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1. Embed this notice
   Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D. (acsawdey@fosstodon.org)'s status on Thursday, 07-Mar-2024 03:50:37 JST Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D.

   in reply to

   • For whom the Taco Bell tolls
   • Emily Velasco
   • Andrew Zonenberg

   @azonenberg @MLE_online @madrush Yes. Unfortunately the automakers have figured out that they don’t make money on things like this so they don’t build them. But it’s what we need for a sustainable future.

   • Embed this notice
     Andrew Zonenberg (azonenberg@ioc.exchange)'s status on Thursday, 07-Mar-2024 03:50:37 JST Andrew Zonenberg

     in reply to

     • For whom the Taco Bell tolls
     • Emily Velasco

     @acsawdey @MLE_online @madrush Exactly.

     We need vehicles that won't be totaled or generate hundreds of pounds of plastic garbage when somebody bumps a shopping cart into you at the grocery store.

     With a bit more time and initial investment you could probably make vehicles consistently last - and be maintainable for - 20+ years. Just look at the US post office and their "long life vehicle" delivery trucks. Last units produced in 1994, still the mainstay of the fleet today although a replacement is under development.

     But there's no money in making a family car that lasts 30 years.

     James Morris likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     Andrew Zonenberg (azonenberg@ioc.exchange)'s status on Thursday, 07-Mar-2024 03:50:38 JST Andrew Zonenberg

     in reply to

     • For whom the Taco Bell tolls
     • Emily Velasco

     @acsawdey @MLE_online @madrush What I want is an EV that's built like an 1980s American / recent-ish European pickup (big enough bed to carry a sheet of plywood or drywall, but not 3m high and weighing as much as a herd of elephants).

     Something able to drive on dirt logging / forest service roads without getting stuck or scraping the underside, but low enough that I won't run over a small car without seeing it.

     Ideally with a front bench seat so my wife and kid (when she's old enough to be out of a child seat at least) can all fit without needing an extended cab.

     And as dumb and mechanical as possible (mechanical steering, no / easily removable telematics, ideally no touchscreen, as a minimum no touchscreen interaction required for normal in-motion vehicle controls like climate control).

     Too bad it doesn't exist and probably never will.

   • Embed this notice
     Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D. (acsawdey@fosstodon.org)'s status on Thursday, 07-Mar-2024 03:50:38 JST Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D.

     in reply to

     • For whom the Taco Bell tolls
     • Emily Velasco
     • Andrew Zonenberg

     @azonenberg @MLE_online @madrush That is also very appealing and unfortunately yeah the only way that’s happening is if you buy a 80’s Toyota pickup and do your own EV conversion 😕

   • Embed this notice
     Andrew Zonenberg (azonenberg@ioc.exchange)'s status on Thursday, 07-Mar-2024 03:50:38 JST Andrew Zonenberg

     in reply to

     • For whom the Taco Bell tolls
     • Emily Velasco

     @acsawdey @MLE_online @madrush Except then you get a deathtrap of a body not designed to modern safety standards.

     Additional (probably impossible) bonus: Something as safe as a modern car in a high speed crash, but also designed with repairability in mind (e.g. avoid use of disposable composite panels on fenders and other areas likely to suffer minor damage, prefer sheet metal that can be hammered back into shape and returned to service).

   • Embed this notice
     Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D. (acsawdey@fosstodon.org)'s status on Thursday, 07-Mar-2024 03:50:39 JST Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D.

     in reply to

     • For whom the Taco Bell tolls
     • Emily Velasco

     @MLE_online @madrush Oh, and the REAL problem is (and I think this is widespread) that what I want in a new vehicle is and EV that is modest sized and doesn't cost $50k+ and they really just don't exist. Chevy Bolt is kind of there but still too expensive and weirdly SUV-ish.

   • Embed this notice
     Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D. (acsawdey@fosstodon.org)'s status on Thursday, 07-Mar-2024 03:50:40 JST Aaron Sawdey, Ph.D.

     in reply to

     • For whom the Taco Bell tolls
     • Emily Velasco

     @MLE_online @madrush Yeah that's really all I was trying to point out.

     I don't care if they all look the same, what I want back is the smaller sizes, clean lines, and the bigger greenhouses and attendant better visibility that all came with roughly 1990's automotive styling. Today's giant road going bunkers are ridiculous, and I'll even tar sedans with that brush -- the outward visibility in my 2015 civic is crap compared to my 2001 civic (both 4dr).

   • Embed this notice
     Emily Velasco (mle_online@social.afront.org)'s status on Thursday, 07-Mar-2024 03:50:41 JST Emily Velasco

     • For whom the Taco Bell tolls

     @madrush @acsawdey As stupid as it looks, at least it's trying something different, which is more than pretty much any other vehicle right now