Random Thoughts Thread

[Drew Dowdell]

2 hours ago, ccap41 said:

While I don't exactly think anything going on is right, I also don't think trusting anything an oil company CEO says is smart either. They've kind of been known to stick it to us over the last... forever-number-of-years.

Chevron is the prime beneficiary of the Venezuelan oil situation so they have reasons to want to keep oil prices high. They're producing more and selling it higher. 

The oil companies know that the price of oil is a balancing act. They are the one industry that wants it high, but not too high.  Too high is what causes the boom and bust cycle not only in their industry but in the economy as a whole.  They also know that if they push people into EVs, chances are they aren't getting those customers back.  With EV prices getting closer to parity with each passing product cycle and charging locations expanding rapidly, they know this is a bad situation for them.  EVEN IF the US continues to lag behind the rest of the planet on EVs, losing India and South America to EVs could cause a cascade effect on them.  The Chinese EVs are already in those markets too.  The US might be the largest consumer of oil, but if we are the primary buyers costs will go up for us pushing more Americans to EVs.

[G. David Felt]

2 hours ago, ccap41 said:

While I don't exactly think anything going on is right, I also don't think trusting anything an oil company CEO says is smart either. They've kind of been known to stick it to us over the last... forever-number-of-years.

Chevron is the prime beneficiary of the Venezuelan oil situation so they have reasons to want to keep oil prices high. They're producing more and selling it higher. 

My total thought is on the fact that so many others including idiot politicians and the administration are currently saying that once the war ends all will go back to the way it was and people are stupid enough to think it true when we know that rebuilding will take time and costs are only going up.

[A Horse With No Name]

On 3/26/2026 at 11:08 AM, Drew Dowdell said:

It really depends on how you're using it.  That Fiat has a really short range and a pretty slow charge speed. It's not for traveling like you do, it's for runs to the store in a city.  On the other end, something longer range 300+ miles like a Tesla, or some of the GMs and Hyundai/Kias, they make great touring vehicles.  Just look for a charging spot near your destination or most highways in the US have rapid charging now.  

Discover more

Cell Phones

vehicles

vehicle

phone

Vehicles

 

Now, public charging is usually not cheaper per mile than gas. If you're doing is to save money, an EV and relying solely on public charging nets out to the same as a similarly size gasoline vehicle, but no worse. It's pretty much just equal on fueling costs.  The EV pulls ahead slightly on maintenance costs, but probably not enough to justify a purchase in either direction.(*this is assuming US electric and gasoline prices, I don't know how the numbers shake out in the EU)

One of the areas that don't see talked about much is convenience.  If you're in an area where you can charge at home and have decent public charger access, the convenience of EVs can't be beat. Just this week I had to go on a 200 mile round trip business trip. The night before I was so tired coming home I didn't stop to fill up the truck. If I had an electric, it wouldn't have mattered, but because it's gas, I had to budget extra time for stopping .  If it was a Silverado EV I could have made the trip twice on a single charge. Even a Chevy Bolt would have gotten up and back no problem without stopping. 

What I'm getting at is that the range anxiety is a lot more overblown these days than it should be.  We're not all doing cannonball runs. We stop for food, bathroom, whatever. You can charge at most Walmarts and many grocery stores now while you shop. The only time I ever had to worry about range is when I return a rental car and they want it above a certain range before I return it.

 

Again, loving owning the Camry Hybrid, I plan on full EV next car. 

On 3/30/2026 at 2:59 PM, G. David Felt said:

My total thought is on the fact that so many others including idiot politicians and the administration are currently saying that once the war ends all will go back to the way it was and people are stupid enough to think it true when we know that rebuilding will take time and costs are only going up.

The world's opinion will not go back, nor should it. 

On 3/30/2026 at 1:43 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

The oil companies know that the price of oil is a balancing act. They are the one industry that wants it high, but not too high.  Too high is what causes the boom and bust cycle not only in their industry but in the economy as a whole.  They also know that if they push people into EVs, chances are they aren't getting those customers back.  With EV prices getting closer to parity with each passing product cycle and charging locations expanding rapidly, they know this is a bad situation for them.  EVEN IF the US continues to lag behind the rest of the planet on EVs, losing India and South America to EVs could cause a cascade effect on them.  The Chinese EVs are already in those markets too.  The US might be the largest consumer of oil, but if we are the primary buyers costs will go up for us pushing more Americans to EVs.

Electric & Plug-In Vehicles

 

You do motorcycles, I do Bicycles. Riding around, even in deep red areas I am seeing a TON of EV's here in Ohio.  Its like Diesel vs Steam for railroads. At a certain point, even if you are Norfolk and Western and have tons of near free coal, or Pennsylvania with advanced steam locomotives, Diesel just makes infinite sense. Likewise, EV's. ICE is dead man walking.