Negativity

  • Thread starter Thread starter jdonalds
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Dstrauss, I will pick up the gauntlet you just threw down. If two years from today, you can buy a CR-V with comparable interior room, features, price, and get 50 miles EV and 300 HV, I will fill up your Clarity gas tank (at today’s prices/big bet huh?)!!
Want to wager something in return?
If you make that September 30, 2020 (so it includes new 2021 models as I suggested), let's bet a $25 Starbucks card to the winner (since we won't need the gas by then) - BUT - you have to remind me because at the current level of depletion of my brain cells I doubt I'll ever remember this wager.
 
The Clarity PHEV powerplant should be adequate for a CR-V derivative. The curb weights of the Accord and CR-V are similar, so the plug-in CR-V would likely come in around 4200 lbs. It would not get 50 miles of EV range due to aerodynamics. Would probably be more like 34-38 for the same size battery. The frame would have to stretch some (Clarity WB is 108"; CR-V is 105"). Stuffing all the guts in the nose of the CR-V would be no small feat, but the soon-to-be released CR-V (non-plug) Hybrid has Honda 90% there. Given the Outlander's pricing, I'd expect a CR-V PHEV to land right around $40k.
 
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If you make that September 30, 2020 (so it includes new 2021 models as I suggested), let's bet a $25 Starbucks card to the winner (since we won't need the gas by then) - BUT - you have to remind me because at the current level of depletion of my brain cells I doubt I'll ever remember this wager.
You got a deal, sir. I’ll pay in the electron equivalent of gas if need be.
My short term memory is already gone so I’ll put Siri on it and wait till she reminds me. I kind of hope I will have to pay up so we can get an even better PHEV.
 
The Clarity PHEV powerplant should be adequate for a CR-V derivative. The curb weights of the Accord and CR-V are similar, so the plug-in CR-V would likely come in around 4200 lbs. It would not get 50 miles of EV range due to aerodynamics. Would probably be more like 34-38 for the same size battery. The frame would have to stretch some (Clarity WB is 108'; CR-V is 105"). Stuffing all the guts in the nose of the CR-V would be no small feat, but the soon-to-be released CR-V (non-plug) Hybrid has Honda 90% there. Given the Outlander's pricing, I'd expect a CR-V PHEV to land right around $40k.
CR-V curb weight with no battery is only 547 lbs less than Clarity with battery pack. So to get the same performance, you’ve only got 547 lbs for the battery and you have to factor in the much less aerodynamic shape if the CR-V. That’s tough to do with current tech. But who knows in a few years? Bosch has been working since 2015 on a 50 kWh, 190 Kg (419lb), 75% charge in 15 min battery that just might have enough energy density and thus small size to make it work. So it’s going to be possible one day but I just don’t think it can happen in just 2 years. I would love to be proved wrong though. When it gets here, it would be what I would trade in my Clarity for.
 
Accord and CR-V curb weight are similar. Clarity is Accord with plug; CR-V with plug would rise similarly. Remember, there was more that changed than just adding battery. They bought themselves a few hundred pounds in weight savings with design changes.
 
The later component is significant. So far no car company had figured out how to make money on ev and along with push from oil industry, the charge will be a slow process. Canada may lead this as compared to USA, since gas prices are killing.

Gasoline is killing, literally.

As to making money on EVs, it is all about upgrades, especially software. When you can charge hundreds/thousands to add some cool feature to the car OTA, that is where the profit is. Ten years hence, EVs will offer a "Cardiac Emergency" upgrade, for say, $1,500, which will monitor your heart, and should you experience a cardiac episode, will take control of the car, and either drive you to the hospital, or summon the rescue squad. A backup power upgrade for $500 will provide power to your house automatically when the electricity goes out. A teenage driver package will throttle back acceleration, enforce speed limits and curfews for $800.

Think of app stores for cars.
 
If they would have been able to fulfill those 400,000 model 3s then the electric revolution would be miles ahead.
They will probably fulfill the backorder by the end of 2019. By then there may be close to 700K Teslas on the roads.

Then the Model Y will start taking reservations. I will make a prediction now and say they will lock down over 1 million reservations when they do.
 
I am also tremendously impressed with all the solar panels I see when I visit, including those fully covering roof tops and large arrays along the Mass. Pike.
I don't see as many rooftop ones out my way (NC), but there are a lot of big solar farms. I have an array, and am thrilled with it. It is chopping thousands off my utility and gasoline bill.
 
Did you see Alex's first look at the Hyundai Kona BEV crossover with 250 miles range...maybe the future is getting here a little faster than I thought possible. Unfortunately, it is a CA only compliance vehicle (to expand to states with CA level emission standards) - crap.

The Bolt EV is the same size as the Kona. Not as good looking maybe, both are FWD only. The Bolt EV is actually a few inches taller. Point is, the Kona and Bolt EV are functionally similar. They have some different options that might sway someone one way or the other.
 
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