Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil and gas output immediately

Re:Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil and gas outpu... by assttoasstmgr on Sunday March 06, 2022 @03:00PM (#30580675)

It might surprise you that the overwhelming majority who buy trucks do so because they work a blue collar occupation such as construction, electrician, etc. not because they want to "roll coal" on your overpriced Tesla. These folks generally don't have a 500k/year WFH FAANG gig and yes filling up your truck so you can work makes the difference in how much food you can put on the table.

"Let them drive EVs" has turned into a modern day SV version of the Marie Antoinette (mis)quote.

Where do you suppose they plug these EVs in at the jobsite? The elephant in the room that no one addresses being the complete lack of EV infrastructure.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil and gas outpu... by duped on Sunday March 06, 2022 @03:55PM (#30581171)

I do not believe this anecdote. The top selling vehicles each year are full size pickup trucks, last year alone they accounted for 10% of sales (1). The F series has been America's most popular car for 40 years (2).

Are they really being bought in the "overwhelming" majority by trades people? The numbers suggest they're just popular cars.

Americans are in love with pickup trucks, it's an entire subculture.

And at least where I live, which has some nasty weather conditions, the trades people I've worked with over the last few years all drive vans. Landscapers and garbage pickers are some of the exceptions.

(1) https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/08/pickup-trucks-dominate-ameri....

(2) https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/02/ford-pickup-remains-americas...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil and gas outpu... by squintychino on Sunday March 06, 2022 @03:11PM (#30580776)

I'd really like to see some statistics on this. The majority of people that I see driving around in trucks have bed covers on them, which leads me to believe they're not being used for their intended purpose. They seem to be more status symbol rather than utilitarian.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil and gas outpu... by bsder on Sunday March 06, 2022 @04:02PM (#30581232)

> It might surprise you that the overwhelming majority who buy trucks do so because they work a blue collar occupation

And yet so many new trucks have a single driver hauling a trailer with stuff while the bed is empty because the bed is too short to carry anything useful.

The extra cab area, of course, isn't useful because there's only one person. The bed area isn't useful because the cab area has shortened the bed.

So, that driver has to expend the space and weight for a trailer because he bought a truck that isn't useful as a damn truck.

[ Parent | on HN ]