Volvo to go all electric in 2019

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by vienna

I don't know about the rest of the world, but here in Los Angeles, combination parking meter/electric car charging stations have been popping up all over the place.

And how about rural hillbilly county?
The majority of the worlds population doesn't live in a metropolis.
Infrastructure for electric cars over here is developing but still far from being everywhere. So far you still have to know where you can get electricity before going on a longer trip.

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

And how about rural hillbilly county?
The majority of the worlds population doesn't live in a metropolis.
Infrastructure for electric cars over here is developing but still far from being everywhere. So far you still have to know where you can get electricity before going on a longer trip.

We don't have hillbilly country in the City of Los Angeles anymore, it's very densely populated. When I first lived here in 1965, the population was about 2.6 million; when I moved to stay in 1970, it was 2.8 million; just recently, in 2016, the population edged over 4 million. It used to be there were some areas in the San Fernando Valley (a part of the City of Los Angeles) that were rather rural, but all those areas have been 'tamed'. A lot of those areas were settled in the 1920s and 1930s by rural 'refugees' from farmlands in states farther to the east of California who were fleeing the desolation and disaster of the Dust Bowl and other economic crises. Before they became 'citified', the Los Angelenos used to refer to them derisively as "Oakies". Don't find any "Oakies" in LA anymore. The total population of Los Angeles County is about 9.82 million, so there really isn't a lot of space for 'hillbillies'...

The need to map out charging stations was a bit of a problem here before, but with so many stations and units popping up, it is less of a worry. In fact, with curbside chargers being installed in increasing numbers, it is getting to the point of being a minor concern in LA...

Given that most city dwellers tend to drive primarily within the city (work, school, shopping, etc.), range is not a huge problem, but I can understand how it would be a major consideration in rural areas...

Perhaps the solution lies in another form of fuel such as hydrogen: it is easy to produce, is plentiful and the range of vehicles currently being produced is not too bad; for example, Toyota is selling a hydrogen-powered car, the Mirai, in California and the listed range on a full tank is 312 miles. That may not be as great as, say, a gasoline car with a 400 mile range, but it is better than an electric. Refueling is also better than an electric, averaging about five minutes to completely refuel an empty tank. The Mirai is a bit pricey at about US$57,500, list, but Toyota throws in up to three years free fuel...

Production of hydrogen fuel is also very easy to do; I recall seeing a documentary a few years back where they described a Scandinavian country where petrol gas stations were being converted to hydrogen and the production facilities were right on the premises; no need to have the fuel trucked to the station as with petrol; an interesting alternative, indeed...




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[Jimbuna]

Direct ties and ownership by the Chinese

Would be interesting to know what Trump thinks about the subject matter as it is highly likely he will be seeking multi-country sanctions against China at the forthcoming G20 Summit because of their failure to put pressure on Kim over the ICBM program he is currently taking.

Just saying.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by vienna

We don't have hillbilly country in the City of Los Angeles anymore,

I wasn't referring to L.A. but to the first world in general. There are plenty of one horse towns in Germany (and the US) where people don't have that sort of infrastructure and won't have it for some time. Everybody with an all electric Volvo will have difficulties visiting those areas. That's why I wouldn't drop combustion engines entirely just yet.

[vienna]

Oh, I'm not saying internal combustion engines will disappear entirely; they'll most likely fall into the realm of the diesel engine, useful for heavy lifting, but not really necessary in urban areas and everyday life...




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[Mr Quatro]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

I wasn't referring to L.A. but to the first world in general. There are plenty of one horse towns in Germany (and the US) where people don't have that sort of infrastructure and won't have it for some time. Everybody with an all electric Volvo will have difficulties visiting those areas. That's why I wouldn't drop combustion engines entirely just yet.

Most rural people are poor ... these new electric hybrid cars are for rich people, seniors that go to the box stores and shopping centers less than 15 miles away. The cost of charging one of these at home must run up the ole electric bill too.

Another problem with electric cars is that they are so quite people are stepping out in front of them.

I for one would never pay that much for a Hybrid or an all electric car. I would buy several cars of the same make and model like pre-smog Chevy's and use them for parts when they get run down, before I would pay $30k for a Chevy Volt or Ford.

MSRP*: $33,220 - $37,570 Chevy Volt

MSRP*: $29,120 Ford Focus

[em2nought]

My experience with pure electric golf carts has been you drive it about 500 miles over a three year period or so, and then you have to replace the battery bank of six for $300.00. Probably $450.00 now.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

Another problem with electric cars is that they are so quite people are stepping out in front of them.

That's what sound modules are for. I believe some countries require them for electric cars (The Netherlands IIRC). So that's not really a problem that can't be solved.

My experience with pure electric golf carts has been you drive it about 500 miles over a three year period or so, and then you have to replace the battery bank of six for $300.00. Probably $450.00 now.

That's one of my major concerns as well.

[Platapus]

The whole electric car, electricity station is a chicken-egg type problem

People will be reluctant to build charging stations unless there is a supply of electric cars to use, and pay for them

People will be reluctant to buy electric cars unless there is a population of charging stations.

I would like to have a small electric car for my daily commute... if The Frau could have the larger vehicle for the weekends and for transporting the dogs and stuff.

I wish I could afford (money and space) to own two cars myself. One small electric commuter car and one larger one for the weekends and trips.

[vienna]

France has just upped the ante:

France Plans to End Sales of Gas and Diesel Cars by 2040 --

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/b...as-diesel.html





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