…on the topic of EVs (especially trucks), in Knuckledragger’s Comments section:
“These pieces of shit are nothing more than virtue-signaling tools for Liberal assholes. It’s all bullshit thrown out to control the ignorant masses. Fuck the planet. Live for today and go out to buy a 5-liter high-octane V8 powered rig.”
Works for me.
In (my) Comments today: which “5-liter high-octane V8 powered rig” would y’all recommend right now?
None of those puny 5 liter toys. How about a nice 7 liter F-450 Turbo Diesel Super Duty dually with the 48 gal Tank.
That said, I believe the future for trucks will some sort of Hybrid. Think Diesel Electric Gen Set but in a long haul Semi instead of in front of 100 rail freight cars. I’ve been driving a Lexus Hybrid SUV for 6 Years for various tasks Problem free. And it even has the dreaded continuously variable transmission. It provides plenty of power when needed and reasonable mileage when I don’t with 350 mile range on a 14 gal tank.
The only issue I’ve had is occasionally forgetting to turn it completely off when parked, since you can leave it in battery idele mode thinking it’s off because the engine isn’t running. Only to have the engine cycle on and off every 5 minutes or so to top off the battery.
Plus I’ve spent enough time in a Taycan to know that pure electrics when done right ( $$$$ ) are a whole lot of fun.
I think you are probably right, unless Toyota really has solved the solid state battery problem.
Even then, there is the issue of charging infrastructure, though. Backroad mountain country stores will need a onsight gasoline generator to generate the MW*hr of power needed to charge these things.
The way I see it — electric will displace gas, but it’s not going to be the overnight thing everyone on the left was shooting for.
I am just not sure how Elon thought the Cyber Truck was anything like a solution. Though I guess he is still going to make a bundle of money selling them to folks who want the latest flashy thing. I am all for that… we are still capitalists here I hope… just don’t want the gubment to regulate us to electric vehicles.
But remember this — when we look at the cities and states forcing the move to electric cars, gasoline cars were “legally” pushed in over horses in many places, because people were drowning in horse waste. Ie., gasoline cars also benefited from legislative forceful takeover in many major metro areas (I don’t know if they were technically metro at that time, but you get the point…).
Battery eclectic power, like Hydrogen is still an Energy Storage and Transport Medium and not a “source” so there will always be inefficiency. Coal and Oil can still be dug out of the ground and thus considered a Source ( although arguably it’s still just energy transported from a long time ago. See the first Law of Thermodynamics.)
Until we have reliable Fission or Fusion Power generation as a “source”, and the sufficient infrastructure to transport and distribute it, we will continue to see ICE Cars around.
Motor vehicles were toys of wealthy until mass produced in quantiles to make them affordable. Horses in urban environments were displaced by Public Mass Transit rather than automobiles.
Cars, Air Conditioning, etc. were fine until the unwashed were able to get their hands on them. Now they’re a problem. Flying private is good if you’re John f-ing Kerry, or Brarbra Streisand, but not if you’re Joe Shmo.
“Public Mass Transit” didn’t get stuff to the stores/shop/etc., gas-powered trucks replace horse-drawn wagons – and the NYT wrote a glowing front or editorial page paen to the sanitizing of NYC’s streets.
Its like someone on this page stated. If the trucks and trains stopped running to NYFC they’d be eating their pets in 2 weeks and each other within 4.
I’ll stay with my F250SD/7.3 until it dies – Hell, it just turned 330K, got a long time left.
As things are, and I don’t forecast them changing, the ride I currently have will probably be the last. Frankly, I’ve been priced out of the market no matter what that market is.
My current ride, a 2001 Blazer 2dr 4×4, is paid for and does almost everything I need or want. A new ride comparable to my old one would cost at least $30k and what benefit would I derive from it that would justify that cost? I drive less than 4k miles per year.
Having said that, if I happened upon some lotto coin, in short order a red 1969 Mustang Mach I with the 429 and a 4 sp, in mint-restored condition would be sitting in my stable asap. Oh yeah, and a brand new full size truck of some sort with massive power and convenience.
why not get a diesel and roll coal on a regular basis?
I’ve been pretty happy with my Ram 5.7L engine. Almost 400 hp and enough torque to pull almost anything under 9000 lbs. And the bonus you get with the Ram is that they offer it in every trim level from the no options work truck right up to the top of the line. Apparently with Chevy and Ford, you gotta move up to the higher trim levels before their V8 is even an option. Hell, the Chevies start with a frigging 4-banger these days.
That said, I think you have to select the Ram Classic or else they’ll give you the 5.7 with a mild hybrid. From what I understand, the “mild” hybrid offers no real improvement and suffers from battery reliability.
Oh boy, just checked the Ram website. Yup, you gotta get the Ram Classic to get a plain jane V8 engine. Otherwise, you’re stuck with the mild hybrid. For 2024. The 2025 look-ahead features 3 different 6 cylinders with no V8 in the 1500 series. Jeez.
Interesting though is the fact that two of the three sixes are inline sixes. Of course only 3.0 liters and twin turbo’ed. Big power numbers but no one likes to get the first iteration of a new engine. Hard pass until I see several years of usage in the real world.
Have a 2010 Ram 2500 HD 6.7L diesel pickup, short box, Laramie model. Has nearly 400hp and 650 ft/lbs torque and can haul 13K lbs. Plenty. Bought it used at 110K miles, great shape. Fits the bill for our needs, which is road trips, hauling, and general getting around. Well appointed, and if I keep my foot out of it (thing takes off like a scorched rabbit) I can get 21-22mpg on the highway. Won’t buy another pickup if I can help it, besides new ones are insanely expensive.
I traded in my old RAV4 and bought a 2000 Ford Excursion with the 6.8 V10.
I love the sound of that motor, and being surrounded by 4 tons of American pig iron when I drive through Dallas.
And, I’m saving the environment.
Which 5-liter V8 rig would I take? It’s a 6.5L, but I’ll take a ’67 Pontiac GTO. In black, of course!
My second choice:
* 1969 Chevrolet Camaro with the Z/28 performance package.
Convertible.
.
My first and always choice:
* 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport:
Something like this would fill the bit:
https://youtu.be/iirkPFt37JM?si=dLRokTLBD5BCRiLs
.
Of course, in the interests of SavingTheEnvironment™, I would chuck both engines into the recycling bin.
Electric is the future!