A simple Calculation for EVs

The price of gasoline went up again yesterday and remained the same today! It was after a sharp drop. That is why it's called roller coaster. With that in mind, I thought I do a little, simple calculation to see how the ones who drive an EV, enjoy it. However, I need to mention the concept of battery depreciation, something that EV owners cannot close their eyes to it.

My story is a little bit different. I drive a Hybrid-Electric which has less dependency on the charge. I have been able to charge it at work, most of the time, free of charge. I haven't heard anything from HR but I guess when I hear it would be the day that they ask me to leave and never come back! 

Apart from that I wanted to do a little calculation to how it actually looks. The data is based on Toyota App. This system record all the details: Where the charging took place, the date, the hours and most importantly, the amount of energy extracted in Kwh. Here is an example:

The Battery was at 0% and went up to 89% in less than 9 hours, or to be exact 8 h. and 57 m. and 19 sec.! Keep in mind that it is a small battery. Not like Tesla's. It extracted 9.167 kwh of energy. This amount of energy combined with just a few drop of gasoline is enough for a reliable and enjoyable drive of nearly 70 km (43 miles). It will cost $0.104900 x 9.167 = $0.96! 

Solar Panels installed in the first solar plant within the limits of City of Calgary in the southeastern quadrant. These panels last up to 30 years and generate convert nearly, if remember correctly, only 26% of the sunlight to alternative current. Inverters then are used to convert the current the DC and make it suitable for the public use

It seems pretty attractive to have an EV. Does it not? Especially now that the prices are coming down but you also have to remember that many of these cars are simply Compliance Vehicles meaning that they just are a cheap copy of the originals big brand luxury EVs and the pathetic companies have to make them to be able to comply with the governments' rules which mandates them not to make internal combustion vehicles after a certain year.

It is said that if you drive them well, perhaps meaning not accelerating suddenly, do not expose them to extreme cold or heat and consider some other factors, they will last up to 10 years. What do you need to do after that? You must consider the battery changed or the vehicle is only good as a carriage which needs a couple of good horses! All the money that you have saved in the past 10 years now is going to be spent on a new battery! What have you gotten, then? Just comfort and the joy of driving the EV. The question is was it worth it? You also can buy solar panels and make your charging free after a few years but as these panels normally last 30 years. The final verdict is buy a good EV, if you can afford it. Enjoy driving it, enjoy its luxury and then who knows what happens in 10 years?! 

(Photo, top: The Toyota App gives you lots of options as well as interesting data about your vehicle)

Everything's Not Lost

Sent this lyrics of Coldplay to one of cousins today:

When I counted up my demons

Saw there was one for every day

With the good ones on my shoulders

I drove the other ones away

So if you ever feel neglected

And if you think that all is lost

I'll be counting up my demons, yeah

Hoping everything's not lost

When you thought that it was over

You could feel it all around

And everybody's out to get you

Don't you let it drag you down

Cause if you ever feel neglected

And if you think that all is lost

I'll be counting up my demons, yeah

Hoping everything's not lost

If you ever feel neglected

If you think that all is lost

I'll be counting up my demons, yeah

Hoping everything's not lost

Singing out

Oh, oh, oh, yeah

Oh, oh, yeah

Oh, oh, yeah

Everything's not lost

(Photo: The school in Hormozgan Province in the south of Iran after being hit by an American missile. These guys didn't even bother apologizing, let alone compensating the poor people who lost their kids during the murderous attack) 

The Roller Coaster of Gasoline

I purchased $30 worth of gasoline last Sat. night for approximately, if I remember correctly, $1.85 per liter. I had planned for a hike the next day. I got lazy and didn't go! That amount of gasoline would have lasted me the entire week or at least up to Thu., had I continued driving my old internal combustion engine vehicle. I, instead, drove my PHEV. What was shocking was the price of gasoline today: $1.50 per liter! Just after one week! 

A week ago I did not see prices lower than $1.85 in most of the major gas stations across the city

One might thing ȼ35 per liter is nothing but it adds up. There has not been any exchange of missiles or any bombing during the week. The US has just increased the economic pressures and blockades on Iran and the Saudis have helped the Yemeni Government in their fight against Houthis. Leading those to a more stable oil market is surprising but thank you. The food prices, damn, they're out of control. It's so bad that I don't even want to discuss them. No wonder why some people go to bed half hungry or the lines are long at the food banks. I'm not going to discuss this issue again.  

