# What are your electric vehicle plans? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614 "2020-10-22T18:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 45
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/906 "2023-02-17T02:20:13Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > A wet cable really isn’t worth worrying about It’s not the cable being wet that bothers me, it’s my hands getting dirty when I rehang the cable. Almost as bad as whatever that is on the gas pump handle. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/907 "2023-02-17T02:23:54Z")
How about attaching the charger cable to the ceiling, so it drops down just far enough to reach the outlet on the car? That way, it can never get wet or dirty. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2023, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/908 "2023-02-17T03:14:11Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > But, rest assured you made your point. EVs don’t work in Canada. Got it. Just so you know, the entire population of the country does not live in Saskatoon, SK And not everyone needs to tow a trailer in -30 weather to work 300km away, then let it sit a jobsite for 4 hours. Using extreme edge cases to deny that EV’s are useful for a huge majority of the population is one of the things that really irritates me. (edit: I realize you’re not doing this) ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/909 "2023-02-17T03:26:36Z")
Took longer to find the hook in the junk drawer than to mount it. All EV obstacles are this easy to overcome. If an EV doesn’t work for you, it’s because you’re unwilling to put forth the effort of checking both the garage and kitchen junk drawers for home charging solutions. [![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/bng1cpp3fmgsb3g/PXL_20230217_024016679.jpg?dl=0) ](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/bng1cpp3fmgsb3g/PXL_20230217_024016679.jpg?dl=0) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/910 "2023-02-17T03:35:15Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > it’s because you’re unwilling to put forth the effort of checking both the garage and kitchen junk drawers for home charging solutions. I see you employed a 3D printer as well. As did I… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/911 "2023-02-17T03:58:07Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Just so you know, the entire population of the country does not live in Saskatoon, SK > And not everyone needs to tow a trailer in -30 weather to work 300km away, then let it sit a jobsite for 4 hours. That’s sorta the point I was making. I mean, I was exaggerating for emphasis, but the point I was intending to make was that Sam’s implying EVs won’t work in Canada because they won’t work for him. You can see from these quotes, he’s taking problems specific to his use case and making them sound like Canada problems. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > In Canada I’'d never buy an EV with less than 250 miles of range, because I’d assume that in winter it might more like 150. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I’m going to guess that you don’t live in Canada. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > **I never said EVs don’t work in Canada.** They make fine city cars, especially for a second car. In-city contractors might be able to use an EV truck. I have considered buying an EV for that purpose. They are okay if you make the occasional trip on a major highway where charging stations can be found. **But if you are a farmer, an oil worker, heavy duty mechanic, insulator, or other industrial worker, an EV truck is a really hard sell.** My bolding > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > That is well outside the range of affordability for probably 90% of Canadians > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Also, we are in Canada, where everything is more expensive. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > In Canada, my main concern is weather. Unrelated but I just noticed this: > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > You found one of the three cars (Tesla Model 3 and Ford Mustang-E being the others) that have come down in price in the last year. If you think I found that, I think you’re not reading your own cites. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2023, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/912 "2023-02-17T04:00:27Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I think you’re not reading your own cites. Quelle surprise. I’ve heard the ocean is a bit damp as well. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/913 "2023-02-17T06:46:08Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I think the skepticism is warranted. EV will be good for many use cases in many places. It will help insulate people from gasoline price swings. But it won’t be ideal for everyone in every location. ICEVs are not ideal for every situation either. In fact, they’re less ideal for most situations (for example: commuting across town to work) compared with EVs. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Using extreme edge cases to deny that EV’s are useful for a huge majority of the population is one of the things that really irritates me. That’s a goodly part of the FF FUD about EVs. BTW, another good thing that happens with EV adoption is an improvement in health. > **[New Study Links EVs With Real-World Reductions In Air Pollution &...](https://cleantechnica.com/2023/02/06/new-study-links-evs-with-real-world-reductions-in-air-pollution-respiratory-problems/)** > > A new study shows a link between the increased use of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and improved air quality and public health ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/914 "2023-02-17T12:04:43Z")
A coworker has a 2017 Tesla Y. A truck carrying steel beams backed in to her and smashed the rear window. She had to take it to a special, Tesla-approved shop for repair that was located 50 miles away. The cost to repair is $20,000. (I assume the insurance company for other driver paid.) She took the car to the shop in early November. They _still_ have it. This is not a knock on EV cars, of course. More on Tesla. She said she is going to sell the car when she gets it back, and said she will never buy another Tesla. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/915 "2023-02-17T13:28:42Z")
