The Current (hahaha) State of Tesla and the Other EV Manufacturers
Tesla’s EV tech is 10 years ahead of all the major brands, AND, I think, 10 years ahead of ALL automakers. My brother says, in 10 years, they’ll be at least 5 years ahead. He also heard that Ford was going to use Tesla’s FSD in their EVs. Tesla did open the FSD tech up to any automakers that want to use it, similar to how they did with their Supercharger Network. Some analysts say the Tesla company’s Solar Power/Batter division will be worth more than the EV division, at some point.
Lately, I’ve heard that the GM FSD product is reasonable. Ford has the skunk works…they are working like mad, in secret, trying to catch up. Honda, and especially Toyota, are woefully far behind.
We have a 2017 Subaru Outback. The lane keeping works about 65% of the time. Our family also has a 2021 Outback. It keeps the lane WAY better than our 2017: It is one generation ahead. The family also has a 2022 Forester, which is 2 generations ahead of the 2017 Outback. It works a lot better than the 2021 Outback.
I drove my sisters Model Y, which is a 2021? model? Her lane keeping keeps the car within a few inches of the center of the road. If there are not very good markings on the road, the Subaru lane keeping doesn’t work, and even the smart cruise control shuts off-it relies on two cameras. The Tesla has 14? cameras, that work at higher and lower frequencies than we can see, so it is WAY better than our eyes. If the lane markings are bad, the Tesla simply takes the width of the complete road, and divides it in half, and keeps your Tesla in the center of it’s half of the road. My sister’s car shows ALL the stuff around; Road signs, animals/people, etc., etc.
I would have already bought a Tesla, but they are WAY too expensive. I would have gotten that Hyundai Ioniq 5 that was available for $240 down, and then $240/month for a 24 month lease. BUT, Hyundai said u had to take delivery by 31May, and I was out of the country. I didn’t know you could do a virtual delivery with some dealers, and missed out on that AMAZING deal.
We test drove the VW ID.4 a year or so ago. It was crappy. We couldn’t figure out how to turn on the regenerative braking, it was so bad. Recently, we test drove the Hyundai Ioniq 6, which is the sedan version of the Ioniq 5 hatchback/SUV. It was REALLY, REALLY nice. Then we drove the Subaru Solterra, which is a joint venture Toyota/Subaru product. It was decent, but WAY overpriced, considering the range and the size of the vehicle. The Hyundai was the only one of them close to the Tesla, and it doesn’t have the FSD. I also think the “normal” Tesla Autopilot (the advanced cruise control), is better than Hyundai’s, but I don’t know for sure.
A BIG reason I wanted the two year lease, vs a three, or buying an EV, is that, probably within two years, the batteries in the new EVs will be WAY better. There are two EV models out now with a 600+ mile range, and a 10min recharge time. Tesla does not have this, as it would be WAY too expensive for a mass market car. A few months ago, Beijing announced a battery, with a 1000+ mile range, and a 5min recharge time. AMAZING!!!
The newest solar tech does not need cells or panels, the tech can be put on about anything: Hats, clothing, phones, houses, cars, etc. So, future EVs will recharge themselves via the Sun. In Europe they are already operating streets that charge the EVs that drive on them. The US just built one test road.
The last car I bought cost me $1,000. Our 2017 Outback, which is our large, roadtrip car, cost us $17k. The car i have to drive now, is a 2007 model that cost me $8,000. I’m not going to spend $50k on a new EV, or $145k for a gasoline powered Grand Cherokee. We are NOT eligible for the $7.5k tax rebate.
In the US, the Tesla Supercharger Network is very nice, and growing. Honda, Ford, GM, Stellantis (Chrysler) are going in w other manufacturers, to build their own massive network. There is a 3rd auto network planned. So, the chargers are going to be springing up all over the place. Kwik Trip, the biggest regional convenience store chain in our area, is putting in Tesla Superchargers in all its locations. The Pilot truck stops/gas stations, will also be putting in a large number of Superchargers.
Walmart is putting in solar power at ALL of their US locations, along with fast EV chargers. 90% of the US population, lives within 10 miles of a Walmart facility. Good news for Walmart, the US grid, EV apartment dwellers, and Our Earth, as all the Walmarts will not rely on the grid for power. They will be solar powered, and not burn any coal/gas/oil/nuclear power.
Use your Free Will to LOVE!…it will help more than you know
