urbanSTL

STLEnginerd wrote: ↑

Jun 29, 2023

Anti trust needs to separate automakers and charging networks.  At least they should if they are approaching it as competitive leverage which at least Tesla is.  Its not big enough yet but i think its coming eventually.

We're getting closer.

Access to Tesla's Supercharger network will remain gate-kept by Tesla as is its right, but I wouldn't be surprised to see more OEMs negotiate access for their EVs. But NACS as a standard will no longer be controlled by Tesla. Instead, thanks in part to help from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, it will fall under the jurisdiction of SAE International, which has promised to expedite its efforts so that NACS can become an official standard within the next six months.

An independent NACS is far more attractive to the rest of the industry; car companies are cautious by their nature, and SAE being in charge of NACS should give some the cover they needed to make the jump.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/06/te ... ica-blink/

I have been driving Tesla's since 2013 and I am appaled at how stupid the legacy car companies were to let Tesla get this far ahead.  The US government would not let Henry Ford own gas stations and I could not believe they did not stop Elon from building this amazing Supercharging network. I am not sure what the answer is but at some point I do believe Elon should spin out the Supercharging company as a separate company. Elon has been so far ahead of both the legacy car companies and the federal government on these issues. Ford and GM are no where near building efficient EVs as they do not have the software teams to create the single integrated systems. The next 5 years will be interesting. In addition to Supercharging, Elons' competivitive advantage isncludes battery technology and Lithium deals, non-union facilities, and not needing to pay for a dealership network. A lot of work ahead for his competitors to catch him.

I think the fact that the Model Y is now the world's best selling car is very telling.

The first car in STL was an EV.

StlToday - July 10, 1898: We take a test drive on the first 'Auto-Mobile' in St. Louis

"From five cents to $1.00 per day," replied the motorneer who was manipulating this wonderful carriage, "and it will go at speed of 12 miles an hour. The battery must be renewed every 30 miles, but that is done in a moment's time."

https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/ ... d0dcf.html

Copper wire thefts are increasing across US cities, and public EV charging stations have emerged as one of their prime targets. 
https://gizmodo.com/copper-wire-stripping-thieves-who-target-ev-chargers-are-a-threat-to-ev-adoption-2000677214

chris fuller wrote: ↑

Oct 28, 2025

Copper wire thefts are increasing across US cities, and public EV charging stations have emerged as one of their prime targets. 
https://gizmodo.com/copper-wire-stripping-thieves-who-target-ev-chargers-are-a-threat-to-ev-adoption-2000677214

Sonsabitches.

EV's.
2026 Consumer Electrics Show (CES) just ended in Las Vegas, and we're learning that several companies are about to start producing solid state EV batteries in the next couple of years.  These will have 600 mile range or more, be much safer than current EV batteries, will be able to charge in 10 minutes or less, and can have lives or 30 years or more.  At first they will be expensive and only in luxury cars.  But this will solve one of the 2 main problems folks have with EVs.  The other one is availability of chargers.

I believe it is conventional wisdom that, due to electricity generation with coal, high cost of EVs/electricity, battery disposal etc., that ICE cars are at least as good as EVs in these 3 categories.  1) Government subsidy, 2) Cost, and 3) Clean/Climate change.

But I asked Gemini AI these 3 questions.

1. "In short, which are subsidized less by the US government? ICE cars or EV?"  Answer: EVs due to Oil & Gas subsidies, health costs, etc.
2. "In short, which are cheaper overall after 5 years?  ICE cars or EVs?"  Answer:  EVs.  Even though they cost more up front and depreciate faster.
3. "In short, which are better for combatting climate change?  ICE cars or EVs?"  Answer: EVs.  Battery creation makes more carbon, but the usage phase more than offsets.

Try typing in these questions into AI yourself if skeptical.  AI gives a lot of rationale for its answers.

I got a 3-year lease EV last summer, and it is all my wife and I want to drive in town now, even though we also have a ICE car.  Acceleration makes it more fun, and safer changing lanes.  Long wheelbase (for long battery?) makes the ride comfortable.  It's very quiet.  When I got in to drive it off the lot, I hit the power button, and the dealer told me I just turned if off.  It was already on but silent.  And virtually no vibration.  Tire rotation is about the only maintenance.

At first we did 30 minute fast charges at EVgos at 66 cents per kWh making it twice as expensive per mile vs. our gas car.  But now we have a dedicated level 2 slower charger at our condo parking space and pay 15 cents per kWh - half the cost per mile (4 cents) of our 30mpg ICE car at $2.50 per gallon (8 cents).

Not going to read something you copy and pasted from AI.

Nothing we didn't already know. EVe are cheaper to fuel and maintain and we subsidize ICE vehicles more than EVs.

 The US grid is extremely outdated and needs massive investment to support AI and daily life. EV’s are justifiably hated in their present form the batteries take forever to charge and at 700 charge cycles they lose 5% of their capacity. I refuse to buy one.

But the Silver/Carbon and Lithium/Ceramic solid state batteries are a true game changer.
Charge in 6 ` 12 minutes respectively and only deteriorate 1% after 1,500 charges. That is over 300,000 miles. Plus they are 30% lighter and offer double the charge density and have 600 mile ranges.
The US wants to stay in the dark ages because the oil industry basically owns the country. We all get out daily dose of anti EV messaging. Oil sales and dependance keeps the broadcasters and oil industry in power.
China is building low cost generating capacity far faster than the rest of the world and is building its grid from the ground up. All new and more efficient than ours. The US market is only 300 million consumers. The global market is 8 billion.
Time will tell!

So tired of the outdated grid excuse. Like are you going to charge you car during the hottest part of the day on the hottest day of the year? Most would be charged at night when demand us lower and rates cheaper. Also the new battery tech won't change the outdated grid. And the outdated grid isn't stopping data center construction.

Ebsy wrote:Not going to read something you copy and pasted from AI.

Only the 3 questions I asked AI were copy and pasted so others could try. Answers from AI were much longer, so I typed only the short bottom line answers: EVs.


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Oil and gas prices are soaring. Some countries are ready with solar panels and EVs NOT US
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/16/nx-s1-5732984/energy-iran-war-solar-pakistan-crisis-renewable-evs

We've only had 50 years so the oil embargo to do different.
Too bad cheap Chinese solar panels and EVs are tariffed to death.

Try test driving a 2026 Toyota bZ and then tell me everyone won’t be driving EVs in 3 years.


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People don’t want EVs right now. They are fast but they have no soul.
Hybrids make 1million times more sense and even those don’t sell great.

I bought an EV a year ago and my wife and I fight over who gets to drive it, vs our gas CRV. I’m about to trade the CRV for a plug-in hybrid EV, like the new RAV4 Phev with 52 miles on battery. We have a gas station (charger) in our condo garage and wake up to a full tank every day. With a phev, we may never go to a gas station again except for our yearly drive to Florida and back. Wait till solid state batteries show up in a couple of years with 600+ range and 10 minute recharge.


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Is the poison spewing from the tailpipe the soul?

I found my new EV
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/chinese-carmaker-patents-voice-controlled-063602523.html