real world EVs review

[privateTDIjet]

So weird seeing people say they barely see EVs or hybrids. Here in Quebec, they're everywhere. I guarantee you'll see at least a model 3 within 30 minutes

 

[ZippyNH]

So weird seeing people say they barely see EVs or hybrids. Here in Quebec, they're everywhere. I guarantee you'll see at least a model 3 within 30 minutes

Sure you electric aka hydro prices are much cheaper and higher fuel taxes.....areas of the USA that have higher electricity prices (often the delivery surcharge can be 70% of the bill ((so the kwh quotes are misleading)), much of it used to help them recoup$$ for efficiency programs, though natural gas is getting just as bad), even heat pumps can cost more than natural gas to heat a house... similarly low gasoline tax areas keep ICE cars cheaper per mile unless you get rebates and tax credits.

 

[tikal]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/17/byd-unveils-new-super-charging-ev-tech-to-build-charging-network-in-china.html

BYD on Monday unveiled a new platform for electric vehicles (EVs) that it said could charge EVs as quickly as it takes to pump gas and announced for the first time that it would build a charging network across China.

The so-called “super e-platform” will be capable of peak charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts (kW), enabling cars that use it to travel 400 km (249 miles) on a 5-minute charge, founder Wang Chuanfu said at an event livestreamed from the company’s Shenzhen headquarters.

 

[El Dobro]

What to do with old gas stations.

 

[pkhoury]

So weird seeing people say they barely see EVs or hybrids. Here in Quebec, they're everywhere. I guarantee you'll see at least a model 3 within 30 minutes

I've seen a few Cybertrucks in my rural area, but I have yet to see any actually hauling things or towing, like you do with diesel pickup trucks here.

 

[El Dobro]

I've seen a few Cybertrucks in my rural area, but I have yet to see any actually hauling things or towing, like you do with diesel pickup trucks here.

Unless it's a company owned vehicle, I rarely see any P/U trucks doing towing around here.

 

[pkhoury]

Unless it's a company owned vehicle, I rarely see any P/U trucks doing towing around here.

You're also in New Jersey. Here in Texas, it's pretty common - either a crapload of stuff in the bed (welder, fuel transfer tank, crane, service bed, flat bed), or they're towing. That'll be me tomorrow, bringing a 2002 Beetle here so I can dismantle anything worth selling and scrap the body.

 

[oilhammer]

Yep, loaded goosenecks, livestock trailers, hay haulers, farm implements, etc. are pretty common around here too. My Texas F-250 had a gooseneck stuck to it when it was new, and was there for most of its life before I got it, only being removed for service.

There are of course a bunch of empty trucks running around here, too.

 

[pkhoury]

Yep, loaded goosenecks, livestock trailers, hay haulers, farm implements, etc. are pretty common around here too. My Texas F-250 had a gooseneck stuck to it when it was new, and was there for most of its life before I got it, only being removed for service.

There are of course a bunch of empty trucks running around here, too.

Not all, but the vast majority of empty trucks out here are F150/1500 class trucks, or smaller. More often, you see F250/2500 class diesel trucks doing some kind of work, though I've known of a few people who get farm plates on their diesel trucks to save a paltry 25 bucks on registration, but never use it for any kind of farm-related hauling (and those are mostly dumb@ss young kids).

 

[El Dobro]

The P/Us around here are pulling landscaper trailers.

 

[Tin Man]

Unless there is a back-and-forth with different categories of haul each way, I hope everyone realizes that pickup trucks when fully utilized normally are empty half the time.

 

[pkhoury]

Unless there is a back-and-forth with different categories of haul each way, I hope everyone realizes that pickup trucks when fully utilized normally are empty half the time.

Touche. Like mine. I had to leave my trailer at the ranch, because I ended up with this when I got to my gate. One reason I'm glad for two axles, and glad I missed the severe thunderstorm we got after I left. Bad enough I was doing 45 on the Interstate, because I couldn't see ahead of me.

 

[oilhammer]

Unless there is a back-and-forth with different categories of haul each way, I hope everyone realizes that pickup trucks when fully utilized normally are empty half the time.

You've never had a trade job, have you? I assure you, plenty of carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers, etc. have their trucks or vans full of materials and tools at all times. They are not just for one-way deliveries of items.

I've got a Transit on a lift right now, for a forklift/pallet truck company, that is chock full of stuff at all times. It is never "empty".

 

[pkhoury]

You've never had a trade job, have you? I assure you, plenty of carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers, etc. have their trucks or vans full of materials and tools at all times. They are not just for one-way deliveries of items.

