Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I know some folks are worried about EV "mandates" and think they'll be forced to buy EVs only by say 2035.  Indeed, that is a current plan for some states like CA.  Such plans of course are one governator away from change.  And even a liberal governor might recognize in 2034 that the "System" isn't ready (and maybe it will be).

But for CA residents, there would be no problem as yet buying some lightly used ICE vehicle in Nevada (or in CA for that matter).  I'd guess a thriving used car business will spring up.  This presumes that EVs and the infrastructure for them don't improve a lot to the point most rational folks agree they are equal in most respects and better in some.  They aren't today, they could be in a decade.

I still am hungup on the cost of charging away from home.  Maybe that gets subsidized.  But if you thing about it, a company that provides such chargers has to buy the charger, pay for installation and then electricity, plus maintenance, billing, etc. etc.  Maybe in CA they could do it for say double the average cost of electricity, or perhaps at least 15 cents for profit and sunk costs etc.

Electricity Cost in California: 2024 Electric Rates | EnergySage

Electricity Rates by State | April 2024 | ChooseEnergy.com®

I don't know if that is accurate, it seems high, and I see figures all over the place, let's just take 30 cents as the average.  So, the away from home charger would cost 45-60 cents per kWhr.  The math still doesn't work out for the EV.  They require about 30 kWhrs to go 100 miles.  Even at 30 cents, that would cost $9 obviously.  I know gas is high out there, let's say the cost goes even higher in the future to $5/gallon.  At 20 mpg, you're looking at a costly $25 for 100 miles, ouch.

But of course, a hybrid vehicle similar to the EV might get more like 40 mpg, so your advantage shrinks to being smallish, and if you charge away from home, it goes negative with any realistic calculation.  Maybe pickup trucks and SUVs could have better numbers, maybe not.  I'd guess hybrid large pickups will be a thing by then.

electricity prices could rise with demand

I'm hoping gas prices might lower with reduced demand

Tesla is laying off more than 10% of its global workforce, equivalent to at least 14,000 roles, as the electric carmaker reacts to slowing demand and pressure on prices.

The chief executive, Elon Musk, announced “the difficult decision” in a memo first reported by the online publication Elektrek. Tesla employs 140,473 people, according to its annual report.

Musk wrote that Tesla had grown rapidly in recent years and as a result there had been duplication of roles and job functions in certain areas.

Referring to the job cuts, he wrote: “There is nothing I hate more, but it must be done. This will enable us to be lean, innovative and hungry for the next growth phase cycle.”

The move follows a difficult start to the year for the electric carmaker. Tesla said it had made approximately 387,000 deliveries to customers in the first quarter of 2024, missing market expectations by about 13%. It was its first fall in deliveries in nearly four years.

The company cited production problems caused by unforeseen factors such as attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and an arson attack on its factory in Berlin, but the figures also pointed to a softening in global demand.

After the release of the sales figures this month, Musk dismissed comments that his divisive persona had caused a downturn in sales and pointed to similarly poor figures from the Chinese rival BYD, saying it was a “tough quarter for everyone”.

I actually took it for a spin, it had over 300 miles left on the range, and was getting about 3 miles per kWh, which isn’t bad. It was fast and roomy. 

I think they are getting better all the time, and reducing the negatives, but there is the one main thing I keep harping on that won't change without major subsidies.