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Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

businessinsider.com

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Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#361

Post by Log_out_ »

lukas099 wrote: post #78
rappatic wrote: post #60

The article talks about range concerns as if they're simply incorrect or ill-founded: > Niedermeyer said that while an electric car can meet most people's driving needs, it struggles with edge cases like road trips because of the need to recharge. Since Americans have been promised a one-to-one substitute for their gas cars, this seems like a failure; an EV should be able to do everything a gas car can. This idea per…

People focus too much on edge cases when making life decisions, imo. > We need a dining room for when we have parties (has a party once every 2 years; room sits empty 99% of the time) > We need a guest bedroom (guests could stay at the hotel down the street) > I need a pickup truck (driver is an accountant who maybe picks up a couple bags of mulch from Lowes twice a year) I'm glad I live in a prosperous society where…

Could be easily circumvented by edge case shared equipment. Suburb-wide rent a shared lorry. And by e-manufacturers offering long distance carswaps.

Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#362

Post by lukas099 »

wiseowise wrote: post #288
lukas099 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People focus too much on edge cases when making life decisions, imo. > We need a dining room for when we have parties (has a party once every 2 years; room sits empty 99% of the time) > We need a guest bedroom (guests could stay at the hotel down the street) > I need a pickup truck (driver is an accountant who maybe picks up a couple bags of mulch from Lowes twice a year) I'm glad I live in a prosperous society where…

Having room empty 99% of time, empty guest room and unutilized pickup brings me far less stress than dealing with situation when I actually need them. How is that annoying?

The 'annoying' part of my comment was not well thought out on my part, and I would take it back if I could. I guess that what is annoying is being in the situation of having opinions like that which are unconventional.

Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#363

Post by [deleted] »

rappatic wrote: post #60

The article talks about range concerns as if they're simply incorrect or ill-founded: > Niedermeyer said that while an electric car can meet most people's driving needs, it struggles with edge cases like road trips because of the need to recharge. Since Americans have been promised a one-to-one substitute for their gas cars, this seems like a failure; an EV should be able to do everything a gas car can. This idea per…

[deleted]

Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#364

Post by 8n4vidtmkvmk »

tw04 wrote: post #92
rappatic wrote: post #60

The article talks about range concerns as if they're simply incorrect or ill-founded: > Niedermeyer said that while an electric car can meet most people's driving needs, it struggles with edge cases like road trips because of the need to recharge. Since Americans have been promised a one-to-one substitute for their gas cars, this seems like a failure; an EV should be able to do everything a gas car can. This idea per…

I’d argue most families have two cars though. So you get one EV and keep the ICE until the charging infrastructure is where it needs to be. Another alternative is to just rent a car for that long road trip which I’ve done in the past. That being said, I think far more people worry about daily mileage than you think. People think in terms of time spent driving, not distance. They tend to assume every hour is 60 miles…

6 minutes, 1.5 miles. Let's see if I'm right...

7 minutes, 3.4 miles. Hmm.. guess you're right.

Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#366

Post by [deleted] »

rappatic wrote: post #60

The article talks about range concerns as if they're simply incorrect or ill-founded: > Niedermeyer said that while an electric car can meet most people's driving needs, it struggles with edge cases like road trips because of the need to recharge. Since Americans have been promised a one-to-one substitute for their gas cars, this seems like a failure; an EV should be able to do everything a gas car can. This idea per…

[deleted]

Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#367

Post by assimpleaspossi »

rappatic wrote: post #60

The article talks about range concerns as if they're simply incorrect or ill-founded: > Niedermeyer said that while an electric car can meet most people's driving needs, it struggles with edge cases like road trips because of the need to recharge. Since Americans have been promised a one-to-one substitute for their gas cars, this seems like a failure; an EV should be able to do everything a gas car can. This idea per…

In two-car families, I don't see why this is an issue. Why not make sure the second car is a hybrid for any longer trips.

I guess the only concern there is if one is already out and about in their EV and suddenly need to go further. But then that's what charging stations are for and, unless I'm wrong, one can charge up enough in 20 minutes.

Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#368

Post by SideburnsOfDoom »

brandensilva wrote: post #207
dghlsakjg wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a developed markets problem. China is making reasonable (range, amenities, style) electric cars in the $15k range.

No one wants to chase the low end market in the US. Even if the tech pans out it just means more work faster resource depletion given the infra isn't there yet, and less profits. And then you think well a hybrid would fill the void better anyways if you have to sacrifice range for cheaper EVs.

> No one wants to chase the low end market in the US.

Geely, BYD and other Chinese manufacturers are chasing the affordable end of the global market, regardless of if US and EU manufacturers also do so or not.

Obviously they would prefer not; as it leaves the market wide open to them. Either they will also sell these affordable cars in the USA; or the USA will lose out.

But I expect Tesla and Hyundai/Kia will be there as well before too long.

Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#369

Post by lukas099 »

barrysteve wrote: post #276
lukas099 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People focus too much on edge cases when making life decisions, imo. > We need a dining room for when we have parties (has a party once every 2 years; room sits empty 99% of the time) > We need a guest bedroom (guests could stay at the hotel down the street) > I need a pickup truck (driver is an accountant who maybe picks up a couple bags of mulch from Lowes twice a year) I'm glad I live in a prosperous society where…

The edge cases aren't fully captured. That accountant driving to Lowes twice a year to pick up mulch, finds out he's missing a shovel or a reticulation fitting or something unexpected. The pickup truck is a solid work horse in new edge cases. There's nothing worse than finding out that your hatchback can't fit a ladder you needed to buy because you broke off a section of the gutter when you tried to pull a broken bra…

Pickup truck rentals at Lowes start at $20.

I've had family over and ended up turning rooms into temporary bedrooms.

Basically, these things happen rarely enough that it is not such a crisis to put a little effort and adapt to them.

Whereas the drag of being prepared for every situation all the time is constant.

> a communal signal that there's a spare bed for friends and family if they ever need it.

This is true.

> The social signalling is worth the price of admission for the home owner.

I don't think you can just flat-out say this. The opportunity cost of an unused room is pretty terrific.

It might be bearable if you're wealthy, but most people are not. It also might be bearable if you LOVE hosting, can't get enough of it, it's what gets you up in the morning, but for most people it's not.

So you just stating that it's worth it without any further justification is actually an example of my point which is how the opportunity costs of these things are routinely ignored.

Re: Fewer people are buying electric cars in the US

#370

Post by ijidak »

lukas099 wrote: post #78
rappatic wrote: post #60

The article talks about range concerns as if they're simply incorrect or ill-founded: > Niedermeyer said that while an electric car can meet most people's driving needs, it struggles with edge cases like road trips because of the need to recharge. Since Americans have been promised a one-to-one substitute for their gas cars, this seems like a failure; an EV should be able to do everything a gas car can. This idea per…

People focus too much on edge cases when making life decisions, imo. > We need a dining room for when we have parties (has a party once every 2 years; room sits empty 99% of the time) > We need a guest bedroom (guests could stay at the hotel down the street) > I need a pickup truck (driver is an accountant who maybe picks up a couple bags of mulch from Lowes twice a year) I'm glad I live in a prosperous society where…

Yeah. A lot of people also overlook renting.

For all the money spent on that pickup truck, just rent one from Lowe's when you need it.

Instead of buying a boat, save the money and rent an amazing one for those three times a year you have time to use it.

Renting a car is really easy these days, especially with Turo.

And with Turo, you can get the car dropped off at your house.

And splurge on the rental instead of driving a gas guzzling car all year for those road trips you take a few times a year.

Also, by renting you save wear and tear on your personal car.

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