Ford “Delaying” Three Row EV SUV In Favor Of Hybrids

By William Teach April 5, 2024 – 7:00 am

Ford’s making a lot of Corporate Speak, but, come on, we can all see that the EV push is not going well (via The First Street Journal)

Ford to delay all-electric SUV to focus on offering hybrid vehicles across its lineup by 2030

Ford Motor is delaying production of a new all-electric three row SUV, as it shifts to offer hybrid options across its entire North American lineup by 2030.

The Detroit automaker on Thursday said it will continue to invest in EVs, but it is postponing production of the large SUV at a plant in Canada from 2025 to 2027 to allow for the market to mature more.

The shift in EV plans is the latest for Ford and the entire automotive industry as adoption has been slower than many expected and production costs remain high.

Ford last year said it would delay or cancel $12 billion in planned spending on new EVs due to the shifting market conditions as well as challenges to profitably building and selling the vehicles.

“As the No. 2 EV brand in the U.S. for the past two years, we are committed to scaling a profitable EV business, using capital wisely and bringing to market the right gas, hybrid and fully electric vehicles at the right time,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “Our breakthrough, next-generation EVs will be new from the ground up and fully software enabled, with ever-improving digital experiences and a multitude of potential services.”

Blah blah blah. Ford says their sales of EVs rose 86% from 2022, but, they didn’t have that many the year before. And, for all their yammering and pushing, they still only have the the Lightning and “Mustang” (is it really a Mustang at this point? It may be competing for least popular with the 1969 Ford Mustang E. At least it looked like a Mustang). And six hybrids, five of which are standard and one is a plugin. You do not see many of the Explorer hybrids around, nor the F-150 hybrid or Transit. The Escape and Maverick do sell better. That should be the focus, but, come on, the Escapes are low ranking vehicles for resale value.

Consumers are willing to accept standard hybrids, and do not want to be forced into EVs.

What electric vehicle shoppers want isn’t what’s for sale, and it’s hurting sales: poll.

Are you there, electric vehicle makers? It’s me, an EV shopper.

Judging by the EVs on the market, EV makers aren’t there listening to what consumers want, according to auto comparison company Edmunds.

EV battery longevity worries, range anxiety and lack of charging infrastructure are all known concerns, but there’s also a wide gap between what car shoppers want and what’s for sale, Edmunds’ 2024 EV consumer sentiment survey shows.

These factors together can make the uphill climb to mass EV purchases even steeper. Edmunds predicts the rate of EV growth will continue slowing through 2024, increasing to just 8% of new vehicle market share from 6.9% last year and 5.2% in 2022.

What consumers want is lower prices. Cars and SUVs, not pickups (which is interesting, because a lot of consumers are forgoing sedans right now. That could change). And

EVs from the most trusted brands: Toyota and Honda rank third and fourth as the most trusted makers of consumer EVs, with Tesla and BMW taking the top two spots, respectively.

Reality:Toyota has just one EV on the market in the U.S., while Honda’s just beginning to sell its first pure electric.

Consumers for Toyota and Honda, though, aren’t exactly asking for them. A small minority are asking, but, even less are actually interested in purchasing. Bringing the E: Ny1 over from Europe, an SUV a bit smaller than a CRV, could make a big difference. Then there’s the range issue. If they were smart, they’d make a big push for standard hybrids, and ease into EVs when consumers want them.

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WWIII Watch: Sec Of State Says Ukraine Will Be A NATO Member

By William Teach April 5, 2024 – 6:45 am

I wonder how this will go

Blinken: ‘Ukraine will become a member of NATO’

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. commitment for Ukraine to eventually join NATO but held back commitments ahead of the alliance’s annual summit, which will take place in Washington in July.

“Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Our purpose at the summit is to help build a bridge to that membership,” Blinken told reporters Thursday in Brussels.

NATO allies agreed at the 2023 summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, that Ukraine can join NATO when certain conditions are met, but sparked criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Baltic allies for failing to set concrete goals and a timeline for Kyiv to join the alliance.

Ukraine’s supporters are crafting ways to demonstrate robust international support for Kyiv that can be announced at NATO’s Washington summit, marking the 75th anniversary of the alliance.

OK, so, nothing concrete, but, do you think Putin, with all those nukes at his disposal and a large armed forces which would be looking for complete destruction rather than attempting to preserve land, cities, and infrastructure, will take this well? Realistically, Ukraine cannot join till their little war ends. Which doesn’t look like is going to happen anytime soon. The danger here is that Putin might finally decide to pull of the kid gloves and just drop the military hammer on Ukraine, not caring if cities and farmland and such are destroyed. He damned sure won’t appreciate this kind of talk. And, yeah, why poke Russia over Ukraine?

