EV's equal savings

EVs are not necessarily heavier than gasoline cars. The best-selling EV in the world is the Tesla Model Y, which weighs about 4,300 pounds. My Honda Pilot weighs 4,500 pounds, a Ford F-350 7,400 pounds. An 18-wheeler comes in at 66,000 pounds...

If you have trouble believing that, realize that while batteries are heavy, EVs don’t need a transmission, need far less steel, and can use more aluminum. Tesla is working on a structural battery pack, which would require even less excess material.

Yes, EV batteries can catch fire, but it is much more rare than a gas car, which carries a tank of volatile flammable liquid around (gasoline). When an EV battery catches fire, standard practice for fire departments is to cover it with a special blanket and smother it. But super rare.

If you’re really eco-conscious EV batteries are super recyclable, because a used EV battery is like really high-grade ore, they can grind them up and process them just like they do ore. Tesla, the most popular selling EV maker in the world doesn’t get their lithium from Chile.

Also, regular cars need continuous complicated maintenance that EVs don’t, which provides further savings for the environment.

Pierce T Wetter III

Springfield

Revisit McKenzie River History at VMCC

Whether you are a history buff or a newcomer to the valley, you will not want to miss an evening with Margaret Beilharz at the Vida McKenzie Community Center (90377 Thomson Hwy, Vida.) She will share videos of the area from the 1960’s to the 1990’s on August 17th, starting at 7 p.m.

This will be a very casual, “Come as You Are” affair with no admission fee. The snack bar will be open and there will be time to visit with old friends or make new ones.

See you at the Center!

Gerry Aster