EV Sellers Running Out Of Buyers

By William Teach August 25, 2023 – 2:43 pm

For pretty much about every other type of vehicle there’s a lack of vehicles. Inventory is tight. This should probably start getting better within 4-6 months. EVs?

EVs are running out of customers — and some dealers don’t want them anymore

Electric vehicleMore electric vehicles are being pumped out of car factories than ever before — but some dealers don’t want them.

Electric-car inventory has been piling up on dealership lots this year as companies up their EV production, leading some dealers to say enough is enough. Some are telling automakers they don’t want any more until they can sell what’s sitting, several dealers told Insider.

“We have turned away EV inventory,” said Scott Kunes, the chief operating officer of Kunes Auto and RV Group, which sells Detroit brands as well as Nissan and Mitsubishi in the Midwest. “We need to ensure that we have a good turn on it.”

Automakers are “asking us to make a large investment,” Kunes added, “and we’re just wanting to see some return on that investment.”

There are only so many people who are willing to purchase an EV, and only so many people who can afford to do so. Further, there are many who would purchase one, but, they are too inconvenient for their lives.

Plug-in-vehicle availability is increasing rapidly, a sign the EV-adoption growth curve is about to hit a serious slowdown. A switch from enthusiastic and wealthy early adopters to more apprehensive and budget-minded car shoppers is throwing the electric-car transition for a loop, forcing car companies to change their outlooks and pull back on ambitious EV production goals.

“It’s not just that these vehicles are expensive — which they are. We’re talking about a much more nuanced lifestyle change,” said Sam Fiorani, the vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. He pointed to differences in the EV ownership experience, including charging and range anxiety, as stoppers for many buyers.

“It’s hard for the average customer to make that leap while spending an extra $10,000,” Fiorani said.

The majority of EV buyers make between $150K-$300K a year with a smattering of very rich folks who have them as a second vehicle. The average cost of an EV is $64K. If you can buy a Corolla or Civic, nicely appointed, for under $30k, or a Camry or Accord for under $35K, why would you go for an EV about the same size for so much more?

Car shoppers can find plenty of electric options on dealership lots — while there was about 54 days’ supply of vehicle inventory overall at dealerships earlier this summer, EV inventory was nearly double that.

54 days? Where? I can think of a few individual models which had an abundance, but, that has stopped. Most are gone in 6 days to 2 weeks.

But the savviest executives will heed this first warning from dealers about where the demand pendulum is swinging, Karl Brauer, an automotive analyst for iSeeCars, previously told Insider.

“Dealers know in real time with real-time feedback what the market is doing,” he said. “They have always acted as the first warning lights on the dash for the automotive industry.”

They got the early adopters, and will continue to sell some, around 3-6% of sales, but, when talking the non-luxury lines (Honda, Toyota, VW, Ford, Kia, etc), most aren’t interested. Few ask. Most who do ask aren’t interested in purchasing, just more of wondering.

(Watts Up With That?) But that’s still better than the news reported in March that insurance companies are having to write off EVs with just a few miles – leading to higher premiums – because of the many EVs for which there is no way to repair or assess even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents. EV battery packs are ending up in junkyards in multiple countries.

According to the Agent Support Network of America, the intense impact of a crash can be much more devastating to EVs, increasing the likelihood of a totaled versus repairable car. EVs, according to Consumer Reports, may not withstand an accident as well as traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. EV batteries are vulnerable to damage, and with any indication of a compromised battery, insurance companies will likely declare an EV crash a total loss.

So, add insurance costs to the picture, where people will pay around 25% more at this time, on top of already higher premiums post-COVID. And as more are on the road that cost could go up.

Read: EV Sellers Running Out Of Buyers »

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If All You See…

By William Teach August 25, 2023 – 1:00 pm

…is an area turning to desert due to ‘climate change’, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Other McCain, with a post on Cancelling big butts.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 6 Comments | Trackback URL

Obligatory Trump Booked With Mugshot Post

By William Teach August 25, 2023 – 10:30 am

Democrats have been working on arresting Republicans since the George W Bush administration, and were all in on Trump even before Trump won in 2016

I was hoping more for a “Queen Of Chaos” type mugshot, but, I’m sure there was a reason for him doing it like that

Bill Of Rights(Daily Caller) Former President Donald Trump approached reporters after surrendering himself Thursday night in Georgia, and shared his frustration about his arrest after being fingerprinted and having his mugshot taken.

“I really believe this is a very sad day for America. This should never happen. If you challenge an election you should be able to challenge an election. I thought the election was a rigged election, a stolen election — and I should have every right to do that. As you know you have many people that you’ve been watching over the years do the same thing,” Trump said.

