Will the Price of Electric Vehicles Be Cheaper Than Gas Cars Soon?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The push for electric vehicles is increasing day by day. If ever a time to make the switch, last week might have sent some potential buyers of the edge. Will the price of electric vehicles be lower than gasoline cars soon? Experts seem to think change is in the air for the auto industry.

Will electric cars be cheaper than gas?

Will electric vehicles be more affordable than gas cars soon? | Ian Forsyth/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Last week, there was a cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline. CBS News reported on the attack and how it sent gasoline-dependent drivers straight to the pumps. There were shortages all over with long lines at gas stations while people panic-bought gas. Prices went through the roof while consumers waited for news.

If ever a time to be an electric vehicle owner, that was it. Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla drives laughed all the way to public charging stations or home chargers. While the gas issue was not a long-term problem, it has the volatility to become an issue further down the line.

The price of electric vehicles

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According to a 2020 article by Consumer Reports, EV owners saved $4,700 or more in the first seven years of ownership. For comparison, it should be clear that an electric vehicle can cost between 10% and 40% more than a similar gasoline model.

The typical savings for an electric vehicle owner can range between $6,000 and $10,000. This would be dependent on the price differences for the EV and non-EV vehicles.

Chris Harto, CR’s senior policy analyst for transportation and energy, said, “As battery prices and technology improve, prices come down, and more attractive models hit the market, it’s only going to get better.”

This does not take into account that many automakers have federal rebates still for purchasing an EV. There could potentially be another rebate coming as the U.S. pushes for more electric vehicles on the roads.

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, economist and sustainability expert, anticipates the price of electric vehicles to fall below gasoline vehicles within two or three years. However, the power grid is also susceptible to such an incident.

“This cost decline that’s been underway is going to continue, and the fact of the matter is we’re not going to have that much choice because all of the manufacturing companies are now looking at Tesla and say, ‘Hey, we’re going that way, too,” Sachs commented.

With the push for more charging stations and better electric vehicle infrastructure, it makes sense to look at the future of transportation.

The push for cheaper batteries

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Many brands have promised to stop making gas-powered cars by 2030 or so. Companies like Tesla and Volkswagen are working hard to make batteries less expensive, which would drive prices down further. Currently, many brands outsource batteries which increases the price.

Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess noted that he wants to follow Elon Musk and Tesla’s footsteps. Back in 2020, Diess posted an update on LinkedIn that he wanted to catch up with Tesla. He titled this “Mission T.”

“As a result, we had to tailor Volkswagen’s strategy to keep up with these new competitors…The event revolved around how we can catch up with Tesla – a company focused exclusively on the future, without a traditional car business.”

Herbert Diess | Volkswagen Group CEO

Tesla had Battery Day on September 22, 2020, when the company announced an upgrade in battery technology. By doing this, Tesla hoped to reduce the price of batteries by more than 50%. With that, Tesla hopes to be able to offer a car under the price of $30,000.

The new batteries will be made in-house, which is part of the price reduction. In addition to the price reduction, the batteries would be more powerful and get a further range.

We are seeing this project come to life with the estimated 410+ mile range on the new Tesla Model S Long Range. The Plaid+ is rumored to get over 500 miles of range.

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The 2021 Chevy Tahoe Could Have Another Recall Soon

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, and Silverado have a ‘Service Engine Soon’ light appearing on the dashboard. Sometimes it blinks on and off, and other times it stays on. But General Motors may have a solution for new Chevy Tahoe, Silverado, and Suburban models with this issue. 

Why does the 2021 Chevy Tahoe need engine service? 

2021 Chevy Tahoe | Chevrolet

According to Torque News, some owners of new General Motors trucks and SUVs have been plagued by a ‘Service Engine’ light on their dashboards. Models with this issue include the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, and Silverado. The GMC Yukon, Sierra, and Cadillac models may be affected as well. 

Nothing puts confidence in a brand new ride like having a service engine light pop up, right? Some owners noticed that the light pops up and turns off intermittently, while others can’t get it to turn off. 

