Lightning or Model Y?

I heard the birds chirping again this morning. It was still too cold for a Spring Day though. My dad was occupied in the mountains with snow blowing.

I look forward to warmer weather to get my Sur-Ron out and about more. Soon.

We have a sweet giveaway announcement. The winner gets to pick out any single item on Rivian’s Gear Shop for up to $50. To be entered, all you have to do is:

1. Make sure you are subscribed to the newsletter
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Godspeed and enjoy the newsletter.

“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”

-Henry David Thoreau

The Search Continues

In the first installment of this series, I delved into the various incentives available for EV buyers. If you missed Part 1, be sure to catch up here.

Today, I’ll continue my journey toward finding the ultimate EV within a budget of $80,000, focusing on SUVs and trucks.

Vehicle Availability. Living in a fast-paced world driven by next-day deliveries from Amazon, instant gratification plays a significant role in my decision-making process. I want an EV today! Knowing that and knowing that some EVs are hard to come by, I want to check on availability.

To begin my search, I’ll visit reputable platforms like CarGurus or even the manufacturer’s website directly, such as Tesla. Utilizing CarGurus’ advanced filters, I can quickly sort by:

• Vehicle type
• Fuel source (electric in this case)
• Proximity
• Price
• Color and more

I kept this search simple and started with an electric truck within 25 miles of my house which is less than $80,000. My search yields a single result – a Ford F-150 Lightning with a stock photo marked as sold. To ensure its availability, I’d probably contact the dealership directly. We encountered a similar tactic looking for our current Lightning and oftentimes, these trucks were not actually available.

Given the scarcity of electric trucks, I could then expand my search to include SUVs, specifically the Tesla Model Y. Instead of using CarGurus this time, I will turn to Tesla’s site directly. I found a solitary Model Y within 25 miles by entering my preferences on Tesla’s website. I talked to Tesla and this Model Y is available for immediate pickup-up.

For this scenario, let’s just assume both options are readily available. I now face a critical decision: the brand-new Ford F-150 Lightning or the equally enticing Tesla Model Y?

Stay tuned for Part 3 of my comprehensive EV buying guide, arriving in next Tuesday’s newsletter. I’ll delve into the nitty-gritty and reveal the criteria that will ultimately determine my ideal EV selection.

In other EV News

• As Lamborghini breaks records with over 9,000 vehicles delivered in 2022, the iconic brand faces an 18-month waiting list for its high-performance supercars. Even with surging demand, the legendary automaker is preparing for a paradigm shift by phasing out internal combustion engines in favor of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles by 2024.
• The price of lithium, a key material used in electric vehicle batteries, has dropped nearly 20% since January, while cobalt has fallen by more than half, and copper has slipped around 18%
• Foxconn, which now owns GM’s former Lordstown factory in Ohio, aims to become a key assembler for the world’s major EV manufacturers. Foxconn is targeting 5% of the global EV market and aims to make nearly half of the world’s EVs in the long term. By building EVs for name-brand companies, the EV outsourcing market is expected to manufacture 800,000 EVs worth $36 billion in 2025 and 3.2 million EVs worth $144 billion in 2030, according to Goldman Sachs.
• The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management cleanup contractor UCOR is transitioning to an electric vehicle fleet with the first 11 vehicles received, and 150 more expected to be added this year.

More News

For more Electric Vehicle News and Autonomous Vehicle News, check out the rest of the free newsletter.