THE MORNING RANT: Some Fools Never Learn – Ford & VW Prepare to Roll Out New Small <i>Electric</i> Pickups

THE MORNING RANT: Some Fools Never Learn – Ford & VW Prepare to Roll Out New Small Electric Pickups

There are three new small pickup trucks about to roll out. That is great news. They’re all going to be electric. That is bad news.

In my circle of guy friends who came of age in the 1980s, we all seemed to have had a Chevrolet S10, Nissan Hardbody, or Ford Courier / Ranger pickup at some point. We’ve also lamented the lack of small pickup trucks in recent years.

Without getting into the weeds as to why, small pickup trucks with good gas mileage were effectively outlawed by the government’s environmental regulators. Why? Because ~~they’re idiots~~ large trucks were exempt from the automobile corporate fuel standards, but small trucks weren’t. Fortunately, Donald Trump, Lee Zeldin, and Congress’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act combined to kill off all the old mandates.

Auto manufacturers are finally free to build the small pickup trucks that had effectively been banned for decades. And they’re doing just that! Except, they’re going to be electric.

Electric vehicles have been a catastrophic failure for VW and Ford, costing tens of billions of dollars and not ever achieving more than nominal sales before they killed their flagship EVs, the Volkswagen ID.4 and Ford F150 ~~Conflagration~~ Lightning respectively. In fact, Ford and VW both built all-new plants in Tennessee just for their EVs, which were expected to sell hundreds of thousands of units per year. Those plants are now producing zero EVs.

Ford and VW triumphantly rolling out another wave of EVs is as preposterous as Bud Light rolling out another ad campaign with Dylan Mulvaney. But here we are.

First, Volkswagen bought the name “Scout,” which was International (Harvester’s) famous mid-century pickup. What the Scout was not was electric. No matter, VW is building yet another all-new plant in the U.S., this one in South Carolina, with plans to produce up 200,000 electric Scouts per year. From Car and Driver:

Just a few years after announcing its ambitious intention to revive the Scout brand—once owned by the International Harvester Company—VW has issued proof of concept in the form of the 2028 Scout Terra EV pickup. Debuting alongside its Scout Traveler SUV sibling…the Terra is poised to be an amalgam of modern and traditional styling and engineering themes. For instance, it’s built on a classic truck-style body-on-frame blueprint with a crew cab and 5.5-foot bed, but it uses a modern battery-electric powertrain that’s good for an estimated 350 miles of range.

In other words, with 350 miles of range, this Scout pickup truck cannot do what the small pickups of my youth did, drive from Central Texas to South Padre on a whim, with only one 5-minute refueling stop. Nor could it drive out to New Mexico for a ski trip, etc. Like all other EVs, the Scout will be a novelty that is only good for running around town.

As for Ford, it has recently launched the small Maverick pickup truck, which is gasoline-powered and a huge sales success. Perhaps Ford thinks its new EV pickup will be a popular lineup addition. Ford’s EV history indicates otherwise.

“2028 Ford Ranchero: Everything We Know About the $30,000 Electric Truck; The upcoming Ranchero could be the affordable EV pickup we’ve been waiting for” [Motor Trend – 7/14/2026]

[Affordable EV pickups] is still an untested market, but if expertly executed, it has the potential to take off for both buyers and automakers. Ford clearly sees the opportunity here and is aggressively angling for it. Furthermore, Ford already has tried-and-true success in the compact Maverick, and the Ranchero should offer the Maverick’s size and utility advantages while not sipping on a drop of fuel.
The Ranchero also won’t be Ford’s first EV pickup. That title goes to the F-150 Lightning, whose production ceased late last year. However, where the Lightning failed is where the Ranchero could succeed, as buyers have shown an overwhelming interest and desire for more affordable vehicles. Without the federal EV tax credit to lean on, automakers are going to have to retool how they price their EVs.

Jeff Bezos of Amazon fame is forever trying to copy Elon Musk’s successes, so now Bezos is launching an EV company, focusing on what else? Small, electric pickups.

“A $24,950 Electric Pickup Truck? Bezos-Backed Company Ready to Take on Tesla” [Finance Yahoo - 6/26/2026]

Slate Auto, backed by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, could have the secret formula to making disruption in the pickup truck market that includes Tesla Inc, Rivian Automotive, General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co. The secret could be cost. Here's how Slate Auto is solving the key issue.
Originally planning to launch a bare-bones electric pickup truck for under $20,000, the ending of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit put that pricing plan from Slate Auto into question. On Wednesday, the company unveiled its Slate Truck, which will come with an initial starting price point of $24,950 with units expected to ship in late 2026.

Just like Tesla found a niche with Tesla as a boutique city car for those with a home-charger and at least one gas-powered car, there may be a market niche for a small electric pickup that serves as a status-symbol “2nd car” for running errands. Perhaps Bezos will capture that small market.

But these small electric pickup trucks will never become the all-purpose vehicle for the demographic that was so loyal to small pickups decades ago. Young adults buying inexpensive vehicles tend to be transient in their housing, and places where transient people live cannot be relied on to have charging facilities. The only reliable EV demographic is homeowners with home chargers (who had to spend on average several thousand dollars to have a home charger installed.) That is not who the inexpensive pickups are being targeted for.

Ford and VW are about to burn through billions more chasing a market that doesn’t actually exist. Some fools never learn.

*****

Other Stuff I’m Writing About

My latest piece at the The American Spectator has been published.

“Repealing the 17th Amendment Would Save… John Cornyn” discusses my opposition to the growing clamor for repealing the 17th Amendment. Prior to this constitutional amendment, state legislatures chose that state’s senators - they were not elected at the ballot box.

Primary voters just voted incumbent Republican senators John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy out of office, a necessary act of political hygiene that the legislatures of Texas and Louisiana would not have done.

Even more importantly, too much of our federal governance is already in the hands of unelected rulers, be they judges or bureaucrats. We, voters, would like to remove many of them, but we can’t. The last thing we should do right now is take away the ability to vote out bad senators too.
How to fix the problem of left-leaning Republicans in state legislatures warrants its own discussion, but the simple fact that RINOs hold so much power in red state legislatures is enough reason not to hand them the power to choose U.S. Senators. Ted Cruz and Ken Paxton are both conservative insurgents who defied the establishment to win their U.S. Senate nominations. Neither would have ever been chosen by the Texas legislature, but conservative voters made that choice at the ballot box.

This piece is not behind a paywall. I’d be honored if you’d give it a read.

My latest at The American Spectator: “Repealing the 17th Amendment Would Save…John Cornyn”

The same Republican voters who dumped establishment incumbents shouldn’t surrender their power to legislatures that would have kept them there. https://t.co/o0JJDoYj26
— Buck Throckmorton (@BuckThrockmort) July 22, 2026

[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Sponge!

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:00 AM (oUopv)

2 2? At half price?

Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:01 AM (q6tQZ)

3 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:01 AM (2YhKe)

4 Electric cars have one purpose only.

Riding cement trails around a golf course.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:02 AM (2YhKe)

5 “Repealing the 17th Amendment Would Save… John Cornyn” discusses my opposition to the growing clamor for repealing the 17th Amendment. Prior to this constitutional amendment, state legislatures chose that state’s senators - they were not elected at the ballot box.

====

Preventing the 17th Amendment from being passed would have done a lot.

Repealing it now would create a host of problems and probably solve very little.

The only real solution is enthusiastic and frequent primary challenges to Senators.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:02 AM (RWrid)

6 I'd never before considered the Cornyn angle on repealing the 17th. You make an excellent point. Political systems become more sclerotic over time, and those with power will do what they can to make sure they keep it.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:05 AM (Riz8t)

7 The only real solution is enthusiastic and frequent primary challenges to Senators.

You misspelled "helicopter rides".

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:05 AM (Riz8t)

8 EV pickup trucks are an abomination.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 11:05 AM (jehhT)

9 CEOs today are rarely trailblazers. They will follow the crowd of other CEOs.

There are a few (like the Toyota Chairman who was forced out) who can tell that it's a lemming trail off a cliff.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at July 24, 2026 11:06 AM (XHO5P)

10 6 I'd never before considered the Cornyn angle on repealing the 17th. You make an excellent point. Political systems become more sclerotic over time, and those with power will do what they can to make sure they keep it.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:05 AM (Riz8t)

=====

Another example.

McConnell owns the machine in Kentucky. No way on earth would repealing the 17th have led to the state legislature of KY removing him from office.

Same with Graham in SC (though I grew to like him more as we got further into the Trump era).

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:06 AM (RWrid)

11 “2028 Ford Ranchero: Everything We Know About the $30,000 Electric Truck; The upcoming Ranchero could be the affordable EV pickup we’ve been waiting for” [Motor Trend – 7/14/2026]

I think people who write for Motor Trend want us to have been waiting for it. I don't think we have been.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:06 AM (Riz8t)

12 As for Ford, it has recently launched the small Maverick pickup truck, which is gasoline-powered and a huge sales success. Perhaps Ford thinks its new EV pickup will be a popular lineup addition. Ford’s EV history indicates otherwise.

Ford, once again, f*cked up with that.

The Maverick was an affordable at the time 4 door family sedan.

What they SHOULD have done, which would've kept in line with their historical pickup truck lines, was make the new Ranger the Ford F-100 pickup, then bring in the Ranger, which was their mini pickup for years, as what they're calling the Maverick.

The Executive Board at Ford needs to be launched into the ocean via trebuchet to become shark shit.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:06 AM (2YhKe)

13 Had a 1982 Ford Courier. Piece of engineering crap. Air conditioner had a hose that drained the condensation from inside the cab to a hole in the floorboard.

The engineering crap was making the hose about 3" too short. It kept being kicked inside the cab, thereby flooding the passenger floorboard.

F'n inbreds.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:06 AM (oUopv)

14 We also need Congressional term limits.

Posted by: Bulg at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (77rzZ)

15 Ford is forecasting that the millions of buyers who lined up none deep for the Lightning will now line up none deep for the electric Ranchero.

Affinity marketing, they call it.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (Swy+8)

16 14 We also need Congressional term limits.

Posted by: Bulg at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (77rzZ)

======

California has term limits on its state legislators, and its government is fantastic.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (RWrid)

17 John Cornyn and new 'lectric pickups. Two losers in one thread.

Posted by: Buck Writes Good, Though at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (JM9I6)

18 Electric cars have one purpose only.

Riding cement trails around a golf course.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:02 AM (2YhKe)

I prefer gas golf carts. Especially ones that backfire and sound like someone popped off a 45!

Posted by: Doof at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (Ogd6l)

19 I'd never before considered the Cornyn angle on repealing the 17th. You make an excellent point. Political systems become more sclerotic over time, and those with power will do what they can to make sure they keep it.
Posted by: Archimedes

True, but I'm more interested in national politics than state. Having the state bufoons keep someone as a senator who's anathema to my interests would have me get VERY interested in state politics again.
Maybe not a bad thing.

Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (q6tQZ)

20 “A $24,950 Electric Pickup Truck? Bezos-Backed Company Ready to Take on Tesla” [Finance Yahoo - 6/26/2026]

How is he going to build a car that looks like a penis?

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (2YhKe)

21 We also need Congressional term limits.

Again, it's spelled "helicopter rides". Are you people being deliberately provocative?

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:08 AM (Riz8t)

22 For instance, it’s built on a classic truck-style body-on-frame blueprint with a crew cab and 5.5-foot bed, but it uses a modern battery-electric powertrain that’s good for an estimated 350 miles of range.

Until you put a cooler full of ice and beer in the bed. The estimated range then drops to 275. Tow an empty trailer and you're down around the 200 mile range.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:09 AM (2YhKe)

23 The sun will shine in my back door, someday....

Posted by: Electric Truck Lobby at July 24, 2026 11:09 AM (JM9I6)

24 How is he going to build a car that looks like a penis?
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (2YhKe)

Best I can do is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

Posted by: Rick Harrison at July 24, 2026 11:09 AM (3aLWR)

25 How is he going to build a car that looks like a penis?
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (2YhKe)

That design is copyrighted!

Posted by: Oscar Meyer at July 24, 2026 11:09 AM (Ogd6l)

26
20 “A $24,950 Electric Pickup Truck? Bezos-Backed Company Ready to Take on Tesla” [Finance Yahoo - 6/26/2026]

How is he going to build a car that looks like a penis?

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (2YhKe)

====

One piece at a time.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:10 AM (RWrid)

27
The Senate would still be more oriented to the interest of the state and not the so swayed by "causes". Trump could actually win by making most states happy.

And that would be better than federal ideologues sitting on things not because their state couldn't use it, but because their image on a national stage would change.

Perhaps Cornryn would never have become Cornryn if the 17th amendment had never been ratified.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:10 AM (Fi81e)

28 The charging infrastructure is still not there, I don't care if you can get 500 miles on one charge. And I would never put a charger in my home because these these things are prone to catch on fire. If you put one outside your home, some asshole is going to want to use it at your expense.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 24, 2026 11:11 AM (SwCxT)

29 The Ranchero.

For when you want your car to sound like a Taco Bell menu item

Posted by: ... at July 24, 2026 11:11 AM (Nyq9f)

30 Willowed 334.
still like baking in ounces. I flip back and forth but I like the ounces to two decimal places. I don't see how halving or doubling 29.86 is any more or less easy than doing that to 676 grams
Posted by: ... at July 24, 2026

Just the opposite, e switched to metric for baking for the dry ingredients and sugar because it is way easier to scale. Eggs remain unscalable, guess and hope,err on to much.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 24, 2026 11:11 AM (sl73Y)

31 How is he going to build a car that looks like a penis?

----------

At first glans it doesn't seem possible.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 24, 2026 11:11 AM (Swy+8)

32 We also need Congressional term limits.

Posted by: Bulg at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (77rzZ)
---
Or discipline.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:12 AM (Fi81e)

33 27
The Senate would still be more oriented to the interest of the state and not the so swayed by "causes". Trump could actually win by making most states happy.

And that would be better than federal ideologues sitting on things not because their state couldn't use it, but because their image on a national stage would change.

Perhaps Cornryn would never have become Cornryn if the 17th amendment had never been ratified.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:10 AM (Fi81e)

=====

I think the largest problem now is federal block grants. State legislatures are addicted already, and their choices of senators would become increasingly defined by this addiction.

Yes, never having the 17th would have prevented a Cornyn maybe. Repealing it now would just enlarge other issues while solving almost nothing at all.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:12 AM (RWrid)

34 Aren't Ford and VW in enough trouble without inventing more?

Posted by: Shooting Yourself In Foot at July 24, 2026 11:12 AM (JM9I6)

35 Rechargeables make sense in limited applications. There are niche customers in niche markets.

Even Golf carts would be perfect in some places for many people.

But they aren’t interested in what actually works, they want to replace it with what sounds good.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:12 AM (GbFT6)

36 I drive a small pickup as a preference (I'm short). An Etruck would probably suit me just fine...except the remembering to charge it every night.
We have a golf cart for around the property.
Going to the garden, working the bees, running down to the mower shed... I would NEVER buy an etruck for general use.

Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:12 AM (q6tQZ)

37
I prefer gas golf carts. Especially ones that backfire and sound like someone popped off a 45!
Posted by: Doof at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (Ogd6l)

In the middle of your downswing.......

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:12 AM (2YhKe)

38 Much like communism, this time it will work.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 24, 2026 11:13 AM (Swy+8)

39 Going to the garden, working the bees, running down to the mower shed... I would NEVER buy an etruck for general use.

You kids and your euphemisms for sex...
*rolls eyes*

Still, I kind of like "working the bees".

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:14 AM (Riz8t)

40 Like all other EVs, the Scout will be a novelty that is only good for running around town.
——-

Golf carts. Perfect for this.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:14 AM (GbFT6)

41 Much like communism, this time it will work.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 24, 2026 11:13 AM (Swy+

Real electric vehicles have never been tried.

Posted by: ... at July 24, 2026 11:14 AM (Nyq9f)

42 I think the largest problem now is federal block grants. State legislatures are addicted already, and their choices of senators would become increasingly defined by this addiction.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:12 AM (RWrid)
---
Block grants are there because people were trying to increase the federal hold over the states. It somebody in Congress is there only because they represent the state interest, we probably will have less of that.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:14 AM (Fi81e)

43 Going to the garden, working the bees, running down to the mower shed... I would NEVER buy an etruck for general use.
Posted by: MkY

I forgot to add... when the cart runs out of juice in the middle of the woods, I can go tow it back with a tractor.

Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:14 AM (q6tQZ)

44 > Even more importantly, too much of our federal governance is already in the hands of unelected rulers, be they judges or bureaucrats.
------------
I think the judiciary is the bigger issue. They're responsible for upholding laws, even bad ones, or ignoring and they hand down punishments (or don't) depending on the political persuasion of the accused.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 11:14 AM (jehhT)

45 Cornyn. What a douche.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 24, 2026 11:15 AM (Swy+8)

46 Going to the garden, working the bees, running down to the mower shed... I would NEVER buy an etruck for general use.

You kids and your euphemisms for sex...
*rolls eyes*

Still, I kind of like "working the bees".
Posted by: Archimedes

Going to the garden... to plow.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:15 AM (oUopv)

47 Where's my Toyota HiLux?

Posted by: Suburban guys everywhere at July 24, 2026 11:15 AM (2Ez/1)

48
I forgot to add... when the cart runs out of juice in the middle of the woods, I can go tow it back with a tractor.
Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:14 AM (q6tQZ)

And dropping $2 to 4k every 4 to 7 years for new batteries in the cart.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:15 AM (2YhKe)

49 The Executive Board at Ford needs to be launched into the ocean via trebuchet to become shark shit.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:06 AM

Why do you hate us?

Posted by: The Sharks at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (kgE5c)

50
Some Fools Never Learn – Ford & VW Prepare to Roll Out New Small Electric Pickups

Are they going to be radio controlled?

Will they be able to do wheelies?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (09t5c)

51 Fortunately, Donald Trump, Lee Zeldin, and Congress’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act combined to kill off all the old mandates.
---

I get my HiLux diesel with a blown 4 banger?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (RBKzD)

52 16 TJM, I don’t care. Term limits are necessary. No more McConnells or Feinsteins holding on to their seats for decades until they die.

Posted by: Bulg at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (77rzZ)

53 Not everyone has your bizarre, almost religious aversion to EVs. I'm prepared to evaluate new offerings on their merits. It is entirely possible that a new small EV truck will work quite well for the sort of weekend errands and dump runs I need a truck for.

Posted by: RichieC at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (n4Uod)

54
I've been seeing more Ford Lightnings on the road lately.

Not a lot. Just more.

I've got to assume that the dealerships are pretty much giving them away, maybe a BOGO deal or-

in a deal with McDonald's...Free with every Happy Meal.

Also, as mentioned in the last thread a lot more Volvo Snowbilly SUVs on the road recently.

Any thoughts, morons and eyes?

Posted by: naturalfake at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (iJfKG)

55 Where's my Toyota HiLux?
Posted by: Suburban guys everywhere at July 24, 2026 11:15 AM (2Ez/1)

We don't have roving bands of terrorists parading through the desolate areas in the US.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (2YhKe)

56 I prefer gas golf carts. Especially ones that backfire and sound like someone popped off a 45!
Posted by: Doof at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (Ogd6l)

In the middle of your downswing.......
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:12 AM (2YhKe)

Of course!

I actually get a kick out of the backfiring cart. It gives me an opportunity to drop a reference to the Baltimore City golf course I played a lot back in the day (Clifton Park). The area it is in was less than ideal back in the 90s. I wouldn't dare go to that area these days!

Posted by: Doof at July 24, 2026 11:17 AM (Ogd6l)

57 True, but I'm more interested in national politics than state. Having the state bufoons keep someone as a senator who's anathema to my interests would have me get VERY interested in state politics again.
Maybe not a bad thing.
Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (q6tQZ)

This. Much of what we're seeing nowadays is the lack of interest in state and local politics, I.E., the creeper mayor in NYC. Anything that will re-align focus closer to home is a good thing.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at July 24, 2026 11:17 AM (g8Ew8)

58 Not everyone has your bizarre, almost religious aversion to EVs. I'm prepared to evaluate new offerings on their merits. It is entirely possible that a new small EV truck will work quite well for the sort of weekend errands and dump runs I need a truck for.
Posted by: RichieC at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (n4Uod)

Joe Xiden is back?

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (2YhKe)

59 I have a 4x4 Suzuki Carry 5 speed manual.

Posted by: meh at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (XeEnw)

60 And dropping $2 to 4k every 4 to 7 years for new batteries in the cart.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:15 AM (2YhKe)
-----

I converted our cart from lead-acid to LiPO4 two years ago, and expect to get at least another 8-10 years out of the batteries with the amount of usage the cart sees. Total cost to convert including 48v in batteries was $1800.

Posted by: ballistic at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (oqH4h)

61 42 Block grants are there because people were trying to increase the federal hold over the states. It somebody in Congress is there only because they represent the state interest, we probably will have less of that.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:14 AM (Fi81e)

======

I think the fraud revelations over the last year or so have shown that there is virtually no actual control of the federal government over states regarding the states' spending of block grant moneys.

State legislatures will simply react to their sudden power over federal senators by instructing them to increase the funding and making sure the federal government doesn't investigate how they spend it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (RWrid)

62 The Ford Maverick is a four door Subaru Brat.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (2Ez/1)

63 How is he going to build a car that looks like a penis?
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM

We're right here, you know.

Posted by: The Ambiguously Gay Duo at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (kgE5c)

64
The Ford Huffy

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (09t5c)

65 The charging infrastructure is still not there, I don't care if you can get 500 miles on one charge
——-

The power generating capacity isn’t there either. Nor the grid capacity.

