Electric Vehicles: history repeating itself

February 20, 2024

Electric Vehicles: history repeating itself — It seems like that the more some things change, the more they stay the same.

Crude electric carriages were first invented in the late 1820’s and 1830’s. Practical, commercially available electric vehicles appeared during the 1890’s. An electric vehicle held the vehicular land speed record until right around 1900.

For a variety of technical and social reasons, electric vehicles prevailed to become a highly preferred mode of transportation by 1902.

Drivers considered passenger and commercial electric vehicles to be neater and they were especially cleaner than gasoline and steam powered vehicles since they produced no steam or odor.

Electric vehicle technology was not only embraced by early drivers, it also improved drastically. Thomas Edison perfected his nickel-iron storage battery in 1909, and the storage capacity of batteries increased 35% from 1910 to 1925 with a corresponding increase in range of 230%. Rechargeable lead–acid batteries could provide modest output over long periods or large output in short bursts.

With all of the excitement around electric back in the day, it looked as if the sky was the limit. Despite these high hopes, the use of electric vehicles peaked in 1901 and 1902, when about 62% of motorized vehicles in the country were electric-powered.

Electric began declining around 1902 and then sharply dropped off. So much so that by 1920 they constituted less than 2% of the overall market. Even the commercial sector slowly abandoned them: in 1913, 10% all commercial vehicles were electric powered, but by 1925 the number had dropped to less than 3%.

Here in 2024 we’re facing many of the same technological problems that we faced clear back in 1902.

Back in 1902, electric vehicles required special time-consuming recharging stations, as most could travel only 25 miles or so between charges. (roughly 250 average miles today even with vastly improved roads)

Back in 1902 electric vehicles were more expensive than gasoline vehicles, had slower top speeds, were difficult to charge, and were mostly confined to urban areas.

Drivers found it difficult and expensive to have electric vehicles recharged at gas stations and hotels, which differed in their rates for charging, while gas stations listed prices clearly.

Early gas vehicles cost $1,000 to $2,000 whereas electric vehicles cost $1,250 to $3,500. The high initial price of electric vehicles convinced manufacturers to focus only on the luxury market (Tesla comes to mind here).

In the early 1920’s, the battery market for electric vehicles became fragmented and many of these companies went bankrupt due to mismanagement. Even with the government subsidies of today to the tune of billions of dollars for these so-called green companies, we still have corruption and green company failures at alarming rates across the country.

In the 1920’s, electric vehicles were pretty much suited to and were practical for only short urban trips that could be completed near charging stations and cities just like they are today.

Not too unlike today, the electric vehicles of the 1920’s performed poorly in hilly areas or on rough roads and were not well suited for mountains and heavy freight (todays horse trailors or RV’s).

The outbreak of World War I in 1914 cemented support in favor of gasoline vehicles. The federal government did not see electric vehicles as being well suited for military applications

Even today, military standards are set for speed, range, and improved performance that are much higher than what even the best electric vehicles can provide.

Electric vehicles had started out with high hopes in the 1890’s and by the 1920’s had proven the extent of their technological advancement. Here in 2024 we are seeing all of the same exact shortcomings and limitations to the electric vehicle market/industry that we saw clear back in 1924.

And just like back in 1924, the electric vehicle proponents of 2024 still believe in their technological optimism and are placing faith in human ingenuity to overcome all of the lingering technical problems that come with the electric vehicle.

Henry Jackson Howard wrote in a 1900 issue of Metropolitan Magazine that:

“… from this initial club run we must infer that up to the present electricity is the most popular motive power… With the city automobilist, electricity will continue in favor”.

I think that Henry Jackson Howard was right, in that the electric vehicle is best suited for the urban areas and cities. After all, with all of the push for electric vehicles originating in and coming from some of our largest cities, which is where all of the pollution is incidentally, the electric vehicle may be best mandated for use in those areas.

The last time I visited Los Angeles there was a sign disallowing trucks to drive on the Golden State Freeway. The Golden State Freeway passes directly through Los Angeles and it was mandated that only cars are allowed to drive that section of the interstate. I can see this as a great starting point for the implementation of mandatory electric vehicle use. Big city environ’s may one day wake up to see a sign that specifically disallows gas powered vehicles within the Los Angeles city limits for instance. With the way the world is these days, that idea isn’t as far fetched as it might seem.

The fact of the matter here is that electric vehicles are fairly limited — you can only do so much with electricity. Electricity isn’t something you can put into a can and carry home for a fixed or otherwise set price. Buying electricity isn’t at all like buying a head of lettuce.

