Many of you know I’m a huge electric vehicle (EV) fan. But I’m almost to the point where I automatically skip any article about EVs. Why? Because the EV boosters love to write about stuff – new models that don’t exist, brilliant breakthroughs that aren’t repeatable or scalable -- that isn’t true.
Today “Brainwrap” informs us that a car that doesn’t exist, if purchased in a state where it won’t be offered, would be really cheap to a millionaire buyer.
Yeah. Chevy will release a 2014 Spark Electric. Probably. Unless they change their mind. But in any case only in CA and OR. Not in, you know, West Virginia, where a hypothetical tax credit would be useful only if you pay a LOT of state tax. Like, if you’re a West Virginia billionaire.
The original content could have been worthy of a quiet news update.
Chevy plans trial release of low-priced 2014 Spark EV
You see? Now the headline has some connection with the facts of the matter, and interested readers (knowing there is no product to buy today) could dig in for additional details (how low is the price? 27k. How does this compare with EVs you can buy today? $1k under Leaf, etc. How big is the trial release? CA/OR. etc).
Readers who are potentially interested in a subject, and want to get closer, look for hard facts, so they’re on the alert for numbers. Trash writing
Costs only $12,495 !!!1!!1!
attempts to generate interest by furnishing useless and misleading numbers.
When the conversation is swamped in trash writing, eventually readers give up looking for data, and in the end even basic information is poorly disseminated.
Here is some solid basic information:
EVs have really low maintenance requirements
EVs are fun to drive because they’re so quiet
EVs are a viable solution for moderate-distance commuting, if you have a backup plan for long haul driving (i.e. you own a second car, or your EV is a Volt)
Electricity has its own environmental impact, although less than gasoline due to economy of scale
A home solar PV system, though expensive, can generate 100% of the power to operate a car
The general public seems completely unaware of these basics. I suggest it’s because they, like me, are sick of opening, then dismissing, junk articles promising free trips to the moon.