# Bob\_Blaylock hates Electric Vehicles and was happy to highjack a thread about it **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 13, 2024, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798 "2024-03-13T00:22:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/161 "2024-03-14T15:51:44Z")
Apropos of absolutely nothing, I recently noticed a distinctly different sound to our trash and recycling trucks: > **[Republic Services Is Rolling Out Industry's First Fully Integrated Electric...](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/republic-services-is-rolling-out-industrys-first-fully-integrated-electric-recycling-and-waste-trucks-301751057.html)** > > /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG), a leader in the environmental services industry, today announced plans to significantly scale its electric... They _haul ass_ from house to house. All that torque available from a dead stop. It’s visibly noticeable (and the sound is just … cool). ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/162 "2024-03-14T15:52:05Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > For a truck that also sits idle most of the time, inside a garage, it seems ideal to convert to EV. Around here, they don’t have to travel far for calls. In the unveiling open house, they specifically mentioned the risk from exhaust right there in the station. There are those that want to hate it so much they come up with insane reasons: what if the battery gets wet with all that water? (sure, and diesel engines like sucking water!) What if the battery catches fire? (what if the diesel truck catches fire? And besides, there’s a fire truck right there!) What if they want to loan the truck to the rim country up north, for fighting wild fires? (then send a diesel truck. duh.) And they can’t complain about range: between my house and that station there are I think five other MFD stations alone, not counting those in the rest of Mesa. It’s never going to go that far. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/163 "2024-03-14T15:53:35Z")
Can you imagine not having a “real” fire truck in your fire district?!?!?! _insert huge manatee gif here_ ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/164 "2024-03-14T15:57:35Z")
I’d like an EV, and I live in my own house, but the electrical system was not well thought out. The breaker box is on the opposite side as the garage. Plus, the box has no empty breaker slots. I’d have to have a separate box put in, and wires run (probably outside, no less, because of space constraints) to the garage. Though we do have chargers at work, and the main Mesa Public library where my wife volunteers has chargers. Mesa is pretty EV friendly; my house is not. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/165 "2024-03-14T15:57:55Z")
True. It can certainly be done, if you’ve got public charging nearby. There are chargers at my local grocery store. I could plug the car in there and go do my shopping while it charges. Not sure if there are chargers like that in my daughter’s town; a hotel I stayed at once had several, but I don’t recall seeing them at the two main grocery stores. Going with THAT option, the OP could get by if he wanted, but it’s an additional level of hassle, especially with an 80 mile trip to/from work. Depending on the car’s range, that would require topping off every 2 days. Most people don’t grocery shop every 2 days. A PHEV wouldn’t even be an ideal choice: extra cost, and PHEVs are (I gather) best for someone who does a lot of short trips near home but needs longer charger-free range for trips / emergencies. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/166 "2024-03-14T15:59:31Z")
I suspect that high EV range PHEV will be the gateway drug for the future. You get the RAV4 PHEV that I’ve mentioned before with 40ish miles of EV range, but your worried are assuaged by the full ICE available. And 40 miles is more than many (probably most) people’s daily commute! And that new owner, 6 months down the road, realized they have only filled the tank maybe once in all the time. And realize that with a 200+ mile all EV range they wouldn’t have even had to fill a tank that one time. Yeah, there will be outliers, may _always_ be outliers, but then we’re back to “the perfect is the enemy of the good”. ETA - for @Mama_Zappa, by your description it seems you’re talking more about the first generation hybrids (which are still made), who mostly benefit from stop and go shorter range lower speed traffic rather than modern PHEV. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/167 "2024-03-14T16:02:31Z")
Your childlike joy at such a simple thing made me smile. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/168 "2024-03-14T16:09:31Z")
Mesa could really use those electric garbage trucks\*. Because Mesa is subject to high pollution because of the winds and climate, our trash trucks are currently LPG powered. Electric should be the next step. \* my friend, who just hates EV with a passion rarely seen, and it also a ST fan, would say "they shouldn’t be hauling garbage, they should be hauled away _as_ garbage. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/169 "2024-03-14T16:29:49Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Mesa is pretty EV friendly; my house is not. Depends on your travel needs. I charge at home exclusively on a 15 amp regular plug and did not have to do any re-wiring at all (my 100 amp system panel is maxed out anyway). Overnight charging gives me roughly 70 km (45 miles) of range. If I need more (very rarely) there are lots of public level 2 or level 3 chargers around. If you have a daily commute of more than 50 miles, and there are no nearby chargers, then yes, you’d have to upgrade your home electrical panel. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/170 "2024-03-14T16:31:55Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Even a PHEV wouldn’t do for the OP, yet (and even if he had a charger at home, a PHEV wouldn’t get him all the way to work and back). Well, a PHEV would get him to work and back, just not electric-only. But for trips around town, no gas would be used. If and when I replace my car, I may get a PHEV. (Ideally, a RAV4 Prime, but they’re expensive and hard to get.) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/171 "2024-03-14T16:40:06Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > - my friend, who just hates EV with a passion rarely seen, and it also a ST fan, would say "they shouldn’t be hauling garbage, they should be hauled away _as_ garbage. 🙂 Tribbles, my favorite ST episode. