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)