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Why Toyota is not selling electric cars

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by schja01, Mar 6, 2019.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Not on the least coast, it’ Close enough everywhere to not make a difference
     
  2. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    And of course, if the oil price does go up substantially and stays high, I am sure the electric cost will go up as well, even in the region where the power is generated primarily by non-fossil fuel.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Well, that’s an interesting point. It seems like there’s around a 500% difference in pricing around the country, but i’m not sure if all the reasons
     
  4. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    The only state in the US where electricity is primarily generated by oil is Hawaii. Oil is basically nothing in the continental US for electricity production, and the cost of electricity generated by other sources is basically independent of the cost of oil.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    A lot of ng here, regulated, but not really
     
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Their source of hydrogen can also be burned for electricity. While upgrading their grid may cost more than building hydrogen infrastructure, the upgrades could make distributed power generation for the grid easier.
    Electric rates tend to stay steady despite where the price of petroleum goes.
    Electricity Data Browser
    Cushing, OK WTI Spot Price FOB (Dollars per Barrel)

    Natural gas and coal prices would have a larger bearing.
     
  7. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Not mine. Mine will remain the same for the next 33 years, as I have prepaid it.
     
  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Thank you for the interesting data. I know it is true that electricity cost is not highly volatile as oil price is. My point was hypothetically if the oil price goes up substantially and stays high for a long time say years, in a long run electricity will likely to cost more to produce as long as oil remains as major source of energy for many sectors of economy. However, I don't have any supporting data to test for this hypothesis.
     
  9. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    It's probably not true. Oil is a major source of transportation energy, but it's only a minor source of process heat and almost entirely unused to make electricity. It's also used as a feed stock for a huge range of products from plastics to carbon fiber to toothpaste (which is why we're a bunch of utter idiots for burning it, by the way). But it's not a major cost in the production of other sources of electricity - just a minor cost.
     
  10. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    In my particular case at least, the cost charging from home has a pretty small effect upon our electric bill. YMMV, of course.
     
  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I think he meant driving on electric costs more that using the ICE. I believe that is true due to our electric rates too.
     
  12. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Quieter, more immediate and predictable acceleration, lower-maintenance, often faster acceleration, lower center of gravity...

    Assuming you have a good charging solution, they simply *are* better cars.
     
    Zythryn likes this.
  13. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Data from Electricity Data Browser link provided by @Trollbait was used to compare the monthly average cost of electricity in the US for last 10 years to my own electricity cost. There seems to be no correlation. I got to move to some other regions with cheaper electricity or install solar panel like @Zythryn has, before I can even think about purchasing a BEV.:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

    Blue line is the national average for residential use, red line is my house's cost. cost in cents/kWh The big spike was when the electricity supply became deregulated in my state, and I made a huge mistake by changing a supplier.

    electric rate national average vs actual.png



     
    #213 Salamander_King, Mar 14, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2019
  14. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Shorter range, higher cost, shorter life, higher insurance cost, slower and sparser refueling, higher cost, harder to find service, higher cost.

    Like it or not, most people who buy cars can't afford regular cars, much less super-expensive EVs.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    exactly. what are gas high and low around the country? now look at electrons, much bigger variable.

    of course, we could do special charging rates to reduce gas use, if we were so inclined...:whistle:
     
  16. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Gas varies about +/- 15% while electricity varies about +/-40%.
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    electricity runs from about 6 cents /kwh to 50 cents?
     
  18. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    I was using state averages for CONUS.
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ah, thanks. gas is around 2 bucks to 4 bucks, i think
     
  20. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    They’re not for everybody, yet at least.