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In a lot parts of the world, you cannot sell anything bigger, or more expensive than a Japanese kei car. Most of South Asia, and Africa drives Suzuki Altos, an
by baybal2 5y ago
In a lot parts of the world, you cannot sell anything bigger, or more expensive than a Japanese kei car.
Most of South Asia, and Africa drives Suzuki Altos, and Suzuki SX4s are considered there as big cars.
It's definitely, definitely possible to make small, cheap cars on batteries. In fact, easier than bigger ones as power to weight, and driving range scale non-linearly with the car size.
Big, heavy cars pay big premiums for not being able to use stamped parts in suspension for example. Small cars use stamped parts for almost everything.
Heavier cars almost invariably have to use more sophisticated suspension designs, with more parts to provide an equal level of comfort to lighter cars of the same class.
The amount of energy you lose in rolling resistance also varies non-linearly. You often can get an increase in driving efficiency if you have softer tires when you drive on less than idea roads. Etc, etc, etc
- vagrantJin 5y ago> Most of South Asia, and Africa drives Suzuki Altos, and Suzuki SX4s are considered there as big cars. I saw an F150 once. The thing was a monstrosity that took a lane and a half on a suburban road. Why is a car that big?
- extraAccount 5y agoIt makes sense in the US, where space is cheaper and bigger and you have to drive everywhere, but not anywhere else. I saw a US car with the embassy flag in the streets of Malta. The car was the size of the road, the driver was having a lot of trouble making simple turns in the "narrow" streets and gave up trying to do a 3-point turn. Probably could never find street parking for it, has to be a garage. I never saw an American-made car for American use before and I was amazed at how huge it was. You do see a local limo once in a while, but their drivers are usually more savvy as to where they can go with it.
- MisterTea 5y ago> Why is a car that big? Because it's a light truck. Useful for towing and moving material. Unfortunately used by many as a commuting vehicle.
- kevin_thibedeau 5y agoThey're also 15% bigger than they were 20 years ago for no apparent reason.
- Cipater 5y ago>Most of South Asia, and Africa drives Suzuki Altos, and Suzuki SX4s are considered there as big cars. This is quite untrue about Africa. I doubt whether you've been to any country in Africa if you think that a Suzuki SX4 is considered a big car there. You'd get mocked for driving a "baby car" if you have an Alto.