Would you like to get the "Public Utilities and the gasoline companies out of your pocket?

[Bricealan]

I am not wealthy, or even close to that, by any stretch, but I managed to do just that! Conditions are different in each state, climate, number of days of sunlight, cost of utilities, cost of gasoline and then the state of your finances. I was driving 350 + miles to work and around town on a regular basis and driving a 'gas hog' , which was not reliable transportation. My manager suggested I look at Tesla, and I did and I bought a Model S, a few years ago. That said, there are a multitude of electric cars on the market not nearly as costly as Tesla and are a good value. Our Admin. manager bought a Chevrolet Volt, and is very satisfied with it.

Before buying the car, I had a charge system installed in the garage, by having an Electrician run a 240 cable from the box to my garage. Then, California Edison was really shafting me for electrical fees, so I installed solar, and a Tesla Storage battery in the garage (which I am still paying for by the way)

At that point, I was no longer paying Edison, and I turned off my Gas Furnace, no longer using Sou. California Gas, and use some of the new GEN oscillation heaters for the house and one will keep 2-3 rooms comfy

My solar system sends power to the Edison grid, on a daily basis, which Edison pays me for. and I just got a check of just over 1,000.00, which is the 3rd such check from Edison

At this point, I don't buy gasoline, nor pay for Electricity or Natural Gas, but the 'down side' is still paying for the Solar and storage battery, and the payments from Edison for electricity I send to them helps defer that cost.

Worth looking into, if you are interested.

[Anonymous]

I get where you're coming from. My home is essentially off the grid as well. It's been set up to be super efficient, I'm using solar for electricity and heat. I haven't had an electric bill in years lol. But the state is trying very hard to tax me more because of it.

As to the car situation, until they make them more environmentally friendly, cause right now in a lot of ways they are worse than gasoline cars, I will not be buying one. Especially with the cost of replacement batteries.

[Bricealan]

My car has over 100,00 mile on it, and the battery is fine... not planning on replacing the battery.

[Opinion Owner]

I'm someone who drives his vehicles well beyond 100k miles. I have two vehicles with over half a million miles on them..

[NathanDavis]

give it about four to six years... and it will "pay itself"

[Bricealan]

@NathanDavis That's about the time I figure the cost of it will be a 'wash' I must say the the Model S is an absolute electro-mechanical marvel... bar none. With the cold weather here the computer tells me all four tires are below 40 PSI so off to Americas tire to inflate.
Thanks for your comments

[Iron_Man]

I would love to get the water bill company out of my life because I have an underground leak and it’s outrageous

[patois]

Nope. I don't want electric cars.

[Bricealan]

@patois... My question was directed to THOSE that are interested.

[patois]

No your questions was "Would you like to get the "Public Utilities and the gasoline companies out of your pocket?" which is a yes or no question. Why in the hell do I have to explain your own question to you. I knew you were dumb by how you tackled your financial problems, but I didn't know you were that dumb. Even if electric cars were as convenient as gasoline cars, which they are not the break even point when compared to a basic commuter car would be $17.65 per gallon of gasoline... The price is built into the car. It's a horrible financial decision for reduced mobility. There is nothing wrong with having a solar power plant at your home if you can do your own electrical work, but once you have to pay some solar installers/retailers and electricians to do the work for you, the price per kWh goes way up. I've done the math. Why? Because I designed and installed my own solar system. If you do the work yourself, then it is a good financial decision. You pay it off in a couple years. If someone else does the work for you, it becomes just as expensive if not more expensive than grid tied power. Water wells and septic systems are also great investments when compared to public utilities.

[Pterodon]

Not interested