That's why I mentioned people having stuff in the bed - service bed, flat bed (like what I got), etc, usually with tools, welder, etc. My truck is registered as a farm truck, so I only use it when I have a need for a truck. I'd go broke using it as a daily, which is why I rotate through my trio of TDIs.

Total segue @oilhammer, but do you have any suggestions for improving headlight visibility in an OBS truck? We got a torrential downpour last night, and visibility was abolute sh!t beyond say 30 feet. The high beams helped a little, but they're not even remotely as efficient as that on my Golf.

 

[oilhammer]

Heh, I have been investing that same thing recently.... I do not want the fugly Chinabrights so many get cursed with.

I have gotten stuff from these guys:

Complete Performance

 

[pkhoury]

Heh, I have been investing that same thing recently.... I do not want the fugly Chinabrights so many get cursed with.

I have gotten stuff from these guys:

Complete Performance

I replaced my headlight housings with genuine Motorcraft housings not long after I bought the truck from gov't auction in 2018, but they're still sh!tty. I'll check out that website. Like you, I refuse to do Chinesium aftermarket headlight assemblies. Even all my TDIs are VW OEM.

 

[pkhoury]

Heh, I have been investing that same thing recently.... I do not want the fugly Chinabrights so many get cursed with.

I have gotten stuff from these guys:

Complete Performance

Another question - did you upgrade yours to LED lights? I feel bad, because they usually blind me at night, but I need something for myself so I have better visibility at night. I looked at their headlight housings, but I don't think I need those, as mine are still pretty clear. The housings I installed 6 or 7 years ago were new.

 

[jmodge]

I replaced my headlight housings with genuine Motorcraft housings not long after I bought the truck from gov't auction in 2018, but they're still sh!tty. I'll check out that website. Like you, I refuse to do Chinesium aftermarket headlight assemblies. Even all my TDIs are VW OEM.

I had bought some Hella ecode conversions for K5 light buckets some years ago. I actually installed them in my Jetta for quite a few years until I found a set of stock MK4 Hella ecodes.

They came from NAPA via a shop discount. I think I had around $60 into them. I’m not sure they’re available anymore, they replaced the sealed beam and worked pretty well.

 

[pkhoury]

I had bought some Hella ecode conversions for K5 light buckets some years ago. I actually installed them in my Jetta for quite a few years until I found a set of stock MK4 Hella ecodes.

They came from NAPA via a shop discount. I think I had around $60 into them. I’m not sure they’re available anymore, they replaced the sealed beam and worked pretty well.

Thankfully, my OBS F-450 doesn't have sealed beam headlights in them. My GMC did, and I replaced those with halogen removable bulbs. Visibility was a lot better than the Ford, but the rest of the truck was a complete pile of sh!t (plus it had the cursed Detroit 6.5L diesel in it - GM should've stuck with 2 cycle motors, as all their 4 cycle diesels are utter trash).

And I have ecode OEMs in both Golfs, with headlight levelers (useful when towing).

 

[bigsexyTDI]

There's always a bull or roll bar and good ol Hella 500s

 

[CantWrite]

@pkhoury not sure if the make the “work truck front” for those like they do for the E-350’s. But they make sealed beam housings that you put an H7 (I think) into. Made a world of difference on my van.

 

[pkhoury]

@pkhoury not sure if the make the “work truck front” for those like they do for the E-350’s. But they make sealed beam housings that you put an H7 (I think) into. Made a world of difference on my van.

I think that's what I did on my crappy ass GMC K3500, and it did make a world of difference. Kinda like how everyone says the only thing good about older Dodges is the 6BT in the engine compartment, it was like this with the truck. Only the 4L80E and headlights were decent, and all the other plastic and metal surrounding those components belonged in recycling facility.

 

[El Dobro]

 

[kjclow]

Since Walmarts are about as pentiful as dollar stores, this actually makes sense.

 

[privateTDIjet]

Plenty of walmarts but when will the US see plenty of electric cars? Once the slate truck is released with crank windows?

 

[gulfcoastguy]

That would put one close to where I need one most. And across the street from Tesla only (permanently). Actually a lot of the EA stations are already at Walmarts.

 

[kjclow]

Since Walmarts are about as plentiful as dollar stores, this actually makes sense.

 

[gulfcoastguy]

That would put one close to where I need one most. And across the street from Tesla only (permanently). Actually a lot of the EA stations are already at Walmarts.

 

[gulfcoastguy]

Sorry about the repeat post, my phone died before the post displayed.

 

[tikal]

Plenty of walmarts but when will the US see plenty of electric cars? Once the slate truck is released with crank windows?

I would say we need an exponential growth of on-the-highway reliable EV charging stations to spur a similar exponential growth of EV sales in Continental USA.

The horse needs to go in front of the cart.