Really Great Farley interview on EVs

[nvabill]

The real question is did he say it is a real Mustang or not? ?

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[rreddy3]

The real question is did he say it is a real Mustang or not? ?

Yes, in a manner of non verbal communication he did. He was wearing a quarter zip sort of shell which had the iconic mustang logo on the front left, and the right sleeve had “Mach e” embroidered or imprinted on it. He covered the bases and made a deliberate statement. He’s a car guy running a multi billion dollar company. He knows ICE pays the bills and EV is the future but it’s not paying the bills today. He also knows the EV “issue” is fundamentally a non issue that has been made into a lightning rod issue in some quarters. Clearly that frustrates him and others in Ford’s C Suite. As it should all of us.

 

[bshaw]

I was already a Jim Farley fan, but wow this interview was exceptional.
He was incredibly transparent about the state of the industry, where their challenges are, and where Ford is going to be making bets. Gave a nod to Elon's accomplishments and sharing of the SC network (appropriate), but wasn't overly gushing and said they are pursuing different segments of the market (brilliant to say, but gonna be tough to realize).
Gave a realistic view of the challenges on the situation with China, and dodged all political landmines.

Of all the humans, Jim is the person I want most to be running Ford right now. Let's Go Ford and I want to see what is up next.

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

Choices? Great idea. Then US just drop the tariff on the Chinese EV makers. Give people their choices. Innovate with good strong products to compete period. Folks will vote with their wallet.

I'm not sure I could disagree more!!! These companies are STATE SPONSORED. They are financially subsidised. The playing field is not equivalet!!!

Not to mention, I don't trust the Chinese Gov't. I don't want to pay them to spy on me and my family!!! I'm not ever buying a Chinese Car!!! Yes, yes, I know there are lots of items in our homes from china, but that risk in my opinion is too large!!!

 

[SonicBlue]

I feel like your argument would hold more merit if you rode a bicycle or walked everywhere vs bought a brand new electric car.

It’s like you are shaming people for eating an unhealthy double quarter pounder with cheese for dinner…… while you munch on your single quarter pounder with cheese.

Hypocritically pointing fingers at other people and yelling that the sky is falling will NOT do much to convince people on the “other side” of the argument.

I’m not sure @Shepherd’s argument is hypocritical. It’s more just kinda disingenuous. Everybody - even the greenies - make certain choices as to a certain baseline comfort they are willing to accept, which kinda calls into question the honesty of their argument. The bigger problem, of course, is that even if you believe reducing man-made contributions to a gas that constitutes 0.04% of the atmosphere will impact global temperatures, buying a new EV doesn’t do anything to meaningfully reduce carbon emissions. It may make it worse, and the mining of the rare earth minerals necessary to produce said EV is almost certainly worse for the environment on net than the benefit of any such reduction in carbon emissions.

Thankfully, I don’t have to square any such issues because the reasons I bought an EV are totally valid. Fast, quiet, low maintenance, low operating cost. And these are the things that will actually lead to mass EV adoption once the next generation of batteries deliveries faster charging.

 

[Otto klub]

Big Jim is finally talking the way he should have been for some time. The reason may be political, I don't know. Don't care.
You want more Americans to drive BEVs. Get ALL politics and politicians out of it.
No mater your political beliefs or how passionate you are about them remember this, half of America disagrees and is just as passionate.
If politicians or entertainer says you should drive an BEV, you just lost half your sales. Because half of America don't listen to that SOB and will do just the opposite.
Do not mandate, do not lie, do not spread misinformation nor exaggerate. Do not insult ie do not call all ice as "gas guzzlers" they are not, and to ice drivers that is an insult.
You are not going to change anyone's mind with insults, put downs, and name calling anymore than they are going to change yours.

 

[The Electric Duo]

For me, the biggest takeaway from the interview is Jim saying they are betting the company on the skunkworks low cost EV efforts. He said "looks like they're going to be successful" and the target is a $30,000 EV in 30 months.

We do YouTube videos, so we also did one on this.? A lot of it is just me rehashing what Jim said but I tried to provide some context for some that aren't familiar with Ford's EV plans.

 

[Mach1E]

I’m not sure @Shepherd’s argument is hypocritical. It’s more just kinda disingenuous. Everybody - even the greenies - make certain choices as to a certain baseline comfort they are willing to accept, which kinda calls into question the honesty of their argument. The bigger problem, of course, is that even if you believe reducing man-made contributions to a gas that constitutes 0.04% of the atmosphere will impact global temperatures, buying a new EV doesn’t do anything to meaningfully reduce carbon emissions. It may make it worse, and the mining of the rare earth minerals necessary to produce said EV is almost certainly worse for the environment on net than the benefit of any such reduction in carbon emissions.

Thankfully, I don’t have to square any such issues because the reasons I bought an EV are totally valid. Fast, quiet, low maintenance, low operating cost. And these are the things that will actually lead to mass EV adoption once the next generation of batteries deliveries faster charging.

We are basically saying the same thing if only using a different title.

I just don’t like when people exaggerate and insult when trying to convince others to change….. when in reality the people doing the insulting aren’t really that much better.


I sold a “gas guzzling” Chevy SS and bought my Mach E (for performance reasons mostly).

