"Is it possible that the big oil companies are switching to renewables for the subsidies, and the price-gouging opportunities"

Oh C'mon, Big Oil has a deep concern for man's welfare. It's not just renewables but the need for backup fuels it wants to help out with too!

some are not debating EVs, they are defending anti science anti change pro fossil fuels
Yet EVs are coming they can no longer be stopped Bazz first mentioned the one about to arrive here after driving halfway around the world
25 years from now those who may read our thoughts will be amused by the degree of refusal to adopt change, even invite it

When all else fails there is always steam propulsion.
Some farmers use steam tractors for ploughing and all general farm needs.
They grow their own fuel, can produce their own lubricants (if needs be) and can do all their own repairs, and use rainwater in the boiler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFjSYc0Xjjk

Hello Joe,
As far as the elecricity supply capability goes, I think the build up
of the EV fleet will be so slow that the electrical industry will meet
the challenge.
If there is a shortage the public demand will be so overwhealing that
government will act.
I think that are some problems with the time to build power stations.
Against that the increase in Evs will be quite slow.

I have been thinking about the last two or three years;
1. Oil companies talk publically about exiting the oil industry. About 5 years ago
2. A couple of companies start making noises about Evs. About 2005. Mitsubishi & Nissan.
3. Suddenly all companies start announcing a full switch from IC to Evs. Just the last two years.
4. Chinese car manufacturers build large factories for Evs and sales take off.

Do you think that there could be some co-ordination in all that ?
When you think about it, here are the world’s largest companies
deciding to dump their whole manufacturing technolgy and go off in
quite a different direction, and abandon their whole service industry
backup. The dealers, mechanics etc have been on the media talking
about how their industry will collapse.
It won’t disappear but will be very much smaller.

Regarding batteries, cobalt is one metal that is used but I saw an
article the other day that a battery manufacturer has developed a way
to not use cobalt.
In the US there are EV battery exchange shops where they take your
battery find the bad cells and replace them and put them into their stock.
Hyundai gives an eight year guarantee on the battery.

You could be right about the grid to supply a large number of cars
overnight. This will happen very slowly and as substations reach the
maximum load of the transformers they will change them.
Don't worry about them they will be making the money that the oil
companies are losing. Not an equal amount of course but the difference
goes into our pockets.

Lots of waffle about charge times on the TV.
It is quite simple. If you have a 30kwhr battery and use a normal
GPO (General Purpose Outlet) which is 10 amp. That means maximum
240v x 10amp = 2.4kw. 30 / 2.4 = 12.5 hours from no charge to full charge.
If you have a 15 amp GPO, ie the one with the wide earth pin, then
240v x 15amp = 3.6kw. 30 / 3.6 = 8.333 hours from no charge to full charge.
Now if you manage your car properly you will not arrive home and have
to push your car into the garage. So whatever charge is left in your
car, say 10% then the time to recharge is 90% of the maximum time.

Not hard is it, so Bill was right 8 minutes if it was only slightly
discharged !
Politicians !

All motor vehicle propulsion systems do not feel the same and although I like electric and steam for their smooth delivery of power , they are totally unlike a good IC car to drive, especially at speed on a winding and hilly road.