Also, if it weren’t for the government wasting our tax dollars pushing a less than stellar technology, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation about electric vehicles because history told us over 100 years ago that this is it — electric has a place, but that place is small in the larger scheme of things.

There are reasons why the sales of electric vehicles have fallen off a cliff over this passed year. One of the reasons being that people are having to relearn the lessons that were taught 100 years ago.

Even Ford Motor Company, much to their disappointment, seeing billions of dollars invested in electric disappearing, never to return, (because some pie-in-the-sky environ decided to nap through high school history class … probably), learned that you can’t just believe a government that forces concepts that were already proven limited by the free market.

Ford Motor Company does have the right idea though. Instead of just tossing electric out the window, Ford realized that there’s a place for everything and continues to produce electric vehicles, albeit at a much more limited and realistic scale (Ford may have decided to focus only on the luxury market).

Electric vehicles are limited and need to be promoted and brought to the public in a realistic way.

There’s money in electric … there always has been. But getting money out of electric at the national level is pretty much only promoted by the folks that think everything that happened during the movie “The Little Mermaid” was real … or by folks that watched the movie “2012” and then turn around racking their brain trying to remember if that ever happened.

The electric vehicle in 2024 is being embraced for many of the same reasons that it was embraced for all of those many years ago. It doesn’t stink, it’s quiet, and it’s easy to operate.

You can’t really claim that the electric vehicle of 2024 is going to help save the environment when you stop to consider all of the environmental damage that’s being done just to get all of the materials together in order to build it. Even in spite of the fact that the electric vehicles of the 1920’s contained rechargeable lead–acid batteries, we can’t help but notice how the mining of Lithium might be adversely affecting our environment.

For the amount of ecological damage that has been and is being done with regard to electric vehicles, one sort of wonders if it all might be worth it at the end of the day when you stop and consider the over all limitations of the electric vehicle itself.

You can’t save the planet by destroying it. One day we may end up waking to another Berkeley Pit or worse, all for the sake of trying to (or being forced to) make a limited technology work.

notes:

EVs have 79% more reliability problems than gas cars, says Consumer Reports

https://foe.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022.07.25_Letter-to-Tesla-re-nickel-mining_WALHI.pdf

The Wonarah Phosphate Project further cements the Territory’s reputation as a globally significant hub for resources and critical minerals.

Lithium iron phosphate or lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) is an inorganic compound with the formula LiFePO. It is a gray, red-grey, brown or black solid that is insoluble in water. The material has attracted attention as a component of lithium iron phosphate batteries, a type of Li-ion battery. This battery chemistry is targeted for use in power tools, electric vehicles, solar energy installations and more recently large grid-scale energy storage. – Wikipedia

In Argentina, indigenous communities report that lithium operations on their lands threaten their survival and the exercise of their rights. In Zimbabwe, where lithium exploitation is currently low (1%), the illicit financial flow has already been identified in the lithium mining sector. A recent study on the life-cycle water-scarcity footprint showed that water use associated with lithium-brine mining in Chile and China, mainly through evaporative loss, can create a high risk of natural freshwater scarcity for humans and nature.

Happy Purim – חג פורים שמח – March 23-24, 2024

Alan

February 19, 2024

Happy Purim - חג פורים שמח - March 23-24, 2024

Purim celebrates Jewish survival.

Purim, or the Feast of Lots, is a Biblical Jewish festival known for extravagant costumes, the exchanging of gift baskets, performances, and a feast. This joyous celebration commemorates how ancient Jews were spared from massacre during the Persian Empire.

When the Persians took control of Babylonia in around 475 BC, Haman, a royal vizier to King Ahasuerus, had plotted to wipe all the Jews, but his plans were foiled by Queen Esther and Mordechai.

Purim is celebrated according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. This commemorates the day following the victory of the Jews over the Persians in the battle which was on the 13th day of Adar. It usually falls in late February or March in the Western calendar. In some parts of Israel, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month.

Purim is characterized by public readings of the Book of Esther, giving mutual gifts of food and drink, giving charity to the poor, and a festive meal. Other customs include drinking wine and the wearing of masks and costumes.

A popular treat during Purim is Hamantash, a filled-pocket pastry with a distinctive three-cornered shape. The shape is achieved by folding in the sides of a circular piece of dough, with a filling placed in the center. Popular fillings are fruit jam, cheese or poppy seeds. They are said to be named after Haman as he wore a three-cornered hat.

Purim greetings are simple: “Happy Purim” will suffice. Want to wish someone a happy Purim in Hebrew? Tell them, “Chag Purim sameach.” In Yiddish, you can say “ah freilichen Purim.”