It really is an eye opener to have belligerently ignorant assholes running things. Everyone just shrugs. “Whattaya gonna do?”

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (GbFT6)

66 And dropping $2 to 4k every 4 to 7 years for new batteries in the cart.

Nah, $400 for the 6 from the discount battery guy.

Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (q6tQZ)

67 "but it uses a modern battery-electric powertrain that’s good for an estimated 350 miles of range."

In real life you will be lucky to get 200 miles of range on a full battery.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at July 24, 2026 11:19 AM (0N4FZ)

68 The Slate is already dead IMO.

The base truck is, yes - $25k.

The paint job is extra. Yes, the paint is extra. There's no infotainment, no power anything. If you want the SUV "module" thats another $5000 if I recall, and it doesn't actually include rear seats.

The issue with all of these small EV trucks is that... the Ford Maverick exists for a $33k starting price. It doesn't have the baggage of being an EV and it's actually a damn good vehicle.

Anyone who competitively shops these vehicles - will quickly find that the Maverick is the ticket. If Ford wanted to put an electric motor in the Maverick - that would be their best chance for a success in that market - but it would be north of $45k apparently and therefore completely uncompetitive with its own model line.

Posted by: Defenestratus at July 24, 2026 11:19 AM (WYStd)

69
The VW WeinerWagon

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at July 24, 2026 11:19 AM (09t5c)

70 Real electric vehicles have never been tried.
Posted by: ...

By 1900, electric cars accounted for about 28% of vehicles on U.S. roads, and even President Woodrow Wilson used an electric car for official duties. However, limitations in battery range, high costs, and the rise of gasoline-powered cars eventually led to a decline in electric vehicle use by the 1930s.

The Ford Model T used a 177 cubic inch (2.9 L) side-valve, inline 4-cylinder engine producing 20 hp, renowned for its simplicity, reliability, and adaptability.

STILL OUTPERFORMED Evehicle.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:19 AM (oUopv)

71 Almost a month ago one of our sons rolled up in a Rivian truck, he was given a test run of several days while his 2019 Silverado sat idle at the distributors place (they don't have regular dealerships) in Houston.

Nice driving rig I must admit. He drives 60 miles to work everyday and that work includes driving to projects he monitors as a TxDOT engineer. All went well until he ran into the low battery scenario a couple of times. The second one had him sitting for an hour waiting to get a charge that lasted another 45 minutes in Flatonia's only charger. He got home at midnight.

Drove straight to the distributor in Houston and got his Chevy back the next day.

Posted by: DanMan at July 24, 2026 11:19 AM (8uzBS)

72 People are lining up for the only thing on the shelves, rotten potatoes... divert all production to rotten potatoes!

Posted by: Soviet Production Experts at July 24, 2026 11:19 AM (rJhDk)

73 The Ford Maverick is a four door Subaru Brat.
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (2Ez/1)

Minus the two rear facing bed seats complete with post handles and a seat belt.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:20 AM (2YhKe)

74 The founders built a system that thrived on people representing their own self-interests.

Popular Senate elections just made an office that was a sort of "celebrity" among representatives. A more elite house.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:20 AM (Fi81e)

75 The Senate would still be more oriented to the interest of the state and not the so swayed by "causes". Trump could actually win by making most states happy.

And voters would be more interested in the fools they send to their own State capitols.

I would like to see the 16th, 17th and 19th repealed and a re-recognition of the 10th.

Maybe after the gunsmoke clears after the Cloward/Piven crash whatever Heritage Americans survive can see fit to restore the Constitution as God intended.

Posted by: Community Notes at July 24, 2026 11:20 AM (9s47C)

76 Last week, on the Real Eismann Playbook podcast, a financial analyst who specializes in electrical power stuff said that electrical vehicles were selling well, especially in Europe, and that the Chinese are going to eat the USA's lunch because of their investments in data centers and advanced electric vehicles.

I'm concerned that my conclusion, that the Chinese couldn't innovate their way out of a paper bag, that the advantages of AI are way overblown, and that electric vehicles aren't really a growth industry, is mistaken, but I guess we'll see.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 24, 2026 11:20 AM (Zst8M)

77 Eh, I don't really care if Ford, VW, etc. want to sell an EV, it will either sell or it won't.

But making the US government and taxpayers fund it is exponentially worse with massive government mandates and subsidies and those are fortunately dead for the time being.

And I do think eventually that EVs will end up dominating the market--a) they are cheaper to make, b) battery technology continues to improve on density and cost, and c) if we nuke up then we will have cheap electricity. A great deal of trips are well within an EV range of 300-500 miles for a lot of people living in metroplexes.

They do have challenges--flammability via runaway battery fires, we don't know much about component life, and range issues/charging are a limiting factor. Those are primarily engineering issues, not feasibility of the concept itself.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:20 AM (E4rtv)

78
The Ford Huffy Flintstone Edition

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at July 24, 2026 11:20 AM (09t5c)

79 prefer gas golf carts. Especially ones that backfire and sound like someone popped off a 45!
Posted by: Doof at July

Especially when you can get them to backfire at the top of someones backswing.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 24, 2026 11:20 AM (sl73Y)

80 The VW WeinerWagon
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at July 24, 2026 11:19 AM (09t5c)

Anyone who does not read that as "Veener Vaggon" need not consider themselves a friend of mine.

Posted by: Doof at July 24, 2026 11:21 AM (Ogd6l)

81 Henry Ford would be unhappy with that red paint. Red paint is for fire engines, black is for everything else.

Posted by: Eromero at July 24, 2026 11:21 AM (LHPAg)

82 Maybe these brainiacs don't understand the concept of "sunk costs," and simply want to recoup the massive losses of their EV production lines.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at July 24, 2026 11:21 AM (l4RKn)

83 Hmmm, SF marathon is this weekend. Didn't even know.

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at July 24, 2026 11:22 AM (DZ9Lv)

84 "The upcoming Ranchero could be the affordable EV pickup we've been waiting for."

Got a mouse in your pocket, Motor Trend?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 24, 2026 11:22 AM (1z8ji)

85 And dropping $2 to 4k every 4 to 7 years for new batteries in the cart.
—-

Is it that much? A good high quality 6 volt deep cycle is maybe $300. They use four (4) in a series-parallel arrangement iirc. It’s been a while. I think batteries are expensive, not $4k expensive though.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:22 AM (GbFT6)

86 Block grants are there because people were trying to increase the federal hold over the states. It somebody in Congress is there only because they represent the state interest, we probably will have less of that.

Here's a thought. If the Feds are taking in money and then immediately shipping it back to the states via block grants, why don't we just stop taxing so much at the Federal level, and let the states decide if it's worth taxing their own constituents for it?

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:23 AM (Riz8t)

87 86
Here's a thought. If the Feds are taking in money and then immediately shipping it back to the states via block grants, why don't we just stop taxing so much at the Federal level, and let the states decide if it's worth taxing their own constituents for it?

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:23 AM (Riz8t)

======

Fewer opportunities for graft.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:24 AM (RWrid)

88
So...we were on vacation in Scotland, Portugal and London and saw and road in a lot of EVs.

Most of the Uber/Bolt drivers were using EVs. Teslas were very popular and apparently the dream.

Every ride we caught in an EV, I asked the driver what they thought about their car.

They all loved their EVs...for work. Gas prices were a big concern and with their itty-bitty cities, etc- a single overnight charge at home would carry them through the day.

Interestingly, several mentioned that their EV was their work car mostly but if they did any distance driving they used their ICE for that.

So, there you go-

EVs for Uber work or in town boutique trips to Neiman-Marcus.

And not much else.

Posted by: naturalfake at July 24, 2026 11:24 AM (iJfKG)

89 I would like to see the 16th, 17th and 19th repealed and a re-recognition of the 10th.

Maybe after the gunsmoke clears after the Cloward/Piven crash whatever Heritage Americans survive can see fit to restore the Constitution as God intended.
Posted by: Community Notes
======
And I would like a pony. Constitutional amendments are dead for the foreseeable future and I doubt you will get any 2/3 majority in Congress or conventions of states and then 3/4 of state legislatures.

Any Convention of the States might end up a runaway convention nowadays like the Constitutional Convention was only supposed to provide amendments to the Articles Congress, not write a new one.

We have a lot of what we can actually do like getting rid of our foreign oppressors and their traitorous accomplices in government offices without resorting to constitutional amendments.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:24 AM (E4rtv)

90 6 batteries, 6V each=36 volt.
New ones are 48V

Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:24 AM (q6tQZ)

91 At least around KCMo, every golf course has switched to gas engines. Tells me much.

Posted by: MkY at July 24, 2026 11:25 AM (q6tQZ)

92 At this point, the 17th is a Chesterton's fence, and people need to remember why it was passed in the first place. The Senate, which had been intended to be the redoubt of the nation's greatest statesmen, had instead become a hive of the most venal and corrupt bootlicking cronies and time-serving party functionaries. It wasn't passed because people thought it would be good, but because the alternative of the status quo was unacceptably awful.

I do not believe that the political parties or state legislatures have changed for the better in the intervening years, and I know for a fact that human nature never has and never will.

Posted by: SciVo at July 24, 2026 11:26 AM (Sy6m/)

93 I prefer gas golf carts. Especially ones that backfire and sound like someone popped off a 45!
Posted by: Doof at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (Ogd6l)

I have a gas golf cart here at Peon Manor. Useful little bugger, would not want an electric one.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 24, 2026 11:26 AM (1z8ji)

94 89 And I would like a pony. Constitutional amendments are dead for the foreseeable future and I doubt you will get any 2/3 majority in Congress or conventions of states and then 3/4 of state legislatures.

Any Convention of the States might end up a runaway convention nowadays like the Constitutional Convention was only supposed to provide amendments to the Articles Congress, not write a new one.

We have a lot of what we can actually do like getting rid of our foreign oppressors and their traitorous accomplices in government offices without resorting to constitutional amendments.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:24 AM (E4rtv)

=======

A generation of deportations might change the landscape, but otherwise, yeah.

No single suggested amendment is going to survive 3/4 of state legislatures. Not even a balanced budget. Not even term limits.

The entire American political landscape needs to shift drastically before amendments are even a remote possibility again.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:26 AM (RWrid)

95 I did convert my 1995 EZGo golfcart from the 6 lead battery original set up to a single lithium battery. Woot!!!

Posted by: DanMan at July 24, 2026 11:26 AM (8uzBS)

96 I plunked down $25 last week to get in line to buy a supposedly $25K pickup truck from startup REO in a couple years. Just a lark, but hey, who knows. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I'm number thirteen thousand and something.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 24, 2026 11:27 AM (2Ez/1)

97 92 At this point, the 17th is a Chesterton's fence, and people need to remember why it was passed in the first place. The Senate, which had been intended to be the redoubt of the nation's greatest statesmen, had instead become a hive of the most venal and corrupt bootlicking cronies and time-serving party functionaries. It wasn't passed because people thought it would be good, but because the alternative of the status quo was unacceptably awful.

