Rivian fully electric 4x4 - the future

It dawned on me that a solar/wind powered house and EV's are the most independent means of power and transportation. I was hesitant to accept EV's because of their reliance on electrical infrastructure, until I realized ICE are dependent on an infrastructure, too, except I can't recreate the oil infrastructure in my backyard. Not even close. Add to that now countries are vowing to stop subsidizing the oil industry and the writing is on the wall, it's just a matter of time until they realize the door they opened for people to become extremely energy and transport independent.

 

I think it's good that there will be more options for us to be free from that too. Years ago l laughed at guys making Bio-diesel but realize now they were ahead of the curve.

 

That's pretty good break even point. I think some solar companies offer a warranty that varies from 10 to 20 years for the panels I believe? Either way a 6 year turn is very good. My wife and I were looking at getting panels but our hot water and heat is natural gas and it doesn't make sense for us to install panels. It was like a 22 or 23 year break even for us.

Just a side question, how often do you have your panels cleaned or do you DIY?

 

is took me a while as well....

I was stuck on that "someone taking something away from me" mentality

but really in the end, its we the consumers that will net the greatest gains

 

who exactly is the "they" you keep referencing?? just curious because you mention "they" but don't specify who "they" are...

 

6 years and haven't cleaned the panels. I talked to a buddy who is in the industry and most of the companies selling cleaning of the panels are just out to get your money.

I haven't had any drop off in production without cleaning them.

 

You seriously have no idea what you are talking about.

Majority of EV's will be charged at home, and have no impact on the grid? What are you smoking? We already have brown outs, and calls to curtail power during peak time, due to stress on the grid. Where do you think your home power comes from? Unicorn farts?

EV's charge off of 220v at 50 to 75 amps. If you start adding that load to the grid... IT WILL have a negative impact, period.

I build homes for a living, therefore I have a very good relationship with utilities providers. THEY ALL tell me the grid can not, and will not, take the load that will be generated by the influx of EVs being charged. They also say they law of supply and demand would cause the cost of electric to go up dramatically.

 

Although a minor difference, the current Tesla wall charger and the forthcoming Rivian wall charger max at 48amps/240V

 

The Tesla wall charger requires a 75 amp breaker, at least it did the last time I checked.

Even at 48 amps... you're still using more power than you would, running a second air conditioner. (in many cases) (which by the way, is the largest load on nearly every house)

 

so i guess the next step in the equation would be.... for comparisons sake

how much stress will the grid save from all the oil and gas facilities being weaned down

i bet any single fuel station with all their lights and what not, being turned off, would prob safe a decent amount

 

Those 24-hour AM/PMs aren't going away, and those well-lit gas pumps would just be replaced by well-lit charging stations.

 

My older Tesla home charger has a 100 amp breaker because my older 2015 Tesla was upgraded and had 40A dual chargers in it so it could charge at 80A/240V netting me 60 miles/hour charge. All the newer cars and chargers have gone down to 48A max, and I wouldn’t doubt it is because of your concern of overloading the infrastructure with higher adoption rates.

 

i guess, it seemed everyone was assuming that all the EVs would be charged at home

 

Considering everyone I know with home solar is giving the utilities more than they use the supply is out there. Utilities don't want more people on solar as it affects their bottom line......

 

Except you don't understand that the grid isn't a set of legos you just get to move around at will. The grid is set up for refineries, where they are.

You can't just shut that part down and divert the power to a suburban neighborhood. (for starters)
Add to that... even if all new cars were EV tomorrow... you still have millions of combustion engines in use. Therefore you're need for gas and oil refineries still exists.

 

you cant? or you just dont understand?

 

if you build it "they" will come??

 

I don't care if everyone in the entire State, that has solar, is producing more than they are using. The amount of that, specific, solar generation is not even a percentage of the power being used/produced overall.

Utilities don't really have a choice... all new homes in CA are required to have solar. Which is totally BS because some utility districts, solar adds ZERO financial benefit to the home owner. Example: where I live, I had the Regional President of a major solar company tell me, point blank, my electrical utility cost is where if I got solar panels for my house, they would never pay for themselves.

 

As far as the Rivian (or any other EV) being the "Future" in off-roading. If that's the case, the future is bleak.

Have you seen the frame of the Rivian?



Tell me how that thing looks even REMOTELY conducive to actual off-roading.

You have IFS front and rear. The up travel is garbage. The belly is a big assed battery, that if damaged, leaves you stranded. Try driving that thing through Rubicon... or ANY real "Named" trail. And if you're thinking skids, you would have to add skids to the entire underbelly of the vehicle... a vehicle that already weighs 20-30% more than an "off-road rig" does to begin with.

How are you going to do any modifications to the frame or any of the suspension components? (4 link, 3 link, 1 ton axles... hell, any straight axle) Considering you'd be welding next to a battery that if over heated, catches on fire... a fire that if doused with water, poses the very real threat of creating a hydrogen gas explosion.

Then you have the fact that a Jerry can doesn't hold electricity. A wrong turn in Mojave or Death Valley, or pretty much anywhere in SE Utah, Northern New Mexico, or a host of other places, leaves you stranded.

 

aounds like the utilities are winning there and would WANT more homes on solar. They have to PAY for energy I’m from a supplier, they are paying nothing or nearly nothing for this new supplier(s)