4 ms·

The critical part that is playing its role as I understand is that DC motors and batteries are plenty available from decent manufacturers. Very soon, as I see

The critical part that is playing its role as I understand is that DC motors and batteries are plenty available from decent manufacturers. Very soon, as I see articles around the web, there will be much better quality motors and batteries available across the country from brands say Yamaha or LG. Making the shell of a vehicle is not hard. ICEs have a ridiculously higher parts count compared to EVs. And not all EVs have to go above 60 KM/h.

medstrom 6y ago
What's ICE?
- Gibbon1 6y ago
  Internal combustion engine
  - MayeulC 6y ago
    See also these commonly used abbreviations: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
    - Gibbon1 6y ago
      Good rule I learned from the guy that taught writing for engineers, no matter what spell out acronyms the first time you use them.
- sunstone 6y ago
  Stink mobiles.
llampx 6y ago
The only thing stopping this democratization would be crash-worthiness. While this is more true for Western markets currently, regulations will come to India as well. However many Indians ride in the 3-wheeled death-traps called auto-rickshaws so I don't know... I've personally been in one which almost rolled over when the driver made a sharp turn at (relatively) high speed.
- pyrale 6y ago
  > The only thing stopping this democratization would be crash-worthiness. There is no trouble making small crash-worthy vehicles if the standard vehicle is no more than a few hundred kilos and is limited to 30-50 km/h. On the other hand, the current trend for western vehicles has been to make vehicles that are more and more dangerous for their environment, but which are themselves well-protected. So there is a good argument that regulation could move towards western standards by banning small cars, but banning larger cars could also produce good safety norms.
  - carlmr 6y ago
    >banning larger cars could also produce good safety norms. It's a classic tragedy of the commons situation. Individual safety means endangering others. You can't get rid of all the transporters and trucks from businesses, vans for families, etc., so people will continue to want that individual safety, meaning bigger cars.
  - MayeulC 6y ago
    > vehicles that are more and more dangerous for their environment, but which are themselves well-protected. Don't be fooled by what they tell you. A heavier vehicle is more dangerous to its occupants as well. https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/02/as-cars-get-heavier-even-small-speed-differences-matter-in-a-crash/ https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/02/as-cars-get-heavier-eve...
    - morberg 6y ago
      I’m confused. The article you linked to says the opposite: > Ironically, much of this trend is fueled by the fact that safety sells, and the biggest, heaviest cars are the safest—for their occupants, at least.
      - MayeulC 6y ago
        Sorry about that. I'm slightly confused too. Size doesn't make much difference in case of a full-stop (wall or similarly-sized car). It could help with bigger crumple zones though. In the end, I am not sure what proportion of passenger injuries is affected by car weight, but would love to see the data. And being heavier makes a car universally more dangerous to its surroundings. Which might be part of the appeal.
usrusr 6y ago
Another big difference to ICE is that all quality differences of electrics are highly relevant to their users (range, range, range and the amount of charging hassle required to fulfill your usage pattern), whereas ICE can already be good enough for a user that doesn't want/need/can go fast at an extremely low level of sophistication. Any quality metrics beyond "the engine reliably starts and goes tuk tuk until I arrive where I need to be" are mostly about externalities (noise, stink, other forms of emission) not directly relevant to the user. Cheap BEV manufacturers will see a wildly different incentive structure towards better tech than their ICE brethren (or former selves)

medstrom 6y ago

What's ICE?

Gibbon1 6y ago
Internal combustion engine
- MayeulC 6y ago
  See also these commonly used abbreviations: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
  - Gibbon1 6y ago
    Good rule I learned from the guy that taught writing for engineers, no matter what spell out acronyms the first time you use them.
sunstone 6y ago
Stink mobiles.

llampx 6y ago

The only thing stopping this democratization would be crash-worthiness. While this is more true for Western markets currently, regulations will come to India as well. However many Indians ride in the 3-wheeled death-traps called auto-rickshaws so I don't know... I've personally been in one which almost rolled over when the driver made a sharp turn at (relatively) high speed.

pyrale 6y ago
> The only thing stopping this democratization would be crash-worthiness. There is no trouble making small crash-worthy vehicles if the standard vehicle is no more than a few hundred kilos and is limited to 30-50 km/h. On the other hand, the current trend for western vehicles has been to make vehicles that are more and more dangerous for their environment, but which are themselves well-protected. So there is a good argument that regulation could move towards western standards by banning small cars, but banning larger cars could also produce good safety norms.
- carlmr 6y ago
  >banning larger cars could also produce good safety norms. It's a classic tragedy of the commons situation. Individual safety means endangering others. You can't get rid of all the transporters and trucks from businesses, vans for families, etc., so people will continue to want that individual safety, meaning bigger cars.
- MayeulC 6y ago
  > vehicles that are more and more dangerous for their environment, but which are themselves well-protected. Don't be fooled by what they tell you. A heavier vehicle is more dangerous to its occupants as well. https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/02/as-cars-get-heavier-even-small-speed-differences-matter-in-a-crash/ https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/02/as-cars-get-heavier-eve...
  - morberg 6y ago
    I’m confused. The article you linked to says the opposite: > Ironically, much of this trend is fueled by the fact that safety sells, and the biggest, heaviest cars are the safest—for their occupants, at least.
    - MayeulC 6y ago
      Sorry about that. I'm slightly confused too. Size doesn't make much difference in case of a full-stop (wall or similarly-sized car). It could help with bigger crumple zones though. In the end, I am not sure what proportion of passenger injuries is affected by car weight, but would love to see the data. And being heavier makes a car universally more dangerous to its surroundings. Which might be part of the appeal.

usrusr 6y ago

Another big difference to ICE is that all quality differences of electrics are highly relevant to their users (range, range, range and the amount of charging hassle required to fulfill your usage pattern), whereas ICE can already be good enough for a user that doesn't want/need/can go fast at an extremely low level of sophistication. Any quality metrics beyond "the engine reliably starts and goes tuk tuk until I arrive where I need to be" are mostly about externalities (noise, stink, other forms of emission) not directly relevant to the user. Cheap BEV manufacturers will see a wildly different incentive structure towards better tech than their ICE brethren (or former selves)