I do not believe that the political parties or state legislatures have changed for the better in the intervening years, and I know for a fact that human nature never has and never will.

Posted by: SciVo at July 24, 2026 11:26 AM (Sy6m/)

======

Like half the states had already switched to popular elections already by the time the 17th passed.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:27 AM (RWrid)

98 EVs for Uber work or in town boutique trips to Neiman-Marcus.

And not much else.
Posted by: naturalfake

I can see EVs doing better in a more congested area that requires mini cars anyway. Eurolands ridiculous fetish for net zero and other stupid policies against gas and diesel are also a factor. Fuel is much higher in the EU due to taxes and scarcity as you said.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:27 AM (E4rtv)

99 You also have to look at when the 17th amendment was passed by Congress. It was 1912, it was actually late in the popularization of nationalism (one of the forces which brought Prohibition 5 years later).

Nationalism was not simply patriotism, in fact it ridiculed "mere patriotism" which didn't want to solve things at the national level.

Nationalism moved us away from an interest-balanced government to a cause-oriented government, where we got more and more momentum toward "changing the world".

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:28 AM (Fi81e)

100 Last week, on the Real Eismann Playbook podcast, a financial analyst who specializes in electrical power stuff said that electrical vehicles were selling well, especially in Europe, and that the Chinese are going to eat the USA's lunch because of their investments in data centers and advanced electric vehicles.

The Chinese have a national economic policy of beggaring their neighbors (everyone but the Chinese. How many Chinese EVs are the Euros going to buy when they can't afford the power to charge them or groceries because their own economies and tech bases have declined into third world status?

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:28 AM (Riz8t)

101 >>>as buyers have shown an overwhelming interest and desire for more affordable vehicles.
---

Could it be that Ford (that big Tennessee plant) and others are finding a way to make use of, find a break even point, all the tools and tech that at the moment are a total loss. ie take all the Lightening crap, re-brand it and sell it to a different market.
---

Buddy just bought another car, this time, it has a battery good for 35 miles and plugs in to a standard socket. He's delighted, so is his wife, she hated the big trucks. It's his city car. He never drives over 6 miles a day. It also has a gas engine for trips.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at July 24, 2026 11:28 AM (RBKzD)

102 There is a learning curve on manufacturing new technology. The operating costs for electric vehicles is estimated stc1/3 that of ICE vehicles. WalMart and Pepsico are both very happy with their Tesla semis every year EVs improve cost range and charging time. Old people are less likely to embrace new technology

EV sales in Europe have a 25% market share.

A 350 mile drive in a truck now costs about 100 dollars in gas.
Or
35 dollars in electrons.

Posted by: Paul at July 24, 2026 11:28 AM (dFAcn)

103 actually get a kick out of the backfiring cart. It gives me an opportunity to drop a reference to the Baltimore City golf course I played a lot back in the day (Clifton Park). The area it is in was less than ideal back in the 90s. I wouldn't dare go to that area these days!
Posted by: Doof at July 24, 2026 11:17

Franklin Park golf couse, Boston, late sixties.
IFYKYK.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 24, 2026 11:28 AM (sl73Y)

104 I do think eventually that EVs will end up dominating the market--a) they are cheaper to make, b) battery technology continues to improve on density and cost, and c) if we nuke up then we will have cheap electricity. A great deal of trips are well within an EV range of 300-500 miles for a lot of people living in metroplexes.

They do have challenges--flammability via runaway battery fires, we don't know much about component life, and range issues/charging are a limiting factor. Those are primarily engineering issues, not feasibility of the concept itself.

And when that happens, I'll probably buy one. My dislike for the current generation of EVs isn't based on Luddism, it's based on a sober analysis of the pros and cons.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:30 AM (Riz8t)

105 I don’t care what the chemistry of a battery is, as a general rule a 50% discharge is as far as you want to go. You can discharge them all the way down, but.

Maybe modern designs can handle deep discharges. (Maybe not, they sure catch on fire a lot).

They have to do a lot of things to hide certain realities. Cold weather temps means batteries are resistant to taking a charge, and giving up current.

“350 mile range” is under optimum temps. Gasoline engines lose range too, though not cut in half. They don’t refuse to take gasoline in the tank when it hits 35F

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:30 AM (GbFT6)

106 the maverick is unibody, (like the ridgeline), non- starter. but at least one of the three ford offerings is gas.

Posted by: cmeat at July 24, 2026 11:31 AM (R11M+)

107 Like half the states had already switched to popular elections already by the time the 17th passed.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
======
More than half. I think it was closer to 60-70 percent by the time the amendment was ratified. We forget the problems with state legislatures picking senators--for example, when one house of the leg is one party and the other house is another. Seats often sat vacant for long stretches. Then, you also had the fact that oligarchs literally bought their seats in Congress or greasy politicians served as brokers for these oligarchs who bought state legislatures wholesale. See Roscoe Conkling and his NY state machine.

If you really want to spend political capital, it would be more advantageous to limit the judiciary's role and I would go further and institute term limits on lower court judges as well. Perhaps Scotus too and put the number of justices in the Constitution itself to prevent court packing.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:32 AM (E4rtv)

108 The Senate, which had been intended to be the redoubt of the nation's greatest statesmen, had instead become a hive of the most venal and corrupt bootlicking cronies and time-serving party functionaries. It wasn't passed because people thought it would be good, but because the alternative of the status quo was unacceptably awful.

I do not believe that the political parties or state legislatures have changed for the better in the intervening years, and I know for a fact that human nature never has and never will.

You are wise.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:33 AM (Riz8t)

109 I had a 99 Mazda B4000 (Ranger).
It had the indestructible 4.0 V6.
3 speed with overdrive
rollup
only option was locking diff, AC, and CD palyer.
I think I paid 9800 cash in 2000. It had 13k miles.
Just bought daughter Bronco Sport (same platform as maverick truck). It had 38 on the window and I paid 35 out the door.

Posted by: r hennigantx at July 24, 2026 11:33 AM (/+uur)

110 >>>At least around KCMo, every golf course has switched to gas engines. Tells me much.

Posted by: MkY

>Tells you that it's easier to pump liquid out of a tank than to install a bunch of high tech gear and become a slave to your energy provider.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 24, 2026 11:34 AM (SwCxT)

111 I have a gas golf cart here at Peon Manor. Useful little bugger, would not want an electric one.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 24, 2026 11:26 AM (1z8ji)
----

Why not? Having an electric golf cart to run around your own property (So not going very far) and having a dedicated place to charge it every day if needed (your house) is honestly the only really good use case for an electric vehicle.

Plugging a cart in when needed > Filling, toting, and storing jerry cans of gasoline.

The range on my cart is 60ish miles. I charge it maybe once a week or so.

Posted by: ballistic at July 24, 2026 11:34 AM (oqH4h)

112 I plunked down $25 last week to get in line to buy a supposedly $25K pickup truck from startup REO in a couple years.

Oh, that is interesting! Small and a manual transmission, exactly what I'm looking for.

Posted by: t-bird at July 24, 2026 11:34 AM (E24OL)

113 107
If you really want to spend political capital, it would be more advantageous to limit the judiciary's role and I would go further and institute term limits on lower court judges as well. Perhaps Scotus too and put the number of justices in the Constitution itself to prevent court packing.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:32 AM (E4rtv)

======

I do want to increase state legislature say in the federal government, though, so I think there's room in the question of the judiciary.

Something like a majority of state legislatures can overrule a SCOTUS decision, or state legislatures can remove lower court federal judges in the district level by super majorities, or the states in a circuit can remove circuit level judges by super majorities of a majority of states in the circuit.

Something like that.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:34 AM (RWrid)

114 No single suggested amendment is going to survive 3/4 of state legislatures. Not even a balanced budget. Not even term limits.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:26 AM (RWrid)
---
Yup that's why you should listen to the DSA's "plans" and wonder if they have any idea what it would take to change the structure of America's government to their "plan". Don't worry about it, because a society that could ratify the DSA plan, is not a society you can save.

So, I hear their "plans" and laugh at them.

Because you either live in a country where the government has taken over and the pushback of the people against simply ignoring the Constitution, or the push back is not there, or 3/4ths of the state have ratified all that crap. We have lost the handle of limited government, or checks and balances and we have lost what makes our government singular.

For something that more represents many chaotic governments across the globe.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:34 AM (Fi81e)

115 They do have challenges--flammability via runaway battery fires, we don't know much about component life, and range issues/charging are a limiting factor. Those are primarily engineering issues, not feasibility of the concept itself.

And when that happens, I'll probably buy one. My dislike for the current generation of EVs isn't based on Luddism, it's based on a sober analysis of the pros and cons.
Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:30 AM (Riz8t)

For myself it's the re-sale, trade-in value. Who wants to buy an EV with battery well into its latter half of life. I certainly don't.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at July 24, 2026 11:35 AM (g8Ew8)

116 If you really want to spend political capital, it would be more advantageous to limit the judiciary's role and I would go further and institute term limits on lower court judges as well. Perhaps Scotus too and put the number of justices in the Constitution itself to prevent court packing.

I agree with all of this, especially term limits on SCOTUS.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:35 AM (Riz8t)

117 Buddy just bought another car, this time, it has a battery good for 35 miles and plugs in to a standard socket. He's delighted, so is his wife, she hated the big trucks. It's his city car. He never drives over 6 miles a day. It also has a gas engine for trips.
Posted by: Braenyard
========
Hate to tell your buddy but those are engineering kludges that have horrible reliability ratings due to complexity of having two drive systems.

I don't think anyone has made something like the diesel electric locomotive systems where the carbon fuel drives a generator that provides power to the wheels.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:35 AM (E4rtv)

118
The people didn't care for electric trucks. They also don't care for small trucks. So we'll give them small electric trucks!

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at July 24, 2026 11:36 AM (mmrXZ)

119 “350 mile range” is under optimum temps. Gasoline engines lose range too, though not cut in half. They don’t refuse to take gasoline in the tank when it hits 35F
Posted by: Common

That 350 mile range is the same test track range that gives cars 42 mpg.

No real world scenarios though.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:36 AM (oUopv)

120 If the Feds are taking in money and then immediately shipping it back to the states via block grants, why don't we just stop taxing so much at the Federal level
——-

The Feds have a printing press. Or a digital confetti Buck Generator.

Ask yourself why they need your tax revenue in the first place?

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:36 AM (GbFT6)

121 Interesting commentary about EV's popularity in Europe yet their electric infrastructure can support all those EV's being charged, but can't support air conditioners?

Seems.... dubious.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 11:36 AM (jehhT)

122 It is entirely possible that a new small EV truck will work quite well for the sort of weekend errands and dump runs I need a truck for.
Posted by: RichieC at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (n4Uod)

So will a used gasoline powered truck. For that kind of service, tying up many thousands of dollars of capital in a new depreciating asset is a fool's errand.

