3 ms·
That argument doesn't always work. GM had the EV1 "on the road and working" in 1996. Then they decided that electric cars could never work. Then Tesla happened.
by rjmunro 5y ago
That argument doesn't always work. GM had the EV1 "on the road and working" in 1996. Then they decided that electric cars could never work. Then Tesla happened.
- manquer 5y agoVolvo has not decided that electric or hydrogen is not viable yet. There was good reason for GMs decision, the battery tech and costs in early 2000s were not simply viable for mass market adoption at that time. They were not interested in niche product. Battery cost per kwh had reduced orders of magnitude now. It is still not price competitive with gasoline bases vechiles but is close , in another five years it will be cheaper than gasoline vehicles. The equations have fundamentally changed in 20 years. Volvo or any large maker has no need to be first in the market , they just need to have good enough product when adoption kicks in, their network, brand and service will be enough to compete. While they will invest, they don't need to bet the farm in a make or break product that startups will need to do.