Is it acceptable to have a Tesla and a 4Runner?

I think we have a very good mix of people here. I've been hanging out here and on Tacomaworld, and helped plan a few events every year since 2019, and am consistently impressed with the quality of people who show up.

 

True, Its crazy how much American Honda is.



Vs most American GM vehicle the Chevy Bolt is way down the list with 63%.

 

Unfortunately it will probably be the other way around. Lower demand will equal lower production and probably a higher cost per unit.

 

I am sure they will stick it to us. There will be some new high environmental tax or some bs

 

American business: We can never be incentivized enough to send manufacturing to China to save on costs while screwing over American workers.

Perhaps buying American was good at one time, but these "too big to fail" and "muh amuricun" companies are jokes that pump out unreliable garbage while also screwing over American workers. I don't care how much of the money stays in America if the money just goes to the fatcats. I'd rather my money to go the people in Japan who make my 4Runner in that case. Well, at least some of it. Fatcats gonna fatcat no matter what the country and culture.

Of course, I've got to wonder what's incentivizing the non-domestic companies to make so much in America. Is it government incentives? Then again, Tacomas are fully built in Mexico now. LOL.

 

I don't like EVs due to their limitations for rural and winter use, their strain on the electrical grid, and their impact on the environment via increases in lithium mining that does this to the environment...



There is also the issue of the life span of the batteries and what happens to them when they are no longer usable.

I do support hybrids, however and would consider a hybrid 4Runner if it was still as capable as my 5th gen.

I believe there was a German study done that showed EVs were just as bad for the environment as ICE vehicles due to the energy needed to mine materials and produce the electricity.

 

I don't think we can get out of EV madness. Politics seems to be pushing EVs pretty hard. On the other side my utility bill has skyrocketed. If I had EV my Xcel energy bill will cost me arm and a leg. If I go solar the solar company will r@pe me twice. It will impact roof repairs as well. Wiring my garage for EV is no joke as well since the board is at the opposite side of the house.

I think Toyota will try thier best to keep away from full EVs killing more and more good gas options making them hybrid but won't be easy with politics, IMO. It's sad what has happened to Tundra and Sequoia.

 

My other car is a Model 3 dual motor. The performance and overall driving experience is unreal, and it's basically free for me to run, zero maintenance and I have solar on my roof. The ecological argument is always a bit silly - the most environmentally friendly car is the one you don't buy, i.e. keeping a car forever is much better for the environment than disposing of an old one and manufacturing a new one.

The problem I'm having is that the 4Runner encourages a nice chill driving style, I'm finding myself driving like a lunatic in the Tesla now, I'm going to have to figur eout how not to do that or I'll be getting tickets.

Ian

 

Those that have to pay to charge their EV’s now say it’s so inexpensive. If EV’s become more prevalent, you think the price of electricity isn’t going through the roof? It sure will. Easy money for providers and the tax man.

 

Sounds a lot like the oil companies now.

 

Instant torque is an awesome thing!
And continuing research to make that environmentally and economically feasible is not a bad goal, but right now there's not much more toxic in the world then the manufacturer of batteries.

 

OR the road taxes have to be paid somehow. I haven't heard yet how many states are making up the difference from loss of revenue from fuel taxes due to EVs.

 

. 100% correct.

 

Citation needed.

 

Some states are charging extra based on mileage driven, when you register/pay yearly excise tax on the EV.

 

It's America have what you want.
Too many electric cars burndin the power grid

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envir....-,Disposal,disposal of lithium-ion batteries

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/lithium-batteries-environment-impact

https://www.alsym.com/resource/lithium-based-batteries-are-toxic-from-start-to-finish

https://www.industryweek.com/techno...acturing-them-leaves-massive-carbon-footprint

"Much of the world’s lithium is extracted by tapping into underground “brine” deposits, pumping water rich in lithium salts into large evaporation ponds. Approximately 500,000 gallons of brine must be extracted to produce one metric ton of lithium, which significantly impacts the amount of water available for drinking and agriculture in regions such as Chile’s Atacama Desert. Once evaporation is complete, lithium salts are separated from other deposits and sent away for processing. By-products of the brine extraction process can include everything from sulfuric acid and radioactive uranium to lime and magnesium waste, all of which can increase rates of cancer and other diseases in nearby communities. Lithium compounds in finished batteries generally contain lithium in ionic form, which is less reactive than lithium metal and presents fewer flammability hazards. Exposure to ionic lithium, which is present in both anode material and electrolyte salts, has both acute and chronic health effects on the central nervous system."

Seems a bit odd that those from a certain political ideology that are claiming to be champions of the environment, and the poor from around the world, are pushing the use of EVs, which directly harm both the environment and indigenous poor people.

But it might be considered insensitive of me to point out facts and I don't want to be banned for another month, lol.

 

And where's the info about how it's so much worse than other things?

 

It would be interesting to know how that is conducted. The "honor system" has been blown out of the water for some years now.

 

I remember hearing about this on one of the news thing. At the moment it's whoever wants to volunteer to participate in the program, but soon to be pushed for everyone.

https://www.myorego.org/

https://youtu.be/oWo93Rq5gs8 ::: Link to the YT video I watched from KGW News talking about replacing the gas tax.

 

Easy. The DMV records your odometer reading when you register your vehicle, then when you renew your registration a year later, it records the new reading and charges you based on how many miles you traveled.

And when the DMV workers complain about the increased work involved, then the government has an excuse to hire more people and grow government. Win/win for the government.

 

Down here, the mileage is only recorded when there is an ownership transfer. So, not easy. In your state, mileage is now recorded every year?

 

For at least the last 30 years, I believe I have always been asked the mileage at registration. And I always give a ballpark figure.

 

Interesting. The Department of Motor Vehicles here only gets mileage information at sale or transfer. The insurance companies used to ask periodically about mileage, but that has stopped (at least for me) some years ago. It is possible they get the information from apps on phones now.

 

Its like having a mullet. Business in the front, party in the back.

 

https://wgme.com/news/local/couple-...-mining-law-batteries-cell-phones-stove-tops#

 

Why don’t we produce lithium in the US? Mainly due to environmental concerns. Here’s one of latest battles in Nevada. Burning Man fans will be interested.

https://apnews.com/eb0fb78af730bc2264c990d343849248

 

And oil extraction does this to the environment. There is no free lunch.


source: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/21112021/tar-sands-canada-oil/

 

Oh and a little bit of research turns up that photo you posted is of a gold mine in China.

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/hankings-400m-test-for-gold-market-ng-ya-114005​

Let me guess, repost from a random political meme you saw on facebook?

 

Nope. I just Googled "Lithium mine" and that's one of the images that came up. No need to get snarky.