The EV vs ICE debate among enthusiast has become a very emotional topic. This has led to many digging in their heals and all too often lies and miss information on both sides of the debate.
The greatest feed for this is due to forced government regulations and the fact these regulations are based on global warming claims that lead to even greater emotional debates and even greater lies and miss information.
There is nothing inherently wrong with EV products. They have come a long way in a short time and they will be a very viable option in the near future for most drivers.
I am and always will be a petrol head but I understand and do see many good things with EV products that are coming.
It used to be we could vote to change the emissions regulations or CAFE averages every 4 years. It was just a political football and most automaker fought back.
Today the automotive industry is and needs to be a global industry to survive. The reason so many companies are doing business in China now is they are the fastest and largest auto market in the world. To not be there is a great risk of failure in the rest of the markets that are in decline.
Now with the global regulations there is little fighting back by the automakers. Also add in the fact that to make ICE meet the regulations is getting more difficult and even more and more costly.
The fact is EV models are projected to continue to decline in price and will prove to be cheaper to build yet more profitable much like many other electronic technologies.
We are not out of oil, we are not going to kill the planet with ICE vehicles. To be honest there is no real race needed to make this transfer but those with global Agendas are pushing it and this is leading to push back.
The migration should have been left to the mfgs and customers not global governments. I feel if left alone the migration would take a little longer but would still take place for the majority of drivers. The average drive is cut out for EV as it fits their nature of less upkeep and getting there. They are not wrapped up in engine sound or quarter mile times or much else. Affordable, reliable, safe and less maintenance is what most average driver look for.
As it is now the change over is coming and we all are going to have to find our place in the future. The time frame could change but the automakers had to commit to the future as they can’t keep changing plans on billion dollar projects for global vehicles.
My real fear is the future of our hobby in the vintage car markets. They could tax our cars to where many of us can’t afford them. They could add more ethanol to our fuel to destroy our older cars. They could do a number of things that could remove us from the roads and we need to be ready to stand up against this.
It once was that your car was part of you and your image. It was your shield and it represented you even if you were not an enthusiast. Today cars are just appliances.
At one time you were a Packard man and that was a earned image of just who you were. Today no one claims to be a Kia Buy.
I work in the performance aftermarket and it has struck home with me that even if I am not an EV guy it is going to be a major part of my future like it or not so I need to get on the leading edge here. I see mfgs and parts suppliers all scrambling to fine where they will fit in to the future. They too are seeing the change is no longer optional.
The first thing we all need to do is get educated on the truths and weed out the lies. Things are not all doom and gloom. But there are some things that still need work but we all will survive this.
Look it could be worse they could have stuck us all riding bikes in winter to a bus stop.
I am optimistic we could see some interesting things. With EV they could program these cars to drive even like an ICE car with a torque curve. They could even program them to react to a shifter. With these electronic platforms a number of different body types and styles could be done in smaller numbers at a lower cost.
I read up much the SAE publications band see things and ideas that could come and some things could be interesting.
I think the automakers need to earn the markets and we should be open minded enough to force them to make real cars that will appeal to us the enthusiast. We should not just accept everything and force them to meet our wishes with this new tech.
I have driven a number of EV cars and even driven a GM hydrogen prototype. They drive well but to this point I have no interest in any Tesla or any other EV. I do like the Hummer but I doubt I would ever buy one.
My challenge is to the automakers to give me a fun, affordable and special vehicle that will appeal to me an enthusiast enough I get excited about it.
Earn my love for a EV. You have failed with the Mustang EV and cars like the Bolt. The Tesla S I found interesting but it has grown stale with no true styling updates and I could care less for the bla interior and fart sounds.
Also don’t get silly like the Tesla truck. The delay to production has lost the shock value and left us with a odd design that will show tons of finger prints. Note the showing where they kept a staff wiping off the finger prints like my fridge.
Auto makers get creative.
