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Because battery technology isn't where it needs to be yet, where Tesla is absolutely winning when it comes to this. Honda released their plug in Honda Clarity,

Because battery technology isn't where it needs to be yet, where Tesla is absolutely winning when it comes to this. Honda released their plug in Honda Clarity, but it only has a range of 89 miles.

giobox 8y ago
This simply isn't true - the Chevrolet Bolt has an EPA-estimate 238 mile range, with many reviewers getting close to 300. Pretty much what you get in a base Model 3. What's more you can actually walk into a dealership and buy a Bolt today, good luck trying that with a Model 3. It also costs almost 15 grand less than the cheapest Model 3 Tesla is currently shipping, given they still don't have a release date for the mythical 35k mass market version. Batteries are increasingly just a commodity, and will become more so as the rest of the industry ramps up electric car production.
- toomuchtodo 8y ago
  Supercharger network, OTA updates, superior driver assist system, superior warranty. I’d wait for a Model 3 instead of buying a Bolt off the lot. Range isn’t everything.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - iainmerrick 8y ago
    Can you pay extra to get a car that just works, and no OTA updates?
    - toomuchtodo 8y ago
      No. Not a vehicle for the paranoid (not used as a derogatory term).
- djrogers 8y ago
  There are a lot of automotive buying decisions where you can save $15k by purchasing a smaller, slower, uglier car. It’s not a choice people always make.
  - giobox 8y ago
    Couldn't agree more. It's also not the point I'm making. Parent comment used the example of the 89 mile range Honda Clarity as evidence you don't get competitive battery range on non-Tesla cars. This is demonstrably not true.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - davidgould 8y ago
      > you don't get competitive battery range on non-Tesla cars. This is demonstrably not true. While the Bolt is a nice car with good range, it is not range competitive with the Telsa LR model 3. I have been evaluating this in the context of driving from San Francisco to Portland. This is a practical drive in the Model 3, but not even close in the Bolt.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
- codeulike 8y ago
  Chevvy sell the Bolt at an $8k loss, due to the battery. Nonetheless I'd love to have a Bolt, but I live in the UK and they aren't bothering to produce a RHD version.
- zjaffee 8y ago
  The point I wanted to get at was that there isn't the same level of competition in electric cars than gas powered cars yet.
mikestew 8y ago
Honda released their plug in Honda Clarity, but it only has a range of 89 miles. Oh, c'mon, you're going to use a car I can't even find a price on for comparison? Honda wants a zip code to determine if I'm even privileged enough to buy one. Compare to a Chevy Bolt, as the sibling commenter mentions. The range might come up slightly short, but then go compare the price tags (and for bonus points, when you can get one). If Chevy wanted to bump the price, I think they could easily match Tesla's range.
- davidgould 8y ago
  > If Chevy wanted to bump the price, I think they could easily match Tesla's range. If the Bolt has room for more battery. Which from pictures it does not.

Because battery technology isn't where it needs to be yet, where Tesla is absolutely winning when it comes to this. Honda released their plug in Honda Clarity, but it only has a range of 89 miles.

giobox 8y ago

This simply isn't true - the Chevrolet Bolt has an EPA-estimate 238 mile range, with many reviewers getting close to 300. Pretty much what you get in a base Model 3. What's more you can actually walk into a dealership and buy a Bolt today, good luck trying that with a Model 3. It also costs almost 15 grand less than the cheapest Model 3 Tesla is currently shipping, given they still don't have a release date for the mythical 35k mass market version. Batteries are increasingly just a commodity, and will become more so as the rest of the industry ramps up electric car production.

toomuchtodo 8y ago
Supercharger network, OTA updates, superior driver assist system, superior warranty. I’d wait for a Model 3 instead of buying a Bolt off the lot. Range isn’t everything.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- iainmerrick 8y ago
  Can you pay extra to get a car that just works, and no OTA updates?
  - toomuchtodo 8y ago
    No. Not a vehicle for the paranoid (not used as a derogatory term).
djrogers 8y ago
There are a lot of automotive buying decisions where you can save $15k by purchasing a smaller, slower, uglier car. It’s not a choice people always make.
- giobox 8y ago
  Couldn't agree more. It's also not the point I'm making. Parent comment used the example of the 89 mile range Honda Clarity as evidence you don't get competitive battery range on non-Tesla cars. This is demonstrably not true.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - davidgould 8y ago
    > you don't get competitive battery range on non-Tesla cars. This is demonstrably not true. While the Bolt is a nice car with good range, it is not range competitive with the Telsa LR model 3. I have been evaluating this in the context of driving from San Francisco to Portland. This is a practical drive in the Model 3, but not even close in the Bolt.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
codeulike 8y ago
Chevvy sell the Bolt at an $8k loss, due to the battery. Nonetheless I'd love to have a Bolt, but I live in the UK and they aren't bothering to produce a RHD version.
zjaffee 8y ago
The point I wanted to get at was that there isn't the same level of competition in electric cars than gas powered cars yet.

mikestew 8y ago

Honda released their plug in Honda Clarity, but it only has a range of 89 miles. Oh, c'mon, you're going to use a car I can't even find a price on for comparison? Honda wants a zip code to determine if I'm even privileged enough to buy one. Compare to a Chevy Bolt, as the sibling commenter mentions. The range might come up slightly short, but then go compare the price tags (and for bonus points, when you can get one). If Chevy wanted to bump the price, I think they could easily match Tesla's range.

davidgould 8y ago
> If Chevy wanted to bump the price, I think they could easily match Tesla's range. If the Bolt has room for more battery. Which from pictures it does not.