At national meetings over the past couple of years, I have listened to rural folks everywhere talk about electric vehicles. Most of the skeptics are older than me. This isn’t a generational comment. It is simply a statement of fact as I sit listening in the room. So many are boisterous to the point of anger in their disdain for the new technology.
For me, I think back to the time Henry Ford rolled the first car off an assembly line. The horse and carriage guys had to be similarly skeptical and loud. There were no gas stations. There were no mechanics. Heck, the country barely had a road system that wasn’t continually rutted up with wagon tracks. How could this technology take off with no infrastructure to support it?
Well, we did what Americans do—we figured it out. A network of refueling stations was mapped out over time. Farriers and blacksmiths purchased new tools to care for the iron horses. Roads were built to improve movement around the country. This didn’t happen overnight. Families who purchased a Model T didn’t let go of their horses right away.
I believe we are at a very similar time in the history of the automobile in the United States. EVs are being manufactured by all the large car manufacturers. Every year, more and more models will be available (in all colors, not just Henry’s basic black!).
Yes—we want a longer driving range. In time, we will have it. Early adopters with two cars will keep one combustion engine, and the other will be electric until technology and consumer confidence evolve. Trust me; it will evolve. Americans will get a taste of driving past a gas station and want more. Manufacturers will meet the demand. They always have.
Yes—rapid charging will be a problem. We are shutting off generation and not replacing it fast enough at a time when the EV movement is growing. This is not ideal. Talented engineers and political leaders will solve this problem in time. It is simple math. It is simple construction. We will make the numbers work. We will build. It is what America has always done.
Yes—the average person will struggle to afford an EV. The market will demand a lower price. As more people who can afford it purchase the new technology, the price will drop. History tells us this will happen. Skeptics will disagree. They will be proven wrong.
Yes—your local electric cooperative can handle the load. We will find ways for members to charge their EVs at home during off-peak hours. This will better utilize the transformers we have in place for today’s traditional peaks. Instead of wasting extra capacity used only three hours a day, the capacity will be used to charge cars after the peak and throughout the night with minimal extra investment. Electric revenues will increase. This will keep electric prices stable and help to avoid bigger rate increases in the future.
The key to all of this is time. The evolution of EVs will be gradual. This will allow for measured and steady improvement in all the areas of concern listed above. When you hear a skeptic say, “The grid can’t handle an EV in every home,” remain calm; there won’t be an EV in every home tomorrow. We have time.
The cautious should be cautious. The skeptical should remain skeptical. The early adopters should adopt. New technology has seen them all before. This moment in time is no different. Somewhere, Henry Ford is smiling. The circle has been completed. Gradually, we will all step on the accelerator of an EV. We will be smiling then too.
My wife and I bought a Kia Niro EV in November. We love it! We’ve had it long enough now to compute our average monthly savings in using electricity instead of Gas–about $70/month. (Our previous vehicle was a Prius so our gasoline costs were already low.) Consumer Reports projects that our maintenance costs will be low to. (We never need to change oil and we hardly use the brakes!) I expect the total ownership lifetime cost of this vehicle to be the lowest of any I’ve ever owned. It’s fun to drive too!
We still have the old Prius for long road trips, but it mostly sits in our carport.
Enjoyed immensely!
Enjoyed this article! The parallels to Henry Ford and the evolution of the gas powered automobile were right on point!
Tony, I agree with everything you said in this article. But I have other concerns. Several months ago we consumers received notice that there may be rolling black out in the peak seasons, (summer) because you cannot generate enough power to meet the demand. I am not even talking about the lack of infrastructure that exists currently, just the lack of available power. How are you going to satisfy the need for increased demand when it appears that you can’t keep up with demand currently? (currently get it! Lol)
A couple answers: 1) we will need to control the EV charging; there is plenty of capacity during the off peak hours; EV chargers are relatively simple to control and communicate with
2) EV adoption will take time; EV use will grow slowly over the coming decade; until the prices come down and the range goes up there will not be a rapid influx of electric cars; a slow and gradual evolution is really the best scenario for adapting them to the demands of a challenged grid
3) we have to build more generation for all the reasons – growing demand, growing EV load – in short, collectively, we have to “figure it out” – EVs are coming – the automakers are sending the message – We have some time. Let’s not waste it.
Tony, you just admitted that we must be “controlled” to make this work. I can buy gas any time and this travel any time now. You admit that my freedom will be limited in the future. No Thanks!!!
You are way too optimistic….
In Henry Ford’s days, there was a spirit and belief in Free Enterprise and American ingenuity; all things were possible and we led the world in innovation. There was minimal government to intervene. Nowadays America is much under the control of zealots who wish to control and limit our lives, and “Climate Crisis” is their means of striking fear and gaining control. They want us to eat bugs and live in third world country conditions to satisfy their megalomania. That mindset is firmly ensconced in our oppressive government now (via Chinese influence over our leaders). Once electric cars are predominant, one means of control will be to limit electric generation and our usage thereof, thus reducing the freedom that private vehicles provide. The signs are everywhere; don’t be so naive!
