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Tesla (not mentioned in the article) deserves a lot of credit in accelerating the shift towards battery powered cars.

by asaph 7y ago

benj111 7y ago
I'm sure Tesla will receive more than enough credit in all the 1000s of articles yet to be written about it, and has already received lots of credit. Not every article about EVs needs to mention Tesla.
goodcanadian 7y ago
You are not wrong, but on HN, at least, I feel Tesla gets more credit than it deserves and Nissan doesn't get enough. I was an early fan; the roadster made me believe it was possible, but in the meantime, Nissan produced a mass market car and sold it worldwide in the hundreds of thousands. Only now, with the model 3, is Tesla arguably entering the same market . . . at the same time as everyone else, really. I will grant that they are producing on a larger scale than anyone else, but I'm not convinced they can keep that advantage long.
- agumonkey 7y ago
  Other brands did try and make great EV but it's only with a bold 'EV only and no more fossil fuel ever' pitch that the polarization effect was there.
- vinay427 7y ago
  I agree that Nissan was definitely more significant in the (early) mass-market electric segment. However, for the people I know who purchased Teslas, a lot of their decision had to do with a Tesla not seeming like a quirky or weird electric car with compromises. The range of most Tesla models far exceeds that of the Leaf, and while they obviously cost more partly as a result, a lot of people would prefer a vehicle that makes EVs seem usable, normal, futuristic, and "cool" though expensive rather than one that makes EVs accessible to people already interested in them who are willing to change their habits and preferences somewhat. It seems like a distinction in branding that Tesla seemed to hit the mark on, in my view.
- tails4e 7y ago
  The leaf is good and certainly helped, but in a way it alone (without the tesla model s/x) may have held back the mainstream adoption of electric cars as it had not dramatically addressed the challenges of battery degradation, charging infrastructure, 'atttactive' design, and range. Tesla showed the world electric cars could be had with almost no compromises by tackling those areas head on. This is what will move them from niche to mainstream, especially now with the cost making it accessible to most.

Tesla (not mentioned in the article) deserves a lot of credit in accelerating the shift towards battery powered cars.

by asaph 7y ago

Tesla (not mentioned in the article) deserves a lot of credit in accelerating the shift towards battery powered cars.

I'm sure Tesla will receive more than enough credit in all the 1000s of articles yet to be written about it, and has already received lots of credit. Not every article about EVs needs to mention Tesla.

goodcanadian 7y ago

You are not wrong, but on HN, at least, I feel Tesla gets more credit than it deserves and Nissan doesn't get enough. I was an early fan; the roadster made me believe it was possible, but in the meantime, Nissan produced a mass market car and sold it worldwide in the hundreds of thousands. Only now, with the model 3, is Tesla arguably entering the same market . . . at the same time as everyone else, really. I will grant that they are producing on a larger scale than anyone else, but I'm not convinced they can keep that advantage long.

agumonkey 7y ago
Other brands did try and make great EV but it's only with a bold 'EV only and no more fossil fuel ever' pitch that the polarization effect was there.
vinay427 7y ago
I agree that Nissan was definitely more significant in the (early) mass-market electric segment. However, for the people I know who purchased Teslas, a lot of their decision had to do with a Tesla not seeming like a quirky or weird electric car with compromises. The range of most Tesla models far exceeds that of the Leaf, and while they obviously cost more partly as a result, a lot of people would prefer a vehicle that makes EVs seem usable, normal, futuristic, and "cool" though expensive rather than one that makes EVs accessible to people already interested in them who are willing to change their habits and preferences somewhat. It seems like a distinction in branding that Tesla seemed to hit the mark on, in my view.
tails4e 7y ago
The leaf is good and certainly helped, but in a way it alone (without the tesla model s/x) may have held back the mainstream adoption of electric cars as it had not dramatically addressed the challenges of battery degradation, charging infrastructure, 'atttactive' design, and range. Tesla showed the world electric cars could be had with almost no compromises by tackling those areas head on. This is what will move them from niche to mainstream, especially now with the cost making it accessible to most.