“Whether it’s Hillary Clinton or Stacey Abrams or many others. When you have that great freedom to challenge you have to be able to otherwise you’re gonna have very dishonest elections. What has taken place here is a travesty of justice — we did nothing wrong, I did nothing wrong — and everybody knows it. I’ve never had such support.”

Trump said “what they’re doing is election interference” and “there has never been anything like it in our country before.”

“This is their way of campaigning,” Trump added. “This is one instance but you have three other instances.”

It’s going to be a tough bar to prosecute Trump and the others, who’ll stand on their 1st Amendment Rights, including Free Speech and petitioning for redress of grievance. Even if he loses in county court, it’ll be killed on appeal. And, could there be unintended consequences if Trump wins in 2024?

(Breitbart) The mugshot of President Donald Trump has rallied the opposition behind him. And it will give the former president a mandate, should he win the election, to sweep away the rot in our government, without compromise.

Now that Democrats have shown how far they will go, Republicans will feel it necessary to prevent them from ever doing it again. (snip)

Big changes will be made, and justifiably so. Secret archives will be opened. Mass pardons will be offered. Whole government departments will be dismantled or relocated. There will be no kangaroo courts — none of the perversions Democrats have committed — but the Democrats behind the “Russia collusion” hoax, including Hillary Clinton, should call their lawyers.

There will be no mercy for those who have attacked the rights and values of our constitution and then claimed to be acting in defense of democracy — a democracy they abhor when it provides leaders that do not serve their own corrupt interests.

Let’s say a different Republican is the nominee and wins: this could well happen. Even Trump hating Chris Christie could do this. It wouldn’t require all the squishy Congressional Republicans, either, the get-along-go-along ones.

But I found, to my surprise, once I saw the mugshot, that I felt excited, almost elated. Trump’s glowering face did not show pain or shame. It did not even show anger. It was a look of righteous indignation, the glare of a man who may be a prisoner now, but is actually in control. It was the expression he wore a thousand times on episodes of “The Apprentice.” It was how he looked when he said, “You’re Fired.”

They will all be fired, if he wins. And half the country is prepared to do whatever it takes to give him the chance.

Time will tell.

Read: Obligatory Trump Booked With Mugshot Post »

Posted in 1st Amendment, Donald Trump | 22 Comments | Trackback URL

Portland Has 5 Year Plan To Spend $750 Million On “Climate Justice”

By William Teach August 25, 2023 – 7:15 am

I’m really looking forward to the unintended consequences

Portland Clean Energy Fund unveils 5-year plan, $750M projected spending after overhaul

Portland’s first-of-its-kind climate justice program unveiled its five-year plan Thursday to invest hundreds of millions of dollars toward climate action.

The revealed plan increases focus on community resilience, transparency and accountability. That’s after the Portland City Council voted for a major overhaul of the fund after a series of setbacks last year.

The Portland Clean Energy Fund’s (PCEF) $750 million climate investment plan lays out how the city aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure the residents most impacted by climate change are prepared. Under the fund framework, grants would go to a wide range of projects, from energy-efficient retrofits to adding renewable energy, to increasing incentives for electric vehicles.

“We’re unveiling our inaugural five-year climate investment plan which sets the stage for the investments that PCEF is going to be making over the next five years, totaling almost nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars into climate projects that address racial justice, social justice and economic justice.” Portland Clean Energy Fund program manager Sam Baraso said.

Sounds more like it’s about politics than science. Oh, and graft/kickbacks/payoffs to donors and such

The climate justice program has been celebrated as a first-of-its-kind environmental justice program created and led by communities of color. The fund is managed by the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability after receiving approval from 65% of voters in 2018.

At the time of its passage, backers estimated the fund would generate between $40 to $60 million each year from a 1% tax on large retailers’ sales. The surcharge generated tens of millions more than anticipated. In its first two years, the fund has led to $145 million in grants that support climate action. Its latest round of community investment was the largest, granting $120 million to support clean energy projects. The fund expects to raise $750 million for additional investment through 2028.

The numbers do not add up, and it’s wishful thinking that this $750 million will suddenly generate. Especially since

You hear a lot about companies fleeing San Francisco, but, Portland is also having major issues with lots of small, medium, and large companies bolting the city. And those who don’t simply pass the tax on to the consumers.

The plan will also make $20 million available for city bureaus and offices to use as leverage to get federal dollars aimed at climate action, like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

$20 million for lobbying? Sounds like a great way to spread some money out to donors and such, eh?

