real world EVs review

kjclow

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Location
Charlotte, NC
TDI
2010 JSW TDI silver and black. 2017 Ram Ecodiesel dark red with brown and beige interior.
Not all of them. Some are fiberglass. Aluminum and steel were too fragile for that specific application. Couldn't get the strength, thickness, and weight parameters dialed in.
 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
Not all of them. Some are fiberglass. Aluminum and steel were too fragile for that specific application. Couldn't get the strength, thickness, and weight parameters dialed in.
The company in the link is making them out of wood.
 

dieseldonato

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Location
Us
TDI
2001 jetta
I wonder if going to be used exclusively by Microsoft or will it be shared with locals.
Supposedly 100% power produced will be used by a local Microsoft server farm. Being a local, were not super happy about that. When unit 1 shut down, our power rates basically tripled. They claimed it wasn't profitable to keep it going, even though they had just extended the operating permit. As far as I know, it's more a less a done deal at this point. Just need the clear the inspections/updates and whatever other red tape that needs done.
I’ve heard rumors of the reopening of the Palisades Nuke plant in Michigan also
Not a rumor, it's happening. If palisades and 3 mile island work out, I'd expect to see more shuttered plants to start coming back on line too.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
The volume of red tape at the NRC is pretty daunting. Mega-corporations like Microsoft probably have ways to cut through a lot of that, though.
 

jmodge

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Location
Greenville, MI the winter water wonderland
TDI
More than I need, less than I want
Supposedly 100% power produced will be used by a local Microsoft server farm. Being a local, were not super happy about that. When unit 1 shut down, our power rates basically tripled. They claimed it wasn't profitable to keep it going, even though they had just extended the operating permit. As far as I know, it's more a less a done deal at this point. Just need the clear the inspections/updates and whatever other red tape that needs done.

Not a rumor, it's happening. If palisades and 3 mile island work out, I'd expect to see more shuttered plants to start coming back on line too.
They’re phasing the coal plant out at Port Sheldon, that’ll be its replacement. Big old pile to burn through yet.
 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
EV "gas stations". Works for me, when I'm on the road.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Not gonna lie, I like it. I'm not sure why it had to weigh 6,300 lbs, and the range is pretty pathetic. Areo matters, I guess. But still...
 

Jr mason

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2013
Location
Ohio
TDI
01 Beetle, 2012 Jetta
Same reason the Hummer H3 weighs less than 5k lbs compared to the new Hummer EV clearing 9k lbs. Batteries are heavy, and weight requires energy to move.
 

gearheadgrrrl

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Location
Buffalo Ridge (southwest Minnesota)
TDI
'15 Golf DSG, '13 JSW DSG surrendered to VW, '03 Golf 2 door manual
VW Group's Scout operation was wise to add the option of an on board IC engine to charge their batteries- A small IC engine capable of 100KW can weight less than 100KG and eliminate the need for hundreds of KGs of batteries!
 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
Same reason the Hummer H3 weighs less than 5k lbs compared to the new Hummer EV clearing 9k lbs. Batteries are heavy, and weight requires energy to move.
Even for what it is, it didn't do too bad in this test.
 

kjclow

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Location
Charlotte, NC
TDI
2010 JSW TDI silver and black. 2017 Ram Ecodiesel dark red with brown and beige interior.
I'll go look at it and probably test drive it but my days of wanting/needing a minivan are long behind me. Even thinking about coast to coast travel, I don't want to do that in a minivan.
VW Group's Scout operation was wise to add the option of an on board IC engine to charge their batteries- A small IC engine capable of 100KW can weight less than 100KG and eliminate the need for hundreds of KGs of batteries!
I like the looks of the SUVs but will wait a few years to let the VW bugs show themselves.
 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
I'll go look at it and probably test drive it but my days of wanting/needing a minivan are long behind me. Even thinking about coast to coast travel, I don't want to do that in a minivan.


I like the looks of the SUVs but will wait a few years to let the VW bugs show themselves.
Be careful, you may be tempted to the dark side. 😳 😀:p
 

kjclow

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Location
Charlotte, NC
TDI
2010 JSW TDI silver and black. 2017 Ram Ecodiesel dark red with brown and beige interior.
Be careful, you may be tempted to the dark side. 😳 😀:p
I've been tempted but just can't figure out how to make a 2500 round trip work with an electric only vehicle. Thinking of the early days when diesel was not as widely available. There were a few pucker moments!
 

gearheadgrrrl

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Location
Buffalo Ridge (southwest Minnesota)
TDI
'15 Golf DSG, '13 JSW DSG surrendered to VW, '03 Golf 2 door manual
I've been tempted but just can't figure out how to make a 2500 round trip work with an electric only vehicle. Thinking of the early days when diesel was not as widely available. There were a few pucker moments!
Just about ran out of diesel in San Diego on a Sunday in 1979- CA tax on fuel was high so most over the road truckers bought out of state, local truckers didn't work weekends so the couple stations with diesel were closed. Stayed overnight with a friend and fueled up Monday morn before heading back to Minnesota.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Just about ran out of diesel in San Diego on a Sunday in 1979- CA tax on fuel was high so most over the road truckers bought out of state, local truckers didn't work weekends so the couple stations with diesel were closed. Stayed overnight with a friend and fueled up Monday morn before heading back to Minnesota.
I had a similar experience in 1978 in San Francisco. Drove up there from LA for the weekend, and Sunday morning there were no diesel stations open in the city. My Rabbit was well into the red on the fuel gauge. I ended up depending on my girlfriend's charms (later my wife) to ask a local dairy to give us a few gallons of diesel so we could get to the interstate.
 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
I've been tempted but just can't figure out how to make a 2500 round trip work with an electric only vehicle. Thinking of the early days when diesel was not as widely available. There were a few pucker moments!
I got a surprise back in '05 when I pulled into a service station and none of the diesel pumps had the restricted nozzle. I had to borrow a funnel and splash some diesel in to make it back to the highway. :eek:
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
One member here has made multiple cross country trips in their Tesla Model 3. It actually sounds pretty easy: stop every 150-175 miles and charge from 10-80%, takes about 30 min. Not my preference but it can be done.
 
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