# Ford goes BIG on electric vehicles **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646 "2021-09-28T16:58:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/41 "2021-10-01T13:05:09Z")
> [@bing](#): > > has to be recharged at home every night, That depends on how much you drive. Given my commute, I would only need to charge a few times a week. And there are charging stations popping up all over the place around here in south central PA. The hospital I work for is looking at installing some in the employee parking garage. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/42 "2021-10-01T13:25:19Z")
Ford dealer promoting electric cars in Minnesota: a story from Minnesota Public Radio… [Electric car sales pitch heads to northern Minnesota to drive up interest | MPR News](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/10/01/northern-minnesota-residents-skeptical-curious-about-electric-vehicles) ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/43 "2021-10-01T13:41:15Z")
> [@bing](#): > > I don’t think we should be trying to rationalize LEDs by claiming they will be cheaper over the long run. I think that is questionable. This can easily be quantified…and it is. LED prices are way down and they last several magnitudes longer then standard bulbs or CFL’s. The electricity each bulb used can be calculated also. This isn’t rocket science. I started replacing bulbs with LED’s years ago. I started with the most used lights (Kitchen, Living Room…etc). Our electric rates are among the highest in the country ($0.21/kwh). The higher the kwh rate the higher the savings on switching to LED’s. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/44 "2021-10-01T13:45:41Z")
> [@pyrolord314](#): > > And there are charging stations popping up all over the place around here in south central PA. I think that’s true for most areas, except for rural locations. I don’t (yet) have an EV, but if I did I could charge it at the adjacent Panera resto when I go to Costco. The shopping malls in my area all have several charging stations, and there are other locations, as well. Last week, the local planning board approved the construction of a self-storage facility near me, but its construction is contingent upon the installation of an EV charging station on that property. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/45 "2021-10-01T14:11:14Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > I think that’s true for most areas, except for rural locations. Even rural locations are starting to get them. They’re popping up in tiny farm towns all over Minnesota, for one. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/46 "2021-10-01T14:49:11Z")
We have 5 Curio cabinets full of glass items and I can’t remember how long a go we put LED lights in them . Before the 50 watt Halogen bulbs would last 2 months a best . Out door Cristmas lights ( lots of them ) before coverting to all LED we planned on 2.00 a day for them . Now it is 1.00 a day . So yes they save money no matter what some people say. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/47 "2021-10-01T15:20:00Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > So yes they save money no matter what some people say. They got a bad rap because early LED bulbs were often expensive and had poor quality controller boards, which would die and the bulb wouldn’t work. The first LED bulbs I put in are all dead, but the ones I replaced them with have been going for years without issue. A couple years ago I replaced all my shop lights with LED strip lights from Rockler. They’re great. Bright, even light with no flicker, and if I forget to shut them off they don’t use much electricity before I go back in there and discover I was a dope. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/48 "2021-10-01T16:06:54Z")
LED bulbs may not show a higher savings of energy in the winter months in indoor applications over incandescent bulbs as they do in the summer months. In the winter months, incandescent bulbs add more heat to the space than LED bulbs so the system supplying the heat is supplemented by the incandescent bulbs. However, in the warm months, when air-conditioning is in use, the heat generated by the incandescent bulbs must be removed, placing an added load on the air conditioning system. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/49 "2021-10-01T16:12:10Z")
I’ve got one locally (that I know of). I’m sure more supply will come with more demand. Ford’s 50% of new sales in 9 years sounds a little optimistic unless EV’s are mandated. I think mandating it is a mistake until infrastructure is a little more upgraded, at least in my area. Do charging stations currently “charge” for a charge? Would help fund infrastructure, pay for repairs from the nut jobs that’ll inevitably tear up the equipment, and would seem to make sense to me to charge a lil something for use of the facility / equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/50 "2021-10-01T16:17:18Z")
> [@shadowfax](#): > > They got a bad rap because early LED bulbs were often expensive and had poor quality controller boards, which would die and the bulb wouldn’t work. Like every thing else they had to go thru growing pains and get the bugs worked out. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/51 "2021-10-01T16:20:29Z")
