More on EVs from a guy trying to sell them

[Richard]

Believe it or not the first EV was made in the 1800's. They have been tried many times since then and failed every time. In the past they were targeted at affluent people. The more things change, the more they are the same. When technology is available for them to make sense for all. They will succeed.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Remember the GM EV1? Documentary worth watching: https://watchdocumentaries.com/who-k...-electric-car/

Delco Remy had an earlier electric prototype in the 70s. Too bad GM decided to quash their R&D

I saw celebrities I knew but I didn't see some folks I should have: Andrew Farah was Chief Engineer for the EV1 and therefore the man that made it work. He was the logical choice to be the Chief for the Chevy Volt.

Nate Fitzpatrick was Andrew's Engineering Program Manager and my direct boss on the Volt Program.

I do not know how you would build a car without those two.


K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Richard

Believe it or not the first EV was made in the 1800's. They have been tried many times since then and failed every time. In the past they were targeted at affluent people. The more things change, the more they are the same. When technology is available for them to make sense for all. They will succeed.

I can't find it right now but I saw an aerial photo of the Detroit Athletic Club hosting a women's event in the early 1900s. The place was totally surrounded by parked electric vehicles.

Henry Ford was militant about employees driving his products. He would even fire people for not driving a Ford vehicle.

Interestingly enough: that rule did not apply to Mrs. Ford.

She drove a Detroit Electric. The fact that the company was developed and owned by Ford's mentor/hero Thomas Edison probably overcame any negative attitudes.

Her car still exists and is on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn MI.


K

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Nate Fitzpatrick was Andrew's Engineering Program Manager and my direct boss on the Volt Program.

I never did quite understand the Volt's power train. Did the small gasoline engine power the car, or was its sole purpose to charge the batteries?

I've also heard good things in the press about the Bolt EV. Seems like the perfect in-town runabout for a reasonable price. Looks like GM had panned to kill the Bolt, but decided to re-vamp it instead.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by MikeB

I never did quite understand the Volt's power train. Did the small gasoline engine power the car, or was its sole purpose to charge the batteries?

Volt - the batteries always power the vehicle. The on board generator recharges the batteries.

Originally Posted by MikeB

I've also heard good things in the press about the Bolt EV. Seems like the perfect in-town runabout for a reasonable price. Looks like GM had panned to kill the Bolt, but decided to re-vamp it instead.

Volt vs Bolt: funny you should make that distinction - apparently I have the typical hearing loss associated with an older man who has spent a lifetime in industry and with loud hobbies. I can't make the distinction between Volt vs Bolt in their speech and so my family as resorted to sign language so I can tell which one they are talking about.

We were attracted to a Bolt during this last purchase (especially by the price) but weren't quite ready to make that jump. The Volt is a great interim step, at least in my mind.

K

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Oh yeah, well my youngest son and daughter had EV back in the 90s. They got <*4 the fun and mileage my oldest had in his foot powered Cozy Coupe.

Hope you're wrong about an abundance of windmills. Personally, the Gov. has no business building them - a real bad idea.

Real develop comes from the Earth's energy and/or gravity, but perhaps there's no money in it End of the day, walking = longevity.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by MikeB

I never did quite understand the Volt's power train. Did the small gasoline engine power the car, or was its sole purpose to charge the batteries?

I've also heard good things in the press about the Bolt EV. Seems like the perfect in-town runabout for a reasonable price. Looks like GM had panned to kill the Bolt, but decided to re-vamp it instead.

The Volt is an electric vehicle with a gas generator to charge the battery, unlike other hybrids. My brother in law had two, one was a lemon. He is all in on ev's and has two Tesla's now. Will mention he is a multi-millionaire (relevant to my previous post). FWIU Gm was going to scrap the Volt vehicle before production due to production costs. The Government stepped in to keep it going.
The Bolt is a plug in EV. Production was stopped initially due to many of them catching fire.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Oh yeah, well my youngest son and daughter had EV back in the 90s. They got <*4 the fun and mileage my oldest had in his foot powered Cozy Coupe.

Those can be hard to tune sometimes.

Front end alignment can also be a problem.