Read the entire Story of Purim

Lupus: Discovery may enable an effective long-term treatment

Alan

February 18, 2024

Discovery may enable an effective long-term Lupus treatment

Lupus: Discovery may enable an effective long-term treatment — Published just this month (February 6, 2024), researchers at Monash University Australia have reported some very promising results related to their research into an effective long term treatment for the autoimmune disease.

Published in Nature Communications, the Monash University-led study found a way to reprogram the defective cells of patients with protective molecules from healthy people.

Using human cells, the new treatment restores the protective side of the immune system that prevents autoimmunity, which is when the immune system attacks its own cells. The findings relate to the autoimmune disease, a debilitating disease with no cure and limited treatments.

According to Co-senior author Associate Professor Joshua Ooi:
“We showed the effectiveness of this approach using human lupus patient cells, both in the test tube and in an experimental model of lupus kidney inflammation”.

“We were able to completely arrest the development of kidney disease, without the use of the usual non-specific and harmful immunosuppressant drugs. It’s like a reset of the abnormal immune system back to a healthy state – kind of like a major software upgrade. That it uses the patient’s own cells is a very special part of this.”

The way that Co-first author Peter Eggenhuizen sees it:
“This breakthrough offers huge hope not only in lupus but across the spectrum of autoimmune diseases. There is a huge range of autoimmune diseases that could be targeted with this approach.”

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of your body. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system — the body system that usually fights infections — attacks healthy tissue instead.

Anyone can develop disease. But certain people are at higher risk for it, including:

Women ages 15 to 44.

Certain racial or ethnic groups — including people who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or Pacific Islander.
People who have a family member with lupus or another autoimmune disease.

What causes Lupus?

No one knows what causes it — but lupus and other autoimmune diseases do run in families. Experts also think it may develop in response to certain hormones (like estrogen) or environmental triggers. An environmental trigger is something outside the body that can bring on symptoms of lupus — or make them worse.

There is no one first sign or symptom of the disease. The early signs and symptoms are generally the same as the symptoms of the disease itself, including extreme fatigue, joint pain, or a butterfly rash. However, the early signs vary widely from person to person.

Lupus is not contagious — you can’t “catch” lupus or give it to someone else.

You can read about this developing news below:

https://www.monash.edu/medicine/news/latest/2024-articles/world-first-discovery-may-enable-an-effective-long-term-lupus-treatment

Read the study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45056-x

Procrastinators Unite: Set the date for February 30th

Alan

February 18, 2024

Procrastinators Unite: Set the date for February 30th

Procrastinators Unite — Trying to avoid doing something? Set your due date for February 30.

In the Gregorian calendar, as you probably know, all of the months have 30 or 31 days—except February, which has 28 (or 29 in a leap year).

When the Swedish were changing from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian, however, they ended up with a February 30.

Most countries, in making the switch, sacrificed a whole row of days.

The Swedish plan was to make the change gradually, by omitting leap days for 40 years. It was a good plan, if a long one, but ended up being implemented incorrectly because of the Great Northern War.

In 1712 the Swedes decided to just restore the Julian calendar by adding the leap days they had taken out, and they ended up with 28 + 2 days in February.

Several decades later the Swedish converted to the Gregorian calendar in the usual way, by taking out the last 11 days of February 1753.

sourced – Britannica

The tropical year, the time it takes the Earth to go through a complete cycle of seasons, is 365.2422 days long (to four-decimal accuracy).

If every calendar year were 365 days long, then the missing 0.2422 days would add up from year to year, each year starting a little earlier relative to the changing seasons. It would take only 120 years for the calendar to be a month adrift from the season.

Calendar fast facts:

February 31st is exceptionally used on gravestones when the date is unknown, or in at least one case, out of supposed superstition.

May 35th is used in mainland China to avoid censorship when referring to the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, where the official names are strictly censored by the national government, and the event is normally referred to as June 4th.

December 32nd – The LearAvia Lear Fan aircraft test flight had British government “funding that expired at the end of that year.” After the cancellation of a planned test flight on December 31, 1980, due to technical issues, the first prototype made its maiden flight on January 1, 1981, but the date was officially recorded by sympathetic British government officials as “December 32nd, 1980”.

Non-standard dates used in programming:

In Microsoft Excel, the epoch of the 1900 date format is January 0, 1900. February 31st is used (along with February 32nd and February 33rd) for calculating weather data, and March 0 or 0 March is used often in software engineering.

