death of the diesel truck

[Tractorat]

Heard on the news today that in about 15 years, gm will no longer build gas or diesel vehicles. (I forget when they will begin phasing them out).
So, look forward to less gas and diesel supplies (and higher prices) as regular fuel stations convert more and more over to electric and less petroleum fuels

 

[DavidC]

I will be dead, the odds are in my favor. The question is how much economic pain I will endure till then.

 

[Tractorat]

I will be dead, the odds are in my favor. The question is how much economic pain I will endure till then.

Same here

 

[brucejohnson]

If you do manage to be around there may very well be little discretionary driving IF the Washington state legislature gets their way. Read between the lines and figure how the zero emissions vehicles can achieve the intended goals. Appears the studies' results "require" certain biased criteria to be a major, if not exclusive part of the reports in support of ZEVs. Big brother's forceful controlling arm is just around the corner.

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/House Bills/1287.pdf?q=20210128190404

 

[Terry Jay]

The problem is that there will not be the electric supply to fuel them, in that time frame.

 

[Tractorat]

dilithium crystals

 

[GrantP]

Red Barchetta.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The problem is that there will not be the electric supply to fuel them, in that time frame.

Plenty of "FUEL" just not GREEN fuel.

 

[Tuesdak]

No, it's the death of GM. And the employees suffer the stupidity at the Helm of GM.

The Bean Counters at the helm of GM are all to happy to help with their own demise. Oh, lets go All-Electric now: good luck when "...even in the future Nothing Works!"

Others like Toyota and Tesla have a big head start on GM.

Then where does the materials to make the rare earth magnet motors and batteries come from? Yeah GM, who can't wait to import vehicles from China, will be testing the limits of C H E A P and electric vehicle R&D on their remaining customers.

Even the 6.5TD (Wow when that expendable diesel actually made it to 30K miles?!) Hummer owners have thrown the gauntlet down vs. GM's new "cute" electric Hummer. GM knows better than to accept that challenge.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a29428694/electric-car-owners-power-shutdown-california/

https://mashable.com/article/tesla-charging-energy-california/

Where are the plans to fix the electric grid including lack of capacity?

 

[endoscott]

Infrastructure......

 

[Tractorat]

I think the infrastructure may be there already. It is the power source that is the problem. Especially a low cost power source. Wind is not the answer, and neither are solar panels. Also, those are very expensive.

 

[brucejohnson]

Oh, lets go All-Electric now: good luck when "...even in the future Nothing Works!"

I can see it right now...
One itsy-bitsy EMP and everybody goes nowhere, no how. Nuke hardening the electronics in the battery powered "toy" cars and trucks would add so much weight and expense the mileage and marketability/affordability would suffer significantly. Uncle Sam better be aware if the wish to convert the motor pool to all electric occurs. Mobility will return to marching and lugging over hill-n-dale...without mules, horses or oxen.
In kind, the citizenry won't be able to assist, protect or scram as needed. g...a...s...p!!!

 

[bcbender]

Yeah, I worked in the HEV / EV labs 20y ago in college days, still the same troubles it seems... People love to talk about "zero emissions" especially Tesla owners.... But they get real quiet when you challenge them on the true cost and start talking with data! Nobody is studying deeply or at least taking about the cost from the "well --> to the wheels" which should include drilling, transporting, acquiring fuel to make generating, distributing, the electricity, also batteries life cycle, cost to make and more importantly dispose of them..."they say we'll use natural gas to make elec"...riiiiight so much better (including all the efficiency losses). No way were gonna have enough wind to power ALL vehicles, but it looks good in board rooms and mgr meetings. I compare it to thinking about a bonus at the end of the year and finding out how many ways you can "spent" that money.. same goes for electricity need to do full conversion. Lots of people claiming to use the same resource which are / and will continue to be finite. I shudder to think how many power generation plants we will have to build that run on "fossil fuels" to power "clean vehicles".. Its not the same as everyone suddenly getting a elec picture frame or new phone which alone would requires additional generation capability.

I know a person that asked me when I bought my 2020 what it would take for me to go electric.... (tesla owner, go figure). I said a truck that can drive 24h a day, with 15min fuel stops every 300mi, and a towing capacity of 30K lbs.... Needless to say that was the end of the conversation.

 

[brucejohnson]

I think the infrastructure may be there already. It is the power source that is the problem. Especially a low cost power source. Wind is not the answer, and neither are solar panels. Also, those are very expensive.

The current infrastructure is already burdened heavily. Ever pay attention to those little light flickers that seem to be occurring continuously throughout the day, used to be prevalent only during high heat or stormy days. Lots of switching grids just to keep the lights on. One boo-boo and a substation pops a breaker...lights out. Now add a few million vehicles getting plugged in at the same time...don't warm your hot cocoa in the microwave.

 

[kthaxton]

Diversity is the answer.
Use wind, solar and any/all other renewables where they make sense.
Use fossil fuels/nuclear (actually, use more nuclear) to makeup the difference.

That is what needs to happen (and likely will) while technology improves. Phase out fossil fuels when it legitimately can be phased out.

Nobody is saying we need to go with one, single source of energy.

 

[Tractorat]

Is that the actual infrastructure ? Or the power available to be transmitted over the infrastructure ?

 

[crispyboy]

If they really want the electric cars/trucks then the greenies will have to accept more hydroelectric dams, coal fired plants, gas fired plants or nuclear plants. Which combination of these will it be? I don't think they are excited about any of them. The politics of this is extreme and its going to cause a lot of unrest in our future, especially when were mandated to shut down electrical appliances (hvac) in our homes due to the lack of power, mandate what vehicle we can drive, never own an rv (13 years from retirement).....
How many will starve when a hurricane knocks power out for weeks at a time and have no place to charge up? How will construction happen without heavy equipment or plant/harvest the crops?
I am not looking forward to any of this crap.

 

[brucejohnson]

Is that the actual infrastructure ? Or the power available to be transmitted over the infrastructure ?

From what I read a few years ago it is the actual delivery infrastructure that is unable to handle the current demands and will struggle more so as demand increases. We see it today in California and large metropolitan areas. The increases in demand will also require building additional generation stations, but the not in my back yard yelpers howling no way with fossil, nuke, bird killing fans, fish scaling turbines, etc., etc., etc.. It will be a challenge, no doubt aboiut it. Sure liked the common sense approach of former governor Dixie Lee Ray.

 

[bcbender]

yep... I grew up out in CA... they put these mandates way out to encourage development and keep people "happy", but the politicians are never still in office when they get rolled back so its win win for them.

 

[Tractorat]

Sure liked the common sense approach of former governor Dixie Lee Ray.

One of the only 2 dems I ever voted for.