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GM to Stop Making Gas-powered Cars
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14 years from now....a lot can and will change in that amount of time....
Me too. Critical question.
Sounds like incredible opportunity!
^ Agreed, sounds like mostly a sensationalism, PR stunt. (A-la #me to am saving the world or something like that)
Yeah, big deal. It is really a PR or political announcement. Depending on the lay of the land between now and then they can reverse it or delay it at anytime. So big deal. If they said they were going to do it in 5 years would be a big deal. Not this.
But one thing might bite them. Some will look at this and say, "Why should I buy a ICE powered GM car or pickup if they might not support them later?" With the average age of cars in the US pushing 13 years, that's a valid concern. In fact, if I were buying a pickup truck or large SUV right now, it is probably enough to make me shop Ram or Ford and skip right over GM. And the benefit? They made some folks feel good who won't buy a GM product right now, anyway. So overall, I think its a dumb move that they didn't think through very well.
So I'm now imagining how we'll go from feeling great about ending coal mining and reducing fossil fuel production to opening up gaping holes in the earth to get the materials for these batteries. But we'll ignore that because it interferes with our green euphoria. (Nevermind the fact that natural gas is a fossil fuel and is required for the production of the electricity these cars will demand. Funny how some of the highly aroused green folk don't seem to get that.)
But one thing might bite them. Some will look at this and say, "Why should I buy a ICE powered GM car or pickup if they might not support them later?" With the average age of cars in the US pushing 13 years, that's a valid concern. In fact, if I were buying a pickup truck or large SUV right now, it is probably enough to make me shop Ram or Ford and skip right over GM. And the benefit? They made some folks feel good who won't buy a GM product right now, anyway. So overall, I think its a dumb move that they didn't think through very well.
So I'm now imagining how we'll go from feeling great about ending coal mining and reducing fossil fuel production to opening up gaping holes in the earth to get the materials for these batteries. But we'll ignore that because it interferes with our green euphoria. (Nevermind the fact that natural gas is a fossil fuel and is required for the production of the electricity these cars will demand. Funny how some of the highly aroused green folk don't seem to get that.)
The market will take care of that. If there is demand, supply will be there, since there will be money to be made.
And in 50's they said everybody would be tooling around in flying cars by the turn of the century.
This may have more to due with the latest regime change in Washington than anything else. Telling the powers that be what they want to hear and all that.
When climate change hysteria collides with reality it is a mess.
I have been trying to wrap my head around how to make money on this very topic. But then I remember that this is all talk and until I see at least 5% of cars on the road being EV then I'm not going to believe it. But when and if the EV revolution happens it will be too late
Maybe this all works out, I dunno. But one of many unanswered questions is how owners that have only street parking available will recharge. Maybe batteries will evolve so it will be a trip to a charging station not too different from getting gas today. If not, will cities install whole networks of charging posts like parking meters? Seems doubtful.
Maybe these folks that may just be poorer will be sacrificed. Or maybe we’ll have a fleet like Cuba’s where ancient gas-powered cars are kept alive forever.
Maybe these folks that may just be poorer will be sacrificed. Or maybe we’ll have a fleet like Cuba’s where ancient gas-powered cars are kept alive forever.
That's the bazillion dollar question.
In Silicon Valley, the hot topic at home owner associations and even apartments is installing charging infrastructures.
Many companies offer subsidized or even free charging as a perk. Pretty popular. I would expect this to continue to grow.
You might be surprised that some people get Tesla smitten, buy the car, and then try and figure out how to charge.
Seriously.
If they want to do that, have at it. I have the same questions others do. Our current electrical grid has regional issues handling the summer loads. Will there be adequate reinvestment into it to handle the additional powering of millions of passenger vehicles? I have probably missed that discussion, as it has to have occurred and the usual question of anything these days "how is that going to be paid for?"
Yeah, just like Stalin's grave is a communist plot.
Or maybe they want that 800 billion Tesla market cap instead of their current 73 billion market cap. And GM sold over 2 million cars vs Tesla at 367k.
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