Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

abc7.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 650 posts

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#111

Post by ajross »

eropple wrote: post #4
kbos87 wrote: post #2

What I’m really curious to see is whether or not “electric” is the single killer feature it is often positioned as. Semi-autonomous driving and overall UX are two places that Tesla is just so far ahead. I think other manufacturers will make progress, but they are likely to be slow. Electric is compelling but it’s only a small part of the overall value prop for a lot of buyers.

n=1 of course, but to me Teslas aren't compelling until they 1) are a company I want to support, 2) building a vehicle I want, at 3) a price I want to pay. They fail #1 in a bunch of entertaining ways, they don't make a vehicle that satisfies #2 either in features/size or in the absence of misfeatures like the center console or the quasi-automated car crasher, and they'd have to take a significant haircut to satisfy…

> 1) are a company I want to support

Really? I mean... as opposed to which automaker?

Paraphrasing Matthew Yglesias[1]: Elon Musk is a raging narcissist asshole. But he built a three-quarter-trillion dollar company that makes electric cars and solar panels. That's... objectively pretty good for all of us, right?

[1] I think. Actually I can't completely remember where I read this but it definitely sounds like him.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#112

Post by Koshkin »

fassssst wrote: post #102
Someone1234 wrote: post #62

I feel like the prices on electric vehicles are starting to become their biggest hurdle (instead of range, availability, or charging which are solved enough). If you're from California or New York, I'm sure $40K starting for this or a Model Y seems complexly within your means, but there's a large chunk of the US (by population AND land) where People love to spam $40K US "average" while entirely ignoring that the aver…

Yea, I had a ID.4 pre-ordered but canceled it after I realized how absurd the price is. I bought a utility e-bike instead and that was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I barely use my car anymore and biking is way more fun and greener than any car.

Yeah, California is one of the very few places on Earth where you can do that.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#113

Post by rorykoehler »

kingsuper20 wrote: post #98
rorykoehler wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you have a grill when you don’t have any need for it?

Battery cooling? Cabin ventilation? A/C condenser? Front brake cooling?

The ev car grills are aesthetic only. They are sealed.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#114

Post by abfan1127 »

foepys wrote: post #104
aaronbrethorst wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The best-selling[1] vehicle in America, the Ford F-150, had an average sale price of $47,174 in 2018[2]. I'm sure it's only gone up since. Also, the latest version of the map you shared shows the F-150 being the most popular vehicle in 18 states, none of which are California or New York: https://insurify.com/insights/most-popular-cars-in-america-2... --- [1] https://www.autobytel.com/ford/f-150/car-buying-guides/why-…

This shouldn't surprise anybody. Those are used for work like farms and are tax deductible.

I'd bet a ton that most F150s never see dirt. I'd also bet that most F150s see >5 year car loans.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#115

Post by s0rce »

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #94
Someone1234 wrote: post #62

I feel like the prices on electric vehicles are starting to become their biggest hurdle (instead of range, availability, or charging which are solved enough). If you're from California or New York, I'm sure $40K starting for this or a Model Y seems complexly within your means, but there's a large chunk of the US (by population AND land) where People love to spam $40K US "average" while entirely ignoring that the aver…

The best-selling[1] vehicle in America, the Ford F-150, had an average sale price of $47,174 in 2018[2]. I'm sure it's only gone up since. Also, the latest version of the map you shared shows the F-150 being the most popular vehicle in 18 states, none of which are California or New York: https://insurify.com/insights/most-popular-cars-in-america-2... --- [1] https://www.autobytel.com/ford/f-150/car-buying-guides/why-…

Could most of those be base model work trucks with the average price heavily skewed by the luxury pickup market.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#116

Post by bpodgursky »

ajross wrote: post #111
eropple wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

n=1 of course, but to me Teslas aren't compelling until they 1) are a company I want to support, 2) building a vehicle I want, at 3) a price I want to pay. They fail #1 in a bunch of entertaining ways, they don't make a vehicle that satisfies #2 either in features/size or in the absence of misfeatures like the center console or the quasi-automated car crasher, and they'd have to take a significant haircut to satisfy…

> 1) are a company I want to support Really? I mean... as opposed to which automaker? Paraphrasing Matthew Yglesias[1]: Elon Musk is a raging narcissist asshole. But he built a three-quarter-trillion dollar company that makes electric cars and solar panels . That's... objectively pretty good for all of us, right? [1] I think. Actually I can't completely remember where I read this but it definitely sounds like him.

He did. Something like "bad tweeter, but good for the world".

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#117

Post by ajross »

Klwohu wrote: post #110
Someone1234 wrote: post #62

I feel like the prices on electric vehicles are starting to become their biggest hurdle (instead of range, availability, or charging which are solved enough). If you're from California or New York, I'm sure $40K starting for this or a Model Y seems complexly within your means, but there's a large chunk of the US (by population AND land) where People love to spam $40K US "average" while entirely ignoring that the aver…

The range is the issue, the "suburban and rural retards" probably have more expensive vehicles than NY and San Fran dwellers. But nobody wants a car that can't run on gas unless you live on an Interstate corridor, the 101, etc.

(Not sure why you introduced that slur with scare quotes given that no one used it upthread, nor even suggested anything similar... This sounds a bit much like you're trying to pick a fight.)

Almost no one, even in the US, lives legitimately far from an interstate corridor or other major infrastructure path.

These EVs can absolutely be made to work in the red state exurbs. You'll find plenty of Tesla owners in those regions already. Where EVs tend to hurt most isn't with diffuse exurb commutes (where a 300 mile range does just fine!), but in long distance road trips where you have to charge more frequently and for longer periods than a gas car. And I assure you us cityfolk take just as many road trips as you red staters.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#118

Post by cjblomqvist »

Someone1234 wrote: post #62

I feel like the prices on electric vehicles are starting to become their biggest hurdle (instead of range, availability, or charging which are solved enough). If you're from California or New York, I'm sure $40K starting for this or a Model Y seems complexly within your means, but there's a large chunk of the US (by population AND land) where People love to spam $40K US "average" while entirely ignoring that the aver…

The "problem" in the US is the cheap gas, at least compared to EU. Taxing gas according to the CO2 cost would make it drastically different in TCO.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#119

Post by dm319 »

axaxs wrote: post #5

I'm kicking around the idea of an electric car, but the ranges of these things just utterly disappoint me. With some companies offering, or planning to offer 500ish mile ranges, it would feel immediately outdated to me to throw 40k on something with a ~200 mile range. Is battery tech that different between companies, is it cost prohibitive?

It's really the infrastructure rather than the range that needs to change (for most people). If high speed charging became ubiquitous, then you would only be stopping for 20 min every 2 hours with current technology. Driving any more than that without a rest in my country can result in serious consequences.

Add to that a fully charged vehicle every morning without having to make a visit to a petrol/gas station at any point in the week, and you can start to see how it can become more convenient.

All of this depends on where you live and what you use your car for of course.

Post reply on HN