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I don't think electric car manufacturers are considering the huge amount of the US population that lives in the Midwest/Northeast part of the country. In the w

I don't think electric car manufacturers are considering the huge amount of the US population that lives in the Midwest/Northeast part of the country. In the winter the decreased battery life (especially when running the heater) could be a deal breaker for many people. Also, most electric cars being manufactured are compacts, which would do a poor job of handling snowy roads even considering the increased torque of an electric motor.

tomhschmidt 9y ago
https://electrek.co/2017/12/19/tesla-breaks-new-records-norway-most-popular-automaker/ https://electrek.co/2017/12/19/tesla-breaks-new-records-norw...
- freehunter 9y ago
  Norway and the US aren't directly comparable like that, though. For one, the kilometers traveled per capital for Norway is about half of the kilometers traveled per capita in the US. It's really hard to say "Norway is cold, Minnesota is cold, they're basically the same place!".
- Avshalom 9y ago
  Minnesota has as many people as Norway and is colder. Outside of the inland north Norway isn't actually very cold. on a general note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone#/media/File:2012_USDA_Plant_Hardiness_Zone_Map_(USA).jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone#/media/File:201... http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-norway-plant-hardiness-zone-map-celsius.php http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-norway-plant-hardiness-...
ianai 9y ago
That being why I wound up going with a hybrid RAV4 in the Southwest. I really need an awd where I live, but I still want to try to lower my footprint. The local dealership had plenty of inventory and knowledge. (Granted, it’s still an ICE. They’re not losing the service model. Even Toyota’s said they don’t think the BEV will replace the ICE)
Feniks 9y ago
America is a tough nut to crack. People like BIG cars, the roads are kinda crappy, fuel prices are lower than in Europe or Japan and travel distances are long. I wouldn't want to drive a Nissan Leaf in rural Maine.
WorldMaker 9y ago
GM has most of its EV facilities in Michigan (Detroit), so they have some skin in the game of supporting the Midwest winter lifestyle. Winter testing was very important to them when building the Volt, according to the documentary Revenge of the Electric Car.

tomhschmidt 9y ago

https://electrek.co/2017/12/19/tesla-breaks-new-records-norway-most-popular-automaker/ https://electrek.co/2017/12/19/tesla-breaks-new-records-norw...

freehunter 9y ago
Norway and the US aren't directly comparable like that, though. For one, the kilometers traveled per capital for Norway is about half of the kilometers traveled per capita in the US. It's really hard to say "Norway is cold, Minnesota is cold, they're basically the same place!".
Avshalom 9y ago
Minnesota has as many people as Norway and is colder. Outside of the inland north Norway isn't actually very cold. on a general note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone#/media/File:2012_USDA_Plant_Hardiness_Zone_Map_(USA).jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone#/media/File:201... http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-norway-plant-hardiness-zone-map-celsius.php http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-norway-plant-hardiness-...

ianai 9y ago

That being why I wound up going with a hybrid RAV4 in the Southwest. I really need an awd where I live, but I still want to try to lower my footprint. The local dealership had plenty of inventory and knowledge. (Granted, it’s still an ICE. They’re not losing the service model. Even Toyota’s said they don’t think the BEV will replace the ICE)

Feniks 9y ago

America is a tough nut to crack. People like BIG cars, the roads are kinda crappy, fuel prices are lower than in Europe or Japan and travel distances are long. I wouldn't want to drive a Nissan Leaf in rural Maine.

WorldMaker 9y ago

GM has most of its EV facilities in Michigan (Detroit), so they have some skin in the game of supporting the Midwest winter lifestyle. Winter testing was very important to them when building the Volt, according to the documentary Revenge of the Electric Car.