Or that NATO is considering dumping 100 million Euros, about $108 million. Not EU nations, but, NATO.

What kind of message does that send to China? Say what you will about Nancy Pelosi, she had the gumption to go there and stand with them in 2022.

Read: WWIII Watch: Sec Of State Says Ukraine Will Be A NATO Member »

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Oh Noes: Residents Of New Hampshire Having Their Outdoor Recreation Impacted By Tiny Increase In Global Temperature

By William Teach April 4, 2024 – 3:00 pm

Do you really notice the difference from an average temperature of 46.7F in April 1921 and … huh, 45F in April 2023? The mean of 40.7 really hasn’t changed much since 1895. But, you know, doom

Climate change is impacting outdoor recreation in N.H.

stop global warmingWinter in New Hampshire is changing. Snow cover is shrinking. The state has about three fewer weeks worth of snow-covered days compared to 50 years ago, and ice-out dates on Lake Winnipesaukee have crept eight days earlier. This year, it was on March 17, the earliest on record.

Meanwhile, the state’s outdoor recreation industry has grown significantly in recent years. The White Mountain National Forest has seen a nearly 50 percent increase in use from 2015 to 2020. Statewide, the sector accounts for around 30,000 jobs and is responsible for 3.2 percent of the state’s gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Visitors who come to New Hampshire to enjoy all of the outdoor recreational possibilities aren’t as worried about the changes in the climate, while those who work in the industry see cause for concern, according to a new study from the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire.

So, wait, it’s a bad thing that people are getting outside more? Seriously, can you tell the difference between 68.8 in July 1897 and 71.1 (the highest for the run) in July 2020? When the difference was 65.6 in 2021, sure. It’s a lot of freakout for nothing, and it’s just a normal increase in global temperatures due to a low level Holocene warm period.

Meanwhile, the Union Of Climate Cult Concerned Scientists are concerned

The Fossil Fuel Industry Continues Producing Heat-Trapping Emissions that Drive Climate Change

A new dataset released by InfluenceMap provides information on heat-trapping emissions traced to the 122 largest investor and state-owned fossil fuel companies in the world. Fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change and the terrifying effects of it that we see happening across the world. That makes this dataset a powerful tool for understanding how each of these entity’s heat-trapping emissions have contributed to climate change.

No, that’s not political at all, especially since InfluenceMap is very, very far left. But, really, would the fossil fuels industry keep producing if people weren’t interested in using? Blackberry no longer makes smart devices because no one was interested in them anymore. Companies close all the time because not enough people want their products. People want fossil fuels. I wonder how many at the UOCS still drive fossil fueled vehicles and take FF flights?

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Posted in AGW Scaremongering, Global Warming | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach April 4, 2024 – 1:00 pm

…is a glass which reminds you that wine will soon be grown in Siberia, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Lid, with a post US voters thinking Biden won’t be alive by the end of a 2nd term

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Democrats Excited By Abortion And Marijuana On Florida Ballot, Driving Yout Voters

By William Teach April 4, 2024 – 10:30 am

This is apparently what the youts care about, rather than things like limiting inflation, a good housing market, government staying out of their lives, illegals and visa holders taking their jobs, etc

Democrats see abortion and marijuana juicing youth vote in Florida

Abortion and marijuana will be on the ballot in Florida in November — two issues that are expected to mobilize young voters toward President Biden and Democrats in the Sunshine State.

The issues have proven to drive young voter turnout in other states, like Ohio last year, and Democrats are betting Florida will see a similar boost.

After the state’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this week that both issues could go before voters in November, Democrats quickly declared Florida was back in play despite its recent shift toward Republicans.

“Both abortion and marijuana legalization are highly resonate with young people, which is a key demographic that the president has got to turn out,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, a grassroots progressive group.

The Biden campaign on Monday released a memo announcing it would invest more in former President Trump’s home state, arguing Trump and the Republican agenda in the Sunshine State are “making Floridians’ lives worse.” Trump won the state with more than 51 percent of the vote to Biden’s 48 percent in 2020.

Yeah yeah yeah. But, will they come out to overcome all the older voters? Have they ever heard of contraception? Is getting stoned that important to them? Housing has been at the top of the polls in Florida for quite some time, and, when it comes to Biden

Almost 6 out of 10 (59%) of Florida voters have an unfavorable view of President Joe Biden. Almost all (91%) of Republicans have an unfavorable view of President Biden, while 58% of NPAs and 67% of Hispanics have an unfavorable view of the President.

Even within President Biden’s own party, 26% of Democrats have an unfavorable opinion of him. 

