America passed the EV ‘tipping point’ — but many buyers still want gas

The Washington Post ^ | September 18, 2023 | Shannon Osaka and Emily Guskin

[MinorityRepublican]

There is a theoretical, magic tipping point for adoption of electric vehicles. Once somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of new car sales are all-electric, some researchers say, huge numbers of drivers will follow. They predict that electric car sales will then soar — to 25 percent, 50 percent and eventually to close to 80 percent of new sales.

Early adopters who love shiny new technologies will be replaced by mainstream consumers just looking for a good deal.

Last year, the United States finally passed that elusive mark — 5 percent of all new cars sold in the fourth quarter were fully electric. And earlier this year, all-electric vehicles made up about 7 percent of new car sales.

[zzeeman]

Once somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of new car sales are all-electric, some researchers say, huge numbers of drivers will follow. They predict that electric car sales will then soar — to 25 percent, 50 percent and eventually to close to 80 percent of new sales. Early adopters who love shiny new technologies will be replaced by mainstream consumers just looking for a good deal. Last year, the United States finally passed that elusive mark — 5 percent of all new cars sold in the fourth quarter were fully electric. And earlier this year, all-electric vehicles made up about 7 percent of new car sales.

😂🤣😂

[Jimmy Valentine]

Rubbish. Battery technology has a very long way to go before electric cars are viable.

[CaptainK]

Read the fiction here without giving up your email address

https://web.archive.org/web/20230918211647/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/09/15/ev-tipping-point-electric-poll/

[motor_racer]

Most gasoline retailers make very little profit on gasoline sales, making their money instead on chips, sodas, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. They are “convenience stores” that sell gasoline as an excuse for people to stop in.

https://www.omegawv.com/faq/140-how-much-money-do-businesses-make-on-fuel-purchases.html

In areas where “early adopters” are more prevalent, a point will be reached when selling gasoline is simply too much trouble, and they’ll close or stop selling gasoline. Resistance to construction of new gas stations is also growing.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-a-warming-planet/do-we-actually-need-more-gas-stations

When the gas stations near you disappear, how far will you be willing to go out of your way to fill up? Some people will throw in the towel and go electric because, at this point, its more convenient.

New homes are already being built with charging stations, too, and it will soon be a requirement.

https://www.ase.org/blog/these-new-building-codes-could-finally-ensure-new-houses-are-ready-charging-electric-vehicles

[Chickensoup]

I have been in and out of a destination town all weekend. All the chargers were empty. All weekend.

[Chickensoup]

Toyota and Subaru have some sort of joint arrangement.

But purely Toyota cars?

They are sticking to hybrid

[ifinnegan]

You’re describing being forced without choice, not a “tipping point.”

[Sirius Lee]

EVs are for buzzing around town and impressing your woke friends, cars are for both around town and also road trips.

Yup. Strictly short commutes in and about the suburbs. City folks and renters have no way to charge, and those of us in the boondocks wouldn't go near one in a million years.

Strictly a soccer mom's vehicle. She drives the kids around in hubby's Suburban, while he tools off to work in "her" electric gaymobile.

[Fresh Wind]

This sort of central planning was tried in the 20th Century numerous times. It failed every time.

Confront a socialist with that fact, and they will always say that the NEXT time it is tried it will be wonderful. Back in the Depression days, it was said that "prosperity is just around the corner". Now it is utopia that is just around the corner, and only all-encompassing government control and manipulation can deliver it.

[mewzilla]

Q: What percentage of EV sales were/are fleet sales?

Inquiring minds want to know...

[LouAvul]

Once somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of new car sales are all-electric, some researchers say, huge numbers of drivers will follow.

I have a business degree with an accounting major. Oddly, the above theory was never addressed anywhere in my studies. But, I think they might have studied it in fiction writing.

[Iron Munro]

In 5 to 10 years most of these EVs will be junked and their non-recyclable battery packs will be buried in massive land fills.

[Iron Munro]

Magic electricity delivered from rainbows and unicorn farts.

[Iron Munro]

What percentage of EV sales were/are fleet sales?

What percentage of EV sales are to government agencies where spending tax dollars to pump a political agenda is standard procedure?

What percentage of EV sales would disappear without government subsidies?

[central_va]

Dream on.

[central_va]

early adopters = rich dilettantes.

[central_va]

EV’s are Karenmobiles.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Screw EVs.

Fine for a golf cart, but no for the road.

[Raycpa]

Even I was a kid we all had hoola hoops, then later we all had pet rocks, then later we had 8 track players,

[mewzilla]

Those were the fleet sales I had in mind. :-)