to come down to that to be honest.
I think the grants ship has sailed. You already don't get one on a home charger. The early adopters (the ones with the most money like my boss!) benefited where as we won't.
 

Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
56,912
55,850
Behind the Lens, UK
Question

Do those "studies" include the environmental impacts of mowing down forests, strip mining lithium ore, the huge amounts of water consumed during extraction and processing, the impacts on water supply for agricultural and drinking water, the contamination of surrounding soil and water tables, the huge evaporation ponds, the pollutants emitted by the equipment used during extraction and processing, the toxic chemicals introduced into the food supply?




View attachment 2004947
I don't know because I didn't write them, but its fair to say that if you are arguing against lithium you are also arguing against ANYTHING that uses that type of battery. Might be hard to walk away from all battery powered phones, laptops and the like.

Lithium can be recycled and improvements are being made in that respect every day. However the petrol engine will most certainly continue to damage the environment for many years to come. Both in terms of burning fossil fuels and oil spills etc.
 

elvisimprsntr

macrumors 65816
Jul 17, 2013
1,051
1,610
Florida
I don't know because I didn't write them,
Then how can you claim that an EV environmental impact is offset in 2 years?

There is a scientific analogy between flees and humans. Place a bunch of flees in a jar with a fixed food supply, they will consume every resource until they run out of resources and pollute themselves to death. Humans are living in the same jar, called planet earth.
 

VictorTango777

macrumors 6502a
Oct 28, 2017
893
1,634
Question

Do those "studies" include the environmental impacts of mowing down forests, strip mining lithium ore, the huge amounts of water consumed during extraction and processing, the impacts on water supply for agricultural and drinking water, the contamination of surrounding soil and water tables, the huge evaporation ponds, the pollutants emitted by the equipment used during extraction and processing, the toxic chemicals introduced into the food supply?

All EVs do is shift the the problem from one highly polluting non-renewal resources to another, while the corporations and politicians get rich bleeding the taxpayer dry through higher prices and taxes.




View attachment 2004947

The words “unfounded concerns about fracking” threw up a red flag, considering that wastewater injection and fracking have been linked to increased earthquakes. A brief inspection of this organization’s website yielded text such as:
“Municipaliies across the country have taken it upon themselves, often at the behest of radical environmentalists…”
”Wealth-reducing government activism”

A Google search on this organization led to the following:



 
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Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
56,912
55,850
Behind the Lens, UK
Then how can you claim that an EV environmental impact is offset in 2 years?

There is a scientific analogy between flees and humans. Place a bunch of flees in a jar with a fixed food supply, they will consume every resource until they run out of resources and pollute themselves to death. Humans are living in the same jar, called planet earth.
I didn’t claim anything. I mentioned a study I read. If we can only mention studies we wrote ourselves this is going to be a very short discussion.
EV’s impact the planet less than ICE cars. Are they perfect? Of course not. We can choose to adapt or stick our heads in the sand and keep on doing the same things we have been.
But for me that’s not an option. Purchased my i3 today.
 

44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,642
42,494
Yes I agree that luxury is subjective but surely we can agree that a bmw is nicer than a Toyota and ranger rover (when it’s working ) is nicer than a bmw. I suppose what I’m ultimately saying is the cheapest car you can buy in the UK is 12k with combustion engine and a reasonably priced family car with nice extras would be 20k. Versus the cheapest electric cars start at 29k and with nice extras added it’s prob in the 35k range so that’s why I’m saying they are a luxury item because the electric engine is charged as a premium. A bit like our Apple computers are a premium over a windows pc etc.

I don’t disagree. Besides that, the problem with the auto market right now in general, is that nobody knows where it is leading in terms of stability. Leasing rates are absolutely ridiculous right now, which is a horrible way to finance a car if you investigated that at all. Electric vehicles are basically non-existent and are ‘made to order’, even the ones you can order, don’t even have a realistic expectation date from some manufacturers. Most brand-name dealerships have hardly any new stock on their lots at all, which it’s been that way for six months at least.