The Florida Chamber poll finds two-thirds (66%) of Florida voters believe President Joe Biden does not deserve re-election, with strong opposition from Florida Hispanics a key factor in this finding.  Nearly three-fourths (73%) of Hispanic voters polled believe President Biden does not deserve re-election, higher than any other demographic group tested.

Just because the youts get to the polls over abortion on demand and getting stoned (again, I couldn’t care less. Legalize it and restrict its use in public like alcohol) doesn’t mean they fill out the oval for Biden. They may skip that or pick someone else.

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People’s Republik Of California Worst In Nation For Sulfuryl Fluoride Release

By William Teach April 4, 2024 – 7:00 am

We can solve this with a tax and passing a law allowing termites to just do their thing

California emits more of this little-known greenhouse gas than all other US states combined

California, a state known for advancing some of the strictest climate policies in the country, is the nation’s top emitter of a little-known — but very persistent — greenhouse gas, a new study has found.

Sulfuryl fluoride, a common pesticide for treating termites and other wood-infesting insects, lingers in the atmosphere for more than 40 years — trapping heat and sending it back down to Earth, according to the study, published Wednesday in Communications Earth & Environment.

And the Golden State is responsible for an enormous share of those sulfuryl fluoride releases, accounting for as much as 12 percent worldwide, per the study. All other U.S. states combined contribute up to 5 percent of those global emissions, the researchers found. (snip)

They found that between 60 percent and 85 percent of sulfuryl fluoride emissions in the U.S. come from California — and predominantly form Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

The group spent a lot of time (and probably taxpayer money) to travel all over the country (I hope it was in EVs and on trains) to come up with this study. Why? It’s not that bad of a greenhouse gas. It’s minor. So, what’s the point of the study?

Because certain basic solutions and bio-based organic solvents can absorb and destroy sulfuryl fluoride, these substances could be situated at the exhaust vents of fumigated structures, the authors noted.

Such a step, they continued, could also reduce exposure risks to area residents and fumigation workers.

“California’s track record shows that it’s been looking at out-of-the-box, creative ways to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions,” Miller said.

“Knowing better what the emissions are and what impact they have will give the state the information it needs to help holistically develop greenhouse gas reduction strategies.”

When they start throwing out terms like holistically they mean “more laws” and “more taxpayer funds for more studies”. I think California should ban the use of sulfuryl fluoride, should be fun to watch the pest extermination outcome.

Read: People’s Republik Of California Worst In Nation For Sulfuryl Fluoride Release »

Posted in AGW Scaremongering, Global Warming | 4 Comments | Trackback URL

Bummer: Elite Chilean Gang Targets Rich Michiganers On Vacation

By William Teach April 4, 2024 – 6:45 am

If they ever get caught the Biden regime will probably give them asylum

Elite migrant crime ring targeting Michigan homeowners on spring break: sheriff

crying democratA sophisticated Chilean crime ring is terrorizing one of Michigan’s wealthiest counties once again, looting several homes last week while their occupants were away on spring break vacations, the Oakland County Sheriff warned this week.

Burglars in groups of three to six have targeted cash, safes, jewelry and high-end handbags in the reported break-ins, Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at a press conference this week.

Among the reported thefts were $800,000 in jewelry and cash pilfered from a single home last week, he added.

“The Chilean gangs have been hitting us very hard,” he said. “They are super well-trained when they get here – highly organized. They look like ninjas – they’re all masked up, gloves. They each have a backpack with their particular set of tools for their job in the burglary.”

The thieves will often use a jammer to disable wireless alarms, Bouchard said – he implored residents to hardwire their alarm systems and make sure they are turned on when they leave home.

Well, it’s just property, right? Aren’t these illegals the folks the majority in Oakland County wanted, being that the county has gone Democrat since 2004, with Biden getting 56.4% in 2020.

No specific location is being targeted by the group – instead, the sheriff said, the group targets homes that are empty, upscale and backed up to golf courses or woods so that there is “little or no observation from neighbors.”

Hmm, shouldn’t federal agencies like ICE, DHS, and the FBI be involved with foreign nationals committing lots and lots of felonies against Americans?

All seven of the Chilean looters nabbed last year came to the U.S. through a visa waiver program, which Bouchard implored the federal government to pause:

“All of the intelligence estimates – just from Chile – we have 100-plus teams in operation right now in America,” he said. “That doesn’t mean they can’t visit but they just have to get a regular visa, which comes with a little more scrutiny.”

Yup, Biden’s policies let them in.

