Gas prices tumbling...good time to buy an EV?

[jmueller065]

an ICE focus gets about 25mi/gallon

Its more like 30..at least for the 2012+ ones.
Some real world figures:
http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/focus

(I'm guessing the release of the ST lowered the values for 2013 and 2014 since 2012 was at 30 mpg.)

 

[michael]

But I do agree it's a little demoralizing to watch gas prices fall. I don't feel as smug as I did a while back.

I do. Regardless of what gasoline costs, I know my EV uses about four times less energy (at least) to do the same thing all the gas-guzzlers all around me are doing.

I mean, cripes, their fuel needs to be brought to them in boats and trucks before they even begin burning it! And, even then, most of the potential energy is wasted as heat.

I do feel like a better American, but I do feel less smug. I don't save as much money and I do need to put up with watching my range.

Don't get me wrong, I have no thought of giving up on EV's, but the argument isn't as strong as when gas was more painful. When gas was hitting new highs, it was much easier to convince people to take the plunge. Now I would have a tough time.

 

[davideos]

an ICE focus gets about 25mi/gallon

Its more like 30..at least for the 2012+ ones.
Some real world figures:
http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/focus

(I'm guessing the release of the ST lowered the values for 2013 and 2014 since 2012 was at 30 mpg.)

When my FFE was in the shop getting the battery repaired, I rented an ICE focus for 40 days. I reset the trip/fuel eco meter and my fuel economy was around 25. Regardless, 25 is close enough and makes the math easy.

 

[hybridbear]

I don't save as much money and I do need to put up with watching my range.

Don't get me wrong, I have no thought of giving up on EV's, but the argument isn't as strong as when gas was more painful. When gas was hitting new highs, it was much easier to convince people to take the plunge. Now I would have a tough time.

Exactly! Right now it's much tougher to convince people to go electric. Winter makes it harder with the range hit, now you combine that with the steep drop in gas prices and it's much more difficult. Thus the reasoning used by some like my coworker mentioned earlier.

 

[hybridbear]

Prediction of sub $2.00 per gallon gas by Christmas. Sounds like a good time to take a road trip...
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/01/experts-predicting-sub-2-dollar-gallon-gas/

 

[jmueller065]

Prediction of sub $2.00 per gallon gas by Christmas. Sounds like a good time to take a road trip...
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/01/expe ... allon-gas/

Woo hoo! Time to take the RV out for a spin!

(Of course doesn't that mean OPEC is just depleting their limited supply even faster..! )

 

[hybridbear]

Interesting article about falling oil prices.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/billgreiner/2014/12/04/short-term-equity-market-considerations/

 

[hybridbear]

Another good one: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/as-oil-prices-plunge-wide-ranging-effects-for-consumers-and-the-global-economy/2014/12/01/904984b2-7971-11e4-9a27-6fdbc612bff8_story.html

 

[hybridbear]

Another good one that addresses the perception of the Saudis to lower oil prices: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-wp-blm-news-bc-saudi-oil-comment03-20141203-story.html

 

[hybridbear]

Excellent piece of consumer advice from an article I read recently about the falling price of oil:

So if you were thinking about a small, fuel-efficient car just a few months ago, don't let these low gasoline prices influence you to consider a large SUV instead. If this environment causes dealers to offer a great deal on a hybrid, this is the time to take advantage of it.

Full article here.