Oopsies …

In November 2010 it was discovered that a Hanshin Tigers wall calendar incorrectly included the date November 31st. Fans who had bought the calendar were given a sticker to cover up the date, and reprinted calendars were sent.

Just fix it …

Because evening out the months is a part of the rationale for reforming the calendar, some reform calendars, such as the World Calendar and the Hanke–Henry Permanent Calendar, contain a 30-day February. The Symmetry454 calendar assigns 35 days to February, May, August, and November, as well as December in a leap year.

Covid funding wasn’t meant to be a permanent thing

Alan

February 17, 2024

Covid funding wasn’t meant to be a permanent thing — I looked at an article recently over on the Flathead Beacon that talked about Missoula schools having to scale back on the money because budgets were getting pretty tight (code for “we ran out of Covid money”).

See the article

Missoula Schools Move Forward with Massive Budget Cuts

Superintendent Micah Hill indicated that:

(The cuts are a result of) … the impending sunset of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds that originated during the COVID pandemic.

He also threw in the “declining enrollment” argument for good measure.

Covid funding wasn’t meant to be a permanent thing — it was a stop gap sort of quasi funding scheme designed to smooth out the rough spots during a period of time when normal education couldn’t be done in a practical, safe, or effective way — that’s all.

School administrators didn’t look far enough ahead into the future to realize that somewhere along the line, this money was going to go away. But they pressed on anyway oblivious to the coming shortfall.

One comment made by a 5th grade teacher sort of struck me as being somewhat off-cocked —

Jordan Garland, a fifth-grade teacher at Lewis and Clark Elementary was quoted as saying:

“From daily disruptive outbursts to instances of verbal and even physical aggression and violence, the spectrum of challenging behaviors exhibited by students demands a proactive and comprehensive approach,” she continued. “Without our behavior interventionist providing support, teachers will have no one to call when students are violent, out of control and unsafe.”

Sounds like she’s saying that there are daily disruptive outbursts in her 5th grade classroom — including instances of verbal and even physical aggression and violence, and she is powerless to do anything about it. (It’s always important to grossly overstate the need when it comes to money)

Disruptive outburst?

Well let me tell you about people like Mr. Chandler, Mrs. McCracken, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr Reed, to name just a few. These teachers, among many others, never shirked from their responsibility and put the quash to any classroom disruptions. If you didn’t get sent to the Principles office for cutting-up, then you got the Hack — Yes, the paddle board hung right there on the wall as a reminder that it was some pretty embarrassing shit to get the hack right there in front of all of your buddies.

All of the classroom bad-asses knew that getting the hack would knock ’em down a few notches in their public school social standing just enough to cause them to have a bit more humility amongst their peers.

Back in the day we had band class, shop class, track and field, home economics — we also had math (uck), english, health, social studies, civics, U.S. history, and so on and so forth. As I might recall, there were no special funding options for any of this stuff — it was all pretty much plain-jane and to-the-point. Very basic stuff.

There wasn’t any of this so-called, “There there dear … oh you poor thing” .. discipline in the classroom was about as straight forward as the class studies were and that was the end of it.

The behavior interventionist in the room was the teacher and he or she had all of the tools and where-with-all to administer any needed discipline.

None of the guys I knew that got the hack ever turned into serial killers or bank robbers. Not a single one of them ever suffered from the so-called trauma that the many these days claim occurs when you get embarrassed in front of your buddies. These guys moved on to have regular lives, jobs, families. They dealt with life’s situations just like the rest of us and were none worse for the wear. They weren’t special.

The psychology of the human brain has been the same since it has existed — The human condition was a constant back in the day, just like it is now.

Nothing has changed

There’s always going to be shenanigans when you get a bunch of 10 year olds together in the same room. The trick here is to understand that though these kids are young, they are extremely intelligent, bright, and can figure shit out pretty darn quick.

As soon as you have to call for outside help by way of the so-called behavior interventionist, you’re done. These 10 year old kids own you now and there’s nothing you can do about it. Having to pay for someone else to do the job that you, as a teacher should be doing, flags you as a failed teacher, and as such, you are costing your district twice the amount of money than it should be paying to get the job done.

It’s unfortunate that the district has to make cuts or otherwise scale back on some of the frills. Districts that have “proactive” administrations aren’t having to cut back because they already knew that temporary things, like Covid funding, aren’t permanent things. These administrators aren’t in the business of disappointment — they’re in the business of education and they aren’t about to let people believe things that aren’t true.

Covid funding wasn’t meant to be a permanent thing and I’m somewhat disappointed to know that there are those out there that pretended that it was by piling on a bunch of unsustainable programs only to have to shut them when the money ran out.