I live in the world every day too. We will have to agree to disagree. At over 60 years of age, I am not naive. I just believe that we will move forward and figure all this out. I really do believe that.
My dad told me years ago – the federal govt creates the problems that us commoners are left to solve . People don’t like to be forced to do anything ! Rick voss
Ditto!
It’s ironic that Henry Ford is cited throughout the post, as he and Thomas Edison developed the electric car dating back to 1889. Despite the novel technology, the product was shelved largely due to the unattractive energy storage / mass traits of batteries. Fast forward 130 years, and that limitation is still in play. Elon Musk’s technological “breakthrough” was taking 2,000 lbs. of Panasonic laptop batteries and configuring them into massive packs. As Tony states, incremental battery advances may, at some point, put electric based propulsion on par with ICE, but it will likely take Toyota’s solid state technology to do so.
Very well reasoned and well written article. I’m 76, love my freedom, and agree with everything you have to say about EV’s. Cheers!
With all the references to the Ford model T, why didn’t you include pictures of a model T Ford instead of model a Fords?
Speaking of regulations, I recall Texas refused to hook up to the US grid as required them to comply with Federal regulations. A few years later they had a massive cold front which knocked out both the wind & natural gas generators due to not being winterized as required by Federal regulations. For 4 days there was a huge statewide crisis with people dying and freeing in their homes to say nothing of the 1000’s of companies that could run due to no electricity.
I believe Texas has since tightened their regulations to handle these weather conditions.
My point is anticipating events and planning for them by using common sense regulations benefits everyone you, your competitors, the community..
Tony,
Why in the world is your thinking so screwed up? Why is it you are so eager to jump in to bed with & join the radical, insane, leftist green religion and enthusiastically embrace socialism and encourage the destruction of capitalism? Capitalism is what has made America the greatest place on the planet, yet you, in your writing encourage more gov’t manipulation and control of your & everyone life? Why? Electric cars might be a great but let them compete on a level playing field. No subsidies for any car makers! If Elon and GM and Ford and all the rest want to make cars? Go ahead. Don’t tax me or you to help out the leftist wacko greenies so they can sit back and demand more. The technology Is not there yet so why support the environmental religion with anyone’s tax dollars? Why is it that you and Cherryland support China? How much of the whole, ridiculous solar farm on 31 is made & constructed of good old American made stuff? Stop bowing at the religious alter of the green leftist/socialist and champion the only ideology that works each and every time it is tried and allowed to thrive? Capitalism! The ideology of Freedom.
Wow. I read my column again and am not sure what you read. I didn’t encourage any government control. The utility “may” control when EVs are charged. This will benefit every member but any such control will NOT come from the government. My article never mentioned any subsidies. I did not mention any support of China. My article was all about US ingenuity and market forces meeting the demands of the customer. With all due respect, I think your interpretation of my words is far from what they actually say.
Your knee-jerk rant and pompous podium pounding has nothing to do with Tony’s article. You’re pushing presumptuous opinions and pointing a judgmental finger with extreme prejudice.
So much emphasis is put on rapid charging, but if you have a home charger and spend most of your time driving around town, you’re spending zero time waiting for it to charge. Mine is timed to charge in the early morning when I’m asleep. So I’m actually saving time not having to fuel up a gas car every two weeks (on average.. and often in some really bad weather).. time, which easily offsets the 1/2 charge stops I make on a couple long road trips per year.
Tony,
What about incentivizing off-peak charging with off-peak pricing? Long distance telephone calls used to work that way. So did cell phone calling plans. That’s the free market way: if you need to charge during day-time peak hours you can, you just pay more for the privilege. In addition you could do what utilities do now for commercial customers: sign them up (and pay them) for occasional curtailment for unusual power shortages
Off peak pricing is definitely in play at Cherryland. I believe you will see a small program start in the next year or less.
Did the taxpayers through federal tax credits subsidize Henry
Did the taxpayers subsidize Henry Fords development and manufacture of his automobiles through tax credits? These electric vehicles should stand on their own or fail. The Federal and State governments should not be involved in capitalist enterprises.
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Tony,
I would avoid the word “controlled”. I don’t think that’s what you mean: I suspect that the peak curtailment program would be a voluntary program that people would sign up for in return for financial incentives, and that curtailment would be used rarely for those rare summer peaks that might otherwise cause blackouts. Similarly, off-peak pricing is pure free-market stuff.
We have to be careful with our language – it’s hard for people to read things correctly when they’ve been scared. And the oil industry is working hard to scare people away from EVs. After all, there’s a lot of investor money and oil industry jobs at stake…
Well said and you are right – words matter. I should have chosen mine more carefully. Any curtailment program would be voluntary. EV curtailment would certainly have financial incentives for the member and the coop. Thank you for the input. It is spot on.