Some would say “hurray! You’re saving the planet!” But am I?

It was a 2015 and I sold it in 2021 with only 19k miles. Sure I averaged 14 mpg, but I only commute 1 mile to work.

So what is my environmental impact buying a new electric car instead? Honestly probably NEGATIVE!

Why?

Because of all the impact in the production of the new vehicle.

Plus the old gas guzzler didn’t get destroyed. It got sold to someone else who likely is driving way more miles than me!

So if I patted myself on the back for buying an EV….. reality is I probably hurt the environment more than helped it.

Best thing I do? Live 1 mile from work and drive 4k miles total per year.

Maybe we should just mandate people can only drive 4k miles max per year! Would make a bigger difference. **?

**don’t do this

 

[DaddyDeuce]

I have a Ford Mach E, a Chevy Bolt, and a Chevy Suburban. They all have their purposes.

The government shouldn't actively discourage ownership of vehicles like the Suburban nor should they regulate them out of existence or to a higher price point. No problem with the government providing tax breaks on EVs to encourage their adoption, but encouraging one thing isn't the same as discouraging another.

 

[SonicBlue]

We are basically saying the same thing if only using a different title.

I just don’t like when people exaggerate and insult when trying to convince others to change….. when in reality the people doing the insulting aren’t really that much better.


I sold a “gas guzzling” Chevy SS and bought my Mach E (for performance reasons mostly).

Some would say “hurray! You’re saving the planet!” But am I?

It was a 2015 and I sold it in 2021 with only 19k miles. Sure I averaged 14 mpg, but I only commute 1 mile to work.

So what is my environmental impact buying a new electric car instead? Honestly probably NEGATIVE!

Why?

Because of all the impact in the production of the new vehicle.

Plus the old gas guzzler didn’t get destroyed. It got sold to someone else who likely is driving way more miles than me!

So if I patted myself on the back for buying an EV….. reality is I probably hurt the environment more than helped it.

Best thing I do? Live 1 mile from work and drive 4k miles total per year.

Maybe we should just mandate people can only drive 4k miles max per year! Would make a bigger difference. **?

**don’t do this

Everything you said, exactly. And your last point is already being pushed. The “15 Minute City” concept.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/11/28/15-minute-city/

I’m all for smart planning, but not for mandates. I think answer is, as almost always, advances in technology - not top down mandates or tax incentives.

 

[DeluxeStang]

Good interview. I don’t like the political pandering. I see what he’s trying to do here, and I agree we need smaller vehicles, but I don’t agree with him throwing under the bus people like me who are trying to keep the world from burning. My EV is one part of my household going net zero and we don’t care That you want. “choices”

I get where you're coming from, but there's nothing wrong with choices. Modern ICE/hybrids burn A LOT cleaner than cars from years past. The future isn't everything or nothing, it's offering more choices than ever before, and constantly seeking to improve all of those options.

 

[jbooth]

I have a Ford Mach E, a Chevy Bolt, and a Chevy Suburban. They all have their purposes.

The government shouldn't do anything to discourage ownership of vehicles like the Suburban, nor should they regulate them out of existence or to a higher price point. No problem with the government providing tax breaks on EVs to encourage their adoption, but encouraging one thing isn't the same as discouraging another.

-1 disagree on the suburban. Should be completely regulated out of existence. Along with the hummer -- any variety gas or ev. Sorry not sorry. They're death traps to those around them and deserve that cost internalized, not externalized.

 

[jbooth]

Everything you said, exactly. And your last point is already being pushed. The “15 Minute City” concept.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/11/28/15-minute-city/

I’m all for smart planning, but not for mandates. I think answer is, as almost always, advances in technology - not top down mandates or tax incentives.

Isn't it funny how people love to hate on the 15 minute city thing pay through the nose to go to disney world or and rave about how nice it is. Um duh? It's essentially car free. Of course it is nice.

 

[User100723]

-1 disagree on the suburban. Should be completely regulated out of existence. Along with the hummer -- any variety gas or ev. Sorry not sorry. They're death traps to those around them and deserve that cost internalized, not externalized.

You saying every large passenger van/full sized suv should have noses like these,

or that these vehicles themselves should be eliminated all altogether????

Cause if it’s the second, then they are many, myself included, who strongly disagree purely on the health grounds, if nothing else.

not everyone with a large family can or should be forced to walk or take public transportation for every trip, where they have to split up and sit next to strangers. Especially if they have specific health conditions or are concerned for their safety because of racial differences. Plus, where’s the peace and privacy to talk and enjoy a trip when there’s some grump taking up a whole bench snoring, or a bunch of lawless kids monkeying around half drunk as if they own the whole car/aisle???

and before someone mentions it, renting is not an alternative for everyone. Not if it goes like my last U-Haul, where I specifically reserved a large truck a few days ahead, only to find it not available after arriving to pick it up the day I need it because someone failed to return that rental before my promised pickup time.

edit: image emphasis wasn’t showing for some reason.

 

[jbooth]

Yes. I am.

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813474

> When a passenger car and a light truck hit head-on in a fatal traffic crash
in 2021, an occupant was 3.1 times more frequently killed in the
passenger car than in the light truck.

They are literally killing people and somehow its okay.

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