Automobile politics...

[PCIntern]

I normally don’t link to Facebook but this is a rather fascinating political issue. This guy runs a website called Hoovie’s Garage and he’s very talented, competent, and funny. He had an issue when he towed one of his cars with an EV pickup, which he explains very lucidly and he’s a far-thinking individual, but the RW websites picked this up and totally misinterpreted what the difficulties were. He explains all that and it is well worth watching.

(If you want to flame me for linking to FB you have that right but I’d save my keystrokes if I were you. I already wrote a disclaimer).



https://fb.watch/h2fBUwhvKQ/

[Trenzalore]

1. I've always questioned whether EV would be good for towing stuff.

I figured it would drain the battery really fast.

I don't know a terrible lot about it though. Thanks for the link.

[rsdsharp]

2. Here's the YouTube version:

https://m.

[PCIntern]

3. Thank you. I had trouble finding it.

[lapfog_1]

7. his complaint is

a) the range sucks while towing
b) the time to change sucks
c) the screens and electronics are too expensive and they will fail and cost a lot to repair
d) nobody will get to play "Gas Monkey Garage" with electric vehicles


a) right... the range currently sucks... but his comparison to computing is ridiculous... absolutely nothing has improved as much or reduced in cost like computing... probably in the history of mankind and technology. Batteries / capacitors are fundamentally a materials science problem. I don't know the answer to it, but the alternative of fossil fuels is a dead (literally) end. It think there will be better batteries that store more energy and charge faster in the future. If I had the answer I would be richer than Elon Musk (and smarter).

b) see answer a

c) The screens will become cheaper... much cheaper. Those tablet size screens will eventually roll off a fully automated assembly line for just a few dollars, certainly by 2035.

d) Unclear if anyone will get to rebuild old electric vehicles some day... maybe not... but even the gas guzzlers from the 1990s onward are not that much fun (too complicated) to play "fix up and restore" with... And if it turns out that in 2050 nobody wants to rebuild a 2022 Ford Lightning... find something else to occupy your time restoring.

[ShazzieB]

4. In case someone wants to avoid FB....

First, a disclaimer: I'm neither a big FB fan or a hater. I have a FB, but I don't use it much, because I don't find it enjoyable. The site has changed over the years to the point where it's too cluttered an confusing for my taste.

I tried to watch this video on FB, but I found their setup hard to use, so I went looking to see if I could find the video anywhere else, and stumbled across that I think is the same video, together with an article providing some helpful background info at this location:
https://www.carvibz.com/trucks-and-suvs/hoovies-garages-ford-f-150-lightning-towing-disaster-gets-twisted-by-alex-jones-political-stories/

This video is also on YouTube:

Perhaps you could confirm if this is the same video. If it is, people who are FB-averse could watch it at one of the above links and avoid FB altogether.

[PCIntern]

5. It isn't the same

It’s the video that everyone got excited about

Post#2 above has it correctly

[ShazzieB]

6. I linked to the YouTube video, too.

And the article I linked to also includes it. People are welcome to take their pick.

[Liberal In Texas]

8. Watched it through the Jones section with his absolute lies.

Who can even take anything this nut job says seriously? Talk about dishonest editing. Anybody with half aa brain could find his original video and see for themself Alex Jones lies.

[multigraincracker]

9. I see them as the end of Dealerships. I think that is a new goal.

Going to be way fewer parts. They will all be plug in modular that anyone can do. You will make the purchase over Amazon and will be delivered in a few days to your driveway.
It's the dealers fault. They have always been overpriced on repairs and terrible to deal with. I went to a local Chevy dealer to get a Power Assist steering problem solved. They wanted $130 to do a scan.

[MichMan]

10. EV also have steering, brakes, suspension, HVAC, windows, doors and a myriad of other parts

that may still require service and repair. While they have less need for powertrain maintenance, I dont know why people think they will all be maintenance free.

How much do you think a GM dealership is going to charge to diagnose a steering problem on a Hummer EV ?

Dealerships have to invest tens of thousands in equipment, training, and parts inventory on top of buildings and real estate and employ dozens and dozens of staff.

Do it yourselfers can invest in scan tools and repair their own cars now; I do it all the time with my two late model Volkswagens. Some jobs are beyond my capabilities, so I take them in for service.

[multigraincracker]

11. Some are better than others.

They charge $130/‘hr labor. Even if it only takes a few minutes to do the work. Then they pay the tech $20/hr.
Some try to up sale and others don’t.