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GM Admits It Needs Hybrids Again: 'We're Not Tone Deaf' (www.motor1.com)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 50 points 1 month ago (13 children)

The U.S. doesn't need more hybrids, it needs electric cars that cut out oil dependency and a corresponding increase in renewable energy production.

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  • [–] 10 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    I bought and needed a hybrid. I had a 212 mile round trip to work when I bought my Volt. Today I have a quarter tank of gas I'm afraid will go stale. Winter is coming, though, and I'll need the engine for heat and because the mileage drops to about 20 — less if I get on the highway.

    I'm still leery about range and heat issues, but at least my wife bought a Tahoe so we have distance trips covered. That frees me up to buy an EV next go round and I guess if the heat sucks it'll be a decent fair weather car.

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  • [–] 11 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    Make sure your next EV comes with a heat pump, then heat should not be an issue. Although I don't know how common EVs with heat pumps are in the US. Here in northern Europe, most EVs are offered with heat pumps nowadays, but in other European markets with milder climates, I think they are still much more rare too.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 child)

    Upvote for the heat pump. That was actually a deciding factor for me that EVs were mature enough. I live in New England and the heat pump has no problem keeping up, although I’m getting spoiled with pre-heat. EVs tend to lose range when it gets cold, but I’ve seen stats that heat pumps cut the loss in half, and I’ve never noticed an issue.

    My other criteria was 300 mile range. I don’t drive much so I might only charge once a week (in my own driveway!) up it’s enough to make road trips easy. My kid is at school two hours drive away, and range is sufficient for a weekend round trip without charging.

    But is that only the Tesla model y (in the us)? It’s been several years, so you’d think others would have followed by now, but i haven’t read of it

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago

    The 2025 and later versions of the Kia and Hyundai EVs use heat pump technology, as do some or all Subaru EVs. At least they do in Canada. I'd be unsurprised if more did. I bought an old Leaf, which has a number of limitations, but does well as a second car or a city car. If I can convince my wife to replace her SUV with an electric, heat pumps will be part of the reason why.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    "Sorry, best I can do is a 100% tariff on cheap, performant Chinese EVs" – Biden

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago* (2 children)

    Biden implementing Trump's dogshit policies is good actually

    -lemmy libs downvoting you, probably

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  • [–] 8 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    I'll never understand the tribalism with America's two parties. They're both trash. One is obviously treasonous and far worse.

    But in a functioning democracy, people should absolutely be pissed when they're betrayed by their leaders. Doing Elon Musk's bidding and keeping EVs more expensive than global warming machines is what Biden chose. Along with the EU. They can all get fucked.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago

    I know you have good intentions but I would say the US needs drop in hybrid motors to convert older vehicles. I can't afford a new car for the next 10-20 years even if I sold both of my cars.

    I'd rather have a multi-fuel hybrid for emergencies; something that can run petrol, oil, diesel, ethanol, propane, kerosene, and wood gas. There are times where something like that is needed. Like powering a fridge and AC when a disaster takes out the power grid. I can tell you it wasn't fun not having power for two weeks. I really liked the EV car idea of powering your house but what happens after you drain the battery? And look I live in a place that's dumb enough when the power goes out, there's a mandatory shutoff box for your solar panels in these events.

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