4 ms·

Used Chevy volt for 5-15k, it seems you can get a sub 10k electric car already?

by cyberbanjo 5y ago

sokoloff 5y ago
A Volt is a hybrid, not a pure electric. (The Bolt is Chevy’s BEV.)
- ben_w 5y ago
  Even a hybrid is probably sufficient in this context.
  - sokoloff 5y ago
    Upthread context: “If I had a vote whether to ban combustion engines from my city (cars, trucks, mopeds, leaf blowers - everything), with a relatively short transition period (say 5 years), I'd be in favor.” In that context, the Volt (and other hybrids, plug-in or not) would either be banned or be required to disable their ICE engines in the city. * https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28504461 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28504461
    - perl4ever 5y ago
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good But EVs are really not perfect anyway. People say why have two powerplants. The reason is to get rid of the (environmental impact of) 300 mile batteries. 90% of the time, 10% of the battery is enough. From the page above: "If you never miss a plane, you're spending too much time at the airport."
    - ben_w 5y ago
      Indeed, and that was for the reason of ending emissions within a city. A poor person who commutes with one is likely (even though not guaranteed) to be using it over the sort of distance where the tiny battery is sufficient, so with regard to achieving that goal rather than that method, I think hybrids would probably be sufficient.
      - sokoloff 5y ago
        I agree that banning all ICE vehicles in 5 years is not a practical nor worthwhile goal to pursue.
- gregable 5y ago
  It's in a weird space. It's kinda a pure electric.
- creato 5y ago
  So what? If it drives a few 10s of miles without burning gas, if everyone used them, that would eliminate probably 90%+ of emission pollution in cities. I feel that the obsession with pure electric has crippled the fight against pollution and CO2 emissions. Every car with 20 miles of battery range is probably a lot more impactful in the fight against climate change than 10% of cars with 200 miles of battery range, and has fewer major tradeoffs (cheaper, limited range/recharging is not an issue, much less need to build an entirely new charging infrastructure).
  - sokoloff 5y ago
    Upthread context is someone positing/supporting a total ban of all ICE in their city and someone arguing that’s disproportionately harmful to the poor because pure EVs are more expensive. In that context, it matters quite a bit that the Volt has an ICE, even though I overall agree with you on the Volt being environmentally beneficial. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28504461 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28504461

Used Chevy volt for 5-15k, it seems you can get a sub 10k electric car already?

sokoloff 5y ago

A Volt is a hybrid, not a pure electric. (The Bolt is Chevy’s BEV.)

ben_w 5y ago
Even a hybrid is probably sufficient in this context.
- sokoloff 5y ago
  Upthread context: “If I had a vote whether to ban combustion engines from my city (cars, trucks, mopeds, leaf blowers - everything), with a relatively short transition period (say 5 years), I'd be in favor.” In that context, the Volt (and other hybrids, plug-in or not) would either be banned or be required to disable their ICE engines in the city. * https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28504461 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28504461
  - perl4ever 5y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good But EVs are really not perfect anyway. People say why have two powerplants. The reason is to get rid of the (environmental impact of) 300 mile batteries. 90% of the time, 10% of the battery is enough. From the page above: "If you never miss a plane, you're spending too much time at the airport."
  - ben_w 5y ago
    Indeed, and that was for the reason of ending emissions within a city. A poor person who commutes with one is likely (even though not guaranteed) to be using it over the sort of distance where the tiny battery is sufficient, so with regard to achieving that goal rather than that method, I think hybrids would probably be sufficient.
    - sokoloff 5y ago
      I agree that banning all ICE vehicles in 5 years is not a practical nor worthwhile goal to pursue.
gregable 5y ago
It's in a weird space. It's kinda a pure electric.
creato 5y ago
So what? If it drives a few 10s of miles without burning gas, if everyone used them, that would eliminate probably 90%+ of emission pollution in cities. I feel that the obsession with pure electric has crippled the fight against pollution and CO2 emissions. Every car with 20 miles of battery range is probably a lot more impactful in the fight against climate change than 10% of cars with 200 miles of battery range, and has fewer major tradeoffs (cheaper, limited range/recharging is not an issue, much less need to build an entirely new charging infrastructure).
- sokoloff 5y ago
  Upthread context is someone positing/supporting a total ban of all ICE in their city and someone arguing that’s disproportionately harmful to the poor because pure EVs are more expensive. In that context, it matters quite a bit that the Volt has an ICE, even though I overall agree with you on the Volt being environmentally beneficial. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28504461 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28504461