This is what happens when governments rather than markets pick technologies. From Kristen Walker at realclearwire.com:
The fourth quarter of 2023 was not good for Electric Vehicles (EV). Multiple manufacturers decided to curb or halt production. Ford in particular decided to cut their F150 Lightening Truck series in half. Roughly 4,500 auto dealers signed on to a letter petitioning the Biden administration to “tap the breaks” on its aggressive EV push, on account of EVs stacking up on dealer lots.
The new year is already off to a rough start and we’re not even through the first month.
Hertz announced it will be selling off about one third of its EVs, which will amount to roughly 20,000 vehicles. This is a major reversal from their promise just a few years ago to dramatically increase its EV fleet. The money procured from selling them off will be used for the purchase of internal combustion engines (ICE) in order to “meet customer demand.” The car rental company isn’t too keen on the expensive repairs that accompany EV ownership either, which can cost up to twice that of ICE vehicles.
Mid-January saw a severe cold snap surge across many parts of the United States, greatly affecting the Midwest. Many Chicago-area EV owners found themselves unable to charge their vehicles, leaving them stranded. This is because on average an EV’s range can drop 40% and charging takes significantly longer in freezing conditions. Some motorists waited hours in line at charging stations that struggled to even charge vehicles, and long lines meant difficulty finding open charging stations. Other vehicles had to be towed. This can’t be good PR for the EV industry.
And now, a cheating scandal.
This just in from Brandon:
I don’t work for you.
Don’t forget your dues and here is your CPUSA (D) voter forms, comrade.
Forward! Si se puede.
Read that Euro Ford will bring back the Capri as an EV.
Pappy had one of those when I was a lil’ shaver and it was fun, he never got over a 1965 Thunderbird that was destroyed in a garage fire.
During WWII the Germans knew to go to one of the Ford factories because it would never get bombed and they also made the supercharger for the Bayerische-Flugzeugwerke 109 or Messerschmitt.
During WWII the Germans made a methane powered Volkswagen Beetle due to the strategic bombing of petroleum plants but you didn’t want to be driving behind it.
They should make a modern day update for Climatards called the Karen with a squeee sound as it rolls along and a Barney the Dinosaur or Benetton ad horn.