[Oregon TDI]

Volkswagen's Electric Car Offensive in the U.S. Just Stalled - Fortune

Volkswagen is recalling all the electric versions of its Golf compacts sold in the U.S., after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered a fault in their batteries that makes the car stall.

VW began the recall on March 15, due to “oversensitive diagnostics for the high-voltage battery management system (that) may falsely detect an electrical surge resulting in the vehicle’s electric drive motor shutting down unexpectedly.”

 

[Oregon TDI]

If this was a Tesla they'd probably be able to push out a software update without going through the hassle of a recall.

If my local dealer is any indication, many of those 5500 e-Golfs were leased to dealer employees. They drive them to work every day and charge them on the dealer's dime. I bet not many e-Golfs have actually been sold.

 

[Oregon TDI]

If the e-Golf had the 200-mile range of a Tesla Model 3 at the same price, would there be 250,000+ pre-orders for the e-Golf?

http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/03/tesla-model-3-pre-orders-surpass-10-billion/

 

[Oregon TDI]

Not looking like a regular old hatchback. Tesla is selling a brand name and an image, a unique looking car, performance, and other features beyond just range. Also, unlike an eGolf where you actually have to buy it, the Model 3 has so far sold nothing more than a fully refundable deposit.

Tesla should have required a $5K deposit, to weed out tire kickers. But even if only 20% of those pre-orders are real, it's still a big deal.

Myself, I'd take a 200-mile e-Golf at the Tesla 3 price.

 

[Oregon TDI]

Lots of people with 1000 bucks to buy a car that doesn't exist, from a car maker that can't make more that a few thousand cars per year.

Believe the hype or there's a sucker born every minute, I'm not sure which slogan is more appropriate here

Tesla is just the next iPhone for the minions, if they really wanted an electric car the 100mile range egolf, Nissan leaf and Ford focus are available right now

Personally, I have a mental block about less than 100 miles on a charge. I would want at least 200 miles in a passenger car. I can work with that. Like I said, I'd be more interested in a $35K-$40K e-Golf with 200 mile range than a Tesla, but hey, that's coming from a self-confessed VW-a-holic.

I'm pretty sure even Elon Musk is surprised at 250K+ preorders for the Model 3. Time will tell if Tesla can build & deliver a real car as promised, and whether all those pre-orders turn out to be real too.

Other e-car builders including VW have undoubtedly taken notice of this though.

 

[Oregon TDI]

Not sure why anyone would root for Tesla to fail.

 

[Oregon TDI]

Because it is a huge drain of tax revenues on a dead-end technology.

Is electric any more dead-end than direct-burning of fossil fuel? At least electric can be sourced from non-fossil-fuel.

Don't get me wrong, I'm old school and I love internal combustion done well. And I REALLY love my TDI. I don't personally want an electric car. But I'm enough of a realist to know when a power source is at the peak or post-peak end of its useful life arc. The full transition may not happen in my lifetime, but soon thereafter. That's the future. Many issues to work out but they will be worked out.

The times they are a changing.

 

[Oregon TDI]

I actually like what Tesla has been doing. They are building electric cars that appeal to a much larger consumer base than just the greenies. They are building electric cars that automotive enthusiasts can appreciate. This is why it's appealing to me. - 2.8s 0-60 - Stylish exterior - Lots of tech - Luxurious interior - OTA updates - AWD option Seriously, I think Tesla has done a good job of making cars that are marketable to people who want more than just an eco friendly commuter car. Look at any of the other EVs that are made by the other companies and they're lame. I would never spend my money on those boring cars but if I did have an extra $150k to burn on an around town ride, it could be a Model S P90D with ludacris mode. However I don't, so I won't be getting one any time soon.

I could never drive a Bolt or a LEAF without feeling emasculated. Not so with a Tesla or e-Golf.

 

[Oregon TDI]

But we're not giving government subsidies to fossil-fuel burning cars.

My 2009 Jetta TDI was covered by an "alternative fuel" tax credit. I think it was $750 but I could be misremembering. Anyway when 99.5% of passenger cars are fueled by gasoline, almost anything other than gas can be considered "alternative fuel".

Current fossil-fuel tax incentives: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/319

A tax incentive is available for alternative fuel that is sold for use or used as a fuel to operate a motor vehicle. A tax credit in the amount of $0.50 per gallon is available for the following alternative fuels: compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), P-Series fuel, liquid fuel derived from coal through the Fischer-Tropsch process, and compressed or liquefied gas derived from biomass. For propane, CNG, and LNG sold after December 31, 2015, the tax credit is based on the gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) or diesel gallon equivalent (DGE). For taxation purposes, one GGE is equal to 5.75 pounds (lbs.) of propane and 5.66 lbs. of CNG. One DGE is equal to 6.06 lbs. of LNG.

EDIT: The tax credit on the 2009 Jetta TDI was $1300

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1023376_vw-jetta-tdi-eligible-for-1300-tax-credit-in-u-s

 

[Oregon TDI]

Another way to look at it is the e-car buyer's $7500 tax credit is the same whether they're buying a $30K LEAF or a $90K Tesla. UNFAIR!! Lol.

Tesla is a market disruptor with its entire business model. I want to see how far they can go in that mode.

Tax breaks: Let's see, I get to deduct property taxes, mortgage interest, dependents, etc. I'm also on Social Security and Obamacare. Soon it'll be Medicare. I'm skating through on government subsidies! *eek*

 

[Oregon TDI]

so, what's the fix on an eGolf? software? controller board?

Initial reports suggested a software update would fix it.

 

[Oregon TDI]

Believing that Tesla wouldn't sell any cars without tax credits is just one of many flavors of KoolAid to choose from. ;-)

 

[Oregon TDI]

Then why do we have subsidies for e-cars?

Honestly I don't think you're open to any point of view except the one you've formed. Or if you prefer, I've selected a different flavor of KoolAid. Don't take it personally!

 

[Oregon TDI]

Because, just like anything else, the Gov'mt - believing it alone has all the correct solutions - is anxious to create/support a monopoly by backing a particular product or technology in this way. They have found that by creating a kickback people really believe they are getting a deal and doing a 'good thing' for a cause at the same time. None of the government's claims about correct solutions are true but no skeptics will be listened to.

What monopoly?

 

[Oregon TDI]

Which powerful group? Speaking of the one apparently more powerful than Big Oil.

Anyone who buys a new electric car today based 100% on financial incentives isn't a car person by my definition. There's nothing any of us could say to them that would convince them otherwise.

Young people don't have landlines. They don't know what "radio" is. And they're abandoning internal combustion cars. It's starting. Anyone can see that.

In fact they're abandoning the "burden" of car ownership. Uber? Lyft?

There are many forces at play including government folly and corporate greed and wishful thinking. And possibly some truthiness. Me, I have my '15 GTI and '16 Treg TDI. I suspect they're part of internal combustion's Final & Greatest Era.

 

[Oregon TDI]

Just follow the money and power, yes big oil is a cog. Just like the game monopoly, they hold the bulk of the assets in the world and they who who have the assets really control the board. Obviously this isn't your traditional group of people / puppets.

I think we're all in a kind of general agreement that betting on e-cars is just that: Placing a wager. It's a long game of changing the public's perception and demand; building out infrastructure; perfecting the tech itself. Using someone else's dime to do all that if possible.

Meanwhile we hope we're betting on the best technology and beau coup public money's are involved.

That's how our system works.