EVs in China...other tech too

[Scott Libre]

This video is not an EV only video, but discusses them a couple times. Came up on my YouTube feed. I found it interesting, thought I'd share.

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[Blue highway]

As a parallel think about 1930's Britain vs 1930's US. Within a few years by any measure, the US overtook Britain. Standard of living, Exports, Empire, global influence etc... After my most recent trips to China, it feels to me like history is Rhyming but this time China is overtaking the US... a hundred years after the US overtook Britain.

Focusing on cars, I hear ignorant people say or imply that all Chinese cars are crap... They have a "Dollar Tree" view of China. In reality China is leading the world. We are to the point that without trade barriers, Europe and North America will not have an auto industry. In my view, the current US policies obstructing domestic EVs will accelerate the end of the US auto industry as they fall further and further behind the rest of the world. The Mach E design is now coming up on 6 years old. That is 2-3 generations behind the Chinese car development cycle over the same time.

For those who see this differently, I'll ask when was the last time you were in China... The transformation is shocking.

 

[Scott Libre]

As an owner of both a Mach e and an F-150 lightning I really wish Ford would have focused on delivering a affordable EV for the masses. I ended up getting a good discount on my lariat, but the original sticker on it was $82,000. That's double what my first house cost.

At the same time the original Bolt was selling like crazy. Sure, charging is really slow, but as commuting vehicle there's a definite appeal, especially if you have a garage that you can charge in daily.

Yeah, I see what you're saying about innovation at this point, a few years ago I almost put money down on an Aptera. I'm glad I didn't, they're still at it, but I don't know if they'll ever release a production vehicle.

 

[stevenschwartz]

I must agree. Just back from a scientific conference in China. And it is NOT just the cars. I was driven in a variety of taxi's that were chinese EV's, and they were seemingly excellent. Good fit and finish. Not as good as my MachE, but certainly better than a Tesla. Also, in science, there is a reason the chinese lead the world in solar panel production. As our country has made it impossible to economically purchase such things, the Chinese have surged ahead. In science as our country is gutting the NSF and NIH the Chinese have made incredible investments in research at universities. Anyone backwards bigot who think China is a 3rd world country should visit Shenzhen.

 

[dan_meh]

As an owner of both a Mach e and an F-150 lightning I really wish Ford would have focused on delivering a affordable EV for the masses. I ended up getting a good discount on my lariat, but the original sticker on it was $82,000. That's double what my first house cost.

I’m bullish on Ford because they’re making this exact pivot. And not just affordable, but adoption of manufacturing practices that started with Tesla, were extended by the major Chinese OEMs, and are on-shoring with the bet on ModelT moment.

You have to remember when Ford originally dropped its first two EVs. It was pre-price-war. It was Model Ys that sold for 15 k more than they do now. It was a regulatory environment that allowed them to sell EVs to offset F series pick ups. And it was still when the shock of “go fast” was new and thrilling. Even vaunted Tesla - geniuses of electric vehicles - took that time to stroke chins and say “Cybertruck” with a framing wave of the hands.

Oh how the world had changed.

While Ford catches up, I think they made the right move on their aging platform. They’re producing a sub-40k EV that’s road trip-able. Put another way, while the GT and Rally sell tickets, the RWD standard range wins games.

I was recently talking to a friend who wants an affordable EV for the family. He’s looking at the new Leaf, the Bolt, and a very lightly used MME RWD Standard. He might go for new to get the heat pump and warranty, but the product is the RWD Standard.

 

[Dana3502]

I really relate to the beginning of this video when she talks about how quiet it is by the street with so many EVs. I walk a lot and try to avoid busy streets because of the noise and the smell of the exhaust. I think most people don't even consider that benefit yet. Think of all those dollars spent on sound barriers near freeways.

 

[Jimrpa]

China is not exactly the utopian future being described here. They’ve had a collapse in the real estate sector that has lasted years. They’ve tightened even more, “freedoms” their citizens enjoy, and for those disturbed that the US government is coercing educational institutions to hew to a political viewpoint in order to qualify to complete for Federal research monies, consider that all educational institutions in china are essentially controlled by the government.

 

[ChrisO]

I really relate to the beginning of this video when she talks about how quiet it is by the street with so many EVs. I walk a lot and try to avoid busy streets because of the noise and the smell of the exhaust. I think most people don't even consider that benefit yet. Think of all those dollars spent on sound barriers near freeways.

I remember all the talk about secondhand smoke, where someone a block away was a health hazard. But everyday around here people sit in stop and go traffic and don't think twice about.

One thing I have noticed since I got the Mach-E is that I notice the smell much more. In fact, I replaced the cabin filter for the better one partly because of this.

 

[ChrisO]

China is not exactly the utopian future being described here. They’ve had a collapse in the real estate sector that has lasted years. They’ve tightened even more, “freedoms” their citizens enjoy, and for those disturbed that the US government is coercing educational institutions to hew to a political viewpoint in order to qualify to complete for Federal research monies, consider that all educational institutions in china are essentially controlled by the government.

I was watching a video where the person was talking about the fact that the reason everything is expensive (for the basic needs, not the electronics and such) is that the US went through a phase of a building homes and infrastructure, and that was what had the US over power the Soviet Union. And then now the same thing is happening with China and the US.

And she was pushing for that again in the US to try to bring back the good times.

There were a few things missing in her argument. The big "build outs" were the great depression and just after world war 2, when the US.

China is definitely like that. There is some very good things happening, but also some very bad.

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