I’m assuming you mistyped the date? From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_Y): > [@](#): > > The **Tesla Model Y** is a [battery electric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_electric_vehicle) [compact crossover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_crossover_SUV) manufactured by [Tesla, Inc.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla,_Inc.) Unveiled in March 2019,[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_Y#cite_note-electrek-2019-03-14-3) it started production at its [Fremont plant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Factory) in January 2020,[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_Y#cite_note-4) and started deliveries on March 13, 2020.[[5]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_Y#cite_note-:0-5) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/916 "2023-02-17T13:33:30Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I’m assuming you mistyped the date? Oops, yea. It’s definitely a Y, though. Perhaps it’s a 2020. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/917 "2023-02-17T14:18:21Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The cost to repair is $20,000 Are you sure it wasn’t $2000? > **[FYI: Rear Window Replacement Cost - $1,200](https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/fyi-rear-window-replacement-cost-1-200.258166/)** > > Last week a branch fell on the rear window of my 2022 Model Y. Completely shattered. Tesla Service just sent the replacement cost - $1,200. > > For your records. Hope you never need it! > Last week a branch fell on the rear window of my 2022 Model Y. Completely shattered. Tesla Service just sent the replacement cost - $1,200. > **[Tesla Model Y Windshield Replacement Is Pricey, As Expected](https://insideevs.com/news/425374/video-tesla-model-y-windshield-replacement-cost/)** > > Let's say you take incredibly good care of your new car. Then, something happens beyond your control, and it's not cheap to fix. Ugh, this Model Y. > Instead, Shaw learned that a full replacement was the only option, and it would cost over $1,300. The windshield itself costs over $800. I looked on Safelite and it quoted me $1100 for a 2020 Model Y rear window replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/918 "2023-02-17T14:50:19Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Are you sure it wasn’t $2000? She said $20,000. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/919 "2023-02-17T15:26:43Z")
It was probably far more than the windscreen, then. On a related note, a buddy got a Rivian (which he loves) but then hit a deer and THEN got clipped by a dumptruck in his landscaping yard. The nearest approved shop is in SLC (we’re in Bozeman MT). It’s finally ready after 3 months! Definitely not buying a vehicle for which there is not local support. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/920 "2023-02-17T15:48:10Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > The biggest cold weather EV problem I don’t think has been mentioned. You know how ICE cars leave a big puddle on the garage floor when they’re parked covered in ice and snow? EVs do the same thing. Except now the charging cable is also lying in the puddle. It’s well insulated, so no shock danger, but your hands get wet and dirty when coiling up the charging cable after use. Have I got a solution for you! Move to Saskatchewan, and don’t heat your garage. Absolutely no puddles in winter! There’s plenty of Teslas driving around in Saskatoon, and probably other EVs as well I just can’t visually identify other EVs as EVs at a glance. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/921 "2023-02-17T16:45:02Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > A coworker has a 2017 Tesla Y. A truck carrying steel beams backed in to her and smashed the rear window. She had to take it to a special, Tesla-approved shop for repair that was located 50 miles away. The cost to repair is $20,000. I hit a deer with my iPace. Didn’t look so bad (except for the deer) but it messed up all the electronics.(cameras, sensors, radar for the cruise control, front headlight) Most places don’t work on Jaguars, so I have to go about 50 miles away to one that does, and the first appointment was three months out when I made it (one month to go!) $18,000 estimate. Covered by insurance at least. Again, not an EV issue per se. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/922 "2023-02-17T17:39:52Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > There’s plenty of Teslas driving around in Saskatoon, and probably other EVs as well I just can’t visually identify other EVs as EVs at a glance. Teslas are actually one of the better cold weather cars. They use a heat pump rather than resistive heating, so they are more efficient in cold weather. They have good battery insulation and normal sized batteries. If I wanted a new second car, a Tesla 3 would be a good choice for Canada. A Hyndai Ioniq or Kia EV6 also have heat pumps and make good winter cars - although in really cold weather they won’t heat the interior as much as you’d like. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/923 "2023-03-03T01:35:45Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > EVs don’t need rare earths. They can slightly increase efficiency in some cases, but you can build a perfectly decent EV without them. Tesla’s next-gen motors won’t be using rare earths: > **[Tesla's Next-Gen Electric Motors Will Get Rid Of Rare Earth Elements](https://insideevs.com/news/655233/tesla-next-gen-eletric-motors-no-rare-earth-elements/)** > > Tesla announced at its Investor Day event that it will move forward with a more efficient next-gen permanent magnet motor that requires no rare earth elements. To be clear, it was always false that EVs required rare earths. Induction motors–successfully used on the original Model S–do not require them. However, it’s true that permanent magnet motors are a tad more efficient than induction motors, and that most current EV motors are using rare earths (neodymium in particular). Rare earth magnets are more powerful than the alternatives, so they’re easier to package and are generally higher performance. However, it appears that Tesla has managed to achieve the benefits of a permanent magnet motor without the rare earths. It’s possible they’re giving up a tiny bit of efficiency to do so, but it’s unlikely to be very much: efficiency is range, and range is battery. And batteries are expensive, so they wouldn’t go this route unless the difference was tiny. And while rare earths were never that rare to begin with, mining it is difficult and dirty, and China currently produces the most of it. So it’s valuable to disconnect from that dependency, especially as the number of EVs continues to ramp up. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/924 "2023-03-03T02:22:51Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > To be clear, it was always false that EVs required rare earths. Despite that, there’ll still be people out there claiming that Teslas (or all EVs) have rare earths in their batteries. Which is part FUD and part a mistaken idea of what a rare earth is. However, there will be some rare earths in EVs. But they’re the same rare earths used in cell phones, laptops and for that matter, pretty much all other cars. Unless the EV doesn’t have a flat panel color display, speaker, and microphone, since those all have some rare earths in them. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614/925 "2023-03-03T02:31:04Z")
Agreed; some tiny amount will likely always be present. Though I don’t think there’s any application where they’re _absolutely_ required; after all, speakers still work with ceramic magnets (just not as well), and microphones can use MEMS (probably most embedded microphones use MEMS these days). In any case, you’re right that this is nothing exclusive to EVs. Lithium is the only truly critical element (and not a rare earth). There just isn’t currently an alternative chemistry that doesn’t need lithium at all. But there is plenty of lithium out there; we just need to open new mines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614.md?page=44) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-electric-vehicle-plans/923614.md?page=46)