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Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

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Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#161

Post by jryb »

ZeroGravitas wrote: post #159

EV conversions of older models probably fills this tiny niche quite well. I had assumed the overly loud voices complaining about this "issue" were just the latest iteration of intelligent people inventing convoluted reasons to go along with their political tribe's insane policy preferences. Like if you're a Republican on HN you can't just openly deny climate change exists any more (though a few still try), you want p…

While political identity certainly plays some role, a BEV is still a major purchase and people will take other factors into account. Is it really inconceivable that someone would want a car like the ones they're used to, except with a different power source?

Every time I look at electric cars there's always some insane choice, e.g. the brake lights don't turn on when regenerative braking is active, even though your car is rapidly decelerating. The touch screens are also a safety concern - you can't change the music or skip ahead on a podcast without taking your eyes off the road for a meaningful amount of time. The fact that you're paying well over the median price for a new car makes it even less appealing.

FWIW I don't own a car and I'm not in a hurry to get one.

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#162

Post by sarabob »

davidhbolton wrote: post #152
bitwize wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a good start, but a grander vision would be to reduce or eliminate the need for cars altogether. You can build and sustain a mighty civilization without automobiles at all . Per Poi Dog Pondering: Well the ancient Egyptians and the other Africans The Mayans, the Incas, and all the Polynesians All around the world, a long long time ago People would walk wherever they had to go

Here in the UK, almost 17% (about nine million people) live outside towns and villages. A trip to the local shop can be several miles on roads that don't have pavements and public transport is of the "one bus a day" type if you are lucky. There are a few people who cycle but they're dedicated and for most it is not an option. Cars are an essential.

As I understand it, that’s not _strictly_ true. 17% live in “rural” areas, but this includes towns and villages in rural areas. It’s 8% for “rural village and fringe” [0], or much less for actually outside of towns and villages. Unless you have other stats to share?

[0] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/661d3b95ac3da...

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#163

Post by bryanlarsen »

shiroiushi wrote: post #149
bryanlarsen wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Buttons are surprisingly expensive; not just the button itself but the wiring and the labor. Let's WAG at $20 per button. $20 * a few dozen buttons is real money.

No, buttons are not that expensive, that's silly. Cars have had buttons for ages, and they certainly weren't more expensive decades ago. The big reason touchscreens are so favored is because they don't require that you finalize your user-interface design decisions so early in the design cycle. With physical buttons, you have to design molds etc. to have the parts ready for final assembly. What if you want to make a c…

Buttons are a lot more expensive than they used to be because they are require human labor for writing.

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#164

Post by littlecranky67 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #81
edent wrote: post #19

Citroën Ami is about as low tech as you can get. If you want something more car-shaped, the Renault Zoe has very few tech feature. Similarly, Kia Soul has a reversing camera… and that's about it! No radar, lane assist, carplay or anything like that. Cstomers only want 3 things. A comfortable ride, a safe journey, and $thing. The problem is, everyone's one more thing is different. I want DAB radio, you want cruise con…

> Similarly, Kia Soul has a reversing camera… and that's about it! No radar, lane assist, carplay or anything like that. According to Kia’s website, the cheapest Soul you can buy has CarPlay/Android Auto. Standard feature on the “LX”, 8in touchscreen. Does it even cost anything for an automaker to allow phones to use the screen for CarPlay/Android Auto? The cost savings must be so miniscule, and the convenience of be…

Isnt the recerse camera a regulatory requirement for new cars in the US?

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#165

Post by Simulacra »

rapjr9 wrote: post #102
Simulacra wrote: post #29

The Arcimoto seems like what you're looking for.

Looks like Arcimoto is gone, Wikipedia says their web site disappeared in March 2024 and they defaulted on several obligations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcimoto Maybe it will live on if someone buys the IP.

Ah man. Thank you, I didn't realize. I got to ride around in one at a car show and thought it be a nice little community vehicle.

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#166

Post by [deleted] »

tjansen wrote: post #32

Not sure about other regions, but in the EU, low tech cars are not allowed. Required safety systems include emergency breaking, emergency lane-keeping, intelligent speed assistance (car must use cameras or GPS to determine current speed limit), driver attention warning systems and many more. That fancy screen is really not a cost factor. These days you can buy after-market screens with Car Play and Android auto suppo…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#167

Post by kalleboo »

raxxorraxor wrote: post #69
tjansen wrote: post #32

Not sure about other regions, but in the EU, low tech cars are not allowed. Required safety systems include emergency breaking, emergency lane-keeping, intelligent speed assistance (car must use cameras or GPS to determine current speed limit), driver attention warning systems and many more. That fancy screen is really not a cost factor. These days you can buy after-market screens with Car Play and Android auto suppo…

> Not sure about other regions, but in the EU, low tech cars are not allowed. Which is a rather recent development and certainly a protectionist move and will hinder adaptation massively. You need the full suite for lane controls, attention monitoring, emergency brake systems, etc... It is simply impossible to now release low tech cars and it is a political decision by the EU that is highly questionable.

Are those safety systems really that expensive? They're all stock options on the lowest trim level of a $9500 Kei car.

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#168

Post by haspok »

davidhbolton wrote: post #152
bitwize wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a good start, but a grander vision would be to reduce or eliminate the need for cars altogether. You can build and sustain a mighty civilization without automobiles at all . Per Poi Dog Pondering: Well the ancient Egyptians and the other Africans The Mayans, the Incas, and all the Polynesians All around the world, a long long time ago People would walk wherever they had to go

Here in the UK, almost 17% (about nine million people) live outside towns and villages. A trip to the local shop can be several miles on roads that don't have pavements and public transport is of the "one bus a day" type if you are lucky. There are a few people who cycle but they're dedicated and for most it is not an option. Cars are an essential.

E-bikes to the rescue!

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#169

Post by bluGill »

mikestew wrote: post #132
bluGill wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have no confidence that auto/carplay of today will work with whatever phone I have in 12 years. Car makers want to ship their cars and forget about them. They hate warranty work. Tesla does software updates but the others don't want to (they do but only when they must or if they can charge for them - the maps on my 12 year old car are way out of date because like most car buyers I won't pay to update them). I'm not…

I have a head unit from 2014 that has CarPlay. I have never updated it and it works fine with latest iOS. I don’t see why it can’t do the same for another ten years.

> I don’t see why it can’t do the same for another ten years.

There is no reason it cannot work for 10 years, but also no reason it has to. Computer companies have a bad habit for dropping support for stuff when it is a few years old.

Re: Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

#170

Post by bluGill »

ipaddr wrote: post #95
bluGill wrote: post #55

Which would you prefer - a brand new basic car with the minimum legal features (so you get a backup camera, tire pressure monitoring, airbags ...). Or a 5 year old car with features like air conditioning, radio, infotainment, heated seats and so on? The reality is people who are cheap buy used cars anyway as for the same price as a bare bones new car they can get all the luxury features as well. People who care about…

In time the used market will be filled with these cars that bare bones fans don't want. That will push down the price of recent used cars which means trade-in value lowers and new car fans can afford less which increases the barebones demand in new cars.

Cars have been around long enough that we can look at 70+ years of history and conclude if it hasn't happened yet it won't.
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