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The German carmakers have great production facilities, technical abilities and deep pockets. Unfortunately, their mind set has been focussed on selling their di

by _ph_ 9y ago

The German carmakers have great production facilities, technical abilities and deep pockets. Unfortunately, their mind set has been focussed on selling their dirty Diesel cars at all means. So I am doubtful to their current commitment to electrical cars, but who knows. Also, I don't see them build up battery capacities on the scale Tesla does. So, I really wish that they give Tesla a great competition, but so far I am not too optimistic.

holydude 9y ago
Well that's the thing they do not really have deep pockets or technical abilities. Building a platform, an electric future generation car is way different than building a car with classic engine.
- struppi 9y ago
  And if you believe Elon Musk's own words, it's significantly easier ;) Joking aside - Yes, German car makers are behind on electric vehicles, but all (except mercedes now) have one. They are late, they probably are at a disadvantage, but IMHO the game is not over yet.
c3833174 9y ago
>their mind set has been focussed on selling their dirty Diesel cars at all means Or maybe it's because that's what people buy, since diesel is cheaper than the upfront cost of an electric car.
- _ph_ 9y ago
  Yes, they are cheap to buy, because they don't have a working exhaust cleaning and don't comply to the emission laws. I think it is a big fallacy to claim that Diesel cars are so popular, if you consider how the public has been mislead about the illegal levels of pollution produced by the cars and that they have been sold without a working exhaust cleaning. Besides that affordable electric cars are a very recent thing, are Diesel engine cars going to be popular, if they are more expensive to buy (1-2k) and operate (regular AdBlue refill)?
  - c3833174 9y ago
    >Besides that affordable electric cars are a very recent thing They might not have been practical, but affordable lead-acid based EVs already existed during the rise of small diesel. >more expensive to buy (1-2k) and operate (regular AdBlue refill)? Adblue is pretty cheap and isn't going to be used up that fast, most people are more concerned about the filter blocking up because of short commutes not leaving enough time for it to fully warmup.

by _ph_ 9y ago

holydude 9y ago

Well that's the thing they do not really have deep pockets or technical abilities. Building a platform, an electric future generation car is way different than building a car with classic engine.

struppi 9y ago
And if you believe Elon Musk's own words, it's significantly easier ;) Joking aside - Yes, German car makers are behind on electric vehicles, but all (except mercedes now) have one. They are late, they probably are at a disadvantage, but IMHO the game is not over yet.

c3833174 9y ago

>their mind set has been focussed on selling their dirty Diesel cars at all means Or maybe it's because that's what people buy, since diesel is cheaper than the upfront cost of an electric car.

_ph_ 9y ago
Yes, they are cheap to buy, because they don't have a working exhaust cleaning and don't comply to the emission laws. I think it is a big fallacy to claim that Diesel cars are so popular, if you consider how the public has been mislead about the illegal levels of pollution produced by the cars and that they have been sold without a working exhaust cleaning. Besides that affordable electric cars are a very recent thing, are Diesel engine cars going to be popular, if they are more expensive to buy (1-2k) and operate (regular AdBlue refill)?
- c3833174 9y ago
  >Besides that affordable electric cars are a very recent thing They might not have been practical, but affordable lead-acid based EVs already existed during the rise of small diesel. >more expensive to buy (1-2k) and operate (regular AdBlue refill)? Adblue is pretty cheap and isn't going to be used up that fast, most people are more concerned about the filter blocking up because of short commutes not leaving enough time for it to fully warmup.