There are no neighborhoods currently capable of handling the electricity demand of what will be required if everyone had an EV. Every neighborhood will need to replace their current electric grid. We're talking trillions of dollars and this is just the beginning. And beyond the cost, there are severe supply chain and environmental concerns. And yes, ALL of us will pay while China goes merrily about their business laughing at us the entire way.

 

A reputation is what sells. Years of buying causes people to stay with one brand or another. I know one guy who won't buy anything but Fords. Look around this site, most folks here buy Mopars. A Chevy family will buy only Chevies. As for parking lots, most of those vehicles were bought because of the advertising and financial incentives.

"Common knowledge" can often bite you on the bottom. It used to be common knowledge to put moth ***** in your fuel tank to increase power. I saw several people do it but never saw any improvement in power but I did see a bunch of plugged fuel filters and ruined carburetors. Back then it was common knowledge that a cooler thermostat will get a richer fuel air mixture for power. Well, that did work if the engine was adjusted for the richer mixture. However, it doesn't work on fuel injected engines if the computer isn't flashed for it.

I was hesitant to buy a Mazda as I remember how they were when Ford was part owner. Consumer Reports kept track of how Mazda changed so I bought one and it's ot anything like the ones I've dealt with before. I run my equipment hard but it's holding up well.

Toyota has recalled their Bz4x electric vehicles because the wheels may fall off. Yes, Honda and Toyota have gone back to timing chains but while I have worked on both, and I have owned both, I think they are overly complex for their intended function.

 

Just about every EV (regardless of maker) has been recalled. Every single Tesla made has been recalled. As for complexity, I wouldn't know how to start any new car so they're all overly complex to me. If I bought another car it would be a used Honda or Toyota. Maybe 5 - 7 years old, under 100,000 miles and taken care of. Preferably a 4-cylinder but 6 OK on an SUV no turbo charger. It will no doubt last longer than me for the amount of driving I do anymore. Sadly, I agree the new automobiles are ridiculously complex and I don't see that subsiding any time soon.

 

The goal is, no one has to drive any more. You get in your car, tell it where you want to go, and it basically chauffeurs you there. As that becomes more 'accepted', I could even see laws passed to make it ILLEGAL to manually drive your own car.....

 

the Jetsons.

 

Eventually maybe...but I'm glad to say (I'm 60 now) it's unlikely to happen during my lifetime.

They're a long ways from making this work....cities will be the first, but in rural you can't do it because the mapping system is so inaccurate and honestly, I wouldn't want auto-pilot for driving on gravel roads...that to me would be unworkable.

Steve

 

You should read "I Robot" or at least watch the will smith movie of it. The robot character became a leading figure in the Foundation series of books.

 

Didn't George have a little joystick in front of him?

Read the book when I was a teen, seen the movie a couple times.

Didn't the empire ban artifical intelligence long before Harry came around?

 

I do not remember. I was visualizing the scene of Will Smith in the tunnel being attacked by robots and "self driving" vehicles as he drove And remembering the warnings about technology/human nature implicit in the story

 

The special effects in that movie were really good. I always liked Will Smith. Well, his movies at any rate. "Welcome to Earth." LOL.

At least his car switched to manual drive when he asked for it...... and didn't just tell him No, and drive him under one of the trucks.