I think the best advice currently for any general consumer, is if your vehicle is in good standing with the condition and mileage, I would keep it until things can ‘pan out’, until somebody would find something that they can reasonably afford without having to pay too much inflation, which applies to both EV and internal combustion vehicles.
 
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AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
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Alaska
I didn’t claim anything. I mentioned a study I read. If we can only mention studies we wrote ourselves this is going to be a very short discussion.
EV’s impact the planet less than ICE cars. Are they perfect? Of course not. We can choose to adapt or stick our heads in the sand and keep on doing the same things we have been.
But for me that’s not an option. Purchased my i3 today.
I would think that hybrid technology should be the first process taking place between ICE automobiles and EV's. In this case, to continue improving the internal combustion engine: making them lighter, stronger, and more fuel efficient, and at the same time pairing them to electric motors for propulsion. This has been done already with both the non-pluggable Toyota Prius. But to switch from one expensive product (petroleum-base fuels) to another very expensive product (batteries) to reduce emissions makes no sense to me. Well, I am old and don't have a lot of years left to live, so "you the young generations" will have to decide which course lead on your way to old age :)

How about vehicles of the future that have clean-burning engines, generate their own and sustainable power, and have very small batteries? The metals and plastics used for batteries aren't limitless and also are very expensive. The same for the process of bringing fuel to the pump. Switching from one product to the other only makes a difference in the short run. In a way we are getting out of a hole and jumping into another, instead of exploring future solutions like captain Picard going to where no man has gone before.
 
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Strelok

macrumors 65816
Jun 6, 2017
1,471
1,721
United States
You seem to think batteries will never get better while ICE somehow has potential to keep getting more efficient.
Personally I think the low displacement turbo charged ICE economy cars are the best ones to replace with EVs. They aren’t fun to drive, sound terrible and generally struggle with passing power and acceleration. Lower powered EVs are still relatively quick and the power is more accessible/immediate.
 

AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
You seem to think batteries will never get better while ICE somehow has potential to keep getting more efficient.
Personally I think the low displacement turbo charged ICE economy cars are the best ones to replace with EVs. They aren’t fun to drive, sound terrible and generally struggle with passing power and acceleration. Lower powered EVs are still relatively quick and the power is more accessible/immediate.
No. You are assuming that I don't think batteries will get better. All "made" products and precesses can be improved or made better, not just internal combustion engines. Keep in mind that there is is a power/weight ratio used in the automobile industries. For example, F1 automobiles can accelerate quickly, but a motor GP bike can accelerate much faster.

Having "fun" is just an emotional thing, and is different to every driver out there.
 
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Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
6,237
7,271
Seattle
Something to consider.

Modern cars are designed with planned obsolesce, thus are disposable commodities. Manufacturers make more $ on vehicle turnover. Electric vehicles have an even shorter useful life with all the electronics and batteries.

I can purchase a >60 year old carbureted vehicle and drive it today, and have the skills and tools to work on it myself.
What is the expected life span of an electric vehicle?
Do electric vehicles actually reduce environmental impact over their much shorter service life? Everything from raw materials to disposal?
Your purchase of a 60 year old carbureted vehicle is extremely atypical and it is a rare vehicle that survives that long. You cannot consider that a typical lifetime of an ICEV. Aside from early Leafs who had a poor battery management system, most EV batteries are lasting quite long. The newer designs even more so. As the battery tech matures, I expect them to last even longer.
 
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Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
6,237
7,271
Seattle
Question

Do those "studies" include the environmental impacts of mowing down forests, strip mining lithium ore, the huge amounts of water consumed during extraction and processing, the impacts on water supply for agricultural and drinking water, the contamination of surrounding soil and water tables, the huge evaporation ponds, the pollutants emitted by the equipment used during extraction and processing, the toxic chemicals introduced into the food supply?

All EVs do is shift the the problem from one highly polluting non-renewal resources to another, while the corporations and politicians get rich bleeding the taxpayer dry through higher prices and taxes.




