Is an EV the Answer?

 My wife said yesterday's post was unusual.   I would agree, but it was something on my mind for some time.  I have been reading a lot about electric cars these days, otherwise referred to as EVs, as so many companies are beginning to produce so many of them.  But are they the answer?  I looked into buying a Tesla before we bought our Avalon.  One of the considerations I had was for my wife's comfort.  Even the old peoples' Avalon had more rigid bucket seats like many cars of this era.  I didn't believe the Tesla's seats would be that comfortable for her.

I liked the speed of the Tesla and how quick it is from 0-60.  In fact, there was a lot to like about the Tesla, but it has it's drawbacks.  Right now, the retail value of our Avalon is just a bit less than what we paid for it.  We could afford a Tesla, but the depreciation after one year is aboit half of its original price. Then I began to consider the convenience of charging the thing.  We would have been relegated to using only 110 volts for charging.  That was a drawback.  

Then I looked at tire wear.  The cost of replacing tires was twice as much and that would add to pollution one way or another.  Then I thought of breakdowns and towing costs and the time for repairs.  A plus was that we both wouldn't need it but driving around town, but then I thought about trips and the incontinence of finding charging stations.  

The more I looked into owning an EV, the less I wanted one.  There is controversy about battery development and production.  Then there are fire risks with EV ownership and all the technology built into an EV.  I just didn't think an EV was a wise choice over a combustion engine.  The Avalon checked all the boxes with an EV leaving me with too many unanswered questions.

I have my doubts about EV cars.  Even Toyota has all but abandoned the development of EV's.  I had owned a hybrid car, and liked it enough, but the cost of a hybrid is quite a bit over the lifetime of the car.  I could have bought a hybrid Avalon, but decided on a conventional car.  I have no regrets about our decision.  

I have doubts that an EV is the answer.  There is a lot to like about a Tesla.  But there are still too many questions about owning one.  I'm not the right person to own one.  In some ways I am too old school for EV ownership.  There are too many questions aboit fires and still there is too much unpredictability about EV in general.  

Smoking a pipe is old school.  Everything about a pipe and tobaccos go back thousands of years.  I'm just an old school guy.  Even with today's combustion engines there is too much technology.  I'm not into using aps for my car.  In fact, I don't want to pay for extras like heated or cooled seats.  I don't want to pay for anything extra including XM radio.  I don't need an ap for remote starting.  I'm used to just pushing a button on my key fob!

Today it is my Nording Number 2 pipe with some Tropical Export.  That suits me just fine, just like our Avalon.  My pipes are as old school as it gets.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave