The Chevy Bolt Is the Ugly Car of the Near Future • Hacker News Board

Re: The Chevy Bolt Is the Ugly Car of the Near Future

#221

Post by mywittyname » Tue, Dec 20, 2016, 7:38 PM UTC

twblalock wrote: post #220

mywittyname wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They like the small ones too, the "compact CUV" is one of the fastest growing auto segments in the USA. Think, Honda HR-V, Toyota CH-R, Jeep Renegade, Chevy Trax, and Nissan Juke; the market is expanding soon to include entries from Mazda and Ford. Americans love the high seating position. I imagine Europeans would too, if they had the option to buy one.

Many similar vehicles are available in Europe. They just don't like them as much as Americans do.

Which isn't really true. The CUV segment is growing for many manufactures in Europe. The best selling Honda in Europe: CR-V. Toyota's RAV4 sells even better than the CR-V.

Audi and BMW are adding even more CUVs in Europe after the success of the Q3 and X1 respectively. So Europe's not just getting these because of their success in the USA, it's because the segment is strong and growing in Europe too.

(all stats from http://carsalesbase.com)

Re: The Chevy Bolt Is the Ugly Car of the Near Future

#222

Post by Someone » Tue, Dec 20, 2016, 9:44 PM UTC

spiznnx wrote: post #174

Someone wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.tesla.com/blog/tesla-and-panasonic-collaborate : "Tesla and Panasonic have entered into a non-binding letter of intent under which they will begin collaborating on the manufacturing and production of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules in Buffalo" That can be read as the two companies will work on manufacturing cells and modules together, but I think that isn't the case, given that that same press release…

Is Tesla-Panasonic more than just PV? I don't see how it's related to their EV business, just their Powerwall and Powerpack products.

Sorry, I copied from the wrong press release (I guess I got confused about the two meanings of 'cell' somewhere in my search path. It can be either a solar cell or a battery cell). Panasonic plays a large part in both Tesla's solar cell manufacturing and their battery manufacturing. https://electrek.co/2016/11/02/tesla-panasonic-2170-battery-...:

"Tesla’s current custom 18650 battery cells produced by Panasonic are estimated to have an energy density of ~250 Wh/kg"

Re: The Chevy Bolt Is the Ugly Car of the Near Future

#223

Post by jstelly » Tue, Dec 20, 2016, 11:19 PM UTC

zippergz wrote: post #81

RKoutnik wrote: post #19

This article (like many) misses why people buy Teslas. Teslas are amazing cars that just happen to be electric - not the other way around. The large car companies think that "electric" is enough to sell a car, whereas Tesla knows they need luxury options, autopilot & the supercharger network. I've got a Model 3 reservation myself and wouldn't even think of switching to the Bolt. I want a nice car, not just an electri…

If you don't care about the electric drive, there are MUCH nicer cars available at the same price as a Tesla. It doesn't even compare. This is why I don't have a Tesla. I could afford one, but I have spent a lot of time in them, and they do not feel like a car in the price range that they are. The interior is fine, but not premium. The touch screen makes it feel like you're driving a computer, not a vehicle (not in a…

In my opinion, it's easy to feel that way when you are used to gas cars. You are already comfortable with the downsides of gas cars and less comfortable with the downsides of the tesla. It would be easier if the tesla were strictly better than comparably priced gas cars, but it certainly isn't.

However, if you already had a tesla and the competitors were offering you better interior materials and longer range as long as you were ok stopping at a gas station every week or two and having service appointments at a dealer at least once a year (or more depending on model) and losing a lot of the satisfying low end torque you might not think it was a great deal. Oh and you have to stop getting software updates also! Your phone will continue to be better than your car's computer in every way and the car won't even try to mitigate that problem.

Anyway, I think the idea that some competing car is MUCH nicer is mostly about your prior assumptions or at best what particular aspects of vehicles you care most about.

Re: The Chevy Bolt Is the Ugly Car of the Near Future

#224

Post by zippergz » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 4:07 AM UTC

jstelly wrote: post #223

zippergz wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don't care about the electric drive, there are MUCH nicer cars available at the same price as a Tesla. It doesn't even compare. This is why I don't have a Tesla. I could afford one, but I have spent a lot of time in them, and they do not feel like a car in the price range that they are. The interior is fine, but not premium. The touch screen makes it feel like you're driving a computer, not a vehicle (not in a…

In my opinion, it's easy to feel that way when you are used to gas cars. You are already comfortable with the downsides of gas cars and less comfortable with the downsides of the tesla. It would be easier if the tesla were strictly better than comparably priced gas cars, but it certainly isn't. However, if you already had a tesla and the competitors were offering you better interior materials and longer range as long…

I know I'm weird around here, but I view OTA software updates on a car to be a huge downside, not an upside...