View attachment 2004947
Curious, why are you posting that photo of an Australian gold mine? You aren’t trying to pretend that it is a lithium “mine” are you? that would be inaccurate. Of course the oil industry funded institute for energy research doesn’t care about accuracy as long as they can scare people aware from EVs.
 

danny_w

macrumors 601
Mar 8, 2005
4,471
301
Cumming, GA
Your purchase of a 60 year old carbureted vehicle is extremely atypical and it is a rare vehicle that survives that long. You cannot consider that a typical lifetime of an ICEV. Aside from early Leafs who had a poor battery management system, most EV batteries are lasting quite long. The newer designs even more so. As the battery tech matures, I expect them to last even longer.
While 60 years may be a stretch, I typically keep a car well over 10 years (I know that again that is not typical but it is a reality for me). Usually an ICE vehicle requires only routine maintenance in my experience to last this long, but any EV today is going to require a very expensive battery replacement at least once during the same time. So even forgetting the increased price, extended time needed for charging, etc., there is no way that I will be in the market for an EV anytime soon.
 

Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
56,912
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Behind the Lens, UK
While 60 years may be a stretch, I typically keep a car well over 10 years (I know that again that is not typical but it is a reality for me). Usually an ICE vehicle requires only routine maintenance in my experience to last this long, but any EV today is going to require a very expensive battery replacement at least once during the same time. So even forgetting the increased price, extended time needed for charging, etc., there is no way that I will be in the market for an EV anytime soon.
Not sure an EV is going to need an expensive battery replacement at least once is true. There is very little to support this. Most manufacturers offer an 8 year warranty on the battery, so it’s very unlikely it wouldn’t last at least that.
Yes there will be some horror stories and exceptions. But then my Dads ICE engine had To be replaced in the first three years.
 
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Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
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Seattle
While 60 years may be a stretch, I typically keep a car well over 10 years (I know that again that is not typical but it is a reality for me). Usually an ICE vehicle requires only routine maintenance in my experience to last this long, but any EV today is going to require a very expensive battery replacement at least once during the same time. So even forgetting the increased price, extended time needed for charging, etc., there is no way that I will be in the market for an EV anytime soon.
I don’t know where you are getting that ridiculous expectation that an EV will need a battery replacement “at least once” during 10 years.
 

danny_w

macrumors 601
Mar 8, 2005
4,471
301
Cumming, GA
Please read more carefully, I said “well over 10 years”. It is very unlikely that even a battery with an 8 year warranty will last 15 years.
 

Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
56,912
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Behind the Lens, UK
Please read more carefully, I said “well over 10 years”. It is very unlikely that even a battery with an 8 year warranty will last 15 years.
A 15 year old ICE car is also likely to need a few items as well.
Clutch
Gear box
Turbo
Exhaust
Radiator
Cam belt
Unlikely to have to change any of that.
But it definitely won’t need an annual oil change and spark plugs changed periodically.

Notice I’ve excluded the parts both types of cars use like tyres and suspension etc. those are more compatible.

The car I just bought has it’s service scheduled to once every two years. And it’s around £100 cheaper. That’s £3,500 difference over 15 years if you just did the basic service.

Yes a battery won’t last forever. But neither do ICE. I think your just dead against electric cars. That’s a shame as there are some great cars out there. But I come across the outdated views you hold quite a bit. Some people just aren’t ready to embrace change. You’ll come round. Or (in the U.K. at least), you’ll have to use the bus. As they will stop selling ICE cars in the near future.
 

AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
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Alaska
There are numerous parts that can malfunction or deteriorate in both EV's and ICE vehicles. An EV has a drive unit with a set of gears that are lubricated/cooled with oils. Some have heat pumps to aid with heating, and the battery's temperature has to be monitored and maintained within a certain temperature range. There are numerous temperature and pressure sensors throughout the vehicle. The battery temperature sensors come into play whenever the battery's temperature approaches the low or the high limits, even when the EV is parked and not pugged to an electrical outlet.

ICE vehicles, just like EVs have numerous temperature and pressure sensors thought the vehicle, and just like EVs they also have traction/stability controls, TPM, ABS and other sensors. The EV has electric motors, while the ICE vehicle has an internal combustion motor (engine). Compare an EV battery to the fuel tank of an ICE vehicle, and the EV motor (s) to an internal combustion engine.

