Earlier quoted context omitted.
This rings a bit hollow given how notably poor Tesla’s customer service is.
Ok this is just false.
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The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
31–40 of 271 posts
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#32These might work in a regulatory black hole in China, but they won't anywhere in the West. Smart has had a small electric car for sale for nearly a decade and you never see them around. Maybe when the alternative is a scooter an electric golf cart is a step-up, but the electric scooter market isn't exactly throthy in the West. Electric cars aren't that popular because the range is still mediocre for entry level ($25-…
That's a very US centric view. These are also popular in other countries, such as the Netherlands: https://expatinfoholland.nl/help-guides/transport-mobility/d...
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#33This is something I realized recently. I am in India and the number of small manufacturers who are making electric people movers is very high. These are not high speed vehicles, they are below 40 KM/h speed as I see them, but the big shift is that hundreds of small companies around India are producing and maintaining small electric vehicles, mostly locally. The drivers charge them at home at night or during longer lu…
It’s good and almost all of them assemble the small EV from ready made CKD (completely knocked down) kits from neighbouring country (imported legally or illegally due to policy ban to show as produced in India). The value addition is in terms of making an outer body or assembling the imported battery cells and wheels (comes with inbuilt motor), depending on the capacity. India lacks basic manufacturing capability at…
I am not sure where you get this idea from but India is a huge automobile manufacturing hub, globally speaking. Yes India started very late but there is probably no part that is not manufactured inside the country. I am speaking of less than luxury brands of cars here.
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#34These vehicles are more like golf carts than cars. Top speed of 56km/hr. No safety features. What is interesting is that the batteries, converters, and motors are so cheap that they offer a golf cart with a vehicle body for $2500.
Isnt it safer compared to a bike?
what isn't safer than a bike? i feel like even being on foot would be safer
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
The alternative is usually a motorcycle, and they look a bit safer, though not as fun.
I think these are just the electric versions of tuktuks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_rickshaw The next innovation would be to bring down the cost of lithium ion batteries. Most of these are powered by lead acid batteries because they are cheaper.
Cheap light slow vehicles that aren't intended for even 100 mile trips are primed for LFP chemistry, and especially removable ones.
Very long cycle endurance, very good temperature range, pretty good density (and getting better), no cobalt or nickel.
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#36Given that many of these only have three wheels and to my knowledge regulation on “cars” only applies if the vehicle has four wheels- I wonder why these aren’t available in the USA at the same time.
The regulations on "cars" apply if they drive on most streets. We've regulated our way into being forced to buy $20,000+ vehicles weighing thousands of pounds, and somehow see this as normal and natural.
Aptera, a failed EV startup that has un-failed and is now super hot stuff again, wants to sell you a three-wheeled electric car that was, at the time, legally a motorcycle, but now sees new regulatory categories in many states that don't need a motorcycle license. (It's got two wheels in front, one in back.)
The good news is that it doesn't weigh thousands of pounds, the bad news is it's still a $26,000+ vehicle.
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#37Those don't look too safe. I can't imagine you'd survive being hit by anything bigger than a mini in any of those boxes. Of course people are buying unsafe alternatives for a fraction of a price... disclaimer: not a tesla fanboy... I don't think they have the right hardware for FSD and that Musk is a bit too wrongheaded to admit that.
Interesting how people are so quick to judge whether something is safe by whether someone else driving something less safe (for everyone but themselves of course) were to hit you.
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#38Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy[1]. They even have an "open source philosophy to patents[2]." I believe, based on what I've seen, all this makes Elon happy to see -- it's the world he envisions and, at least in [no small] part, helped spur on.
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[1] https://www.tesla.com/about
[2] https://www.tesla.com/blog/all-our-patent-are-belong-you
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#39This is much better for the environment vs gasoline I'd assume?
It's probably much better for the urban environment, in terms of people not breathing gasoline exhaust (doubly so for breathing two-stroke gasoline exhaust from a motorcycle, which is more of an alternative than a big car). The lead-acid batteries on some of the cheapest ones are a little iffy, though, and the carbon consumption isn't a huge win.
Re: The road to electric is filled with tiny cars
#40Given that many of these only have three wheels and to my knowledge regulation on “cars” only applies if the vehicle has four wheels- I wonder why these aren’t available in the USA at the same time.
They get classified as NEVs and are capped at 25MPH. If you want one they are available.