I took a load of scrap metal to the scrap dealer this week, got $592 bucks and a dime. The truck I used, a 1988 Chevy 3/4 ton, I bought as government surplus for $600, many years ago. Still no rust, runs like a pup, smooth and quiet. Never lets me down.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 24, 2026 11:37 AM (1z8ji)

123 121 Interesting commentary about EV's popularity in Europe yet their electric infrastructure can support all those EV's being charged, but can't support air conditioners?

Seems.... dubious.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 11:36 AM (jehhT)

=====

Do the EVs have air conditioners in them?

Enigma!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:37 AM (RWrid)

124 The endless gaggle of uninformed morons who proclaim that the future of personal mobility is without a doubt the electric car have absolutely no idea of the notion of energy density.

The entire battery pack of the extended range F150 Conflagration contains as much energy as measure in Joules - as 4 gallons of unleaded gasoline. It takes about 30 seconds to "fill" a 4 gallon gas jerry can. To charge an F150 Lightning from 0 to 100 in 30 seconds - would require a charger that is capable of output 5 Megawatts or more.

The battery technology may exist to be able to support that charge rate - but the ability to deliver that charge rate *at scale* is simply impossible. Even if you put a nuke on every street corner, that energy generation simply doesn't exist right now, nor will it unless there's some kind of civilization-changing breakthrough.

You may say that you don't need to charge from 0 to 100 in 5 minutes. That may be true, but if everyone is driving EV's then your 20 to 80% charge is going to take longer, and longer, and longer, and longer because we simply don't have a way to reliably generate that electricity.

Posted by: Defenestratus at July 24, 2026 11:38 AM (WYStd)

125
The new rather expensive BMW EV X5 model claims-

a 435 mile range, which if true, is the minimum range I would consider for buying an EV, although-

hot temps also kill battery range and we do get a lot of that here in the Lone Star State.

The price more or less kills any EV advantage to not buying gas for years.

And then there are all the other problems with battery-driven cars. These may be engineering probs or "the limits of physics" type probs, I guess we'll see.

Posted by: naturalfake at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (iJfKG)

126 I do want to increase state legislature say in the federal government, though, so I think there's room in the question of the judiciary.

Something like a majority of state legislatures can overrule a SCOTUS decision, or state legislatures can remove lower court federal judges in the district level by super majorities, or the states in a circuit can remove circuit level judges by super majorities of a majority of states in the circuit.

Something like that.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
=======
That might possibly work as well but removal I think would be better addressed by term limits with the possibility of re-appointment so a judge does not go YOLO.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (E4rtv)

127 Interesting commentary about EV's popularity in Europe yet their electric infrastructure can support all those EV's being charged, but can't support air conditioners?

And the odds that Paul, who is all in on EVs yo, also opposes new data centers because they use lots of power: 100%.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (Riz8t)

128 Interesting commentary about EV's popularity in Europe yet their electric infrastructure can support all those EV's being charged, but can't support air conditioners?

Seems.... dubious.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 11:36 AM

Imma press "X" to doubt.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (kgE5c)

129 Who wants to buy an EV with battery well into its latter half of life. I certainly don't
——-

It would get heavily discounted in practice. Sort or like a car with a blown engine. It isn’t worthless but it is worth less.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (GbFT6)

130 Interesting commentary about EV's popularity in Europe yet their electric infrastructure can support all those EV's being charged, but can't support air conditioners?

Seems.... dubious.
Posted by: Martini Farmer

How DOES an EV's ac work? Gas engine ac works off of spinning motor and turning belts.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (oUopv)

131 If you really want to spend political capital, it would be more advantageous to limit the judiciary's role and I would go further and institute term limits on lower court judges as well. Perhaps Scotus too and put the number of justices in the Constitution itself to prevent court packing.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:32 AM (E4rtv)
---
Repealing the 17th is a non-starter for me if limiting the Court is on the table!

I have mentioned before the public slappings of judges (mainly, in jest).

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (Fi81e)

132 126 That might possibly work as well but removal I think would be better addressed by term limits with the possibility of re-appointment so a judge does not go YOLO.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (E4rtv)

=====

True. There's no reason for lower court judges to be lifetime appointments.

The Judiciary Act hasn't been modified in nearly 60 years.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:40 AM (RWrid)

133 Is it that much? A good high quality 6 volt deep cycle is maybe $300. They use four (4) in a series-parallel arrangement iirc. It’s been a while. I think batteries are expensive, not $4k expensive though.
Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:22 AM (GbFT6)

Depends on the type and quantity, of course. The only golf cart I had exposure to was the one we used for the marching band. It was pretty old and had been modified a few times, but used 8 - 6v lead acid batteries at around $125 each. Putting it a $1k every 3 or 4 years because they damn sure don't make batteries like they used to. I was anticipating things moving up from there.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:41 AM (2YhKe)

134 I look up a new 26 Excalde IQ 139
25 model at same dealer 98

41k nut punch

Posted by: r hennigantx at July 24, 2026 11:42 AM (/+uur)

135 hot temps also kill battery range and we do get a lot of that here in the Lone Star State.
Posted by: naturalfake

You can always tell the first hot day or the first cold day by the number of stranded vehicles on the toad whose battery Amber Heard'd the bed.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:42 AM (oUopv)

136 "...and range issues/charging are a limiting factor. Those are primarily engineering issues, not feasibility of the concept itself."
++++

Untrue. The energy density of the battery chemistry is a SCIENCE issue, not an engineering issue. Nothing comes close to the energy density of gasoline and diesel fuel.

If it did, the marketplace would have rewarded it long ago.
Engineering issues get rectified relatively quickly, but when you hit the hard stop on a science issue, all you can do is add tailfins and chrome.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 24, 2026 11:42 AM (2Ez/1)

137 You may say that you don't need to charge from 0 to 100 in 5 minutes. That may be true, but if everyone is driving EV's then your 20 to 80% charge is going to take longer, and longer, and longer, and longer because we simply don't have a way to reliably generate that electricity.
Posted by: Defenestratus at July 24, 2026 11:38 AM (WYStd)

Considering our present power grid, it's either EVs or A/C. Take your pick.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at July 24, 2026 11:43 AM (g8Ew8)

138 An acquaintance from work bought a Prius when they were new and relatively untested. I told him I didn't care to be the test dummy for Toyota's products.

He's now dead.

Draw your own conclusions.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:43 AM (Riz8t)

139 24 How is he going to build a car that looks like a penis?
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (2YhKe)

Best I can do is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
Posted by: Rick Harrison at July 24, 2026 11:09 AM (3aLWR)

Bloodhound Gang, "Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo"

Although it's technically not explicitly obscene, the innuendo is so hot and heavy that I hesitate to link it. I don't want to get blamed for someone getting in trouble with HR. You can do a search.

Posted by: SciVo at July 24, 2026 11:43 AM (Sy6m/)

140 If you really want to spend political capital, it would be more advantageous to limit the judiciary's role and I would go further and institute term limits on lower court judges as well. Perhaps Scotus too and put the number of justices in the Constitution itself to prevent court packing.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:32 AM (E4rtv)

Interesting ideas. Maybe consider removing judicial immunity.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 24, 2026 11:44 AM (3Ope8)

141 138 An acquaintance from work bought a Prius when they were new and relatively untested. I told him I didn't care to be the test dummy for Toyota's products.

He's now dead.

Draw your own conclusions.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:43 AM (Riz8t)

======

*nods sagaciously*

You sacrificed him to Satan in a ritual dressed in funny clothes while wearing a goat's head as a mask.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:44 AM (RWrid)

142
Without regard to the merits of the 17th... isn't it interesting how ConInc is supine and accommodating of literally everything the Democrats want, no matter how much it enrages their base?

But then, suddenly they start getting real, real conservative, as in "we need to turn the clock back on this by at least a century, even though it will take a Constitutional amendment process to get it done," the instant a reliable ConInc liberal in good standing gets taken down by that same base?

They transform from John Lindsey to Edmund Burke with a click of the fingers.

If I didn't know better, I might think the conservatism of these highly principled men was entirely situational and always predicated on protecting the rice bowls of a gang of completely unprincipled useless eaters.

But that's just crazy talk.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at July 24, 2026 11:44 AM (BI5O2)

143 How DOES an EV's ac work? Gas engine ac works off of spinning motor and turning belts.
Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:39 AM (oUopv)

Electric A/C Compressors - which are actually now used in ICE vehicles as well since the advent of those f*cking annoying auto-start-stop buttons.

I was actually thinking of converting my H1's old HT6 style compressor to an electric version - but the BTU's required to match my compressor's output, would require 120A @ 12V which is mighty toasty. I have a 200A alternator but that's cutting it close.

Posted by: Defenestratus at July 24, 2026 11:44 AM (WYStd)

144 140 Interesting ideas. Maybe consider removing judicial immunity.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 24, 2026 11:44 AM (3Ope

=====

Judicial immunity is a creation of the judiciary itself. No law passed or signed.

I'd love to see the judiciary react to Congress passing a law affirming that judicial immunity is unconstitutional and the president signing it, though.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (RWrid)

145 Hate to tell your buddy but those are engineering kludges that have horrible reliability ratings due to complexity of having two drive systems.

I don't think anyone has made something like the diesel electric locomotive systems where the carbon fuel drives a generator that provides power to the wheels.

Posted by: whig
---

The reliability and frequency of repair write ups were pretty good.
Also customer satisfaction.

The diesel electric as used in trains was discussed here and it was explained that the system is not feasible on small systems.
I don't know. I sounds the best to me.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (RBKzD)

146 Defenestrus - batteries will actually accept as much current as you’re willing to provide. Current is drawn, voltage is applied. But they will destroy themselves in short order.

50 amps DC for a “fast” boost charge for a standard automotive starting battery, but it can buckle plates.

I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near large battery packs and high current DC fast charging.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (GbFT6)

147 He's now dead.

Draw your own conclusions.
Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:43 AM (Riz8t)

Lady to doc: Tell my husband to quit eating gainesburgers, its dog food.
doc: nothing in there is gonna kill him
year later doc see lady
doc:hows the husband
Lady Dead
doc WTFO
Lady he got runned over chasin cars

Posted by: r hennigantx at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (/+uur)

148 Drove straight to the distributor in Houston and got his Chevy back the next day.
Posted by: DanMan

not as good a lyric as-drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry....

Posted by: Waxing Poetic at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (JM9I6)

149 And I would like a pony. Constitutional amendments are dead for the foreseeable future and I doubt you will get any 2/3 majority in Congress or conventions of states and then 3/4 of state legislatures.

You must have missed the post Cloward/Piven crash caveat.

The current composition of our ballot casting demographic and of the near total erosion of a High Trust society—as we are light years away, and never returning to the John Madison target demographic of "moral and religious people" which is a requirement for a functional Constitutional Republic, is fully incapable of dealing with those "unbridled by morality and religion".

