Comments on “I love EVs (not)”

These two comments came to my email and both gave me permission to publish. I thank them very much for commenting and I thank you very much for reading. Enjoy!

Dr. Black, I enjoyed the subject article and, as a gasoline car guy, I really have to wonder what the underlying motivation is to outlaw internal combustion engines. Dr. Jordan Peterson states, “Climate Change is the Progressives get out of jail free card”, and I tend to believe that. Let’s face it, anything “bad” can be attributed to “climate change” via a single step (hurricanes) or multiple steps (migration, bad grades, hangnails, etc). It’s the perfect enemy, it cannot be: defined, located or defend itself! 

I recently purchased a 2023 Camry powered by a 4cyl gasoline engine that gets 40+ mpg on the highway and 30+ around town. It’s America’s most reliable car and, unlike EVs, there are parts in every small city to repair it. I drive only 3,000-5,000 miles per year and the engine is good for 300,000 miles before it needs to be rebuilt. I figure that I have another 60-100 years with this car (I’m 58 now). 

My lawnmower is a 20 year old Craftsman that runs fine and I’ve only had to repair some rust in the deck, which will eventually need to be replaced if the parts are available. Plan B is to simply purchase a brand new gasoline mower now and leave it in the box until it’s needed. My worry is that the EPA/DoE will require battery only mowers to be sold in all 50 states, since they generally follow California’s lead on all things “green”. California no longer allows the sale of gasoline powered mowers.

I often get puff piece articles on Facebook stating how great EVs are and that there are Government subsidies that I can use to potentially afford one. If EVs are so great, why aren’t people waiting in lines for them (e.g. latest iPhone or “must have” electronic gadget) and why the need for Government subsidies? Shouldn’t they be flying off the lots by themselves?

When I see folks comment on the puff piece articles  stating how great their EVs and how they drive them for mere pennies, I have to laugh. I’ve run the numbers and it simply does not make economic sense for me. EVs are rich mans’ virtue signaling toys. I don’t see grandma trading in her 2000 Buick for a $66,000 EV to save the world. They are not economically feasible – yet.  

Every current and prospective EV owner should ask themselves four simple questions: a) if not for the hysteria over “climate change” (aka greenhouse effect, hole in the ozone layer, global warming, etc.) would anyone be driving an electric vehicle today?; b) if every driver in the entire world switched to an EV tomorrow, would there still be: species extinction, hurricanes, wild fires, droughts, famines, floods, tornadoes, earth quakes, rising seas, migration, and wars?; c) if EVs are so economically viable and the  demand is so high, shouldn’t EVs be flying off the lots in a supply and demand business model without the need for the US Government provided tax incentives and other rebates?, and; d) if “climate change” is such an existential threat to mankind, why do the world’s leaders and “climate change” advocates continue to jet off to Davos, Glasco and other exotic locales, to discuss “climate change”, instead of simply meeting via ZOOM?

The typical response I get is namecalling. You know you have them stumped when they instantly resort to namecalling. 

Sincerely, CC

Another Comment

Dear Dr. Black,

I was quite disappointed while reading your article on EVs in the Knoxville Focus today. So disappointed in fact, I was inspired enough to send you an email! I believe that for ideas to be made better they must be challenged, and with argument we creep closer to the truth. So, in this email I will counter your article on EVs and explain why they are the future.

Two years ago when looking at the range on Tesla EVs, I noticed that most of their long range models fall somewhere between 300-400 miles. But as a gas car driver, range means nothing to me! We currently just drive until its empty, stop at a gas station and think nothing of it. So I started an experiment, in which I drive my tank until empty and track how many miles I get (I encourage you to do this with your own car, I always wait to fill up until the empty light comes on). Without fail, I have reset my trip odometer after every gas station fillup on my 2017 Kia Forte 5. So after two years of data what did my average in town driving range end up as? My average is around 325 miles, matching the range of EV cars already on the market today.

While I cannot argue your point about EVs being ugly since it is comes down to personal taste, I would like to give insight into why they look the way they do. For the first time in a long time, automakers are having to worry about the drag coefficient of their vehicles. With gas cars having an MPG figure and not a range figure, it was hard for consumers to really compare vehicles in a meaningful way. But with the range number being directly comparable across vehicles, they have to make sure it is a respectable number. One of the easiest ways to increase efficiency in the vehicles is through the pursuit of aerodynamics, which by having a more sleek frontal area there is less air resistance. But I am not here to give you a physics lesson, you can attend one at UT!(Does former faculty get into lectures for free?) Speaking of physics, fuel economy also goes down for gas vehicles in extreme cold and heat as well! I know that was one of your points of contention in your article.

The most exciting part of EVs for the consumer is the long term development potential they they have. The Ford Model T came out in 1908, with Fords website claiming its MPG at 13-21 MPG. According to the EPA, the average MPG of a car in 2020 was 25.4 MPG. So in the best case after 112 years of development cars have gained 12.4 MPG, worst case only 4.4 MPG. The point I am trying to make, is that the development of EV technology is at its very early stage. The current EVs now rival the range of gas cars at the beginning of their development cycle, and by the end we may see ranges of 600 miles as you said! Here is a example for the development cycle: The gas car started at zero and at its peak efficiency it got to ten, the EV started at six and one fully developed can get to fifteen.

One final point is how the EV is beneficial to the consumers wallet. Not currently, but in time we will see EVs be cheaper to their gas counterparts. Why? Electric vehicles have fewer parts, and compared to an internal combustion engine, their motors are much less complex. I have read estimates that EVs have less than half of the total parts compared to their ICE counterparts. Finally, with electric energy Americans will no longer be held by the OPEC oils cartels. We will no longer be dependent on the Middle East, and theoretically will now be able to avoid wars over resources. Would the US have spent so much time fighting in the middle east if there were no oil interests there? One can wonder…

We don’t have it figured out, we are at the start of a new journey. But I believe that in the long term, renewable energy sources will be better for America. I appreciate you for writing in an open forum and taking the time to read my rebuttal.

Thanks, Mason B.

Mason B seems to forget the replacement cost for a battery, $3,000 to $20,000 depending on the model, with life span of 8 to 12 years. The average cost of a EV $64,000 which is out of the reach for an average American. The weight of he EV is hundreds to thousands of lbs more than an internal combustion, causing more ware on our road system plus tires and breaks will need replacing faster.
Another problem is the damage to the earth by mining the minerals , using slave labor, for the batteries which is controlled by China, which also uses slave labor. The fact everything involved with production of the EV batteries are paid by companies that knowingly those funds will go to the CCP to build their military.
Those that buy the EV gives them a good feeling but they forget the costs to our country’s security, earth, roadways and people slaving to mine these minerals.

From Lottie1924