The average vehicle's warranty in the US for an ICE vehicle is 3 years or 36,000 miles for the powertrain, and longer for seatbelts and a few other things. The warranty for an EV's battery seems to be around 8-years, and it is possible that like ICE vehicles, some of the safety devises or systems have longer warranties.
--------

The last new vehicle I purchased was in 2009, a Subaru Forester. The idea was for me to give to my wife as a present, but she didn't like driving it because the seats made her back ache. In 2011 I traded it for a used, but still under warranty Toyota RV4 V6, and she is still driving it nearly 75,000 miles later. We haven't had any mechanical problems with this automobile, nor with the 2012 Corolla that I bought "used" in 2014.

I also have a 2001 Silverado truck that I purchased around 6-7 years ago when the odometer reached 184,000 miles, and today it shows a little under 215,000 miles. I have been using this truck when I go camping, hunting, when taking photos of the auroras during the winter nights, or when photographing wildlife during the summer (I drive long distances and spend numerous hours on these summer trips). I had a mechanic replace the water pump, and a power steering hose for a cost of under $600.00, and I replaced the alternator myself, not because it needed replacing, but because it was the original alternator. I have never had to replace the motor of any of the vehicles I have driven for the past 50 years. Well I did replace part of the motor of a 1981 F-150 truck several years ago. The motor was OK, but it "threw" (whoever that means) one of the pushrods, and NAPA had what on sale what is called, "a short block" for a little over $500.00. A friend and I replaced the motor, and I gave the truck to a coworker of mine about seven years ago.
 

AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
Yes, that's a long story above :)

To those who can afford buying a new EV or ICE vehicle, please don't be dissuaded from from doing what you want or need. While some EV's date back to the 1,900's, modern EV technology is relatively new and much improved. You don't have to take my advise as if written on stone, but I am old enough to understand that it is a lot more pleasurable to enjoy life when one has it.
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,297
25,439
Wales, United Kingdom
A 15 year old ICE car is also likely to need a few items as well.
Clutch
Gear box
Turbo
Exhaust
Radiator
Cam belt
Unlikely to have to change any of that.
But it definitely won’t need an annual oil change and spark plugs changed periodically.

Notice I’ve excluded the parts both types of cars use like tyres and suspension etc. those are more compatible.

The car I just bought has it’s service scheduled to once every two years. And it’s around £100 cheaper. That’s £3,500 difference over 15 years if you just did the basic service.

Yes a battery won’t last forever. But neither do ICE. I think your just dead against electric cars. That’s a shame as there are some great cars out there. But I come across the outdated views you hold quite a bit. Some people just aren’t ready to embrace change. You’ll come round. Or (in the U.K. at least), you’ll have to use the bus. As they will stop selling ICE cars in the near future.

So much change is needed before we can all drive electric though. It’s been admitted our National Grid couldn’t cope now if 32.9m people all owned electric cars and I’m sure work is going on to prepare for this. We need to see faster charging, longer ranges and lower costing EV’s before it can be said it’s possible for us to convert over to this new technology. You’ve done it and congratulations. I couldn’t afford £36k on a car and I’d need a much bigger one in any case. People are reluctant because of these factors and are aware it is changing by the year. It just seems a short space of time to see so much improvement.
 