Basically, we are just rearranging the proverbial Titanic deck chairs.

Posted by: Community Notes at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (pawvM)

150 Depends on the type and quantity, of course. The only golf cart I had exposure to was the one we used for the marching band. It was pretty old and had been modified a few times, but used 8 - 6v lead acid batteries at around $125 each. Putting it a $1k every 3 or 4 years because they damn sure don't make batteries like they used to. I was anticipating things moving up from there.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer

6v lead acid battery 232 amp hours - 4 pack on Amazon $1,029.49.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (oUopv)

151 I think it should be flatly stated that judges only clarify legal decisions of the past.

At anytime the Congress pleases, it can pass it's own clarification of the Will of the People.

Of course, judges can review the Congress that they have not violated the express Constitution. Outside a Constitutional issue, the judges are only interpreting what Congress meant, before Congress speaks again through the legislation process.

I think such an intentional expression would be in line with the original purpose of the SCOTUS.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:46 AM (Fi81e)

152 151
I think such an intentional expression would be in line with the original purpose of the SCOTUS.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:46 AM (Fi81e)

======

*uses time machine to eliminate John Marshall in his childhood*

*comes back to 2026 America to discover flying cars, moon bases, and the complete lack of third-worldists at the federal level*

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:48 AM (RWrid)

153 >>> 58
==
Posted by: RichieC at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (n4Uod)

Joe Xiden is back?
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:18 AM (2YhKe)

LOL

Anyway wouldn't the proper commie term be "EVphobe"?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 11:48 AM (vDZgA)

154 There is no reason at this point to still be messing about with lead-acid batteries in a golf cart. None.

Posted by: ballistic at July 24, 2026 11:48 AM (oqH4h)

155 The diesel electric as used in trains was discussed here and it was explained that the system is not feasible on small systems.
I don't know. I sounds the best to me.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (RBKzD)

Edison up is Canada building diesel elec specialty trucks.
Great power. Great economy. Each wheel has a computer controlled motor. More importantly everything is 100% off the shelf with built in right to repair.

Posted by: r hennigantx at July 24, 2026 11:48 AM (/+uur)

156 Why not? Having an electric golf cart to run around your own property (So not going very far) and having a dedicated place to charge it every day if needed (your house) is honestly the only really good use case for an electric vehicle.

Plugging a cart in when needed > Filling, toting, and storing jerry cans of gasoline.

The range on my cart is 60ish miles. I charge it maybe once a week or so.
Posted by: ballistic at July 24, 2026 11:34 AM (oqH4h)

I put fuel in it maybe 3 times a year. Got the cart given to me (it had a cracked frame) by a neighbor in exchange for fixing his two electric golf carts. Welded up the cracked frame, and it was good to go. Had to replace the drive belt once. When I park it for the Winter, I take out the cranking battery and store it indoors. If I had an electric cart, I would have to do that, six times.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 24, 2026 11:48 AM (1z8ji)

157 For myself it's the re-sale, trade-in value. Who wants to buy an EV with battery well into its latter half of life. I certainly don't.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons
========
We are just now beginning to get some real world stats on long term EV longevity. It is more like laptops or hand tool lithium batteries--the range goes down because the battery loses efficiency but that is in relative terms like 80 percent of charge. Right now, as I understand it, the real risk for longevity is unseen battery damage from recharging and decharging cycles that can promote the runaway battery syndrome leading to fire. But solid, sodium/aluminum ion, or gel form batteries promise to reduce that risk further.

But, if gas vehicles continue to get more and more expensive and EVs are much cheaper, then you will start to see the EVs gain ground against IC engines among yutes.

A 24k EV pickup is a lot more affordable for someone than a bloated 40-50k IC engine mini pickup. Especially if they live in a metroplex, or a business fleet for things like pest control, etc. where you have a centralized facility for nightly recharging.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:49 AM (E4rtv)

158 My latest at The American Spectator: “Repealing the 17th Amendment Would Save…John Cornyn”
____

Good point. Many of the 28 US states that currently have Republican led legislatures will refuse to send their best. So we wouldn't have 56 Paxsons, but closer to 56 Cornyns.

Still, there is the threat of recalling and replacing the Senator that might keep them in line, somewhat, that these losers currently do not fear today.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at July 24, 2026 11:49 AM (Dv3i1)

159 I don't think anyone has made something like the diesel electric locomotive systems where the carbon fuel drives a generator that provides power to the wheels.

Posted by: whig

The new Scout that was mentioned in the story - has a BEV version and a "range extender" version which uses batteries as its traction motor fuel source - but there's a small ICE engine in the trunk that kicks in when the charge is low and tries to "extend" the life of the battery.

Except that it can't keep up. It will, eventually deplete. I think they said something like 700 miles combined range when using the range extender version - but then you have a few drawbacks:
1) the added complexity of a dual fuel source powertrain
2) you now have to refuel twice when you're out of juice.
3) additional maintenance required on both systems
4) the weight of either the battery or the ICE engine serve as deadweight when the other is being used.

Posted by: Defenestratus at July 24, 2026 11:50 AM (WYStd)

160 [i[Judicial immunity is a creation of the judiciary itself. No law passed or signed.

I'd love to see the judiciary react to Congress passing a law affirming that judicial immunity is unconstitutional and the president signing it, though.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (RWrid)

Better yet, I'd like to see the victims family of someone killed by a criminal alien who was previously released by a judge sue hat judge just to establish precedence.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 24, 2026 11:50 AM (3Ope8)

161 Though I have to admit, it's an attractive proposition. My State legislature would likely put a new Pinochet in the Senate.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at July 24, 2026 11:50 AM (BI5O2)

162 Cloward/Piven crash caveat.

The current composition of our ballot casting demographic and of the near total erosion of a High Trust society—as we are light years away, and never returning to the John Madison target demographic of "moral and religious people" which is a requirement for a functional Constitutional Republic, is fully incapable of dealing with those "unbridled by morality and religion".

Basically, we are just rearranging the proverbial Titanic deck chairs.
Posted by: Community Notes at July 24, 2026 11:45 AM (pawvM)

CP works when inner city crashes and forces suburbs to pay.
When you CP a country you get East German PoPo, Cuban economy, and Venezuela Infrastructure.

Posted by: r hennigantx at July 24, 2026 11:51 AM (/+uur)

163 Heat, and vibration, destroy automobile starting batteries.

“Batteries die in July, they just don’t usually keel over till November”. Moving them to the trunk, remote from the 200° engine bay is a pretty tood idea.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:51 AM (GbFT6)

164 The diesel electric as used in trains was discussed here and it was explained that the system is not feasible on small systems.

Mostly because those diesels are designed to be constantly running because starting and stopping take hours, and may not happen at all if the temps are low enough.

Also, weight is good for locomotives, it adds traction. Weight is horrible for vehicles, increased starting and stopping energy losses, hard on the wheels and roadway, handling sucks. Locomotives also have very different noise and exhaust regulations.

Posted by: Community Notes at July 24, 2026 11:51 AM (pawvM)

165 However, the judiciary is not allowed to simply bargain with giveaways to the legislature.

I.e. no unlimited powers like "Commerce" has become.

The Congress took their claim to regulate commerce, took over 1/6 of the economy and then threw it over the transom to the "Secretary of Health and Human Services" because "the Democrats were never going to lose another major election" at that time.

In other words, invoking their power to regulate commerce, they waived that power and conferred it to the day-to-day fiat of the executive office.

That kind of cheap run around the Constitution should not be allowed. Congress is allowed certain powers because they have to answer to the people as often as they do--especially the House.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:51 AM (Fi81e)

166 Eidsons Trucks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsSDW6TOAZo

Posted by: r hennigantx at July 24, 2026 11:52 AM (/+uur)

167 The entire battery pack of the extended range F150 Conflagration contains as much energy as measure in Joules - as 4 gallons of unleaded gasoline

But that's with a little bitty 1800-lb battery, apparently. If I put 9000 more lbs of battery in the bed, won't that give me the equivalent of another 20 gallons of range?

Ha! Problem solved. I should probably patent this idea in metric so they'll buy it.

Posted by: t-bird at July 24, 2026 11:52 AM (E24OL)

168 You must have missed the post Cloward/Piven crash caveat.

The current composition of our ballot casting demographic and of the near total erosion of a High Trust society—as we are light years away, and never returning to the John Madison target demographic of "moral and religious people" which is a requirement for a functional Constitutional Republic, is fully incapable of dealing with those "unbridled by morality and religion".

Basically, we are just rearranging the proverbial Titanic deck chairs.
Posted by: Community Notes
==========
I read it. At that point, whoever has the power to gun down its opponents is what will set the rules, not a constitutional process. Takes too long so in a crash, you will get a revolution not a constitutional development process.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:52 AM (E4rtv)

169 A 24k EV pickup is a lot more affordable for someone than a bloated 40-50k IC engine mini pickup. Especially if they live in a metroplex, or a business fleet for things like pest control, etc. where you have a centralized facility for nightly recharging.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:49 AM (E4rtv)

Except that its not a $25k EV Pickup and a 40-50k IC that are competing.

Its a $33k ICE. That comes with paint. And power windows. And a radio.

As soon as you start stacking "options" on the Slate it gets pretty pricey.

Posted by: Defenestratus at July 24, 2026 11:52 AM (WYStd)

170 Daughter of Diogenes drives a Ford F-150 Raptor.
Road eating 37 inch all terrain tires, dual floating shocks, and a 5.2L Supercharged V-8 delivering 720 HP.
She chose...wisely!

Posted by: Diogenes at July 24, 2026 11:52 AM (2WIwB)

171
Bloodhound Gang, "Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo"

Although it's technically not explicitly obscene, the innuendo is so hot and heavy that I hesitate to link it. I don't want to get blamed for someone getting in trouble with HR. You can do a search.
Posted by: SciVo at July 24, 2026 11:43 AM (Sy6m/)

That was horrible.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 11:53 AM (2YhKe)

172 Heat, and vibration, destroy automobile starting batteries.

“Batteries die in July, they just don’t usually keel over till November”. Moving them to the trunk, remote from the 200° engine bay is a pretty tood idea.
Posted by: Common Tater

Let's put them behind the headlights!
Posted by: Dodge Engineers

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 11:53 AM (oUopv)

173 *uses time machine to eliminate John Marshall in his childhood*

*comes back to 2026 America to discover flying cars, moon bases, and the complete lack of third-worldists at the federal level*

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:48 AM (RWrid)
---
But Nazis, always Nazis.

We need to break those time machines.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:54 AM (Fi81e)

174 There is no reason at this point to still be messing about with lead-acid batteries in a golf cart. None.
Posted by: ballistic at July 24, 2026 11:48 AM (oqH4h)

Lead-acid batteries are 100% recyclable, and the tech to do so is mature.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 24, 2026 11:54 AM (1z8ji)

175 It's not VW that is building this plant. It's the taxpayers of South Carolina that are building -- and paying for -- this plant. SC handed VW almost $1.5 billion in subsidies, including a $400 million cash (!) payment to construct the plant.