Definition of “curtail”, from Oxford dictionary online:
“The act of reducing quantity or imposing restrictions. Example: To curtail civil liberties.”
‘Nuf said?
Tony, You have grown wiser, noticed your restrain but there is lot of negativity to the EV’s. Basic comment is that they have not been ripened to meet our needs especially in the Rural area where you and I live.
Need to monitor our trips, check on the charging stations among many issues. Do we need this extra burden? Not yet.
Yesterday I drove from Waterford to Beulah MI Over 220 miles which took me 3,5 hrs. I never had to glance once on the battery/voltmeter to ascertain the need to stop for fuel Oops charging stops. I also know that you mention the control factor. Why do we need to be controlled? Especially in the rural world? Manu of us are self monitored and know our capabilities.
We live in a GREAT country and although not born, immigrated to this country because I loved the American way not the Global.
Are you gonna comment my reply and posted it? I seriously doubt it but I am following on my reasoning and wish you all EV afictionados all the best.
Archie – of course I would post your comment. We post every comment. As was pointed out below, “curtailment” is a better word than controlled. Keeping any electric load of the system peak benefits every member. This is why a curtailment could be offered. It will all depend on the rate of EV adoption as well as the ongoing decline in baseload generation resources. EVs are not for everyone. EVs will develop slowly. EVs are coming. There is no stopping the tide. There is only learning how to adapt to the changes.
Mr. Anderson, I disagree with you on so many levels regarding this article. First, do you know where the batteries come from? The main ingredients are lithium and cobalt. These two items have to be mined. They are pulled out of “strip mines.” Have you ever looked at a strip mine? There is nothing living around one, no trees, no grass, no animals, nothing. The largest producers of these minerals comes from the Democrat Republic of the Congo in Africa, where they use human laborers as young as 12 years old. The conditions are so unsafe that many people do drugs, sniff paint in order to cope with the unsafe condition. Young girls are routinely raped by men in these mines. The human laborers are paid approximately $5.00 per ton. Are you therefore supporting and condoning slave and child labor in unsafe working conditions? In order to separate the cobalt and lithium from the ore, sulfuric acid is required. Pregnant women and children as young as 5 years of age do the separating. When asked what happens to the sulfuric acid after it is used in the separation process, no one wants to answer that question. However, from the pictures I have seen, it is dumped on to the ground or into the rivers. Yes, that is taking place a half a world away, but isn’t that poisoning our environment? In this country, we are using huge earth moving equipment which consumes huge amounts of fossil fuels. In addition, when one looks at the tires and amount of plastic and rubber which goes into building said machines and EVs, how much fossil fuel is used? Also in this country, we still need sulfuric acid to separate the cobalt and lithium from the ore. From my readings and research, the strip mine going into production in Nevada will require 145 “tractor trailer” loads of sulfuric acid a day for the separation process. Again, what happens to the used sulfuric acid? In my opinion sir, all we are doing is exchanging one environmental killer for another. Second, according to my research, the federal government is required to have a three month backup of energy in this country in case of emergency, which would be our oil reserves. Now if you take all the batteries in the country for the backup energy, they could not supply five minutes of backup energy in an emergency. Now let’s suppose one of our advisories detonates two EMP (electromagnetic pulse) weapons 25 miles above the earth. That would knock out all electronics, to include EVs, to the entire U.S., Canada, and Mexico. What is your backup plan then? Lastly, every time a gasoline or diesel vehicle fills up at the pump, a portion of the cost is tax for our roads. EVs are not paying a tax for road improvement. Eventually, our elected officials will figure this out and start taxing citizens more for electricity. How many people are struggling now to pay their bills? There are so many other ways of saving the environment, but our elected officials and corporations are not looking into these alternatives. I understand you are looking at increasing revenues for your company, but at what cost? There are far better alternatives, such as, bio-fuels, which is renewable and clean.
I am somewhat at a loss for an answer. Of course, I do not support all the claims you are making about mining issues. I do believe we can and will do better with US resources. After that, I sincerely believe EVs are coming which is different than saying I support EVERYTHING involved with their manufacture. I can not solve those problems nor can I support any evil associated with battery production. I am only charged with preparing one small coop for what is coming. I hope you can see the difference in my words and understand the sincere intent of the column. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Tony, try not to worry about comments like the one at 11:37 today. It’s full of unrealistic things from someone who has been misled by misinformation from those who are trying to slow down the inevitable transition away from oil.
Just two examples of better info: the amount of drilling, mining and extraction needed for oil production is about 30 times as large as that needed for batteries; and cobalt isn’t necessary for EVs: it’s one chemistry out of many used for batteries.
Agreed and thank you.