Read: Portland Has 5 Year Plan To Spend $750 Million On “Climate Justice” »

Posted in AGW Socialism, Global Warming | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Chicago Police Want Illegals Housed At City Hall

By William Teach August 25, 2023 – 7:00 am

Did you know this?

(Chicago Tribune) But instead, Hassly was turned away from the school Monday morning with seven other elementary school-aged kids who are staying with their migrant families at the 3rd District police station, despite filling out paperwork, according to Britt Hodgdon, a volunteer at the 2nd and 3rd District police stations.

“Kids are showing up with rotting teeth and active fevers and malnutrition and they’re not receiving care here,” said Hodgdon. “And then on top of that we’re now refusing them education and all of the things that come with that.” (snip)

“The District was provided with information about children staying at police stations within the past few business days and is developing a plan to incorporate enrollment procedures for those families who are staying at police stations. We consider those families to be part of the estimated 1,000 students that we are in the process of enrolling,” the statement said. “We are working with urgency and are dedicated to enrolling as many families as quickly as we can. This includes deploying mobile units to local police stations and other temporary shelters this week to ensure all children are provided access to our services.”

That’s right, the city has the illegals/migrants staying at Chicago police stations. Around 1,100 of them

(Chicago Sun Times) Fed up with having Chicago police officers “babysit” asylum-seekers, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara on Thursday proposed an alternative to district stations: allowing hundreds of migrants to sleep in the lobbies and open hallways at City Hall.

“I don’t think there’s one single one of ’em living in City Hall — whether it’s on the county lobby floor or the City Hall floor. There’s certainly plenty of space to put a couple hundred in there, but I don’t see that happening in their workspace. But they certainly have no problem putting ’em in our workspace,” Catanzara said. “Why be a hypocrite?”

Catanzara said it was “so ridiculous” that “there’s actually mail. Migrants are using police district addresses to receive their mail. They now have CPS out there recruiting migrant children to register for CPS just to have that number in the next two weeks to grab as much tax revenue as they possibly can. Whether these kids come to school or not, they don’t care. This is all a big game to far too many people.”

How about putting some up at the mayor’s house? Of course, that’s on the high-toned and fancy-todo upper west side, in the Austin neighborhood. Can’t have them trashing up that area.

Chicago officials finally release records on millions spent to help migrants

Next week will mark a year since buses carrying asylum seekers began arriving in Chicago.

CBS 2 spent more than six months fighting for information about how taxpayer money is being spent to help migrants. CBS 2’s Lauren Victory is always investigating and shared what she’s uncovered after the city finally handed over a list of invoices.

Earlier this month, CBS 2 reported on the city’s blatant lack of transparency about migrant spending. The report struck a chord and received a big response on social media.

Good on CBS 2 for doing Journalism. And they worked hard, getting stonewalled constantly by the city government, lied to, put off. They finally got those records

The records included vendor names, invoice numbers, and paid amounts. The information accounted for $83 million out of the $110 million spent on migrant care so far. At least 40 different companies and organizations received money.

Imagine what the city could do with $110 million for the residents, for the roads, on stopping crime, on dealing with the homeless. They’re learning that their belief in unfettered illegal immigration comes with a cost to themselves, not just down at border towns.

Read: Chicago Police Want Illegals Housed At City Hall »

Posted in Democrats, Illegal Immigration | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

We’re In The First Stage Of Civilizations Collapse Or Something

By William Teach August 24, 2023 – 3:54 pm

Oh, not because of liberal policies that allow criminality with no consequences, unfettered illegal immigration, abortion on demand, etc. Nope

We Are Witnessing the First Stages of Civilization’s Collapse

In his 2005 bestseller Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, geographer Jared Diamond focused on past civilizations that confronted severe climate shocks, either adapting and surviving or failing to adapt and disintegrating. Among those were the Puebloan culture of Chaco Canyon, N.M., the ancient Mayan civilization of Mesoamerica, and the Viking settlers of Greenland. Such societies, having achieved great success, imploded when their governing elites failed to adopt new survival mechanisms to face radically changing climate conditions.

Yeah, they ended as the Earth moved into a cooling period from a warm period. Yeah, the Spanish conquistadors created a major issue for the Mayans, but, their civilization was already collapsing. Most civilizations that collapsed over the past 5-6 thousands years do so as a cool period hit. Not a warm period. And previous warm periods were the same or warmer.

