So I have just been informed this morning at our workplace that
we are experiencing a gas shortage. A gas pipe bursted in Alabama earlier this weekend, and now, the local gas stations near me have barely any gas left.Where there is still gas, prices have already gone up by anywhere from $0.10 to $0.55 per gallon. Services are not expected to return to normal until at least a week from now.
I drive a Prius, and I mostly commute to begin with, so I don't see this as a problem for me. Still though, all this just brings back this issue of our country being perhaps too dependent on fossil fuel.
It terms of absolute fuel safety, I definitely think plug-in hybrids are the best solution, because you'd have to lose both gas AND power before those things will stop running. My Prius is good (at a regular 50+ mpgs) but it still requires gas to go anywhere.
That said, I would still seriously consider an all-electric car as well. In fact, I wonder if it's possible to some day live in such a way where I may not need a car at all? It'd be nice if I can slim my transportation needs down to just a bicycle....
September 18th, 2016 at 08:50 pm 1474231839
September 18th, 2016 at 09:38 pm 1474234738
Batteries are still expensive, but if the Chevy Bolt and the Tesla 3 can maintain their promised cost range of $30k to $40k range, then we consumers might still have a shot at an affordable all-electric car.
Earlier today, I was just reading the latest estimates for Lithium Ion aging. After roughly 500 cycles (that is, going from complete full battery to completely empty), these batteries may degrade as far as 50% of its original capacity.
While today's current EVs, like the Nissan Leaf, has a decent range of about 100 miles, after roughly 8 to 10 years, it would most likely fall down to only 50 miles. Their slightly more limited capacity also means more frequent charging, which means they will lose capacity much quicker.
However, both the Chevy Bolt and the Tesla 3 is rated with at least 200 miles of range. While I do not believe in range anxiety, this range also translates to having to recharge (and therefore cycle) much less often, meaning that they can theoretically last even longer. Plus, after 10 years, even with a theoretical loss of half of its capacity, 100 miles would still be quite adequate for most everyday driving.
So, in other words, if you buy an upcoming 200-mile ranger like the Chevy Bolt or Tesla 3, you would probably never have to change the batteries at all. If even if you do, hopefully, by then, the cost of the batteries will have gone down dramatically.
September 19th, 2016 at 12:54 am 1474246468