Is it a mistake to buy a non-EV or non-hybrid vehicle ?
Will governments raise gasoline taxes over the next decade in an effort to eliminate gas powered vehicles ?
Governments (of Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Russia, etc.) will want to raise petroleum prices whenever they can in order to maximize their own revenue for whatever they do.
Itās pretty challenging to raise gasoline taxes but a few get away with it.
Vehicle miles traveled were flat between 2005-14 and may have decreased dramatically in 2020-21 vs 2019. That correlates with revenue received.
Note that a deal in 2020 to reduce oil production may be combining with increased demand to drive up oil prices.
Yes, stateās will raise taxes on gasoline to try to steer people towards other options.
Electric vehicles will become more widespread. At some point mileage based taxes will kick in to recoup lost revenues because of this. Costs to charge electric vehicles will also go up as more come online and governments move away from subsidies, rebates, etc.
Colorado charges a fee of $50 yearly because we have a Tesla. Supposedly they are not getting the taxes from the gas/diesel purchases to maintain the roads?
$150 here in WA plus $75 fee towards creating more charging infrastructure.
I canāt see the government pushing electric cars until the batteries get a LOT better. With gas, you can drive 300+ miles before needing to refuel. Can battery powered cars match that? Doesnāt a charge only last about 50 miles? Tell me if Iām way off base on thisāI just cannot see having to charge a car every hour or 2 when driving long distances.
Battery electric vehicles that people want to buy these days typically have 200+ mile ranges.
While road tripping can be less convenient, normal use can be more convenient for many drivers ā no need to visit the fuel station, since you can recharge at home overnight. Also, less maintenance.
Is it really more convenient to plug your vehicle in every day rather than to spend a couple minutes at the gas station every two weeks? Iām curious as to the cost of these home charging stations and the cost of electricity that is used to charge these vehicles too.
As for maintenance, Iām not sure thereās that much difference. In a standard gasoline vehicle there are routine engine oil changes that wouldnāt be necessary in an all electric vehicle but barring major engine issues, which happen extremely rarely. Hybrid vehicles have twice as much equipment to look after. I doubt thereās any saving or diminished maintenance with all electric vehicles. Many of the other typical maintenance items are still present on electric vehicles as well as a few more unique to that platform. The batteries and associated systems and electronic components are just one example.
We have a Prius hybrid because we have range anxiety and are easing our way to electric. Weāve had it nearly 3 years. It provides about 30 miles on a full charge, which meets my needs pretty well plus is has a 8 gallon or so tank to provide a wider range.
It fully charges on a regular household outlet in 4 hours or less. We get down to 1/2 a tank after a few months and fill it up. Iād guess we fill gas 3 or 4 times a year. It wouldnāt be my choice if vehicle for frequent long trips but is perfect for running errands and getting from suburbs to town, which is mainly how itās used by us.
Iām not sure if Iāve posted this article before here. I know I shared it with my daughter who really wants to buy an EV. And it would be perfect for her needs.
Check out this article from USA TODAY:
Which is more expensive: Charging an electric vehicle or fueling a car with gas?
My opinion, the government needs to do A LOT to get the the public to get on board with EVs, including making them affordable. They should not just be for the upper middle class as their second or third vehicle
Thatās an informative article. Thank you for sharing.
What should the government do to make these cars more affordable? Subsidize them more? Reduce the cost of electricity?
The article points out that EV owners should not charge their electric vehicles to 100%, or even above 90%, as that puts too much strain on the battery. This means that EVs advertised range in terms of miles should be viewed with caution as most EVs will be charged to less than 90% of battery capacity.
Furthermore, many expend battery charge on ādeadhead milesā searching for a commercial charging station.
Especially if you live in a colder climate because the chemical reactions the batteries rely on are less efficient at lower temperature. There have been relatively marginal improvements over the years in battery technologies but we havenāt really seen fundamental breakthroughs. All current rechargable batteries still rely on chemical processes that arenāt fully reversible. Each charging cycle reduces the capacity of the battery. The faster the charging cycle, potentially the greater the reduction in battery capacity.
@1NJParent wrote: āEach charging cycle reduces the capacity of the battery.ā
To the best of your knowledge, are any new EV battery makersāsuch as QuantumScapeāmaking significant design changes which would affect any of your insights offered above ?
One thing that stood out to me would be to cut out the state tax that EV owners need to pay since they arenāt paying gasoline tax. It would be a very easy fix for the federal government to pay that.
States rely on tax revenue from gas sales. And unlike the federal government, they must balance their budgets. So make an incentive for buyers of EVs.
There are tax credits for EVs. But only until a manufacturer sells so many vehicles. Extend that credit for all EVs regardless of brand. Are there tax credits for installing a home charger? Can there be metered savings for chargers? I donāt know the answers for those.
Provide preferred covered parking with chargers for those in apartments. Younger people who may not live in homes in the suburbs are prime customers for EVs.
Maybe most importantly, make EVs that people want to drive. Long ranges, fast charging trucks and SUVs. Because thatās what customers in the US drive. Not sedans.