But GM figured out what’s causing the service engine light to illuminate. A bad engine manifold pressure sensor could be to blame. Now GM has issued a service bulletin for dealerships to replace the sensor in vehicles with the problem. 

Why isn’t this a Chevy Tahoe recall? 

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There isn’t a recall for the 2021 Chevy Tahoe and other Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles yet because this problem doesn’t appear to be dangerous. But it is a nuisance as the light could indicate a significant problem. Also, Torque News noted that more severe problems could occur if drivers ignore the light for an extended period. 

General Motors hasn’t released how many vehicles are experiencing sensor problems, and replacing the bad engine manifold pressure sensor can only be done at dealerships. You may be contacted to bring your 2021 GM vehicle in to have the sensor replaced. 

If your ‘Service Engine Soon’ light flashes on your dashboard, don’t hesitate to contact a local dealership. Call ahead to see if the sensors are in stock and schedule a maintenance appointment. The sensors will be replaced at no cost to vehicle owners. 

How reliable is the Chevy Tahoe? 

The new gray 2021 Chevrolet Suburban High Country is revealed by General Motors at Little Caesars Arena. The Chevy Suburban is the oldest car nameplates in the United States
The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban | Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

This engine sensor issue for the 2021 Chevy Tahoe made us wonder how reliable this massive SUV is. According to Consumer Reports, the 2021 Tahoe has a predicted reliability rating of two out of five, which is below average. 

The predicted reliability rating is based on surveys that Consumer Reports sends out to thousands of vehicle owners, allowing them to report issues they faced with previous models. The data suggests that the main problems occurred with the 2013 – 2017 models. 

A few of the issues include brake problems, suspension issues, climate system trouble, electrical system problems, drive system problems, transmission issues, and engine problems. 

However, on a positive note, fewer issues have been reported on 2018, 2019, and 2020 Chevy Tahoe models. This may indicate that previous problems have been resolved for newer models. 

So far, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued six recalls for the 2021 Tahoe. The front passenger seat had loose bolts, the seat belt bracket wasn’t adequately secured, the seat belt assembly wasn’t properly attached, there was a fuel leak, the seat belt in the second-row center seat failed, and damaged seat belts had a risk of breaking during a crash. 

But these recalls caught issues early, and newer models should have been repaired. The Chevy Tahoe is still a safe bet, especially with the corrected seat belt and fuel leak issues. Remember, the service engine light doesn’t indicate a dangerous problem.

The post The 2021 Chevy Tahoe Could Have Another Recall Soon appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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The Most Expensive Nissan to Insure Comes as No Surprise

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Nissan offers a wide variety of models that’ll variety consumers’ needs. Some are more practical than others, so it’s no surprise the most expensive Nissan to insure is a GT-R. Here’s a look at how much you’d pay in auto insurance premiums for a 2021 Nissan GT-R NISMO.

The 2021 Nissan GT-R NISMO costs over $3,800 a year to insure

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Car insurance can be a tricky thing because insurers won’t give everyone the same quote. There are many ways to save money on car insurance, but regardless, some cars will always be pricier to protect than others. Off the bat, expensive cars naturally cost more to insure, but that’s not the only factor driving up insurance premiums. 

That’s why it’s no surprise that 10 of the costliest cars to insure are luxury vehicles that are also sporty, MotorTrend reports. MT’s list is dominated by luxury automakers and some of their fanciest sports cars, such as the Tesla Model S Performance Plaid, Audi R8 Spyder, and Maserati Quattroporte S GranSport.

However, that list also includes the Nissan GT-R NISMO, ranking eighth place overall. With an estimated annual insurance premium of $3,892, the GT-R NISMO is more expensive to insure than a Maserati Levante GTS, a BMW M5 Competition, and an R8 Spyder, the last costing about $3,863 a year to insure.

It’s expensive but powerful

The GT-R is already an expensive sports car, starting at $113,000, MotorTrend reports. It packs a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 produces 565 hp and 467 lb-ft of torque. With that said, the GT-R NISMO is a different beast: It’s most than twice the price of a regular GT-R.