(Photo, top: The price of gasoline in the southeastern quadrant of Calgary, Alberta, yesterday afternoon)

The Anxiety before the Trip

The last time I was in Europe was 2014, 12 freaking years ago and the world was a different place back then. I spent more than a week in the State of Bavaria in Germany and had a great time. Look at all the horrific things that have happened in these 12b years so so:

1) Syrian Civil War. That poured nearly 1,000,000 refuges to Germany, alone. It started in 2011 and got worse by the year until it ended in Dec. 2024, less than two years ago. Watching A Private War could shed some light on the details of this devastating war but you need to dig deeper to understand it thoroughly. 

2) Covid-19 Pandemic. (Started in early 2020).

3) Taliban taking over Afghanistan after the US forces left in Aug.2021. That has created an unstoppable wave of Afghan refugees to all over the world. Many of them flee to the neighbouring countries, more specifically Pakistan and Iran but both the countries have started expelling them. Some left for Tajikistan and Russia, the wealthy ones, I would say, and many aimed for Europe through Iran and Turkey. 

4) Russia's war with Ukraine or as the Russian Government names it the Special Military Operation! It started in Feb. 2022. Many Ukrainian villagers and low-life pathetic losers were let in Canada now they feel like they're the kings of heaven and earth, enjoying all the benefits that the Government of Canada provides them simply because they are against Russians, the imaginary enemy that the Westerners have created for themselves just to keep their citizens on their toes and then rub them blind! The funny thing is I'm not a bar or a shopping mall guy but there hasn't been once that I have been to a public place without seeing a young Ukrainian couple hand in hand walking, laughing, drinking and eating! If Ukraine, which has been the most corrupt government in Europe by the way, is so important to you that you clown president wonders around Europe and North America to beg for money and equipment, why the hell are you here? Why the hell don't you pick up a rifle and fight the Russians?!

5) Iran's economic collapse and repression of the public. The situation in Iran has gone out of control for the past 10 years or so and declining rapidly. That has forced many people out. It has reached the point that people now struggle for their daily meal and the infrastructure system is falling apart.

6) The US-Canada Trade war. This has created a sense of instability in the country because no one really knows what that mentally unstable, pathologic liar might do next! 

With all that said and with the unstable position I have been holding for the past one year and five months, and only 1 week to my trip, I don't have such a good feeling! First of all I will not get my rental vehicle that I've booked and it is not solely because of the price of gasoline in the country that I'm travelling to, which is €1.84 per liter (CAN $2.86, about CAN $1.36 higher than the price here!), it also because of the unfamiliarity with the area and the fact that crossing into the second country might be difficult and the rental agreement might be complicated! The second thing is high cost of the services in those countries. I booked my ticket in Mar. when the situation was not like this! Besides the Group Lead has not been kicked out of the place yet! So there was not much uncertainty around. Also in the recent evaluation that I got from my manager I was told that I need to move on! I was told by him that I should go back to the Management position! So how do I go on to my vacation and enjoy that while they are so many things negatively affecting me! I'm trying to forget about all the trouble, focus on the plan and have as much fun as I can. I think the circumstances where not similar when I left the continent two years ago but what can I do rather than being relaxed?!

(Photo: This, might have been uploaded at the time the trip was made but in case no one has seen it, this is the Bavarian Government building in Munich)

Gasoline Price Spike

I had not expected this recent jump in the price of gasoline which took place late last week to take this long. After the Houthis of Yemen (They call themselves the Assistants of God, as well!) got the control over Bab Al-Mandeb (the Strait of Anguish! literally in Arabic) and stopped the export of oil from Hejaz (which has been changed to Filthy, Nasty, Disgusting Saudi Arabia by the family who runs it; they renamed the country to their own surname!) the price of gasoline went up to CAN $1.80 per liter, an almost CAN ¢15 increase per litter in less than 2 weeks. I'm glad that I bought the PHEV but I'm not driving it much because of the asshole, jealous, hacks at work! Still worth driving it twice a day or more. I drive it to work and charge the battery there without having to pay! Yes. It's not being cheap. It's a small battery which runs only up to 75 km, my exact daily commute and it takes 8 hours to be fully charged! I usually go to 80 per cent and take it off or plug it in late. There hasn't been any outcry but one of the assholes who has been fossilized in the company for 14 years said something about that once (I will write about this guy later in a separate post) but I haven't seen any official complaint yet. If someone from HR asks me anything I can simply say that I haven't done anything against the company's policies which is true and if they ask me to stop charging, I simply will.