Pure corporate welfare. It's what's for dinner. And breakfast and lunch.

Also: I expect the VW plant to pull a rope-a-dope. The plant is specifically designed to be able to build other kinds of vehicles, not just EV. With the first of the Scout models at least 2 years away from production, I expect the plant will be used for other purposes.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at July 24, 2026 11:55 AM (iFTx/)

176 Good point. Many of the 28 US states that currently have Republican led legislatures will refuse to send their best. So we wouldn't have 56 Paxsons, but closer to 56 Cornyns.

*shudders*
Do you really think America could produce 56 Cornyns? Is there a Strategic Douchebag Reserve with which I am unfamiliar?

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 11:55 AM (Riz8t)

177 When you CP a country you get East German PoPo, Cuban economy, and Venezuela Infrastructure.

Must have missed the "after the gunsmoke clears"

Our ancestors were dropped off in the middle of winter with a less than helpful welcoming committee and barely more than a shovel and a dream, and within a few generations whipped the mightiest army on the Earth and a generation or so later became the world's super-power.

I have faith in the descendants of the colonists and our access to weapons.

Posted by: Community Notes at July 24, 2026 11:56 AM (9s47C)

178
Nah. Who am I kidding. The current Congress is useless.

We are progressing in paralysis.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:56 AM (Fi81e)

179 178
Nah. Who am I kidding. The current Congress is useless.

We are progressing in paralysis.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:56 AM (Fi81e)

=======

A century of Congress ceding power to the executive has its effects.

The only real power is in the executive anymore.

Which is why Congress is a false prize. The only prize that really matters at the federal level is the presidency.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:57 AM (RWrid)

180
It's why we need a catalyst as a President. Because the rest of the "representative republic" is rotting.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:57 AM (Fi81e)

181 “A $24,950 Electric Pickup Truck? Bezos-Backed Company Ready to Take on Tesla” [Finance Yahoo - 6/26/2026]

Every woman who rides in one will get a cap and start calling herself a trucker.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 24, 2026 11:57 AM (ExV1e)

182 All I want for Christmas in July is the 1986 Mazda B2000 with manual transmission, windows, and door locks that my dad gave away to the local mechanic. And the 1970s Speed Queen washer and dryer that we left with the first house when we moved.

Posted by: Chuck C at July 24, 2026 11:57 AM (TvrWq)

183 There is no reason at this point to still be messing about with lead-acid batteries in a golf cart. None.
——-

Lead-acid batts generally can be charged at temperatures well below zero. Up until recently at least, the Lithium batteries are bricked starting at about 35F degrees or below.

They try to couch this in glowing terms, that they “incorporate protection circuitry!” But that’s not a feature it’s a bug.

I use lead acid batts in my RV year round. The Lithium were $800 to a $1000 per, and can’t be charged below freezing? fuck that.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:58 AM (GbFT6)

184 >>> Posted by: Pawl at July 24, 2026 11:28 AM (dFAcn)

Most normal people realize that century-plus-old technology isn't *new*, faggot.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 11:58 AM (vDZgA)

185 Except that its not a $25k EV Pickup and a 40-50k IC that are competing.

Its a $33k ICE. That comes with paint. And power windows. And a radio.

As soon as you start stacking "options" on the Slate it gets pretty pricey.

Posted by: Defenestratus

I grew up with pickup trucks as work vehicles, not as luxe transportation. And cars were likewise not loaded up with geegaws.

To some extent, bare bones EVs actually limit a lot of that because it drains the battery. A/C was rolling the windows down, you had an AM radio with a tinny speaker, windows were crank down, there was no such thing as seat heaters, lcd displays, only a speedometer, idiot lights, and mebbe engine temp and rpm gauges.

People here argue what they want in a vehicle and assume universality. That is not the case in a free market but that has been the problem in the US. The government has put its thumb down on the market for a variety of reasons--environment, worry about Iran shutting down the gulf (CAFE), availability of refineries and thus cheaper gas, etc.

I can see someone in California metroplex looking at near 6-7 buck gas per gallon and doing mainly work to home trips looking at a cheap EV instead.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 11:59 AM (E4rtv)

186 Should I be alarmed that my X account is suggesting I follow every police account near me?

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 24, 2026 11:59 AM (diia5)

187 180
It's why we need a catalyst as a President. Because the rest of the "representative republic" is rotting.

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 11:57 AM (Fi81e)

=====

Until Congress is willing to actually wield the power of the purse beyond shutdown theater, all power lies in the presidency.

The House alone can shut down the executive by refusing to pass budgets, but it simply won't do it. They can shut down departments entirely by refusing to fund them, but they won't do it.

Until a GOP Congress says, "Fuck the EPA, it's unfunded," Congress is a false prize.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:59 AM (RWrid)

188 At that point, whoever has the power to gun down its opponents is what will set the rules, not a constitutional process.

No consideration for Normalcy Bias? Like when Britains during WW2 were enjoying their afternoon tea sitting on the smoking ruins of their homes and businesses?

Posted by: Community Notes at July 24, 2026 12:00 PM (9s47C)

189 I use lead acid batts in my RV year round. The Lithium were $800 to a $1000 per, and can’t be charged below freezing? fuck that.
Posted by: Common Tater

Sodium ion does not have that temp problem and just now hit the market. I expect it to take a big chunk out of the lead/acid battery market soon and probably price out lithium batteries for home power units like Powerwall. Aluminum ion is being tested by Tesla for similar reasons.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 12:00 PM (E4rtv)

190 "I grew up with pickup trucks as work vehicles, not as luxe transportation. And cars were likewise not loaded up with geegaws."

And you only made long distance calls on Sunday.

Posted by: The world has changed at July 24, 2026 12:01 PM (2Ez/1)

191 A century of Congress ceding power to the executive has its effects.
——-

Also to a gazillion unelected unaccountable bureaucratic alphabet agencies making de facto laws but calling them “rules” or “policies”.

ProTip: if you can go to jail for breaking it, it ain’t a “rule”. It’s a law in everything but name.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 12:01 PM (GbFT6)

192 > It's not VW that is building this plant. It's the taxpayers of South Carolina that are building -- and paying for -- this plant.
------------
Same for the "Blue Oval" plant(s) down in Glendale, KY. However those apparently were designed to produce only EV components (batteries and associated components).

The one, finished facility ran for a couple months, fulfilled the quota they were contracted for, then shut down. The other one is incomplete. Sitting there. Unused.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 12:01 PM (jehhT)

193 16 TJM, I don’t care. Term limits are necessary. No more McConnells or Feinsteins holding on to their seats for decades until they die.
Posted by: Bulg at July 24, 2026 11:16 AM (77rzZ)

I suspect that the issues with the Cali legislature have less to do with the interchangeable cogs who get inserted and more to do with whomever controls the cheat mechanism to ensure that a specific type of interchangeable cog gets put in.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 24, 2026 12:01 PM (ExV1e)

194
Until a GOP Congress says, "Fuck the EPA, it's unfunded," Congress is a false prize.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:59 AM (RWrid)

I fail to see how becoming a multi-millionaire for doing a job that requires very little of you whatsoever other than being able to win an election a 'false prize.'

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 12:02 PM (2YhKe)

195 I can see someone in California metroplex looking at near 6-7 buck gas per gallon and doing mainly work to home trips looking at a cheap EV instead.
Posted by: whig

Actually, if people are trying to argue about lead acid vs lithium, they should be arguing about work from home.

Why even get on the road for those jobs that don't require being in the office? We proved those jobs could be done during Covid.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 12:02 PM (oUopv)

196 Sodium ion does not have that temp problem and just now hit the market. I expect it to take a big chunk out of the lead/acid battery market soon and probably price out lithium batteries for home power units like Powerwall. Aluminum ion is being tested by Tesla for similar reasons.
Posted by: whig

Sodium batteries have a smaller charge than lithium. So much so that some companies are trying out 'hybrid' sodium/lithium packs. Not ready for prime time.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 24, 2026 12:02 PM (diia5)

197 VW and Ford are suicidal. If they are set on wasting money, write me a check.

Posted by: Rotkappchen at July 24, 2026 12:02 PM (j3Fsw)

198 Digital everything just quits after a certain current or voltage drop occurs. Useless even though batteries voltage looks pretty good with testing. Swell.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at July 24, 2026 12:02 PM (fQFd2)

199 "I grew up with pickup trucks as work vehicles, not as luxe transportation. And cars were likewise not loaded up with geegaws."

And you only made long distance calls on Sunday.

And we sacrificed children to Moloch! Good times.
What? I can't be the only one.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 12:03 PM (Riz8t)

200 No consideration for Normalcy Bias? Like when Britains during WW2 were enjoying their afternoon tea sitting on the smoking ruins of their homes and businesses?
Posted by: Community Notes

In your posited collapse, it would be more like Weimer Germany and normalcy bias goes out the window when you have Commies and fascists fighting it out in the streets.

WW2 was not a societal collapse for the Brits and instead welded them (and scarred them to some extent) to believe only by collective action could the British survive the war. They weren't fighting amongst themselves for scraps of food.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 12:03 PM (E4rtv)

201 194
Until a GOP Congress says, "Fuck the EPA, it's unfunded," Congress is a false prize.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 11:59 AM (RWrid)

I fail to see how becoming a multi-millionaire for doing a job that requires very little of you whatsoever other than being able to win an election a 'false prize.'

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 12:02 PM (2YhKe)

=====

I was speaking from the perspective of the electorate, not those who get into office.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at July 24, 2026 12:03 PM (RWrid)

202 Rather than repealing the 17th Amendment, I would rather see the repeal of the 19th Amendment. That would go a long way toward solving our current political problems.

Posted by: Ralph at July 24, 2026 12:03 PM (8WZD4)

203 And you only made long distance calls on Sunday.
Posted by: The world has changed at July 24, 2026 12:01 PM

After 7 PM.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:04 PM (kgE5c)

204 >>> 195 I can see someone in California metroplex looking at near 6-7 buck gas per gallon and doing mainly work to home trips looking at a cheap EV instead.
Posted by: whig

Actually, if people are trying to argue about lead acid vs lithium, they should be arguing about work from home.

Why even get on the road for those jobs that don't require being in the office? We proved those jobs could be done during Covid.
Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 12:02 PM (oUopv)

I think there is more heh, "backlash" from commie execs and HR turds about remote work than is realized.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 12:04 PM (vDZgA)

205
After 7 PM.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:04 PM (kgE5c)

On a land line.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 12:05 PM (2YhKe)

206 This reminds me of a bit on the show Taxi where Alex explained to Tony about the apple machine.

Apples were spoiling because they spent so long in the machine. So Tony asks "So if we buy all the bad apples, then we can get to the fresh apples?"

Alex concludes, "They probably would think we like the spoiled apples and would never put any fresh apples into the machine."

