We Need To Stop Pretending That The Autonomous Car Is Imminent
 

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https://www.recode.net/2017/9/5/1625...ng-soon-future


" The big problem here is that very few consumers are buying or planning to buy electric vehicles. Sure, we can point to the hundreds of thousands of preorders for Tesla’s Model 3, but even if they all get delivered over the next two years, they will represent a tiny single-digit percentage of total U.S. auto sales.

Throw in all the other electric vehicles from other carmakers, and the number still remains well below 5 percent. Why? In part because U.S. consumers are generally very concerned about getting stranded if the batteries run out. Rightly or wrongly, until we see nearly as many charging stations as we have gas stations, there will be reluctance on the part of car buyers to give up their gas-powered vehicles. (Of course, throw in the fact that there are multiple electric-car charging standards, and that charging “fill-ups” are measured in tens of minutes — or even hours — and you start to get a sense of the problem.)"

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5 big challenges that self-driving cars still have to overcome



https://www.vox.com/2016/4/21/114478...nges-obstacles


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And what happens to the cost of ownership equation when the government subsidies for electric cars dry up?

John.......Not to mention the immense additional load on the national electric grid to provide the power for the charging stations. Additionally, the concept of electric cars being pollution free is misleading. Just because there is no tailpipe emissions from an electric vehicle does no mean there aren't gigantic emissions issues at coal, oil, and nuclear power plants that generate the power necessary to charge these vehicles. What's really happening is emissions are being shifted to different locations. Just because an electric car owner feels warm and fuzzy about his "clean" vehicle doesn't negate the falsehood of the sales propaganda. Perhaps solar powered charging stations would be a clean alternative, but that idea is a long way off if ever becoming a reality.

:goodpost:
(I feel kinda silly using this emoji as it could be applied to all of your posts, really :D)

I've long thought that the source-of-pollution-swap point isn't made enough. Is it not the "800# gorilla" ?

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Those interested in this topic as well as solar energy and what is possible may want to watch this video with Elon Musk as a speaker at the National Governors Association presentation in 2017.

https://youtu.be/2C-A797y8dA

The government needs to get out of the car business. Let consumers drive innovation instead of government subsidies.

We recently bought a new truck after 15 years. It has every useless gimmick and gadget imaginable. What it doesn't do is drive well. I found out that you have to buy an after market module if you want it to shift properly. Because the truck is setup to test well. It is also paper thin and I have real concerns if we were to get into an accident where we are T boned. Our 15 year old Ford Explorer is a much safer vehicle in my mind.

Hey. I like my $5k subsidy. Keep the government in.

I will probably purchase another hybrid. Nice getting ~28mpg in a +5000lb vehicle around the suburbs.

What about the poor people who are taxed to death so that the government can afford these giveaways? The government should not be playing favorites.

Sorry,no one in this country is taxed too death nor too much.

Taxes, among other purposes, are used to influence the public toward ends the government desire. In this case, the false hope (as Dan pointed out) of clean energy for transportation. —— Dangerously close to a political discussion here ——. Peace Out