13507 replies to this topic

[Fox]

Good news! I found my gas Honda mower, brand new!

Of all the places that ordered in a whole bunch to try and hang on to inventory for as long as possible, it was the power shop on Salty!

My lawnmower is still running from 1978.

[aastra]

That's a terrible waste of fuel.

[Mike K.]

20 top selling SUVs in Canada so far into 2025 have all been gassers. The Chevy Equinox comes in gas and electric versions, about 5k electric sold so far, vs. 8,400 gas.

https://driving.ca/c...Go1OSRsMCRoMA..

[Victoria Watcher]

Tesla announced a new version of its full self-driving supervised technology Tuesday morning, but investors are looking for something bigger.

 

Over the weekend, Elon Musk’s company shared a teaser clip featuring a logo-emblazoned, spinning component that could be anything from a wheel cover to a fan or turbine. The clip ended with the numbers “10/7,” indicating Tuesday’s date for the reveal.

 

 

Tesla posted a second clip to X on Sunday showing the outline of a vehicle’s headlights in the dark.

 

Shares climbed 5% Monday as the buzz grew online over what the announcement would be.

 

The big reveal could be the long-awaited lower-cost model, or the next-generation Roadster that Musk has promised for years.

 

Or something else.

 

 

https://www.cnbc.com...et-model-y.html

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 October 2025 - 06:20 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

X and 3 some model options now about $6000 cheaper.

That’s the announcement.

Tesla stock up 25% in last 30 days.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 October 2025 - 03:28 PM.

[Mike K.]

Down about 5% on the news today.

[Victoria Watcher]

Accurate.

[Victoria Watcher]

Charging an electric vehicle in Saanich will be a little more expensive this fall.

 

Saanich-owned charging stations will soon begin charging $1.50 per hour, up from the current $1 an hour, after council unanimously endorsed an amendment to the district’s Streets and Traffic Bylaw Monday night.

 

According to district staff, the proposed rate increase is anticipated to cover operating costs over the next four to five years, while keeping charging rates affordable to encourage use of electric vehicles.

 

 

https://www.timescol...n-hour-11316630

[Mike K.]

Surely the actual electricity cost is much higher per hour. That’s not cited in the article.

But this is:

Staff noted in their report that there was an initial drop in total usage immediately following the introduction of the hourly fee, but use has grown since.

Total connection hours grew annually by an average of 19% between 2019 and 2024.

So far this year, the district is on track to see 16% growth from last year in connection hours.

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich now has over 90 Level 2 chargers and 26 DC Fast Chargers (including Tesla superchargers).

https://www.saanich....g-stations.html

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 October 2025 - 05:18 AM.

[Mike K.]

The community, not that Saanich as an entity operates that many chargers.

The municipality has 32, and will expand with as many as 30 more starting in 2026 based on the staff report on $1.50 charging.

Imagine having to pay “by the hour” to power your vehicle. How many hours do people have to sit there charging their car? And do they even top up to 100% or throttle you back at 80%?

[Tony]

In the 5 years that I have had an EV, and without home charging, I have never sat in my car and waited while using a city charger. (Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich, Colwood, Richmond, Lake Cowichan).

 

When I have used city charges it has been when I am shopping, going for walks, going out for dinner etc. I aso use the free chargers around the city for the same purposes.

 

I also follow the often suggested charging program of charging from 20% to 80% sugessted for earlier EV cars to maximize battery life. No need for a full charge for me, it only takes 20 seconds to plug in and I am on my way. I do not have wait to add energy.

[Mike K.]

It sounds like you may be organizing your activities around charging opportunities?

I understand that’s a thing for EV motorists. They focus destinations on where they can access free or low cost charging.

[Tony]

Not me. i travel where I want when I want with my EV. 

 

There hapens to be charging stations at several of the grocery stores, restaurants, parks and recreational locations that I visited before I had an EV. My dentist location has now added a free charger.

 

It is rare that they are all being used.  Having 20% or more distance in reserve means even if all the chargers are in use in a particular location I can wait for the next opportunity. For me 20% means 81 to to over 100km depending on the type of driving. EV regenerative braking is wonderful.

[Blair M.]

Human beings are pretty adaptable - they're so adaptable that they often adapt to situations without even realizing that they're doing so. 

Case in point: EV's.

 

The simple math describing the EV charging infrastructure in Canada (for those that don't have chargers in their homes) is that the EV charging infrastructure is now, and will for many more years, be easily quantified as deficient when compared to the gas/diesel infrastructure. 

 

Also, a rarely discussed issue around EV's is that they cost roughly 35%-40% more to insure than a gas or diesel vehicle in Canada, a fact that's often not factored in when comparing ownership and operating costs, and that 40% (and rising) cost in Canada is measured in the "thousands" of dollars. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Do they cost that much more to insure than THE SAME PRICED gas car?

[Blair M.]

Do they cost that much more to insure than THE SAME PRICED gas car?

Yes.

https://www.surex.co...insure-gas-cars

[Victoria Watcher]

That article never mentions purchase price. And it just averages everything. Also, auto insurance should not be mandatory. Just like insurance is optional for most other aspects of life and activities.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 October 2025 - 06:08 AM.

[Mike K.]

I’ve been telling you that for years, Watcher.

I took a good, realistic look at EV ownership and it was laden with hidden costs and gimmicks that industry and supporters don’t talk about. First and foremost being the huge premium purchase price, plus the cost to install a charger. Plus higher insurance. Plus pushing your hydro rate over into tier 2. Plus more frequent tire replacements. Plus on the road charging times and delays. Plus the battery life issue.

It just doesn’t add up unless you drive for a living and have access to free charging.

[Victoria Watcher]

Which two exact models did you compare though? F-150? Rav 4?