> [@Triedaq](#): > > LED bulbs may not show a higher savings of energy in the winter months in indoor applications over incandescent bulbs as they do in the summer months. In the winter months, incandescent bulbs add more heat to the space than LED bulbs so the system supplying the heat is supplemented by the incandescent bulbs. True, but it’s like adding a resistance heater, which is typically the more expensive way to heat. But it is a benefit, just like using my oven during the winter vs. during the summer. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/52 "2021-10-01T16:31:12Z")
> [@texases](#): > > True, but it’s like adding a resistance heater, which is typically the more expensive way to heat. But it is a benefit, just like using my oven during the winter vs. during the summer. The other problem with light bulbs as heat is that if the light bulb is in a ceiling light, unless you have a ceiling fan circulating that heat downward, it’s just going to stay up by the ceiling where it doesn’t do you much good. > [@Scrapyard-John](#): > > Do charging stations currently “charge” for a charge? Some do, some don’t. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/53 "2021-10-01T16:33:12Z")
> [@Scrapyard-John](#): > > Seems silly to ban natural gas appliances in favor of electrical appliances that get electricity from predominately…natural gas (I’ve read that nationally, natgas is the largest fuel source for power plants, no idea about San Jose specifically). There is a glut of methane in the US, especially in the Eastern US. That, of course, makes it less expensive than other fuels, like coal. Environmental concerns aren’t killing coal, natural gas is. Natural gas has another advantage. As power companies add more wind and solar capacity, they will need an alternate source for power when Sun don’t shine or wind speeds are low. Methane is the best choice since they are almost instant on systems, unlike coal, which needs a lot longer to reach steady state operating conditions. I use natural gas for heat, cooking, water heating, and clothes drying. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/54 "2021-10-01T17:26:57Z")
I remember going on a field trip when I was in 6th grade. One site we visited was the sewage treatment plant. Much of the equipment was run on sewer gas which is essentially methane. I remember seeing a big tower with a tank where the gas was collected. I don’t know whether or not the system is still.in use today. ---
**Author:** ![andyw77\_155343](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@andyw77\_155343](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andyw77_155343)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/55 "2021-10-01T17:39:13Z")
Or vice-versa. In December, Tesla’s market capitalization was more than the next 9 car companies-combined! ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/56 "2021-10-01T17:55:09Z")
Could be. But if the big boys start churning out EV’s, I’m assuming they can do it cheaper, faster, and probably better than the smaller companies like Tesla. My assumption may be backassward, though. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/57 "2021-10-01T21:39:15Z")
> [@Triedaq](#): > > I remember when I was in elementary school back in the late 1940s that the incandescent light fixtures were replaced with fluorescent fixtures because the fluorescent lights were much more efficient. I wonder why no one has made the connection between the increased use of florescent lights in schools and behavioral issues from ADHD and autism. Older single pin tubes would flicker at 60hz which has been found to disrupt the nervious system. LEDs flicker as well, some at 60hz but most use a diode array that has half the LEDs light up on each half cycle so they flicker at 120hz. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/58 "2021-10-01T22:24:11Z")
@keith I have friends who had to wear special glasses to keep from getting headaches when spending their working day in offices and areas with fluorescent lights. I was bothered more by the 60 hz buzz of the ballast transformers in the fluorescent fixtures. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/59 "2021-10-01T22:34:58Z")
> [@Scrapyard-John](#): > > I’ve read that nationally, natgas is the largest fuel source for power plants, no idea about San Jose specifically I think natural gas is indeed the biggest source of power for generating electricity here in the SF Bay Area, but nuclear, wind, solar, and hydro aren’t that far behind. I expect the idea of banning natural gas in new construction is to create a market incentive to cause producers to begin the switch to the other types. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646/60 "2021-10-01T22:45:26Z")
Creating the incentive for alternative sources of power isn’t an end in itself. IMO, it is to reduce the use of fossil fuels. I’m all for nuclear energy, but the crazies have made it too expensive. I can understand their assertion that it can be dangerous, but only if reactors are poorly constructed. Spending extra money to make them more reliable when built would work. There is a lot of experience in Europe that could be used to build plants that can be reliable, safe, and cost efficient. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-goes-big-on-electric-vehicles/179646.md?page=4)