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Everything posted by ccap41
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Some simple and very estimating maths... With their estimated range of 120 miles per charge I'll assume 175 miles total per day, with a charge in between, seem fair? Maybe it's way less.. I really don't know. This changes things a lot if the miles dropped to 120. Anyway... 175 * 5 days = 875 miles per week 875 miles * 4.3 weeks per month = 3762.5 miles per month 3762.5 miles * 8 months of school(3 months of summer plus miscellaneous days off for holidays and such = 30100 miles per year. They get what, 8mpg? 30100 / 8pmg = 3762.5 gallons 3762.5 gallons * $3.00(gallon of diesel rounded down) = $11,287.50 in fuel costs alone. @dfelt Figure out what that costs roughly for an EV bus to operate.
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They may be "low maintenance" but I ride a bus every day and we break down a handful of times per year on things that likely aren't just a $100 fix. I wouldn't doubt if they spend $5000 a year maintaining/fixing. The last time we swapped buses when we walked around back there was a puddle of motor oil under the engine. Fuel costs is a hue difference in the total operating costs. Personally, I don't know the difference but electricity costs a lot less than diesel and oil. That is where the savings are. Do you think a bus uses $12,000 a year in fuel?
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I would assume Blue Bird puts on a presentation to the schools showing them a return on their investments. They aren't just going all willy nilly and throwing cash at something just because it's quieter. Either the school district or the state better have a functioning accounting department.
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Initial investment will be high but operating costs should be much lower year after year. I assume they have the break even point figured out.
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I think this is a perfect application of EV technology. There's time to charge between daily uses if 120 miles total isn't enough and obviously overnight is more than enough time to start the day fully charged. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/08/23/blue-bird-school-bus-ev-delivered/
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That's a weird caveat. They produce vehicles for the market they are selling them in.
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It's a nice increase and they're getting close to that magical 300 mile number.
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Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
Doesn't most everything decline as they reach the end of their life cycle? A 14,000 sales number this year would be pretty bad. They need to update that car more than just software or even hardware(which I think they have recently updated the motors themselves). They really just need to slap a new body on it. Obviously everything else new would be important as well. -
Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
They've averaged over 25,000 a year after their first year, 2014. Maybe this year will be very down but it's done quite well at its price point. http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/tesla/tesla-model-s/ -
Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
Model S.. -
Oh no, not again, .... 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L Plus
ccap41 replied to regfootball's topic in Member's Rides Showcase
100% agree. I actually find its better to use that backing out of a parking lot because it sees out around the vehicles next to me that are blocking my vision. I don't pull out all willy-nilly with it, but it is very helpful. -
Unfortunately, I have that same feeling. They seemed to cover the rear so much to make it look like something else..it'll end up as a fckd up coupe CUV. 259 is pretty awesome. The electric-only range of like 18 miles is a little weak but I get it, it's a plug-in that seems more performance oriented.
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Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
It's shorter but it doesn't have an engine up front nor room for a driveshaft down the middle. The Bolt has more passenger interior volume. I do agree it would do better as a compact CUV instead of a subcompact. We all have been saying that for a long time now... -
Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
They(All EV-producing companies except Tesla) need to stop with trying to make their EVs quirky and weird. Make the interior "normal" and that becomes a non-issue. -
Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
The Bolt is just awkwardly shaped. If they made it more car OR more CUV I think it would sell much better. But, as a theoretical ride-share vehicle, I think the looks of it are irrelevant and it would do perfect there. -
Oh no, not again, .... 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L Plus
ccap41 replied to regfootball's topic in Member's Rides Showcase
I don't know.. Once you use it, the marketing doesn't matter when the product rocks. -
Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
Most of my ride-share rides have been done in vehicle the Bolt would be equal or larger than. I've only rode with more than 2 people twice in which we needed 5 or 6 seats. Yeah, the Bolt can't cover the complete spectrum of Uber or Lyft "packages" but the entry price compared to an EV Mercedes is probably only 2/3 the price or less. I think it is safe to assume it would pay itself off quicker than the Mercedes even if you can't "Uber Black". -
It seems pretty accurate to me. Especially having the US truck brands in the most loyal customers. The car/cuv owners might not be but the truck buyers alone probably force them in that list. The least loyal list seems pretty logical as well. The "crapier" brands tend to have people come and go more often than re-buy another Fiat 500. Volvo surprises me on that list as they seem to have a pretty fantastic lineup right now but being on the bottom of the list is "okay". Chevy Silverado, Ram 1500.. surprise surprise..
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Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
You're getting pretty specific there and I would wager those rides are a much smaller percentage than 1 or 2 people. It isn't actually small. It just isn't van-large. -
This exact example(I read through the forum page) is a 70 year old man and his wife so I believe it was done for ease of getting in and out of the vehicle for the two of them. Yep, the Ranger just doesn't look very good outside of like one trim and it gives off a tall and skinny vibe.
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I can't imagine it is that difficult to lower them 2 inches. They don't need to be slammed or anything, just a more athletic stance. This is dropped 3" front and 4" back. The owner said the caster is the only alighment item that wasn't to spec but it was "very close". I think 2"-3" would be doable from the factory without issue, but this isn't coming from a Colorado engineer.
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Banks will let you finance anything these days if they think they can make money off you! lol I love this so much! ?? I'm just impressed it can regen enough on its way down that it doesn't need to recharge, ever. Now this is the perfect use of the current EV technology on the industrial level.
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For our bud @dfelt https://cleantechnica.com/2019/08/20/this-ev-is-huge-bright-green-never-needs-recharging/amp/
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Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
I'd be okay with a robo-car picking me up and dropping me off places. I bet an NSX has lower operating costs than a CLA45. -
Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van
ccap41 replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Mercedes-Benz
It's still a Mercedes. It will never beat a Honda on operating costs no matter what powers either vehicle. The Bolt has already been out for a few years.