Bear in mind that, for their time and place, the societies Diamond studied supported large, sophisticated populations. Pueblo Bonito, a six-story structure in Chaco Canyon, contained up to 600 rooms, making it the largest building in North America until the first skyscrapers rose in New York some 800 years later. Mayan civilization is believed to have supported a population of more than 10 million people at its peak between 250 and 900 A.D., while the Norse Greenlanders established a distinctively European society around 1000 A.D. in the middle of a frozen wasteland. Still, in the end, each collapsed utterly and their inhabitants either died of starvation, slaughtered each other, or migrated elsewhere, leaving nothing but ruins behind.

That’s what’s going to happen to modern civilization because you won’t give up your money and freedom to government

These historical examples of social disintegration spurred lively discussion among my students when, as a professor at Hampshire College, I regularly assigned Collapse as a required text. Even then, a decade ago, many of them suggested that we were beginning to face severe climate challenges akin to those encountered by earlier societies—and that our contemporary civilization also risked collapse if we failed to take adequate measures to slow global warming and adapt to its inescapable consequences.

We can fix that with a tax

But in those discussions (which continued until I retired from teaching in 2018), our analyses seemed entirely theoretical: Yes, contemporary civilization might collapse, but if so, not any time soon. Five years later, it’s increasingly difficult to support such a relatively optimistic outlook. Not only does the collapse of modern industrial civilization appear ever more likely, but the process already seems underway.

So, yeah, doomed, as the very, very long piece attempts to show, ending with

When and how we might slip over the brink into catastrophe is impossible to foresee. But as the events of this summer suggest, we are already all too close to the edge of the kind of systemic failure experienced so many centuries ago by the Mayans, the ancient Puebloans, and the Viking Greenlanders. The only difference is that we may have no place else to go. Call it, if you want, Collapse 2.0.

So, it could maybe possibly happen soon, they’re not sure when or even if, but, ditch that fossil fueled vehicle, move to a tiny house, and vote Democrat or something.

Read: We’re In The First Stage Of Civilizations Collapse Or Something »

Posted in AGW Scaremongering, Global Warming | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach August 24, 2023 – 1:00 pm

…are trees that will soon die because they can’t photosynthesize anymore, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is This ain’t Hell…, with a post on some feel good stories.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 13 Comments | Trackback URL

Surprise: Consequence Of Maui Fire Leads To Big Tourism Drop

By William Teach August 24, 2023 – 10:30 am

I wonder if the whole “don’t vacation in Maui right now or anytime soon” calls have had an effect?

Visitors implored to come back as Maui job cuts soar

More than 8,000 people on Maui are unemployed, in what’s become an economic crisis in the wake of the fire disaster. More are losing jobs daily, as residents and officials implore visitors to come back, but not to West Maui.

The suffering in Lahaina is beyond comprehension, and now, more anxiety as job cuts mount due to a drop visitor arrivals.

“Hotels are starting to notify their teams that they’re reducing hours or doing layoffs,” said Tapani Vuori, general manager of the Maui Ocean Center. “I’m hearing several boats already shut down their operations. So all of a sudden, it’s starting to touch every single person here on Maui.”

Initial weekly unemployment claims for Maui averaged just over 100 before the fire, but more than 8,100 people filed for unemployment between Aug. 8-20.

“We need to recover. We need to keep Maui employed,” Vuori said. “An employed Maui is a resilient Maui. Unfortunately, the messaging in the beginning started with, ‘Don’t come to Maui, Maui is closed.’ This was a grave, grave mistake in my opinion.”

Well, you can certainly understand the messaging, but, they need the tourism. 40% of their economy is based on Tourism. Other estimates say 70% of every dollar generated in Maui is from tourism. Construction is also large, but, is unnecessary without tourism.

Visitors listened and stayed away. In early August about 8,000 arrived daily, down to under 2,000 these days, putting at risk Maui’s significant contribution to the state’s economy. Maui drives nearly one-third of visitor counts of 3 million a year, and nearly one-third of visitor spending of about $6 billion a year. Almost $800 million of that annually was brought in by Lahaina businesses employing 5,300 people before the fire.

This article is from a local Hawaii outlet, KHON. Again, you can understand the sentiment, but, it should morph to “welcome to our island, please stay away from the Lahaina area.” Seriously, other areas have been destroy by the volcanoes, of course, not the loss of life. Maui desperately needs the tourism.

Read: Surprise: Consequence Of Maui Fire Leads To Big Tourism Drop »

Posted in Current Affairs | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

Doom Today: Rainforests Could Maybe Possibly Get Too Hot For Photosynthesis

By William Teach August 24, 2023 – 7:15 am

Once upon a time, scientists did a study that “suggests” something, because this isn’t science, unless it’s social science or political science

Parts of tropical rainforests could get too hot for photosynthesis, study suggests

Some leaves in tropical forests from South America to South East Asia are getting so hot they may no longer be able to photosynthesize, with big potential consequences for the world’s forests, according to a new study.

