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I'd argue that it was mass-production hybrids in the late 90s that moved us towards the renewables-based future. People could buy them without fear of running

I'd argue that it was mass-production hybrids in the late 90s that moved us towards the renewables-based future. People could buy them without fear of running out of charge, yet they gamified energy-effiency for drivers who had never really considered that beyond the price of petrol at the pump. Without hybrids having shouldered the door open, I doubt that pure EVs would have fared much better than in previous decades. Do remember that Tesla was founded to build hybrids.

_bxg1 8y ago
Before Tesla, electric and especially hybrid cars were (needlessly) seen by society as dorky and lame. In a culture like America's, for a category of cars, that's a death knell condemning them to living in a niche forever. Silly as that barrier was, Tesla managed to change it.
- kitsunesoba 8y ago
  Yes, I think it’s largely thanks to Tesla that conventional automakers are finally starting to create EVs that aren’t bizarre space bug things and have a reasonable range. Tesla is still lightyears ahead in terms of charging stations, though, which is mind boggling — charging infrastructure is easily the biggest bottleneck in mass EV adoption at this point, yet the traditional automakers are doing jack shit about it. They could be setting up a brand new market for themselves, but instead they’re willingly handing this advantage to Tesla. It makes no sense.
- marchenko 8y ago
  I would credit the Prius with this shift in attitude. The Prius wasn't cool, but it was cool enough, and more affordable with a reputation for reasonable resale value.
Obi_Juan_Kenobi 8y ago
Somewhat OT, but I wouldn't say hybrids came in the late 90s, more like the mid 2000s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_electric_vehicles_in_the_United_States#/media/File:Cumulative_US_HEV_Sales_by_year_1999_2009.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_electric_vehicles_in_th... There's a nice inflection point around 2003-2004 where they really became mass-market.

_bxg1 8y ago

Before Tesla, electric and especially hybrid cars were (needlessly) seen by society as dorky and lame. In a culture like America's, for a category of cars, that's a death knell condemning them to living in a niche forever. Silly as that barrier was, Tesla managed to change it.

kitsunesoba 8y ago
Yes, I think it’s largely thanks to Tesla that conventional automakers are finally starting to create EVs that aren’t bizarre space bug things and have a reasonable range. Tesla is still lightyears ahead in terms of charging stations, though, which is mind boggling — charging infrastructure is easily the biggest bottleneck in mass EV adoption at this point, yet the traditional automakers are doing jack shit about it. They could be setting up a brand new market for themselves, but instead they’re willingly handing this advantage to Tesla. It makes no sense.
marchenko 8y ago
I would credit the Prius with this shift in attitude. The Prius wasn't cool, but it was cool enough, and more affordable with a reputation for reasonable resale value.

Obi_Juan_Kenobi 8y ago

Somewhat OT, but I wouldn't say hybrids came in the late 90s, more like the mid 2000s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_electric_vehicles_in_the_United_States#/media/File:Cumulative_US_HEV_Sales_by_year_1999_2009.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_electric_vehicles_in_th... There's a nice inflection point around 2003-2004 where they really became mass-market.