WSJ article regarding split in auto industry

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Aug 14, 2019 | 09:10 PM

#16

lexuspleus

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Joined: Nov 2018

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From: SK

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitkahuna

Made me visualize a sad scene of a Canadian police car with flashing lights stopped to find a driver, frozen to death, in the driver’s seat of a Kia Niro, in the middle of nowhere. Like a scene out of Fargo.

That's kind of sad, kind of funny in a dark way.

In the deep of winter, between December to February, it goes down to -30 degrees celsius.That's -22 Fahrenheit. Even with down feather gloves, fingers start swelling in minutes. An unprotected nose will become numb in a minute. Snot freezes. Hypothermia sets in in under an hour if ones core is uninsulated.

People have died from exposure after getting lost or stranded while travelling. It happened here in Saskatchewan this last winter.

As for the EV's, I have read customer testimonials of Kona EV's stranding their owners even in BC with the milder winters they have, during short intercity trips.

Aug 14, 2019 | 09:12 PM

#17

lexuspleus

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Joined: Nov 2018

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From: SK

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitkahuna

There’s an EV version of the Niro.

And tempted to buy one here in Saskatchewan, but afraid of finding out that the range is diminished by 40% in the middle of winter, making it useless for a road trip between the major urban centers in this province.

EPA range is 385 kms.

A USA Today article says that at 30 degrees Fah. (0 Celsius), range is 280 kms. I can't image what it'd go down to when it's 10 Fah. outside. At that point it becomes unusable for a 280 kms trip.

Last edited by lexuspleus; Aug 14, 2019 at 09:18 PM.

Aug 14, 2019 | 09:21 PM

#18

bitkahuna

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Quote:

Originally Posted by lexuspleus

In the deep of winter, between December to February, it goes down to -30 degrees celsius.That's -22 Fahrenheit. Even with down feather gloves, fingers start swelling in minutes. An unprotected nose will become numb in a minute. Snot freezes. Hypothermia sets in in under an hour if ones core is uninsulated.

People have died from exposure after getting lost or stranded while travelling. It happened here in Saskatchewan this last winter.

I lived in Toronto for 3 years. While there i had a biz trip to Edmonton, i think in february. Was told it was -50C getting off the plane.

they said to keep blinking because your eyes will freeze. Thankfully the rental car was already running when i went to get it.

Aug 15, 2019 | 06:42 PM

#19

mmarshall

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Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 94,575

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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitkahuna

There’s an EV version of the Niro.

OK, Thanks, my bad. I knew an EV Niro was planned, but I didn't know they had started selling it in the American market.

Aug 15, 2019 | 06:48 PM

#20

mmarshall

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Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 94,575

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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs

Quote:

because it goes into the split happening in the industry between a future of hybrids (Toyota, Ford) and EVs (GM, VW).

I'm generally with Toyota and Ford on this one. Though I have to admit that the low-RPM torque level of the Tesla 3 I sampled was stupendous (it is clearly not a car for careless or inattentive drivers), I'm not sold on the concept of BEVs yet.......at least until an adequate charging-infrastructure is in place for them outside of California, nationwide. As I see it, BEVs just don't take sense for people unless they usually drive short distances and/or have access to a good recharge system. Hybrids offer at least some of the advantages of BEVs, but without the range-problems.