The notorious picture showing Houthis fighters celebrating shooting down a $90 million F-15 using an allegedly domestically made ground to air missiles! 

I don't know what will happen because it all depends on the negotiations between the different parties and mediators but It also have impacted my next month's trip. I'm scheduled to rent a vehicle in a European airport and drive it for a few days! With the price of gasoline nearly €2.17 per liter (CAN $3.39! and US $8.9 per Gallon!! Did I miscalculate?) it will be a little costlier than what I had planned! The thing is I planned for this trip last Dec. when there was no conflict in Iran and Yemen. 

Strait of Bab El-Mandeb or Strait of Anguish and major shipping routes in the area. The area is now under 100% control by the Houthis

Now I'm hesitant but I've got no choice but either cancel my driving (the rental car). This will add another 3 hours to my trip and a number of uncomfortable and tiring train exchanges! I have to make a decision as there's not much time left.

(Photo, top: A gas station in Calgary, Alberta showing CAN $1.85 per liter in 17.Sep., 10 days prior to this post. The prices have come down a little and reached CAN $1.80)

Flashback (39): The Evening Cowboy

I have written about Cargill Meat Solutions before but I repeat here that I worked for the company for over 4.5 years! I'm looking back now at year 2006 and see what monster I used to be! That was the year I quit and it was August, 20 year ago! Four freaking years and a half is not a short time working a hard physical job and for a 6 days a week! I don't know how I did that but it proves how strong both physically and mentally I was or perhaps that is a source contributed to my Gout problem today!
Cargill Meat Solutions, in case you don't know, has a plant outside the town of High River in southern Alberta which when I started my job there back in Jan. of 2002, was 63 km away from where I lived! The company had established a sort of subsidized bus service to facilitate the commute of the labourers who came from far away distances, mostly Calgary. I would like to go to the plant one of these days and see how it operates and see if any of the guys I knew still are there. If I do, I will have a post. 
I remember I walked every cold morning form the place I had rented to where the bus would pick me and a few other ones up at the corner of 64 Ave. and Falconridge Boulevard. I don't remember how early it was but my assumption is that was probably 05:00 or 05:30. I can't recall. I then moved to Downtown Calgary which made the commute a little bit easier but not the job.
What I remember clearly and the scene is tattooed in my brain is the tall Caucasian guy who would wear a big Cowboy hat and walked down the street every Fri. nigh, probably just to go to a nearby bar, the closest being Cowboy Taphouse. I knew this guy worked in the slaughter house.  The plant is consisted of a few departments or sections:
1) Yard. Where the animals were kept and sorted before being slaughtered.

2) Slaughter House. Where the animals got processed initially meaning their heads, their guts and other non-edible parts would be separated.

3) Production. Where the animals were cut to little pieces and went for packaging

4) Packaging section. This was the easiest part which had most of the Caucasians employed. 

The Evening Cowboy, whose nickname resembles The Midnight Cowboy, the main character in the famous old Western starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman (which I haven't watched!) was such a nice and soft-hearted fella, always wearing a smile in comparison with some Caucasian Canadians who just hated your guts simply because you were a non-Chinese, non-(East) Indian, non-African, Non-Latino foreigner! 
I don't remember whether he quit or what but I never saw him after, perhaps, a few years but his image still is in my mind. I hope he's doing fine and is happy wherever he is because it's not easy to stay nice, kind and smiling toward others after a very hard physical work day but he managed to do that. A kind of Caucasian Canadian who can be found here in many communities in Canada while you may encounter the biggest jerks and assholes at the same time. I simply ignore the second group. 

(Photo: Voight and Hoffman in a scene of the movie Midnight Cowboy. Drop me a line about the film if you have watched it)