K

[Boog]

Ah, the NOS coupe. Not for the faint of heart.

[raggedjim]

DO NOT let the government learn that the cozy coupe can run downhill with no gasoline! Next thing you know there will be legislation saying all roads must lead downhill!

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Those can be hard to tune sometimes.

Front end alignment can also be a problem.

K

[Boog]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

DO NOT let the government learn that the cozy coupe can run downhill with no gasoline! Next thing you know there will be legislation saying all roads must lead downhill!

There just might be something to that going down hill thing.
According to my '09 Yukon with 5.3, it gets 999 miles per gallon when I decelerate. Come on!

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I can't find it right now but I saw an aerial photo of the Detroit Athletic Club hosting a women's event in the early 1900s. The place was totally surrounded by parked electric vehicles.

Henry Ford was militant about employees driving his products. He would even fire people for not driving a Ford vehicle.

Interestingly enough: that rule did not apply to Mrs. Ford.

She drove a Detroit Electric. The fact that the company was developed and owned by Ford's mentor/hero Thomas Edison probably overcame any negative attitudes.

Her car still exists and is on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn MI.


K

This reminds me of the Policy that was put in place at the Auto Manufactor/or that I was employed at.

Upper Management / Had A Great Idea.

They designated the parking spots closest to the (Employee) gate / Near the Plant door entrance,
That we enter and exit,/ Employee's Will only be allowed to park (The BRAND vehicles) Ni is an.

This way it is not as long to walk to your job station.

So, all the rebels that refused to buy the Product of our Labor,

They (The Employee's with Chevy's) had to park near the Main Road and walk a few more steps.

My friends and acquaintances would ask ,

Does everyone at that Plant ?? Not like the Product because
All we see is American made Vehicles when we drive by the plant.

I liked that their plan back-Fired.

They Hoped to fill the parking lot with (The Brand).

The Result was the Public that was driving by seen the Chevy's and GMC's and other stuff was Seen by the public Driving by the Plant.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

This reminds me of the Policy that was put in place at the Auto Manufactor/or that I was employed at.

So at your plant, some workers saw the Nissans they themselves built as not being built in America? Or that the plant was a huge boom to the Tennessee economy and workers' incomes?

Have to say that if I worked at an auto plant, I would buy the products we made, with or without close-in parking privileges. That's because they helped me pay my mortgage and let me afford my old car and truck hobby!

I don't know about the U.S. parts content of other Nissan models, but I just found this at Motor Trend: "The Nissan Titan, at 50 percent, has more U.S.- and Canadian-sourced parts than the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which are listed at only 40 percent."

Oh, yeah. Put me down for a Pathfinder for my wife and a Z-car me!

[mongocanfly]

I don't know...I'm kinda liking this (new) tesla... I "might" drive one of these

[truckster]

It may already have been mentioned, but Hertz is unloading a bunch of their Teslas. It seems people aren't too keen on renting them.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by truckster

It may already have been mentioned, but Hertz is unloading a bunch of their Teslas. It seems people aren't too keen on renting them.

A tow truck driver told me EV are the best for their business. That is a beautiful Tesla above, must be a blast to drive short the music or whatever in place of a cool engine. When my friend drives up in her Volvo, I raise my arms up because her car sounds like heaven.

The only people I know with EV catch on to new stuff, they're very wealthy and can afford the experiment. To me today's EV at least are destined for recycling what's possible.

[72c20customcamper]

Drove by the Ford dealer . They had about 10+ Mach e mustangs out front with discount banners on the windshields . Also saw two lightnings same thing . MHO is that the people who were in the nich market bought or leased the EVs early on and now the supply is way beyond demand . Specially if fuel keeps going down . Saw 2.95 today for regular and I paid 3.89 for diesel

[Dead Parrot]

Originally Posted by truckster

It may already have been mentioned, but Hertz is unloading a bunch of their Teslas. It seems people aren't too keen on renting them.

