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The idiocy of badly interpreted statistics: “20% of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars”.

by bwanab 5y ago

The idiocy of badly interpreted statistics: “20% of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars”. This kinda means that 80% don’t switch back. Given the current horrible state of EV charging, this sounds pretty reasonable. I don’t find it surprising that a number of people buy an EV, then realize that the charging environment doesn’t work for them.

sidpatil 5y ago
> “20% of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars” Huh?
- imtringued 5y ago
  “20% of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars” “20% of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars”
- bwanab 5y ago
  Sorry, bad text copy on mobile.
dlkf 5y ago
Agreed, the use of stats is so terrible. I love this one: "43% report driving more once they go electric." So the people who buy these things end up using them? How is this an indictment of electric cars? It's rather unfortunate, because there is a really interesting cost-benefit analysis to be performed that compares the carbon footprint of assembling a new Nissan Leaf against the carbon footprint of driving your Civic for another 5-10 years. The analysis would have to be parameterized by the gas-mileage and age of your current car, the type of electric you intend on replacing it with, the carbon footprint of electricity in your region, and how much you drive. We'll have to find a pundit who isn't innumerate to write it.
- djhn 5y ago
  Though not a write up per se, Engineering Explained has made several videos with reasonable estimates: https://youtu.be/L2IKCdnzl5k https://youtu.be/L2IKCdnzl5k https://youtu.be/MEqxaH47DTs https://youtu.be/MEqxaH47DTs https://youtu.be/Hatav_Rdnno https://youtu.be/Hatav_Rdnno
sytelus 5y ago
I am infinitely surprised why Elon Musk doesn't buy up cheap gas stations and turns them into all-electric charging stations. It turns out that customers are quite ok to pay close to gas prices as long as they feel they are getting bit of a discount. Higher charing price is not a deterrent for buying EVs. I would expect charging will be much more profitable business than manufacturing EVs in a long run. It's like Gillete makes blade handles cheap but blades very expensive.
- thehappypm 5y ago
  Long term, chargers may not end up being too important. Today, range is like 200 miles. That’s enough for basically 100% of commutes, knocking around town, and many longer trips. It’s not however long enough for a ski trip day trip, or a road trip, or if Grandma lives farther away. If range gets up to ~500 miles, charging away from home base will be almost exclusively for road trippers which is already where Tesla is focusing.

by bwanab 5y ago

sidpatil 5y ago

> “20% of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars” Huh?

imtringued 5y ago
“20% of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars” “20% of electric car owners switch back to gas-powered cars”
bwanab 5y ago
Sorry, bad text copy on mobile.

dlkf 5y ago

Agreed, the use of stats is so terrible. I love this one: "43% report driving more once they go electric." So the people who buy these things end up using them? How is this an indictment of electric cars? It's rather unfortunate, because there is a really interesting cost-benefit analysis to be performed that compares the carbon footprint of assembling a new Nissan Leaf against the carbon footprint of driving your Civic for another 5-10 years. The analysis would have to be parameterized by the gas-mileage and age of your current car, the type of electric you intend on replacing it with, the carbon footprint of electricity in your region, and how much you drive. We'll have to find a pundit who isn't innumerate to write it.

djhn 5y ago
Though not a write up per se, Engineering Explained has made several videos with reasonable estimates: https://youtu.be/L2IKCdnzl5k https://youtu.be/L2IKCdnzl5k https://youtu.be/MEqxaH47DTs https://youtu.be/MEqxaH47DTs https://youtu.be/Hatav_Rdnno https://youtu.be/Hatav_Rdnno

sytelus 5y ago

I am infinitely surprised why Elon Musk doesn't buy up cheap gas stations and turns them into all-electric charging stations. It turns out that customers are quite ok to pay close to gas prices as long as they feel they are getting bit of a discount. Higher charing price is not a deterrent for buying EVs. I would expect charging will be much more profitable business than manufacturing EVs in a long run. It's like Gillete makes blade handles cheap but blades very expensive.

thehappypm 5y ago
Long term, chargers may not end up being too important. Today, range is like 200 miles. That’s enough for basically 100% of commutes, knocking around town, and many longer trips. It’s not however long enough for a ski trip day trip, or a road trip, or if Grandma lives farther away. If range gets up to ~500 miles, charging away from home base will be almost exclusively for road trippers which is already where Tesla is focusing.