Tony concludes "So, we can't ever have fresh apples."

The writers of Taxi were politically liberal. We used to have liberals who didn't dismiss "unintended consequences" as "right-wing talking points".

Posted by: Axeman at July 24, 2026 12:05 PM (Fi81e)

207 >>> 199 "I grew up with pickup trucks as work vehicles, not as luxe transportation. And cars were likewise not loaded up with geegaws."

And you only made long distance calls on Sunday.

==
And we sacrificed children to Moloch! Good times.
What? I can't be the only one.
Posted by: Archimedes at July 24, 2026 12:03 PM (Riz8t)

I thought you were Greek, not Carthginian.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 12:06 PM (vDZgA)

208 Those Edison diesel electric trucks are huge and their detail did not touch OTR. Getting a diesel electric down to passenger vehicle scale is technically impractical at the moment.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at July 24, 2026 12:06 PM (RBKzD)

209 On a land line.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 12:05 PM

*fisbump*

With a line attached to a wall.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:06 PM (kgE5c)

210 >>> 209 On a land line.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 12:05 PM

*fisbump*

With a line attached to a wall.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:06 PM (kgE5c)

Buttons or rotary dial?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM (vDZgA)

211 Work from home....

I think it fostered poor work habits. What used to take 10 minutes in the office to resolve took a day working from home. That's my experience.

It wasn't like I could walk over to Joe's cubicle and get the answers I needed or whatever. I had to e-mail or call Joe and hope he replied in a timely fashion.

Joe never replied in a timely fashion.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM (jehhT)

212 Buttons or rotary dial?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM

Rotary. Then buttons.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM (kgE5c)

213 Watch out for the phone cops!

Posted by: Bulg at July 24, 2026 12:08 PM (77rzZ)

214 Lead-acid batts generally can be charged at temperatures well below zero. Up until recently at least, the Lithium batteries are bricked starting at about 35F degrees or below.

They try to couch this in glowing terms, that they “incorporate protection circuitry!” But that’s not a feature it’s a bug.

I use lead acid batts in my RV year round. The Lithium were $800 to a $1000 per, and can’t be charged below freezing? fuck that.
Posted by: Common Tater at July 24, 2026 11:58 AM (GbFT6)
---

I don't play golf in 35 degree weather and I charge my cart in my garage that doesn't get down to 35F.

I cut about 200 lbs of weight out of my cart, gained 20 miles of range, and don't have to mess about with replacing heavy ass lead-acids when the Texas heat cooks them after 2-3 years.

Posted by: ballistic at July 24, 2026 12:08 PM (oqH4h)

215 On a land line.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 12:05 PM

*fisbump*

With a line attached to a wall.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:06 PM (kgE5c)

Buttons or rotary dial?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket

"Sarah? Get me the general store".

Posted by: rickb223 at July 24, 2026 12:08 PM (oUopv)

216 I have a land line with a cord attached to the wall.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 24, 2026 12:08 PM (abScH)

217 Sodium batteries have a smaller charge than lithium. So much so that some companies are trying out 'hybrid' sodium/lithium packs. Not ready for prime time.
Posted by: weft cut-loop

Actually, they are already out there including by some of the biggest manufacturers. Right now, the most efficient and most expensive lithium batteries have a density rating about 2:1 to sodium ion but when you consider EVs, the advantage is more like 3:2 in energy density as the most expensive batteries are just not used for mass market EVs that much.

In applications like Powerwalls, etc. the lower costs of sodium ion or aluminum shine as less fire risk, less problems with hazardous materials, and relative scarcity of lithium compared with sodium or aluminum. And sodium/aluminum can be charged and recharged more times than lithium without degradation plus a greater temp range.

We are probably closer to lithium ion limits than we are sodium or aluminum due to age of the technology.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 12:08 PM (E4rtv)

218 Buttons or rotary dial?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket

Aaaaand we're back to boobs...

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 24, 2026 12:08 PM (diia5)

219 "You can either come in to work or go some place else and not work." _Elon Musk

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at July 24, 2026 12:09 PM (RBKzD)

220 I have a land line with a cord attached to the wall.
Posted by: Ben Had at July 24, 2026 12:08 PM

So does the RMBS Mom. Old school ftw.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:09 PM (kgE5c)

221 Buttons or rotary dial?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM

Rotary. Then buttons.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM

Black or beige?

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 24, 2026 12:09 PM (2Ez/1)

222
All I want for Christmas in July is the 1986 Mazda B2000 with manual transmission, windows, and door locks that my dad gave away to the local mechanic. And the 1970s Speed Queen washer and dryer that we left with the first house when we moved.
Posted by: Chuck C

==============

My Volvo 242 year unknown, probably 1979. 2-door, nothing power not even the steering. Some bitch rear-ended it and the insurance company called it a total loss, like maybe $500. I just saw one go for $6900 at auction.

Ditto for the laundry machines.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at July 24, 2026 12:09 PM (mmrXZ)

223 ". The only reliable EV demographic is homeowners with home chargers (who had to spend on average several thousand dollars to have a home charger installed.) That is not who the inexpensive pickups are being targeted for."

It's worse than that. "Homeowners" has an age demographic implication, so zoomers and half the millenials are immediately out. Bezos is being fucking retarded; Teslas, etc, are a luxury good for an older crowd that owns at least one home AND 2-3 gas vehicles already so they can just take the ICE cars when the WV won't get it done. There is no market for a limited range cheap EV because:
- the existing EV market isn't buying "cheap" or small
- those that could actually use a single econobox, EV or not, don't own homes, struggle with expensive parking, and likely don't have charger access. And - boomer blind spot - a shocking percentage don't have a license or know how to drive (living at home with their parents or in shitbox apartments with no parking)

HALF of those under 35 or so live with their parents. A third or so of the men don't work. Business leaders are being delusional about who can or will buy which products.

Posted by: heya at July 24, 2026 12:10 PM (ND37T)

224
Buttons or rotary dial?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM (vDZgA)

We had both at one point.

Then the 'cordless' phone came out.....

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 12:10 PM (2YhKe)

225 >>> 211 Work from home....

I think it fostered poor work habits. What used to take 10 minutes in the office to resolve took a day working from home. That's my experience.

It wasn't like I could walk over to Joe's cubicle and get the answers I needed or whatever. I had to e-mail or call Joe and hope he replied in a timely fashion.

Joe never replied in a timely fashion.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM (jehhT)

Then Joe is a slacker and work-from-home exposed it. Slackers are the problem, not wfh. In fact, maybe the *real* problem was the so-called management who were too chickenshit to deal with the revealed Joes and instead of rewarding the Martini Farmers, just brought everyone back to the office.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 12:10 PM (vDZgA)

226 Black or beige?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 24, 2026 12:09 PM

It was the 70s. For all I know it could have been avocado.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:10 PM (kgE5c)

227 I have a land line with a cord attached to the wall.
Posted by: Ben Had at July 24, 2026 12:08 PM (abScH)

To be fair, you're still using dial up internet access......

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 24, 2026 12:11 PM (2YhKe)

228 And you only made long distance calls on Sunday.
Posted by: The world has changed
=======
Your expectations have changed, the world hasn't. If you are young and broke, you buy what you can afford or do without. Same with houses.

A lot of gee gaws are nice to have, but not essential.

Posted by: whig at July 24, 2026 12:11 PM (E4rtv)

229 Nood. Fraud.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 24, 2026 12:11 PM (ExV1e)

230 Ewok's up.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 24, 2026 12:11 PM (kgE5c)

231 Is this the party to whom I am speaking?

Posted by: Lily Tomlin at July 24, 2026 12:12 PM (2Ez/1)

232 NOOD

DON'T CALL ME SHIRLEY!

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 24, 2026 12:12 PM (vDZgA)

233 I get far more work done from home than I do in the office because I don't have some jack wagon popping by my cube every 17 minutes with a question that isn't urgent, takes me away from whatever task I was already working on to answer it, and usually turns into some small talk that I have no use for because the person is a jack wagon.

Posted by: ballistic at July 24, 2026 12:14 PM (oqH4h)

234 If repealing the 17th Amendment would save John Cornyn...as a Texan I am against repealing the 17th Amendment. Sorry, not gonna even read the article.

Posted by: Max K at July 24, 2026 12:14 PM (WAUGm)

235 "211 Work from home....

I think it fostered poor work habits. What used to take 10 minutes in the office to resolve took a day working from home. That's my experience.

It wasn't like I could walk over to Joe's cubicle and get the answers I needed or whatever. I had to e-mail or call Joe and hope he replied in a timely fashion.

Joe never replied in a timely fashion.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 24, 2026 12:07 PM (jehhT)"

This is the hallmark of an office that is primarily adult daycare, with people not doing real jobs, overseen by management that failed upwards. I am never wasting hours a day and a bunch of gas driving into an office again; but I don't need to, I am one of a couple dozen experts in a specific field and deliver real results.

Most office jobs are 15% people working, 70% people stealing air, and 15% actively hindering the real work. I would say this is a legit application for AI, but there is nothing else for these office decorators to do unless someone convinces them to stay home and have kids instead.

Posted by: heya at July 24, 2026 12:16 PM (ND37T)

236 Work from home is probably fine if what you are doing is not that important or your employees are highly motivated. But I doubt most people working from home are as productive as they would be if they were working directly under Sauron's baleful eye. It also is not wonderful for group cohesion in my experience. Personal interactions matter. In the professional sphere, I think it mostly continues for the benefit of employees on the mommy track, who already are not the world's most productive employees. But that cannot be spoken aloud.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at July 24, 2026 12:17 PM (ypYV4)

237 Hyundai has the Santa Cruz, small pickup

Posted by: free tibet at July 24, 2026 12:17 PM (iNp3L)

238 Those Edison diesel electric trucks are huge and their detail did not touch OTR. Getting a diesel electric down to passenger vehicle scale is technically impractical at the moment.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at July 24, 2026 12:06 PM (RBKzD)

A Diesel series hybrid is perfectly possible. 50 HP normally-aspirated 4 cylinder Diesel, driving a 30 kW generator. Make it 3-phase AC, 480 volts. A 400 volt battery pack with just enough capacity to move the car 5 or 10 miles, no more. 400 volt brushless motor at each wheel. Some power electronics. Diesel makes enough power to keep batteries charged while cruising at highway speeds or lower. To maintain speed on a big hill, the car draws power from the battery, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 24, 2026 12:18 PM (1z8ji)

239 We also need Congressional term limits.
Posted by: Bulg at July 24, 2026 11:07 AM (77rzZ)

California has term limits. How's that working out?

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at July 24, 2026 12:26 PM (hmYU4)

240 237 Hyundai has the Santa Cruz, small pickup.
Posted by: free tibet at July 24, 2026 12:17 PM

Not really a pickup. Just like the Ford Maverick it's a unibody. So an SUV with the back end opened up. Or a four door Chevy El Camino, if you will.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 24, 2026 12:27 PM (2Ez/1)

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