HJ, again GM is talking 80% in 10min w/ a charger they claim is near production ready, the innerwebs are saying the Ford CUV w/ Mustang DNA to be revealed for 2020 will have a 370 mile range ( US or Euro drive cycle? ). My point is, they are getting close to your criteria, the charging stations is the issue. BTW, If SanFranNan and Smuckey were not trying to screw our stable Genius, there is talk of a lot of money in the infrastructure plan to also make this happen. That is a lot of people being trained to do this IMHO a lotta blue collar jobs making some serious coin...
TD,
Claims and execution are 2 separate things. When they actually have a production vehicle that can go 300 miles per charge, charge in 10 minutes and have MILLIONS of charging stations, then you have something that can viably replace combustion.
To Date, this does not exist... not even close. Even if GM’s claims are accurate, and you overnight suddenly got millions of charging stations, you don’t have the capacity in the electrical grid to handle moving every car from combustion to electricity (which generally is combustion as well, just the combustion happens at the power plant instead of in the vehicle).
EV as the mainstay/primary vehicle is DECADES away, and thats IF, and ONLY if, the Federal government is going to subsidize and fund the rebuilding and growth of the US power grid to handle it, something they HAVEN’T Been willing to do, to just the existing infrastructure, which is in vast need of repairs and upgrades that have been deferred for decades because policy makers aren’t willing to spend the capital.
EV is a niche vehicle for the foreseeable future.
As I have pointed out, its a multi step problem.... One that the “solvers” are only on step 2 of... first it was enough battery capacity to weight ratio to make the thing practical to even operate.... This they solved... now they are on the HOW TO CHARGE THE THINGS QUICKLY.... This they haven’t yet solved... but are getting there... 11 YEARS since they first sold a production vehicle that solved (mostly) the first problem. Assuming they solve the charging issue, expect another two decades at a minimum until the infrastructure is in place to support them nationwide, IE charging stations and power grid capability....
Its a false bill of sale, and over hype, just like autonomous driving. That’s at least 2 decades away, no matter what the snake oil folks at Uber and elsewhere keep telling you.
It will get there one day, possibly, assuming the political will is there to do it, but when cars cast 20-30k a pop, you aren’t going to have most people voluntarily choose the limitations that come with an electric as their primary or only vehicle. Its just not going to happen.
It will remain a niche, commuter vehicle. Which is fine, for most people who can afford a second vehicle, a commuting vehicle fits their needs.. However, the dream that everyone will be driving electrics is DECADES (and that’s plural, not singular) away, if ever.