3 ms·

Things are a bit messed up in the car market in general, with a lot of long long time waits for ICE vehicles too. We bought the first generation plug-in hybrid

by dhosek 5y ago

Things are a bit messed up in the car market in general, with a lot of long long time waits for ICE vehicles too. We bought the first generation plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica minivan five years ago and we've been very happy with it. In Chicago it's effectively an EV 9 months of the year (it likes to run on gas in the winter, likely to feed the heaters). I do think that when we downsize to a non-minivan in a few years that we're likely looking at an EV (perhaps renting an ICE car for vacations where we'll be doing a lot of driving and have inconsistent access to charging). There is definitely some infrastructure that needs to change still. A lot of rental properties (perhaps almost all) don't have the ability to manage EVs which is going to be a challenge going forth, but I think that we're definitely on the precipice of EVs becoming dominant. I'd say it's not quite flip phone in 2012, but it is flip phone in 2008.

bryanlarsen 5y ago
> flip phone in 2008 That's a great analogy. In 2008 iPhones were fabulously expensive ($700 doesn't seem so bad, but remember that $700 was the contract-locked subsidized price, and that phone didn't have an app store), and it still wasn't certain whether iPhone would beat Blackberry. The rich bought an iPhone or Blackberry, but average Joe's were best off limping along with their old flip phone an extra year, and if they couldn't, buying the cheapest thing they could to hold them over. And this applies even more in early 2022. All cars, new or used, EV or ICE are stupidly expensive right now. In 12 months time, the used car market should have settled, Teslas should no longer be supply constrained and may have more reasonable prices, and some really nice vehicles like the Hyundia/Kia Ioniq5/EV6 should be widely available. So this is the year to repair your beater rather than replacing it, IMO. And remember that it's still somewhat environmentally responsible buying a used ICE car. reuse/reduce/recycle is the mantra, and that first R still has meaning.

by dhosek 5y ago

bryanlarsen 5y ago

> flip phone in 2008 That's a great analogy. In 2008 iPhones were fabulously expensive ($700 doesn't seem so bad, but remember that $700 was the contract-locked subsidized price, and that phone didn't have an app store), and it still wasn't certain whether iPhone would beat Blackberry. The rich bought an iPhone or Blackberry, but average Joe's were best off limping along with their old flip phone an extra year, and if they couldn't, buying the cheapest thing they could to hold them over. And this applies even more in early 2022. All cars, new or used, EV or ICE are stupidly expensive right now. In 12 months time, the used car market should have settled, Teslas should no longer be supply constrained and may have more reasonable prices, and some really nice vehicles like the Hyundia/Kia Ioniq5/EV6 should be widely available. So this is the year to repair your beater rather than replacing it, IMO. And remember that it's still somewhat environmentally responsible buying a used ICE car. reuse/reduce/recycle is the mantra, and that first R still has meaning.