with all due respect- these articles are only coming out in an attempt to stymie Tesla sales. Tesla is so far ahead of others they can’t compete- save Hyundai for that matter.
I once leased a Ioniq EV because I couldn’t pass up the deal. I wanted to try out the electric and I was very disappointed. Not only was range dismal but these things lack soul- consumers will continue to lose which is all they want

 

When Ford created a separate corporate division for their electric vehicles, I figured the writing was on the wall. They also recently took a $9B federal bail out loan for the EV division, apparently all it did was to keep the division from drowning. It will be a lot easier to jettison the EV division via bankruptcy in the event the whole thing fails.

 

Give this man a cigar...

 

‘True Costs’ Of Electric Vehicles Far Higher Than Most Believe

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...40170331&ei=48

 

Thing is, if the PRC does it, the rest of the world should probably ask themselves if they want to, or should, do the same.

Just look at how the government in Beijing rules.

 

It amazes me how many people come to an electric truck forum to dump on electric trucks and/or talk politics.

I’m on my third EV over the last four years, and I know exactly what I’m getting into. I want an electric truck to do a better job pulling my camper, and the Lightning is high on my list because I think it’s a great truck for my needs. I live in semi-rural Minnesota and have towed over 7,000 miles with my Model Y over the last few months.

I think the truck is fine, the charging network is getting better, and electric cars/truck shouldn’t be a political issue. If the deal was right, I’d be in a Lightning today. I don’t think that day is far off.

 

Dump is a strong word. I don't think in its current iteration, EVs can be discussed without politics. China can do a lot of things in short order because it's an authoritarian regime that rules by decree. The developed world is not.

China is our #1 geopolitical and economic challenge and has a stranglehold on multiple parts of the EV battery supply chain. I would like our EVs to be sufficiently independent of China's reach in lithium, cobalt, as well as the production process. Heck Ford's battery plant in Michigan is being built as a joint venture with a Chinese state controlled entity.

I think we need to work with countries like Japan to have multiple alternatives available rather than everyone rat racing down the same lithium based path that gives our biggest foe another area in which we will be dependent on them.

If I get banned for this so be it, I understand.

 

What happens when they flick a switch and turn your car off, electric vehicles hand total control over to the OEM and GOV

 

How is that any different than a gas car?

It’s illegal. There’s no statutory or common law authority that allows them to turn off your property. The same connected architecture that powers most EVs is in that manufacturer’s ICE vehicles as well. Heck, my Kia EV6 didn’t even have that capability. GM’s OnStar has been shutting down stolen cars during police chases since 2009, but that’s with the owner’s consent when they file the police report.

 

You should drop by a dedicated EV forum. I can’t remember the last time politics came up in TMC, the various Ford Lightning and Rivian forums, or the MachE forum. Only here, and I think that’s a shame.

If FTE banned people that easily, there wouldn’t be anyone left.

 

for one: older gas cars are no connected to anything and cannot be shut down

When you realize an EV is software with 4 wheels constantly connected to a gps signal- this is where things get scary- it could be a hacker, another country of a dozen other things that may want to shut down a whole geographic location rendering a society inept.

If you are paying attention, Legalities have less and less meaning in this world- we are degrading- we have peaked - not as a country but as a civilization. Legally speaking- a lot of things shouldn’t be happening but yet- they persist. I have nothing but love for this forum and I’m just trying to show people there are other perspectives on vehicles

 

Some folks here were interested when the Ford Lightning was being released to the market along with some hype which get us enthusiasts excited, and as we researched and learned about the trucks performance and online reviews like TFL Trucks, many started to learn there's many shortcomings of the truck, the technology and the crazy rising costs. When Ford created two different divisions in the company which I thought was bad for moral, it was a red flag of potential future bail out IMO. The EV quest continues to develop and someday maybe a viable solution for the type of transportation we need, but in the meantime like the saying goes "Don't pizz in my boots and tell me it's raining". Nothing mentioned here is politicized as that's just another effort to create division. Another red flag.

Bottom line: The criticism Ford receives is not limited to the Lightning, but their lack of quality is another big issue for the company for all their products. Your up Josh Haliburton! Year one is almost over...

 

some or most new gas vehicles could be disconnected by unplugging the modem. I don’t know if EVs will run without OTA updates but I am curious if one could do so…until of course the main hard drive or SSD used by the powe control module wears out.

 

The electrics aren't being assembled yet for obvious reasons and the current administration has his foot on the throat of the USPS with a certain mandate in the EV / ICE mix of new postal vehicles. He's determined to make the USPS prove that this form of transportation is viable.

You're right Tom, it shouldn't be political. But there's nothing not political about EPA mandates that come from the WH, or the percentage of EV that will be be built to support the government's needs, etc. There's nothing not political about the plethora of law suits being filed against the USPS for trying to push for more gas powered delivery vehicles just to get the carriers some new trucks with ac and modern safety equipment. None of this political grandstanding is taking the human element into consideration.

 

Of course you can. Tesla started the tend of integrating everything into centralized control modules that handle most functions in the car, but others are working towards that goal. The systems are much simpler and easier to update, which makes for a better customer experience and lower operating cost.

None of them need an internet connection to run, but it makes life a lot easier. I can remotely control my car from anywhere with my phone. I can lock/unlock the doors, roll down the windows, activate climate control, adjust climate settings, adjust charging speed, and a bunch more. I can even view live camera feeds from inside and outside the car. I think it’s great, but everything can be disabled from the car’s settings menu.

Nothing about that has anything to do with an electric motor or battery, though. The Lightning has a few of those features, but I wish it had more. Neither of them require an update to drive, and you can disable the modem in both if you like. I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone doing that, though. 🤷‍♂️

Tesla’s software is better in 2023 than it was a year ago, and it’s gained a lot of features since my first in 2019. That constant improvement is a big reason people keep going back, but not everyone chooses to get the updates.

And lastly, the internet connection and software updates have been available for the F150 since the 2021 model. This has nothing to do with EV powertrains.