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

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

#161

Post by guyzero »

rsync wrote: post #142

Is it their electric car or is it their car, electric ? I don't want your electric car. I don't want your e-initiative i-mobile green-tech tron-car. I want one of your actual cars, just electric . I don't want an ID.4 - I just want a Passat. I don't want the polestar e-initiative i-concept - I just want a V90 wagon. I don't want a future space truck, I just want a Silverado - but electric. God. Dammit.

The had the eGolf, which was the Golf, but electric. They were almost indistinguishable. The eGolf range was 125 miles, the ID.4 range is 250 miles. That's why they have new specific electric models. Electrifying existing models is generally underwhelming.

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

#162

Post by dahfizz »

foepys wrote: post #71
CameronNemo wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't this short term thinking? That is the upfront cost. What about the total lifetime cost of the vehicle?

People buying cars for $20,000 are generally not people who can invest twice upfront for lower maintenance costs over the next ten years. Being poor (relatively speaking) is expensive, especially when you are financing.

Isn't this situation a bit different?

You're financing your car anyway, so its "free" to finance a car that $75/mo more expensive if you spend $75/mo less in gas savings. Factor in not having to pay for maintenance and it really is cheaper month to month.

This is different from the classic example of having to buy cheap, low quality boot every month for $10 instead of buying really nice boots for $200 that would last a decade. The upfront cost of the nice boots (and the insane interest rates for credit cards) make the nice boots impossible to afford.

EDIT: This is besides the point, but I don't think people dropping 20k on a car are "poor" in the way we are discussing anyway. Anyone buying a brand new car obviously has some money to spend

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

#163

Post by gaoshan »

dahfizz wrote: post #140
gaoshan wrote: post #132

This looks like the first vehicle of this sort to even approach affordable (with the $7,500 tax credit it will cost less than a high end Honda CR-V). The fact that it is also well regarded in the reviews I have seen make this the first electric vehicle I could consider buying myself. Excited that something as relatively attainable as this is reaching the market.

A base tesla model3 is cheaper than a base ID.4. It does look like the ID.4 will be cheaper after the tax credits, but not dramatically so.

Right but the model 3 is a sedan while the ID.4 is a compact SUV. Size wise this vehicle is more on par with the Tesla Model Y, not the 3.

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

#164

Post by Vespasian »

dahfizz wrote: post #140
gaoshan wrote: post #132

This looks like the first vehicle of this sort to even approach affordable (with the $7,500 tax credit it will cost less than a high end Honda CR-V). The fact that it is also well regarded in the reviews I have seen make this the first electric vehicle I could consider buying myself. Excited that something as relatively attainable as this is reaching the market.

A base tesla model3 is cheaper than a base ID.4. It does look like the ID.4 will be cheaper after the tax credits, but not dramatically so.

I guess the "slightly cheaper" part isn't a coincidence ;)

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

#165

Post by philk10 »

wayanon wrote: post #143
akomtu wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Half of the US population lives paycheck to paycheck and they need cars. I'm not sure their minimum wage can afford them carbon taxes.

It’s weird because I associate car ownership with wealth! I’m in my 40s in London in the UK earning an ok salary and neither me nor many of many friends have a car.

London has the Tube and buses and bike lanes - try living in the US without a car... ( ex-pat Brit now in the US)

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

#166

Post by CuriousSkeptic »

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…

I’m not sure the larger batteries are even necessary.

With an EV you can start each day fully charged. You just need enough battery to handle your daily commute and the few errands.

What’s missing is something to handle those few occasions when you need to drive that extra distance. It seems kind of silly to try and cram that extra flexibility into the same vehicle.

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

#167

Post by the_mitsuhiko »

varjag wrote: post #84
dreamcompiler wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

VW is pretty far behind Tesla in battery technology.[0] Still, this seems like a good car for a large number of drivers. The VW charging network is building out rapidly (I've noticed that VW's chargers are largely in the same locations as Tesla's superchargers. Wonder why?) The Tesla Model Y Long Range is rated at 326 miles and in my experience that's accurate and completely practical. As to your criterion of "500ish…

ID4 has 310 miles on its 77KWh, I dunno what "pretty far behind" here is supposed to mean. It's not like Tesla uses some hitherto unknown cell technology…

Also makes no sense to me. The advantage of tesla is not the battery capacity but the more efficient powertrain / drag coefficient. Teslas need a lot less energy in comparison.

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

#168

Post by theshrike79 »

wayanon wrote: post #143
akomtu wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Half of the US population lives paycheck to paycheck and they need cars. I'm not sure their minimum wage can afford them carbon taxes.

It’s weird because I associate car ownership with wealth! I’m in my 40s in London in the UK earning an ok salary and neither me nor many of many friends have a car.

In the US people may be homeless, but they'll still have a car. It's THAT essential to living...

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

#169

Post by golemiprague »

gaoshan wrote: post #132

This looks like the first vehicle of this sort to even approach affordable (with the $7,500 tax credit it will cost less than a high end Honda CR-V). The fact that it is also well regarded in the reviews I have seen make this the first electric vehicle I could consider buying myself. Excited that something as relatively attainable as this is reaching the market.

There are many Chinese menufacturers that are cheaper and already selling a lot of cars both in China and in less picky countries. I guess it will be a bit like iphone and android, the rich markets will go for the brand names while the rest of the world will just use something that is good enough and working.

Also, most people don't need to travel long distances like in the US and many people around the world live in apartment building with no charging point. So small battery is an advantage, it covers most people needs, takes less time to charge and cheaper.

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