Leaves’ ability to photosynthesize – the process by which they make energy from carbon dioxide, sunlight and water – begins to fail when their temperature reaches around 46.7 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit).

While this may seem high, leaves can get much hotter than the air temperature, according to the report published Wednesday in Nature by a group of scientists from countries including the US, Australia and Brazil.

The scientists used temperature data beamed down from thermal satellite sensors on the International Space Station, 400 kilometers (nearly 250 miles) above the Earth. They combined this with on-the-ground observations from leaf-warming experiments, in which scientists climbed into the canopy to painstakingly add sensors to leaves.

Rather than looking at average temperatures, the scientists were looking at extremes, said Christopher Doughty, associate professor in ecoinformatics at Northern Arizona University and a report author. They found that average forest canopy temperatures peaked at 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) but some exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

Currently, 0.01% of leaves are passing the critical temperature threshold beyond which their ability to photosynthesize breaks down, the report found, potentially killing the leaf and the tree.

How did these trees deal with previous Holocene warm periods, many of which were warmer? Of course, the study suggests it is going to get even more doomy, so, ignore the .01%

Tropical forests can withstand around 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 Fahrenheit) of additional global warming before they reach a tipping point in terms of their ability to photosynthesize, according to the report.

GTF out of here. It’s just 1.5F since 1850. The Earth will flip into a cool period well before this 7.2F happens. But, no one is going to fund the “scientists” unless they’re fearmongering.

Read: Doom Today: Rainforests Could Maybe Possibly Get Too Hot For Photosynthesis »

Posted in AGW Scaremongering, Global Warming | 20 Comments | Trackback URL

80% Of New Yorkers Worried About Massive Illegals In NY, But, Will Still Vote Democrat

By William Teach August 24, 2023 – 7:00 am

Let me tell you, if the GOP was doing everything possible to initiate policies that put my life in danger, make it more expensive, expose me to disease and crime, I’d damned sure not vote for them. I probably wouldn’t vote Democrat, but, look for a 3rd party. Democrats will still vote Democrat, even as the people they voted for, all the way from local officials supporting unfettered illegal immigration (as long as it’s Somewhere Else) up to POTUS

8 in 10 New Yorkers say migrant surge is serious problem: survey

More than 8 in 10 New Yorkers said the recent migrant surge to the Big Apple is a “serious problem,” which comes as New York struggles to house the influx of asylum-seekers into the state, according to a new survey.

A poll published Tuesday from Siena College found 82 percent of New York voters surveyed said the recent influx of migrants to the state is a “serious problem,” and 54 percent of participants described it as “very serious.”

Furthermore, 46 percent of the respondents said migrants resettling in the state over the past 20 years are a “burden” not a “benefit,” while 58 percent said the state has already done enough and should slow the flow, rather than continue to accept and assimilate new migrants.

“New Yorkers – including huge majorities of Democrats, Republicans, independents, upstaters and downstaters – overwhelmingly say that the recent influx of migrants to New York is a serious problem for the state,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said.

One question not asked is “Do you blame yourself for voting for people who support unfettered illegal immigration?” And “Do you support being a sanctuary city/county now that it’s affecting your own?” Seriously, looking at the crosstabs for the survey, 60% of Dems approve of Kathy Hochul, 70% for Chuck Schumer, though, Eric Adams could be in trouble, with only 42% approve 27% and unsure. Kirsten Gillibrand is only at 54% approval. 47% of Dems want Biden to run in 2024, 46% want someone else. But, 71% approve to some degree the way Brandon is doing his job, so, even though he has significantly made the illegal alien situation worse, they’ll still vote for him.

77% of Dems say illegal immigration in NY is a problem.

The poll also found around 50 percent of voters support relocating new migrants from temporary accommodations to permanent housing in communities across the state, with strong support from Democrats and New York City voters. Greenberg said Republicans are strongly opposed to it, while independents and noncity voters are closely divided but lean toward opposition.

66% of Democrats want the illegals moved away from their own areas. Surprise! It’s also important to know that the sample was 48/22/27 for Dem/Republican/Independent. That makes it all look way, way worse.

Read: 80% Of New Yorkers Worried About Massive Illegals In NY, But, Will Still Vote Democrat »

Posted in Illegal Immigration | 2 Comments | Trackback URL
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