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We are already there, 200 miles is already plenty. The vast majority of people only commute and the average commute distance is 16 miles each way so a 200 mile

We are already there, 200 miles is already plenty. The vast majority of people only commute and the average commute distance is 16 miles each way so a 200 mile electric car satisfies the main use case. Married households could do an electric car for commuting and a gas vehicle for longer trips. The main issue is one of cost, a secondary issue is style. Tesla's are expensive, but other automakers will fill the gap, with cheaper cars. Unfortunately today all electric cars except tesla are uniformly ugly. I think people are ready for an electric car for daily commuting, but the cars need to be in the $20K range, 200 miles, and not look like crap. Also keep in mind it doesnt make sense to sell an existing car to buy an electric car, so there is a 8-15 year lifecycle for people to ditch their old cars.

briandear 8y ago
> all electric cars except Tesla are uniformly ugly. Fact. And the reason is that many people that buy electric/hybrid cars are like vegans -- they want everyone to know about it. The Prius is a horrible monstrosity of visual appeal but it sells because people like to be seen being "better" or "more woke" than their neighbors -- while a Honda Civic hybrid looks exactly like a Honda Civic. That's the only explanation for the almost universally ugly and "distinctive" profile of electrics and hybrids. Even with other hybrids with similar specs (and less "distinctive" designs,) they didn't see anywhere near the sales numbers as the Prius. A Ford Fusion Energi can only be discerned from a normal Ford Fusion by a badge on the door, even if it gets better mileage than a Prius. But the Energi only sold about 15,000 copies in 2015, vs the Prius’ 200,000 or so. An all-electric Suburban without adequately noticeable badging would earn the condemnation from more "enlightened" parents waiting in the school pickup line. Tesla doesn't have to be ugly because a Tesla already looks fairly unique (although borrowing heavily from Maserati..) https://www.mikewardmaserati.com/2018-maserati-ghibli-vs-2018-tesla-model-s-comparison/ https://www.mikewardmaserati.com/2018-maserati-ghibli-vs-201...
rsj_hn 8y ago
I may be the outlier, but I don't think the Prius looks like crap. It's not super appealing, but IMO most modern cars all look alike and they are boring. At least the Prius looked a bit more quirky when it came out, so a little more interesting. Now, they are so ubiquitous that the quirky sense is gone, but it's not worse than your typical sedan.

briandear 8y ago

> all electric cars except Tesla are uniformly ugly. Fact. And the reason is that many people that buy electric/hybrid cars are like vegans -- they want everyone to know about it. The Prius is a horrible monstrosity of visual appeal but it sells because people like to be seen being "better" or "more woke" than their neighbors -- while a Honda Civic hybrid looks exactly like a Honda Civic. That's the only explanation for the almost universally ugly and "distinctive" profile of electrics and hybrids. Even with other hybrids with similar specs (and less "distinctive" designs,) they didn't see anywhere near the sales numbers as the Prius. A Ford Fusion Energi can only be discerned from a normal Ford Fusion by a badge on the door, even if it gets better mileage than a Prius. But the Energi only sold about 15,000 copies in 2015, vs the Prius’ 200,000 or so. An all-electric Suburban without adequately noticeable badging would earn the condemnation from more "enlightened" parents waiting in the school pickup line. Tesla doesn't have to be ugly because a Tesla already looks fairly unique (although borrowing heavily from Maserati..) https://www.mikewardmaserati.com/2018-maserati-ghibli-vs-2018-tesla-model-s-comparison/ https://www.mikewardmaserati.com/2018-maserati-ghibli-vs-201...

rsj_hn 8y ago

I may be the outlier, but I don't think the Prius looks like crap. It's not super appealing, but IMO most modern cars all look alike and they are boring. At least the Prius looked a bit more quirky when it came out, so a little more interesting. Now, they are so ubiquitous that the quirky sense is gone, but it's not worse than your typical sedan.