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Comment by misiti3780 | Hacker News Reader

As someone who comes from a rural area but drives an EV, my whole issue with trucks is that 90% of the people I know that have trucks do not need them for work, it sort of a status symbol in rural America. A lot of these trucks are huge, not your standard truck, but more like a tank.

Trucks get shitty gas mileage and potentially cause more wear and tear on the public roads, and are definitely not good for the environment.

IMO - Trucks should be taxed accordingly - if you are a farmer or work in construction you get a tax break, if you just want a truck to have one, it's gonna cost you.

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Most people use their truck for something where they need a truck about once a month. However the cost of two vehicles (insurance and parking space) means that they are better off with one truck than a truck and some other sensible vehicle.

Would an estate or SUV with a hitch and a small/medium-sized trailer not work wonders in that scenario? It could certainly be cheaper.

An SUV is just a truck without the convenience of a truck bed. Never understood why anyone would get an SUV over a truck unless they need seating for 6+ people.

Cargo space is covered and climate controlled.

It's good to keep your mulch and gravel comfy.

Some people carry other things.

Maybe, maybe not. SUVs are either trucks without a bed, and so what is the difference, or not really rated to tow anything.

It would work fine but be less convenient. And if you can afford the luxury than why not.

The environment cannot afford your luxury.

It probably depends on how much and what you need to tow.

Where (and how) do you draw the line with gas mileage, materials used, and weight of the vehicle? If trucks are so bad, what are your opinions of popular SUVs like the Subaru Outback?

There should be a regressive tax rate tied to gas mileage, with exceptions for people/companies that can prove they need to use the vehicles.

There is - as gas is taxed per gallon, the drivers of less-efficient vehicles pay more in tax per mile.

Yes, but how do you go about deciding which vehicles are OK to drive?

Except it doesnt take into account if you need the vehicle or not.

Im from a rural area too and am in a city. It's the funniest thing to me when I see a lifted truck or jeep with an imaculate white paint job, lol.

>Trucks get shitty gas mileage and potentially cause more wear and tear on the public roads, and are definitely not good for the environment.

The Model X weighs more than a standard F-150. It technically does more damage to the roads than F-150s do.

To be fair, that effect is mostly counteracted by the reduction in tanker trunks from going to an EV.

The F150 Lightning will have this advantage too, of course.

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