Electric cars

by Jerry Esmay, Stevensville

Have you bought one of those new electric cars yet? If not, you better start looking into purchasing one as the liberals want you to give up any idea of buying a new gasoline-powered one by 2035 – at least that’s a proposed law being considered in California.

Well, I don’t expect to be around to see 2035 but even if I was, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be buying one. I know technology can advance at a rapid pace and overcome seemingly impossible constraints in a short timeframe, but I see a lot of associated problems that these folks don’t want to talk about. Here are a few:

Where’s the energy coming from to charge all these vehicles? As I mentioned in a previous letter, windmills and solar arrays will not be able to accomplish this additional demand. So, we are back to fossil-fueled generation or nuclear.

Where will all the “charging stations” be located? Although the time required to charge the batteries in these cars is being reduced, it will still take considerably more time than currently required to “gas up” your vehicle. What about the sparsely populated areas such as eastern Montana?

What happens in the winter when vehicles are stranded in a snow storm? Wreckers won’t be able to “jump-start” the electric ones.

What will happen to the “used car” market? Although the electric motor has fewer parts probably requiring less maintenance than internal combustion engines, replacing the batteries may cost as much as the vehicle sold for originally.

Ever consider the loss of jobs associated with the operation of current “gas stations”? As already noted, the demand for auto mechanics is expected to plummet.

Oh, how about the loss of tax revenue at all levels from local to federal? How will these funds be replaced?

My objective here is to make sure we approach this transition in a rational and thought-out manner. In my opinion moving to electrical vehicles is not the miracle solution being preached by the left.

I can’t end this letter without again pointing to the flood of illegals entering our country at the southern border. Mr. President, this is an invasion you are allowing to occur.

And finally, I must express my dissatisfaction with the President’s decision to cancel college debt for many.  Folks, this is just another example of welfare being used to buy votes.