Electric Vehicle sales exceeding expectations

chemgator · Jul 30, 2023

Chinese companies are now partnering with Korean companies to get around U.S. restrictions against buying Chinese cars and car parts (namely, EV batteries).

Chinese Firms Are Seeking Korean Partners to Skirt US EV Rules

Over the past four months, Chinese companies and their Korean partners have announced some 5.1 trillion won ($4 billion) of investments in five new battery factories in Korea. And at least one local government is in talks for more projects, officials from the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency say.

The Chinese — and Korean — firms are looking to take advantage of Korea’s free-trade agreement with the US, considering batteries made in South Korea and then installed in US-made electric cars will likely qualify for tax breaks under President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Ningbo Ronbay New Energy Technology Co. announced last week that it had been approved to set up a factory in Korea that will eventually produce 80,000 tons of ternary precursors, an ingredient from which a cathode is formed, a year.

“The product produced by the company’s Korea base meet the relevant requirements for qualified key minerals in the IRA bill and can enjoy the benefit of tariff policies when exporting to European and US markets,” Ronbay New Energy said.
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chemgator · Aug 13, 2023

Some Rivian truck owners are finding that they have to buy new tires every 7,000 miles. That doesn't sound convenient (or cheap). And its not just tied to the vehicle's 7,000-lb weight.

Rivian Tires Are Lasting As Little As 6,000 Miles

As it turns out, this excessive front tire wear can likely be tied back to Rivian’s “Conserve” drive mode. In order to maximize range, when you switch to Conserve, your Rivian switches from four-wheel drive to front-wheel drive and lowers the ride height. Sending more than 400 hp to the front wheels in a truck that weighs more than 7,000 lbs is bound to increase tire wear, but it appears that lowering the suspension also causes problems.

Apparently, the lowest ride height causes toe-in and more negative camber, which can accelerate and also cause uneven tire wear. According to one owner who drove in Conserve mode for 6,000 miles, the front tires lost an entire millimeter more than the rears. Which seems bad but also explains why Rivian has reportedly told owners not to use Conserve mode over long distances. Owners have also reported issues with the stock alignment.

So, essentially, Conserve mode gives you better range, but the changes that improve range also wear through tires faster. It’s a tradeoff that owners will need to weigh for themselves, although, as The Drive points out, owners who want to maximize range while minimizing treadwear can also get a more toe-out alignment that will help preserve their tires while driving in Conserve mode. Rotating tires regularly can also help. But ultimately, there’s no getting around the fact that you’re driving something that weighs as much as three Miatas.
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gatorpa · Aug 13, 2023

chemgator said: ↑

Some Rivian truck owners are finding that they have to buy new tires every 7,000 miles. That doesn't sound convenient (or cheap). And its not just tied to the vehicle's 7,000-lb weight.

Rivian Tires Are Lasting As Little As 6,000 Miles
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That’s too bad, on the flip side we will need more fossil fuels to make all those extra tires they are burning through.

chemgator · Aug 13, 2023

gatorpa said: ↑

That’s too bad, on the flip side we will need more fossil fuels to make all those extra tires they are burning through.
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I tend to think that a hybrid is a better option for pickup trucks than electric, if they need to weigh 7,000 lbs.

chemgator · Sep 1, 2023

One more issue with EV's: if your car gets flooded with salt water, expect the car to catch fire. Fire departments are advising people with flooded EV's to avoid parking their car in the garage until after it catches fire (and the fire gets put out).

Electric car in Florida catches fire after being flooded during Hurricane Idalia, firefighters say

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — A Tesla that was parked near the ocean and was being towed following Hurricane Idalia’s surge in the Tampa Bay region was destroyed by flames Thursday, the Pinellas Park Fire Department said.

While the official cause of the inferno is unknown, firefighters said the electric vehicle was submerged along the coast in Pinellas County, raising suspicions that salt water likely played a role.

During previous weather events where water has compromised batteries, electric vehicles have erupted into flames that require an extensive response by firefighters.
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"If you own a hybrid or electric vehicle that has come into contact with saltwater due to recent flooding within the last 24 hours, it is crucial to relocate the vehicle from your garage without delay," firefighters in Palm Harbor warned. "Saltwater exposure can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries. If possible, transfer your vehicle to higher ground."
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philnotfil · Sep 2, 2023

Got a new job with a 70 mile commute after working from home for the last decade. Went from filling the gas tank once a month to twice a week. A month of that and it was an easy choice when we spotted a 3 year old Chevy Bolt with 15 thousand miles on it for under $20k. It's a fun drive, incredible acceleration compared to consumer level ICE vehicles. Our kids call it the fast car And it is costing about a third as much to run as our other cars. We'll see what battery costs are like in another 7 years or so, but for now it is saving us money.

chemgator · Sep 2, 2023

Tesla buyers are hopping mad if they bought their Tesla just before the recent price drop. Used Tesla owners who are looking to sell are also angry about it, as it means that their asking price has to drop to sell the car. Some Tesla models dropped in price by $30-40k. Musk is creating a lot of drama, and probably not the good kind, for his company.

Tesla had to drop prices so that their cars would be eligible for the big tax deduction.

Tesla owners are angry about buying their vehicles right before the latest big price cuts—and are letting Elon Musk know: ‘I feel completely duped’

When Tesla slashes prices, as it did this week, shoppers looking for electric vehicles generally benefit. But for anyone who buys a Tesla right before such price cuts, the frustration can be acute. Waiting just a little longer to buy, after all, could have saved them a significant amount of money—but they had no way of knowing.

A risk for Elon Musk’s carmaker, which has repeatedly cut prices on its high-end models this year, is that existing customers will feel resentment—not to mention see their vehicle lose value—while some shoppers hesitate to buy because another price cut might be right around the corner.

After the carmaker made its latest price cuts on Thursday, new Tesla owners vented their frustration on social media, often addressing Musk in posts on X (formerly Twitter), the social network he owns.

One tweet posted on Friday reads: “Tesla screws with people so much when they drop price by $20k+. I just picked up my Model S Plaid one day ago, drove less than 100 miles on it and I'm shafted by over $20k. TESLA NEVER AGAIN.”
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