Could you link to what they said that has you very bothered? So far in this post they seem pretty even-keeled and fun to chat with, but you seem to really have it out for them.
No disputes from me on your assessment. In principle I'm a big fan of EVs as a maturing technology and my only hangup with Tesla is its association with the person who is its CEO and the role he's chosen to play in US politics.
I'll gladly champion a vehicle that has incredible efficiency in converting its stored energy into mechanical work, especially when that stored energy came from a source that's 40-60% thermally efficient (for combustion-based processes) or derived from solar/wind/geothermal/hydro sources and can be partially recuperated via braking. It's too bad there aren't more EV options for people who want or need a 3/4 or 1-ton pickup (of which I happen to be a big fan for hauling/towing/plowing).
The one area where I'm still dubious of electric vehicles is in cold climates, although I think I've read heat pumps are being used with success. Otherwise, I'd propose a small auxiliary tank (preferably propane, if infrastructure permits) and a "Chinese diesel heater"-type unit be installed simply for cabin heating/defogging. Few energy conversions make me cringe more than that of high-exergy electricity (derived from non-renewables) directly into thermal energy, convenient as it may be for the end user.
Of course, it'd be nice if that combustive heat could be generated from sustainably-harvested hydrogen instead of an extracted hydrocarbon, but at that point, a fuel cell running a heat pump would be even better, with resistive waste heat from the FC an added bonus. But now it all feels a bit Rube Goldbergian...
Anyway, what's your take on EV use in climates with harsh winters (such as Canada/Alaska/Montana/Wyoming/Minnesota), especially when long range might be needed?
Not to mention the electrical energy stored in their cells has a fairly strong possibility of having been generated by a power plant consuming coal or petroleum.
That's awesome! I've tried looking for these giant lenses in the past, but never encountered any on the side of the road, unfortunately. Projection TVs are a treasure trove of awesome optical components.
This makes me wonder how well a 1W 980nm Infrared Laser would work for burning/igniting a rubber surface.
If it were a sunny day and I wanted to conduct an innocuous experiment with my own property, on my own property, and it were legal to do so in my municipality, I'd place a magnifying glass, via powerful magnet and flexible arm, such that it concentrated sunlight on the tire's sidewall. Then I'd sit back and watch until I either got bored or had to put out any resulting flames with an NFPA-approved extinguisher and/or garden hose. Then I'd record the results in a logbook and drink a beer.
I seem to remember lots of pro-Bernie energy in 2016. Voting for Bernie would have been much more satisfying than voting for Clinton, at least for me and many of the people I personally know.
I'd love to see this happen and I hope we can see it through to completion.
Something anyone can do this week to take a step in the correct direction is to go and get a library card. It'll help one the greatest foundations of democracy, community, and public knowledge in our country, and it'll help connect you with a source of knowledge and a community with whom you can jointly build a coalition.
The same reason why the childhood treats like Hostess Twinkies and cakes and candy bars don't taste good anymore. I originally blamed my tastebuds for the change, but now I believe it's the enshittification of base ingredients, squeezing as much nostalgic goodwill and basic cravings for sugar/fat as possible out of ever-lower quality, cheaper basic materials in the name of profit margins, donations to conservative super PACs, and executive yachts.
Could you link to what they said that has you very bothered? So far in this post they seem pretty even-keeled and fun to chat with, but you seem to really have it out for them.