By this time next the the EV market should be very interesting to say the least.
I was on the waiting list for the Ford lightening. When my time up in line, I found the NACHI discount does not apply and coordinating a test drive was nearly impossible. No dealership in my area had one to test drive. The sales person was there to basically help me fill out the online ordering form I could have done at home.
Basically, I think Ford has more problems than just price. I passed on the whole deal.
Although I am not a greenie, I do like the promise of all-electronic vehicles. I spent 15 years living in Southern CA breathing in smog so thick that it made your lungs burn, so anything that reduces air pollution should be given serious interest.
That said, the Achilles heal of EV’s are the price and durability of the batteries. There are going to be a ton of Tesla owners crying after about 10 years when they get the $20,000+ quote from the factory to replace their batteries. It costs that much because the batteries are pricey, they are integrated into the body/frame (complicated), and currently only the factory can do it.
I think Ford is on a much better track. From what I understand, their battery pack simply bolts to the underside of the frame and it is likely that your average dealership or independent mechanic will be able to replace it in the future. I also suspect that Ford will make the battery pack specifications open to the public, if they have not already, that will invite third parties to develop and compete with innovative (and hopefully lower cost) battery packs.
Incidentally, I read that Ford just cemented a deal with Tesla that will allow Ford EV owners to use Tesla charging stations in the future (using a plug adapter). I think that was a smart move as well.
Understandable, but IMO still a bit early to order a Lightning, they are now just raming up production and plan on producing 150,000 a year starting in 2024 and that’s just the start.
I think 2024 will be the big year for the EV revolution as pretty much every auto manufacturer will be producing them.
On another note, Chevy just announce their “refreshed” Traverse, I wish it was an EV.
It has to happen. Could you imagine gas stations that had fuel pumps nozzles that only fit specific vehicle brands?
You just disregard the economics of a China supply chain and the human crisis in mining the materials?
There were many homes destroyed by fire during the flooding of Ian. EV’s catch on fire when flooded.
All true and all bad, currently. However, I think those issues can be overcome with the right policies and innovation. China has a lock on much of the rare earth mineral mining largely because the greenies are against any type of mining here. Hypocrites, I know–they love the EVs, but have a blind eye to how the minerals are mined.
The lefty wackos believe, “the ends justifies the means.” Along with this error of thinking comes the idea that policies don’t have to be ‘right’ as long as they accomplish the goal. The goal in this case being to stop climate change. Good luck with that!
The enlightened observer will have concluded that this is the same old corrupt money changing hands of “insider trading.” In this case the insiders are the climate change activists.
The end goal is not to stop climate change - they know that is not feasible. The end goal is government oversight of, well, everything. At their core, the Left would be perfectly happy in a communist USA, so long as they are the ruling party.
@kleonard One needs to pay to see the article, at least I see that nuisance.
I was able to view it the first time I clicked on it but not the second.
Although older, here’s another couple of similar stories on the subject Larry, that you don’t have to pay to see. 
It sound like one would have to charge during work hours w/solar:
“In an ideal world, EVs would discharge energy to the grid during peak demand hours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and charge outside that window when solar is abundant and cheap, he said.”
from:
The Blazer EV.