It also looks like their simpler EV process (ie cost saving) is basically to do what Tesla does, and use the same battery pack and platform for all their vehicles, as well as simplify the design down as much as possible. I think it'll be exciting and I hope they're successful with it
Basically, you design a skateboard EV, but way less batteries and you put a recharge engine instead of the frunk. So I don't even think it would be a major departure from the current generation of EV engineering.
I think this can challenge a new price point until sodium ion batteries hit their stride and really change the economics of EVs.
I am not some shill for the oil company.
EVs are a huge pain in the ass out here. EV range is a big fat lie as well 400 miles, but it degrades 10%, but you only charged to 90%. If you use AC heat lose another 15% range, 10-20mph permaheadwind out of the west? Another 10%. Choppy stress cracks? Another 5%.
If phevs has been pushed more we would have maximized battery supply to the most electrification of daily miles driven, and they still can.
A recharge engine doesn't need transmissions, gearboxes, and can be smaller and run Atkinson cycle.
The US government continues to botch charging infrastructure, incentives, domestic battery production, etc. Phevs can pave over a great desk of that.
Certainly there are some people that are. It's the intersection of people in situations like yours and those who are willing to pay to do their part for the environment. But that's a pretty small set of people. A large minority of people are in the first bracket and a small minority in the second bracket. The intersected set is pretty small.
With incentives like CAFE reducing that $10,000 number the market was much larger.
No?
Because a PHEV is basically the same as an EV, except you take 4/5s of the battery out (and make four more PHEVs from that supply).
THEN, you put a nice compact rotary engine that runs at one optimized speed and an alternator. Does that sound like it costs $10,000? Does your lawnmower cost $10,000?
"It's a pretty small set of people" Dude, you live in on the West Coast, it is so blindingly obvious. There's about, what, 40 states between the two coasts? Right, NOBODY lives there.
No, relative to a gasoline car. Reread my comment.
> "It's a pretty small set of people"
Second time you misread my comment. I said a "large minority" of people are in your situation. IOW, slightly less than half the population. But how many people are in your situation AND are willing to pay a significant premium for PHEV? That's the small set.
I drive an electric in Saskatchewan, which is likely far more hostile to electric than wherever you live. Most people there won't spend $3000 extra for a PHEV vs a gasoline car, let alone significantly more than that.
If the truck is intended to tow, it will need a reasonable range to be useful.
If it's just intended to be a shiny large vehicle for suburban people buying their way to an identity, then we might be talking.
I think if they can actually pull off this vehicle at this price point, it will be nice, though maybe still not successful.
But I'm very happy to see US carmakers trying to figure out how to do cheaper EVs. I hope others will follow suit (and that Tesla will get their heads out of their asses and work on this too).
bell-cot•6mo ago