From what I read, people like renting them just fine. But too many are used to normal powered sedate sedans and they get in the rented Tesla, engage Ludicrous mode and proceed to run into stuff when they are surprised by the sub 3 second 0-60 power. Hertz's complaint is the repair costs are much higher then a ICE sedan.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Drove by the Ford dealer . They had about 10+ Mach e mustangs out front with discount banners on the windshields . Also saw two lightnings same thing . MHO is that the people who were in the nich market bought or leased the EVs early on and now the supply is way beyond demand . Specially if fuel keeps going down . Saw 2.95 today for regular and I paid 3.89 for diesel

Heh heh - just paid 3.35 for diesel.

K

[dmb]

Gas is $280.00 here in VA on average. I have no Idea how they can get good batteries for the EVs as I cant seam to find a good battery for my truck for under $250.00

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

From what I read, people like renting them just fine. But too many are used to normal powered sedate sedans and they get in the rented Tesla, engage Ludicrous mode and proceed to run into stuff when they are surprised by the sub 3 second 0-60 power. Hertz's complaint is the repair costs are much higher then a ICE sedan.

The biggest complaint is charging. Customers have found it much less convenient than stopping by a gas station. You also have to return it charged or pay a hefty fee. Since charging is not as simple as stopping at a gas station on your way back to the rental counter, customers have shied away from the EVs.

[old Rusty C10]

Originally Posted by truckster

It may already have been mentioned, but Hertz is unloading a bunch of their Teslas. It seems people aren't too keen on renting them.

according to tonights report its 20K of electric vehicles in general Hertz is selling. i know i am running books for a tow company in NJ and we get many many of those chevy bolts for Hertz that break down as well as those tesla piles

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by MikeB

So at your plant, some workers saw the Nissans they themselves built as not being built in America? Or that the plant was a huge boom to the Tennessee economy and workers' incomes?

Have to say that if I worked at an auto plant, I would buy the products we made, with or without close-in parking privileges. That's because they helped me pay my mortgage and let me afford my old car and truck hobby!

I don't know about the U.S. parts content of other Nissan models, but I just found this at Motor Trend: "The Nissan Titan, at 50 percent, has more U.S.- and Canadian-sourced parts than the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which are listed at only 40 percent."

Oh, yeah. Put me down for a Pathfinder for my wife and a Z-car me!

These are fair questions.
I can only speak for my thoughts as this was years ago.

I was raised in a family that bought USA (Branded) vehicles in my childhood years.

So, To me (Yes) these vehicles were Foreign in my opinion,
When I first started to work there.

This Plant did put Smryna on the map.

The Ratios of USA parts and Imported were (the best I recall) reversed,
at the time I was employed there by about 20% of Today's manufacturing world.

Being raised around Very smart Mechanically Mentors.
I had always bought and drove a $500 or less for vehicles.
Then started the improvements.
It was just not in my Mentality to spend that much on a New anything.

As I reached the 10-year mark of employment there,
I bought a $1000.oo Max imu.

Then when I took the Buy-out,
I was offered a package deal and still drive a Fron tear.
With almost a 40% discount with dealer and Buyout package.
Needless to say, I took the deal.

The Main reason I brought this (Parking Thing) up is.

It was a Similar situation,
Trying to push the EV on the Public.
Trying to push the Brand on Employees,

Things have changed alot in the Auto Industry over the years.

I guess most of my thinking comes from my Mentors.

My Wife jokes sometimes and makes a Statement like,
(You should have been born in the 40's or 50's)

I just laugh and say ( sometimes I wish I was) .

[Willowrun]

Every meal I've ever eaten has been primarily funded by the US auto industry and because of that I'll always be loyal to the brand that has supported me the most which is GM. With that, I love going to a GM plant and having the close spots for GM vehicles and the far away spots for all other makes. Makes me proud to drive GM. Especially in the winter. The majority of US auto plants are this way.

GM (or any other automaker that does this) isn't forcing their brand down your throat, they give you a choice: You can buy other brands, but if you do and you want to park on their property and work in their building, you're going to park way over there so the GM driving workers at the plant can park closer.

There are many reasons automakers like EV's with one of the biggest being the headcount/machines/tooling required to manufacture the drivetrain compared to an ICE vehicle. EV's are higher price for less manufacturing content.