Electric vehicles are a niche, commuter vehicle... and until you can get a minimum of 300 miles (real world miles) per full charge, and fully charge in 10 minutes or less, its a NON STARTER as a primary vehicle for most people.
Yes, my daily commute is about 35 miles... An electric vehicle could satisfy my daily commute. However, I also drive 500+ miles at a clip as well several times a year, and sometimes thousands of miles at a clip.
I can purchase a vehicle that and fill all of my needs, or I can buy a vehicle that serves 80% of them and deal with the additional cost and inconvenience of having to deal with some other mode of transport that it does not support.
I am not anti electric cars, but until they can go at least 300 and preferably 400-500 on the highway fully loaded and recharge in the time it takes all of the passengers to use the restroom... Electric is a NON STARTER for MOST folks.
ANd that’s not even getting into the reality of whether or not electric vehicles ACTUALLY do anything beneficial from the whole GreenHouse Gas thing they claim. Combustion creates CO2... If its coming from your tailpipe or a power plant smoke stack, its still being created.
Someday they may have electric vehicles that meet that criteria, and when they do, folks will purchase them.. but until then.... Sorry, I won’t spend that much money for an 80% solution, and most others wont either.
In general I agree with you.
I think what we’re really hearing from these companies though is that when they look at the pace of developments it’s positive enough to see the writing on the wall.
Battery technology is improving, charging times are reducing, and they’re far simpler devices to engineer. The days of 80% charging within 15 minutes is coming. The main problem will be the power grid, it’s just not ready to handle the additional load.
I’m no greenie but I’ve recently switched to lithium-ion battery powered garden devices (lawn mower, snow blower, trimmer, etc.) because it makes sense. They’re powerful, quiet, recharge in 45 mins...so with the 3 batteries I have I could work non stop, although I usually get everything done on a single charge. No more gas, oil, spark plugs, maintenance, etc. - especially for the snowblower in winter, I always see people having to troubleshoot them in sub-zero temps. No more!
IMO - a battery “swapping” technology makes more sense. A station could have stacks of them ready to go and switch them in minutes (automate it). You’d basically have the convenience everyone wants.
Once it makes sense I will buy one, at this moment it doesn’t but these companies have to make decisions today that reflect vehicle technology expected to be ready for production in 5+ years. It doesn’t surprise me.
All valid points you make.
That day where a 300 mile range is normal for an EV is coming very very soon. Probably less than 3 years.
The new charging stations coming out will offer 125-150kW that can top off a battery in probably 15-20 minutes (assuming you are close to 0% battery).
Electrify America, ChargePoint, EVgo are just a few of those starting to put those out.
The Electric Car Concept is not going away.