Is it ethical to purchase an EV lithium battery powered vehicle?

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

19 hours ago, Mike E said:

Can she turn on the A/C in her Mercedes from her smart phone 5 minutes before she leaves the super market to enter the 100 degree parking lot? On the rare days I experienced a heat wave in the SF area, I would turn on the A/C on my S while in the checkout line. But the Bay Area, is mostly cold all year round so I would turn on the best and seat warmers.  

 

That’s something I can’t do on my Mercedes.  
 

Still I’m sure her Mercedes is prettier inside than my Tesla.  
 

Once we get the Tesla into Arizona I doubt my wife will have much appetite to drive the Mercedes until the temps fall below 90.  
 

One thing her Mercedes’ probably does that neither my Mercedes nor Tesla does is shine lights on the ground when the doors open. Basically a bat signal with the Mercedes’ logo.  Not as high on my list as say summoning the car to pick me up when it is raining outside. 

My ICE truck does that.  It also alerts me on my phone if the interior temperature goes above a chosen threshold, and I can choose to start it to cool it down to 72°.  From anywhere in the world.

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

16 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Keep in mind that solar panels do not last forever either.  As to the electric cost, I am curious if you know if the $700/month was because of the EV, or if it is the norm for your area?  I know here, the monthly bill in June/July/August is around $200 (we use gas for heat unless of course the Dems get their way).  Most EVphiles don't really get into how much their electric bill goes up after they buy an EV, they just say it is less than the cost of gas which I agree it usually is, but the savings alone does not allow for break even very quickly.

He lives in TX, and the $700 figure was pre-EV, just for the house (mostly A/C I'm guessing.  Maybe a pool, not sure?)

I did some napkin math on the cost difference between my truck and his Tesla (about $35k) and his solar installation (about $43k after $12k tax break), and it will take about 50 years for him to break even.  Of course, we will both need new vehicles before then, but I will need fewer than he will, obviously.

[Neonred 3,461]

16 hours ago, Dashinka said:

 I think the German car makers were a little late with the connected technology.

German car makers were late to put in cup holders.

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

4 minutes ago, Neonred said:

German car makers were late to put in cup holders.

True.  But... their analog clocks still keep ACCURATE time even 20 years later.  (I've only owned one, and most likely will NEVER buy one again unless I move back to Germany.)

Edited June 17, 2022 by LIBrty4all

[Neonred 3,461]

6 hours ago, LIBrty4all said:

True.  But... their analog clocks still keep ACCURATE time even 20 years later.  (I've only owned one, and most likely will NEVER buy one again unless I move back to Germany.)

I feel the same however my wife feels differently and it seems the wife almost always gets her way.

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

1 minute ago, Neonred said:

I feel the same however my wife feels differently and it seems the wife almost always gets her way.

If you ever need some help with establishing male toxic masculinity in your household, just let me know.  We can hang out for a weekend on BPK and I'll help you set her straight!

[Neonred 3,461]

1 minute ago, LIBrty4all said:

If you ever need some help with establishing male toxic masculinity in your household, just let me know.  We can hang out for a weekend on BPK and I'll help you set her straight!

I'm on BPK right now!

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

1 minute ago, Neonred said:

I'm on BPK right now!

You lucky dawg you!!  I'm still waiting for my invite...

[Neonred 3,461]

2 minutes ago, LIBrty4all said:

You lucky dawg you!!  I'm still waiting for my invite...

Life (and work) are finally settling down.  After July 4th I'll have more free time.  Putting new wheels and tires on boat trailer this weekend and preparing for new dock construction.

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

6 minutes ago, Neonred said:

Life (and work) are finally settling down.  After July 4th I'll have more free time.  Putting new wheels and tires on boat trailer this weekend and preparing for new dock construction.

How are the bearings?  Do you have Bearing Buddys installed?

[Neonred 3,461]

12 minutes ago, LIBrty4all said:

How are the bearings?  Do you have Bearing Buddys installed?

I'll be checking them.  Better than Bearing Buddy's, the spindle comes drilled with a zirk fitting on the end.  When grease is injected it enters at the back and pushes the old grease out to the front.  Fortunately the boat sits on the trailer under the house and currently only has to go less than a mile to the neighborhood launch ramp.  My new dock project includes a concrete launch ramp so I won't even have to leave the property.  Only took just a little over a year to get the Army Corps of Engineers approval.  Monroe Co. says we should have the final permit in a few weeks.

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

32 minutes ago, Neonred said:

I'll be checking them.  Better than Bearing Buddy's, the spindle comes drilled with a zirk fitting on the end.  When grease is injected it enters at the back and pushes the old grease out to the front.  Fortunately the boat sits on the trailer under the house and currently only has to go less than a mile to the neighborhood launch ramp.  My new dock project includes a concrete launch ramp so I won't even have to leave the property.  Only took just a little over a year to get the Army Corps of Engineers approval.  Monroe Co. says we should have the final permit in a few weeks.

Ahhh, yes, I like that design ever better.  Still needs a squirt of grease every 3-6 months the way you are using it, just to maintain positive pressure.

Why a ramp and not a lift?  I can't remember how big your boat is.

[Neonred 3,461]

10 minutes ago, LIBrty4all said:

Ahhh, yes, I like that design ever better.  Still needs a squirt of grease every 3-6 months the way you are using it, just to maintain positive pressure.

Why a ramp and not a lift?  I can't remember how big your boat is.

Boat is 19' and stays under the house on the trailer when I'm not here.  That way it is out of the sun and weather and especially this time of year it is well tied down.  When Irma came through several boats in the neighborhood came off their lifts and ended up scattered around the hood.  Mine was tied down and stayed put although I could tell which direction the wind had come from as the whole combo moved a few feet and the upwind lines were super tight.

 

Probably my biggest problem will be keeping the folks in the area from thinking they have a new FREE public launch ramp!

[Mike E 11,727]

8 hours ago, LIBrty4all said:

True.  But... their analog clocks still keep ACCURATE time even 20 years later.  (I've only owned one, and most likely will NEVER buy one again unless I move back to Germany.)

My Mercedes’s analog clock thinks it is in the MDT time zone.  It is not.  AZ is in the MST time zone 365 days a year and this has been the case for decades.  I’m underwhelmed.  

[Neonred 3,461]

2 minutes ago, Mike E said:

My Mercedes’s analog clock thinks it is in the MDT time zone.  It is not.  AZ is in the MST time zone 365 days a year and this has been the case for decades.  I’m underwhelmed.  

My prior Mercedes SUV had clock issues too.  It would automatically transition from EST to EDT, but it would always advance or fall back by just a half hour.  #######

 

I will say that it was a diesel Mercedes SUV that I had and liked.  What I really liked was the torque and fuel milage from that motor.  Planned on keeping it a long time but then came the oil leak (fixed @ N/C under extended warranty) and the complete loss of oil shortly after due to the mechanic not tightening the oil line to the turbo.  Didn't run long with almost no oil and dealer said compression was OK so "no engine damage".  Decided I could not trust this SUV anymore so dumped it in favor of the Lincoln SUV.   Of course the Lincoln is newer and the tech is so much better.  Less expensive than the Mercedes and nicer too.

 

I have no reason to ever buy another MB vehicle, but my wife is the brand snob Russian and....

 

As a former Mercedes mechanic patient of mine told me " Mercedes is a very nice vehicle, but you DO NOT want to own one out of warranty"