I stopped reading at the highlighted text. I think you've amply demonstrated that you have no fucking idea what you're talking about. All the other PC makers joined into that race to the bottom, and look where it got them.

Have you ever notice that adoption of any new technology happens on a curve? Only the lunatics at first, and then a trickle of brave folks, and then all of a sudden ordinary people start adopting the technology? Yeah. Phase III has already started. You probably didn't notice it, or maybe it hasn't happened in your region before.

But it's definitely Phase III.

a) The timing belt was a good number of years ago
b) Automatic transmissions take a dump sometimes. It's not uncommon, even on decent cars that seemingly have plenty of life left in them. I was certainly not driving junkers.
c) I'm now driving an electric car, so your triangulation is shit.

The chargers are generally not free, the major exception being chargers provided by employers. Chargepoint (among other companies) has built out extensive infrastructure, deploying chargers that take contactless credit cards as well as the companies own smart cards. You get an account, you pull up, wave your card, plug in, and charge. Costs vary by installation (the property owner sets rates) but it's usually based on kW/h, sometimes with a flat parking charge. It's still quite reasonable, and works well.

Or, more to the point: the infrastructure already exists, and it is being extensively used.

So you're saying that until everyone on the planet has a garage, electric cars will not catch on? Because I'm pretty sure that's not the case. Nobody is saying electric cars will work for everyone. But they will work for a *lot* of people, and a statistically significant number of people have already reached that conclusion and are now happily driving electric cars.

Here in California, chargers are everywhere. Because charging takes longer than filling up your tank with gas, the model has changed somewhat. People who own electric cars look for chargers when they do go out, and use them. They might only get an hour or two on the charger, but a level 2 charger will add 20 - 25 miles of range per hour. I can charge my car on 110 at home as well. It's slow, but overnight is more than enough to replenish two or three days worth of commuting. And on top of that, lots of larger employers are adding charging stations for their employees.

I personally know someone with a Tesla S that doesn't have a charger at home. He's managed for well over a year now, and it's his only car. I'd say that -- at least in California -- what you imagine to be impossible is quite the opposite.

What the hell, I'm going to blow some karma. You are an idiot. You know absolutely nothing about electric cars, you know nothing about climate change, and your ignorant rant makes you sound like a crazed chimp on helium. I strongly suggest that you crawl back under the rock from which you came and SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Cheers,
zieroh

California is, on the whole, temperate. That's why so many people live here. Not hot, not cold.

This doesn't even begin to make sense. Please try again.

If only there was a nationwide power distribution grid, then that pesky infrastructure problem would finally be solved.

Oh, wait.

I'm driving one -- a Fiat 500e -- and I can tell you firsthand that it's actually a really fun car. Quick, nimble, and extremely quiet.

Maybe you should actually drive one before making sweeping generalizations?

It's a lot more than 10,000. A *lot* more.

I see Nissan Leafs on the road every single day. Many times a day. All over the place. They are for sale because some percentage of *any* model car is always for sale.

From your repeated comments, you clearly don't like electric cars. That's fine. But trying to convince people that they will never catch on when they have already caught on just makes you look like a troglodyte.

For you, perhaps. But if you pay attention, you might notice that people are now driving electric cars without your blessing.

I have personally changed a timing belt. By the side of the road. Over the course of two days. It sucked.

I have had a couple of transmissions replaced, and a couple more rebuilt. Both were expensive propositions.

In other words, my isolated anecdotes cancel out your isolated anecdotes, leaving us back where we were at the start.

This.

I've been reading slashdot for a long, long time. It's kind of startling when you think about how far the general audience has shifted.