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Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
56,912
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Behind the Lens, UK
So much change is needed before we can all drive electric though. It’s been admitted our National Grid couldn’t cope now if 32.9m people all owned electric cars and I’m sure work is going on to prepare for this. We need to see faster charging, longer ranges and lower costing EV’s before it can be said it’s possible for us to convert over to this new technology. You’ve done it and congratulations. I couldn’t afford £36k on a car and I’d need a much bigger one in any case. People are reluctant because of these factors and are aware it is changing by the year. It just seems a short space of time to see so much improvement.
It isn’t perfect, and I’m not pretending it is. My user case is quite different from yours and others. I don’t transport more than myself and Mrs AFB around (although the i3 can accommodate 4 when it needs to, but not ideal with kids). I do t often drive anywhere other than work which is 25 miles away. When I do have further to travel a few times a year, I’ll factor in stops or hire a different car (as it will most likely be work rather than me going there!).
The cost isn’t easy to swallow. But realistically if I was buying a nearly new ice car it would cost around the same if I had the same specs.
I’ll certainly let people know how ownership works out.
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,297
25,439
Wales, United Kingdom
It isn’t perfect, and I’m not pretending it is. My user case is quite different from yours and others. I don’t transport more than myself and Mrs AFB around (although the i3 can accommodate 4 when it needs to, but not ideal with kids). I do t often drive anywhere other than work which is 25 miles away. When I do have further to travel a few times a year, I’ll factor in stops or hire a different car (as it will most likely be work rather than me going there!).
The cost isn’t easy to swallow. But realistically if I was buying a nearly new ice car it would cost around the same if I had the same specs.
I’ll certainly let people know how ownership works out.

If I was in your situation then I would definitely try an EV. You are sympathetic to different use cases though. I’ve of them mindset I will have one eventually, but I don’t want to invest this early. My wife may get one in a couple of years as her next package includes a company car and most of the other directors in her company have EV’s or hybrids.
 

Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
56,912
55,850
Behind the Lens, UK
If I was in your situation then I would definitely try an EV. You are sympathetic to different use cases though. I’ve of them mindset I will have one eventually, but I don’t want to invest this early. My wife may get one in a couple of years as her next package includes a company car and most of the other directors in her company have EV’s or hybrids.
Truth is an EV will suit me most of the time. But not all the time. Sometimes I’ll need more range. Others I could use a van. But I’m not prepared to own three cars!
We all choose what’s best for our personal circumstances. It’s not one fits all situation.
 

Dismayed

macrumors member
Apr 30, 2022
35
40
Question

Do those "studies" include the environmental impacts of mowing down forests, strip mining lithium ore, the huge amounts of water consumed during extraction and processing, the impacts on water supply for agricultural and drinking water, the contamination of surrounding soil and water tables, the huge evaporation ponds, the pollutants emitted by the equipment used during extraction and processing, the toxic chemicals introduced into the food supply?

All EVs do is shift the the problem from one highly polluting non-renewal resources to another, while the corporations and politicians get rich bleeding the taxpayer dry through higher prices and taxes.




View attachment 2004947
That open pit mine looks a lot cleaner than this Canadian oil sands pit:

26oilsands-articleLarge.jpg


In addition, lithium will not be the only battery option. CATL is preparing to launch a sodium ion battery, and work is progressing on building batteries with sodium anodes. FYI - this is a sodium mine:

1200px-Salt_Farmers_-_Pak_Thale-edit1.jpg
 
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Dismayed

macrumors member
Apr 30, 2022
35
40
. . . The other consideration too, is that usually the base model EV from manufacturers, includes a ‘single motor’ that is either FWD or RWD, and in some states where snow is predominant, AWD is the only real considerable option for better stability/handling, which also means that would include a ‘dual motor’ for EV’s, which includes a higher price tag for those models. There’s a fairly distinct price hike between a single motor and dual motor EV, which I think is probably too steep for some consumers to upgrade, depending on what trim option they choose and from what manufacturer.
You may be surprised to learn that AWD is a relatively recent option on cars. There are alternatives - winter tires and learn to drive come to mind. My wife's FWD car is fine during our snowy and icy Boston winters.
 

Dismayed

macrumors member
Apr 30, 2022
35
40
Something to consider.

Modern cars are designed with planned obsolesce, thus are disposable commodities. Manufacturers make more $ on vehicle turnover. Electric vehicles have an even shorter useful life with all the electronics and batteries.

I can purchase a >60 year old carbureted vehicle and drive it today, and have the skills and tools to work on it myself.
What is the expected life span of an electric vehicle?
Do electric vehicles actually reduce environmental impact over their much shorter service life? Everything from raw materials to disposal?
Perhaps you should purchase a 60 year old rotary telephone, too, because they are easy to repair.
 
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