California has issued a policy to ban sales of new vehicles with gasoline engines by 2035. The Grump has mixed feelings about this, but is not automatically opposed. That being said, this will probably not affect The Grump, and not just because he doesn’t live in California (for good or for bad California sets the standards nationwide and what they do everyone else follows along). My reasons are less rebellious…
- The Grump is cheap. He values quality and reliable vehicles, but is not willing to keep up with rising new vehicle prices, even without the added current cost of batteries and such. The Grump has owned two brand new vehicles in his lifetime, the last in 1999, and swore years ago he’d never buy brand new again. Instead, he has been buying quality used vehicles 1-2 years old where the worst of the depreciation has already occurred.
- The infrastructure isn’t there… yet. This move may hasten infrastructure development, and that would be good, but it’s simply not there right now. The Grump has no desire to get stranded in eastern Wyoming because there isn’t a charger nearby.
- Batteries are freaking expensive! This is the not-so-secret fatal flaw of the technology right now, and this makes the overall vehicle expensive. Many people have been shocked at the cost of a battery replacement. The Grump is not programmed for surprises like that.
Now, would The Grump ever purchase an electric vehicle? Meh, maybe. The Grump would be open to it, but honestly all the ancillary factors need to be worked out and make it practical and workable for ME. The Grump is not willing to ride the cutting edge and work out all the costs and kinks for everyone else.