←back to thread

1329 points kwindla | 8 comments | | HN request time: 1.066s | source | bottom
Show context
ty6853 ◴[] No.43794560[source]
I love it.

However I wonder about the overlap between people that need a truck and this particular truck. I have only owned trucks when I needed to go out in the middle of bumfuck nowhere with a payload, in places with poor access to electricity. If I need to go in bumfuck nowhere without payload then there is no need for the truck, and if I need a payload in the city it's just way way cheaper to have it delivered when you factor in depreciation of even a cheap truck.

Would really love to see something like this with a simple 4 cylinder motor. Like the old s-10 / ranger. Until then the solution I have found is to just tag a trailer on small passenger vehicle, since it is now impossible to find a compact gas truck.

replies(7): >>43794708 #>>43794734 #>>43794772 #>>43794786 #>>43794805 #>>43795206 #>>43796715 #
1. bryanlarsen ◴[] No.43794805[source]
In my experience "bumfuck nowhere" has better access to electricity than the city. Every farmer has a welder plugged into a handy accessible high amperage socket.
replies(2): >>43794842 #>>43795336 #
2. ty6853 ◴[] No.43794842[source]
Definitely depends. Most my neighbors in the country have 100 amp service and they are sucking that dry already now that they have heated water and electric HVAC. Many more run solar only since it can cost $30K+ for a half mile extension.
3. vid ◴[] No.43795336[source]
My experience of rural areas is that few are actual farmers. After all, farming has largely consolidated and become automated. Most country people just don't want a city lifestyle. They might have some of the accoutrements of a farmer and have added lifestyle (enjoyable/fulfilling) overhead and significant attitude (independence & sometimes xenophobia) for themselves, but it's a lifestyle choice. Therefore most don't have a welder (though they probably know someone who has one).
replies(1): >>43795503 #
4. bryanlarsen ◴[] No.43795503[source]
That's rural but not "bumfuck nowhere". Within ~100 miles of a city there are a lot of rural non-farmers, but only farmers will live 200 miles away from the closest city.
replies(3): >>43795734 #>>43796218 #>>43803339 #
5. vid ◴[] No.43795734{3}[source]
I don't think that's true, but can't quickly find evidence. Ultimately it can't be depended on and is something an EV buyer would want to verify for their region.
6. aidenn0 ◴[] No.43796218{3}[source]
Very few people live over 200 miles from a city in the lower-48 states of the US.

To give you an idea: It's 413 miles between Colorado Springs and Wichita[1], leaving a very narrow area to be over 200 miles from either. Grand Island, Nebraska is 402 miles from Denver.

Pretty much all the land is over 200 miles away from a city of at least 50k population is in the great basin. To give you an idea, there are 3 cities in North Dakota (a 200x200 mile rectangle) that have a population of at least 50k, and with Bismarck relatively near the center, that rules out much of the state alone.

1: Dodge City is technically a city, but at much less than 50k population I'll omit it. If you allow anything called a city to count you could probably fit the list of people on a single piece of paper. Using the 50k cutoff you still have 3 cities in North Dakota, a 300x200 mile rectangle.

replies(1): >>43798048 #
7. bryanlarsen ◴[] No.43798048{4}[source]
My definition of bumfuck nowhere is where I grew up. almost 200 miles to each of Regina Saskatchewan, Brandon Manitoba and Minot North Dakota.
8. testing22321 ◴[] No.43803339{3}[source]
Remember in the lower 48 it’s physically impossible to be further than 100 miles from a McDonalds.

I’ve always figured that virtually always includes a gas station, parts store, etc.

http://www.datapointed.net/2009/09/distance-to-nearest-mcdon...