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/172 "2024-03-14T16:40:41Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Your power company probably services primarily suburbia. If they service mix use, the office, school, manufacturing, warehousing and etc. they typically shift the cheaper rates to evenings and pretty much all have cheaper rates after midnight. > > My company’s reduced rate 8pm to 8am. The other major NJ company is on-peak 2pm to 9pm so kind of like yours. Con-Ed in NYC area of NY is off-peak midnight to 8am. It’s definitely suburbia. I didn’t give a shit about any of that until I got the EV and was surprised that the middle of the day wasn’t more expensive. Probably because no one here has air conditioners. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/173 "2024-03-14T16:41:14Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > ETA - for @Mama_Zappa, by your description it seems you’re talking more about the first generation hybrids (which are still made), who mostly benefit from stop and go shorter range lower speed traffic rather than modern PHEV. Could be. My concept of PHEVs is that they’re good for trips of up to 20-30 miles which would be all electric. After that, then the ICE kicks in. Have the all-electric ranges increased in newer generations? In any case, a 20-30 mile range would do for us for about 95% of our outings in the car. We won’t be shopping for anything for a while, I hope. We currently own a 17 year old CRV with about 190K miles, and a 3 year old CRV hybrid. As long as we can keep the older one on the road, a new car is not in the picture. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/174 "2024-03-14T16:41:44Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I charge at home exclusively on a 15 amp regular plug and did not have to do any re-wiring at all (my 100 amp system panel is maxed out anyway). We could also get by with a 15A, 110V plug for our charging needs as we don’t commute by car and it’s really used for one longer trip per weekend. We are lucky that our garage also has a 30A, 220V plug. But, while we waited for the adapter, we used the 15A. We’ve also used a 15A plug as a destination charger for a longer multi night trip and it did the trick. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/175 "2024-03-14T16:58:12Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Could be. My concept of PHEVs is that they’re good for trips of up to 20-30 miles which would be all electric. After that, then the ICE kicks in. Have the all-electric ranges increased in newer generations? In any case, a 20-30 mile range would do for us for about 95% of our outings in the car. It varies dramatically by PHEV - for example, I like Subaru, but the Crosstrek PHEV at 17 miles? Nope, sorry. The Toyota RAV4 PHEV, 42 miles, just about perfect for my needs right now. The top 10 range-wise run from 37-51 miles all electric last time I checked, so the 20-30 miles are pretty middle of the road these days. ASIDE - I also wish I didn’t have to replace a car, but my 2002 Subaru Outback sport with 140k miles has been dying for some time ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/176 "2024-03-14T17:02:00Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > The OP’s use case is one where an EV truly is NOT the right answer…   You seem to be a very rare exception to the raw, extreme, abject hubris of so many who have posted here; presuming to know better than I do what my needs are, presuming to know better than I do how my needs should be met, and calling me a _“dick”_ for preferring the technology that works for me over technology that really would not.   The day may come when an EV would be practical for me, or for someone with needs similar to mine; but at my age, I do not expect to live to see that point. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/177 "2024-03-14T17:04:49Z")
> [@Bob\_Blaylock](#): > > and calling me a _“dick”_ for preferring the technology that works for me over technology that really would not. Oh, get over yourself. You were called a dick _**(not by me)**_ for the aggressive hijack and terminology like “Real Car”. Not because you legitimately are not a good candidate today for an EV. Do you at least understand, that you have more than 10 years before this becomes an issue for you and by then a lot will have changed? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/178 "2024-03-14T17:13:42Z")
> [@Bob\_Blaylock](#): > > You seem to be a very rare exception to the raw, extreme, abject hubris of so many who have posted here; presuming to know better than I do what my needs are (note to all, this is a snip) Bob, you’re proving my earlier point. In the parent thread, there were dozens of posts like @Mama_Zappa’s about how circumstances regarding distance between chargers and remote worksites made it a less viable option. You didn’t see them because as I mentioned YOU DIDN’T READ THE THREAD YOU POSTED IN. That’s what you’re getting bitched at for. You’re like a whiney student who showed up for the exam and got 90% of the answers right, but only the last 10, because you missed 3/4 of the exam. And now you’re demanding a 90% based on what you finished. And that’s leaving out the whole “real car” issue that you’ve refused to come and define. So, yeah, like @Mama_Zappa and @What_Exit, I agree, you’re right on the very narrow issue that a BEV probably isn’t good for your specific needs (although, I note that you HAVEN’T addressed @Dr.Strangelove’s cite about CA requiring landlords to approve EV installation albeit with several exceptions…) . You’re still being an utter ass. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/179 "2024-03-14T17:13:43Z")
You’re a dick because: -You are a homophobic and transphobic small minded bigot -You intentionally use idiotic terminology to troll -You lied about your situation and about EVs and the infrastructure in general (or you are willfully ignorant) You are not a dick because an EV probably isn’t for you but that is totally a side issue and not relevant to what a prick you are ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798/180 "2024-03-14T17:29:09Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Even a PHEV wouldn’t do for the OP, yet (and even if he had a charger at home, a PHEV wouldn’t get him all the way to work and back). PHEVs don’t _have_ to be plugged in at all; doing so just enables local drives to be done using the battery. Their gas-only range is comparable to that of typical ICE vehicles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-blaylock-hates-electric-vehicles-and-was-happy-to-highjack-a-thread-about-it/998798.md?page=10)