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Climate Cult Judge Blocks Sale Of Timber Until Climate Doom Study Performed

By William Teach April 3, 2024 – 5:29 pm

You know what’s needed to build homes? Timber. You know what’s in shortage? Timber. You know what happens when homes are in shortage? Rising housing prices. The climate cult doesn’t care

WA timber sale blocked as judge orders climate change study

Washington state can’t auction an East King County forest for logging without first analyzing the local project’s climate change impacts, a judge ruled last week, blocking the controversial timber sale and putting officials under pressure to change how they evaluate public lands for harvesting.

The agency responsible for such auctions is reviewing Thursday’s decision, while advocates who challenged the project in court are calling the ruling a significant win. The Wishbone sale was scheduled for last July with a $1.62 million minimum bid, then paused when opponents sued the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Metropolitan King County Council members and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe had also raised concerns.

“This is a major victory for carbon rich, biodiverse forests and the laws that protect them,” John Talberth, president at the Center for Sustainable Economy, said in a statement about the judge’s decision.

Interestingly, that center is located in Oregon, but, the actual office is closed. Yet, they and so many others have no problem getting involved in things that are not their business.

DNR will confer with the Washington State Department of Ecology about next steps, Duane Emmons, the agency’s assistant deputy supervisor for state uplands, said in an interview. At stake is how DNR generates timber revenue, which helps fund schools, county governments and other services.

King County Superior Court Judge Kristin Ballinger sided with Talberth’s organization and others that challenged DNR’s attempted sale of 4.7 million board feet of timber on 102 acres near the Tolt River, outside Duvall. (snip)

Last year, a timber industry group said pausing the Wishbone sale and similar harvests would force developers to use more carbon-intensive building materials like concrete and steel and reduce funding for essential public services, while the Snoqualmie Tribe called for DNR to account for the climate impacts of logging the area, “not just the revenue that may be realized.”

So, lower government revenue along with higher cost building materials.

Well, you know, the people of Washington keep voting for this climate cult insanity, so, should be fun when they whine about even higher home costs.

Read: Climate Cult Judge Blocks Sale Of Timber Until Climate Doom Study Performed »

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If All You See…

By William Teach April 3, 2024 – 2:16 pm

…is a fast rising ocean approaching the buildings, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is No Tricks Zone, with a post on Tokyo’s temperatures trending down.

Read: If All You See… »

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Sanctuary City Denver Closing All Illegal Alien Centers But One

By William Teach April 3, 2024 – 10:30 am

It’s almost like a declared sanctuary city doesn’t want illegals in their city because they are problematic and cost a lot of money. I guess it’s all fun and games till you have to actually practice their beliefs

Denver is closing all migrant hotel shelters but one, a signal that services are winding down

After this week, Denver will have just one hotel for migrants who need a place to sleep after arriving in the city, a sign that the 15-month, $63 million effort to shelter new arrivals is winding down.

The announcement Monday that Denver Human Services would close three of the remaining four hotel shelters this week came as a surprise, since Mayor Mike Johnston had previously said the city would continue operating three hotels as shelters. That’s down from a max of seven hotels around the city that Denver was leasing for migrant housing.

The decision comes as the number of daily arrivals has been declining. About 60 people, mainly from Venezuela and other South American countries, got off buses in Denver on Sunday, and 50 more arrived Monday — that’s a significant drop from previous months when migrants were coming at the pace of 200 or 300 per day.

Denver was paying for shelter for nearly 5,000 people in January. That number dropped to 730 this week.

In fairness, the illegals aren’t being booted from the city, but, they have to find other housing options. Will the citizens offer to house them in their own domiciles? It’s not like Denver has an abundance of housing: it was one of the worst for being in shortage. Where are legal citizens supposed to go? And as more and more come to Denver it makes the shortage worse and increases housing prices. Which will mean fewer people will want to move to the Denver area and bring their companies, jobs, and money with them. It’s not like the illegals are bringing high skilled labor with them.

Boston residents rip ‘disgusting’ plan to house migrants at former veterans shelter

Residents are up in arms about a plan to shelter hundreds of migrants inside a former Boston-area veterans’ shelter, according to the New York Post.

“I can’t believe the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, which is for the Vets, is going to [be] used for the immigrants overflow,” Massachusetts resident George Belmonte said on social media. “How about taking care of the homeless vets first? I am all for helping people but how about taking care of those already here and homeless.”

Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey announced last week that the historic Chelsea Soldiers’ Home would be converted into a facility to house 100 migrant families, including pregnant women.

Great! Booting veterans out so illegals can have anchor babies.

The shelter had been closed and scheduled for demolition, with veterans going to a newer facility, for which they have to pay a little to stay. But, if the Chelsea home is fine for illegals, why can’t homeless veterans stay there?

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