The NISMO costs about $210,000, and though it has the same engine as the regular GT-R, it’s tuned more aggressively. The NISMO’s V6 harnesses about 600 hp and 481 lb-ft of torque, MotorTrend shows. This powerful engine, combined with its other performance enhancements, allows the NISMO to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 2.9 seconds.

That high performance, along with the price, makes clear why MotorTrend says the GT-R NISMO costs so much to insure. Regardless, Nissan doesn’t make this supercar for drivers who want practicality, and reasons abound why this model may be worth it to some GT-R fans.

An overview of the 2021 Nissan GT-R NISMO

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The Nissan GT-R NISMO is a sports car first and foremost, so practical features aren’t a high priority for the automaker. For instance, MotorTrend says the NISMO offers 8.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity, an “acceptable” amount, but it’s not a lot of room, either. Furthermore, the NISMO gets about 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, which is unremarkable. Additionally, it offers few advanced safety features as standard equipment, and the interior tech is also pretty average.

However, customers get a car that’ll be great around a track. That’s because the NISMO still has the GT-R’s lauded grip and handling that can tackle a track as well as any other sports car. Indeed, MotorTrend says the 2021 model is “the best of its kind” as far as the GT-R nameplate goes. So any fan willing to front the money for a Nissan GT-R NISMO probably won’t be too worried about car insurance premiums.

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Can You Tow With a Sports Car?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

How come we never see a Lamborghini Hurracan towing a camper along? Oftentimes, sports cars have a tremendous amount of power, yet we never put them to work. These sports cars are often all-wheel-drive and have all the power. So, why don’t we see sports cars towing a trailer more often? Can you tow with a sports car? 

2021 Ram 1500 Limited EcoDiesel | Stellantis

Should you use a sports car for towing? 

You definitely can but should you? Probably not. Like anything else, there are always exceptions, but all kinds of power were not created equally as a rule. Although sports cars can be very fast and powerful, the kind of power they tend to have is not the right kind of power for towing. 

Sports cars are often rich in higher-rpm horsepower but lack the torque, gearing, and weight for serious towing. Again, this doesn’t mean a sports car couldn’t tow a small trailer if it had the trailer hitch, but it does mean it probably shouldn’t. 

For one, most sports cars are going to be able to pull any serious weight anyways. They simply don’t have sturdy enough gearing nor the torque to pull much weight. Secondly, trying to tow with a sports car will put the driver and any other road goers in a great deal of potential danger. 

How to pick a good vehicle for towing? 

a red Nissan 350Z in a praking lot with a red side-by-side strapped onto the roof
Nissan 350Z with a UTV strapped to the roof | Reddit:Akumabengoshi

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For all the things that make sports cars loads of fun, those same things make them terrible towing vehicles. The reason the best towers are HD pickup trucks is that they are purpose-built for them. 

The 2021 Ford F-150 is the best in its class for towing because it uses the proper weight, gear ratios, and power plant. According to TheAutoSunday, towing comes down to safety more than raw ability.

Sure, a Bugatti Chiron could probably pull 5,000 pounds, but it might shred its gearbox before getting too far. If the transmission can hang on long enough, its weight and wheelbase make the Bugatti and whatever is in tow a very dangerous rig, indeed. 

The class-winning towing capacity of the Ford F-150 is found by figuring out how much the truck can safely pull. The F-150 can certainly pull more than its 11,300 max towing capacity, but that number is decided upon by judging how much weight is actually manageable and safe.

As a rule, sports cars and most sedans aren’t even given a towing capacity because they aren’t made to do it. This means attempting to tow with a sports car can get very dangerous very quickly. 

What about towing with sporty SUVs? 

Over the past decade or so, SUVs have positively taken over the American car market. With that take overcame the sport SUVs. Sports car makers like Porsche, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin all make hopped-up SUVs that are fast as hell and can actually tow. 

The Lamborghini Urus, for instance, comes from the factory with a tow hitch. A Lamborghini with a tow hitch. It’s wild, but it is somehow both a supercar and a real SUV. 

The best path forward for any sports car fans is to let your sports car be what it is and don’t try to make it something it’s not.

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