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#1 pretty much includes 2-4. If you solve #1 the others get implicitly solved. Take a corolla, gut everything ICE out of it, give it a standalone EV drivetra

#1 pretty much includes 2-4. If you solve #1 the others get implicitly solved. Take a corolla, gut everything ICE out of it, give it a standalone EV drivetrain (none of that bullshit center console integration or OTA updates that can brick your car, keep the center entertainment console the same, keep the motor controller separate), run of the mill motor with 80hp or so and battery pack for ~100 miles or so, and sell it for $10-12k, and you would see MASSIVE adoption. Most people wouldn't even bother with public charging, since they can just top up at home overnight. The cars would also be better, even thought the horsepower figure would be low, the torque will be way higher which makes accelerating into merging traffic better and safer. Then, if people want a car for longer distances, they spend $5-8k on a good used gas car, get basic checkover/maintenance done on it, install a entertainment system that has android/carplay, and have 2 cars and more functionality for less than the cost of a modern EV. If the batteries are mainstream and not proprietary, the used market also becomes a shitload better, and people are more incentivized to buy these cars to resell at a higher price. It wouldn't be farfetched for people to even build their own packs, as many do for ebikes.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
pixl97 3y ago
This is pretty much what Edison motors wants to do in the truck/semi side of the world.
al_borland 3y ago
If I need to drive longer distances I’m just going to get the ICE car, not an EV and an ICE car. There is no way I will save enough money driving an EV around town to make up the cost of having two vehicles. Not only is there the initial purchase price, but then also registration, insurance, and maintenance. There is also the more intangible cost of adding the complexity of 2 cars to one’s life. Every time there is somewhere to go it becomes a choice, car juggling in the driveway, managing maintenance schedules for both vehicles, etc. If an EV can’t do it all, it’s a non-starter for a signification portion of the population. They would be much better served, in terms of comfort, convenience, and financially, if they added those two car budgets together and got one ICE car for $15-20k (adding the two car budgets you listed together). Even charging at home is an issue for many people. A small battery may be easy to charge on 110v, but for those in apartments, condos, or any places that requires them to park in a parking lot or structure, it’s not as easy as using a plug in a garage one might find with a single family home. These living situations also make it harder for people to have multiple cars. The last place I lived required I park in a parking structure; I had to pay $1,200/year up front for a spot in that structure. Having 2 cars would double that cost. And while it did have some EV spots, it wasn’t a place an EV owner could simply park and leave their car for days, especially not with any reliability.
- ActorNightly 3y ago
  Most of the commuters (who are able to charge at home) would only go for the EV option considering 100 miles total range fits like the vast majority of the commute distance range. For the rest of the people, or for things like longer trips, this becomes a matter of convenience vs economics. The overall point isn't to solve EV with a cheap car, its to kickstart a widespread adoption so that the secondary markets start producing stuff to make the cars better because it would be profitable. And the secondary markets will solve all the problems, whether it be extended range batteries, or even a hard case you install in a truck that contains a gas engine that turns your car into a hybrid.
torginus 3y ago
Better yet, stick an 50hp gasoline engine in it as well, and it will carry you to the ends of the Earth, while operating 100% like a BEV for daily commutes.
- nojvek 3y ago
  This ^ Gimme a battery electric with 100 miles. Then a tiny generator and a 50L tank. If I go on a long drive, I fill up with gas. Otherwise home charging every night. I’m really hopping someone comes out with a dirt cheap hybrid car - fashionable and comfortable. They would take in so much money. Be the next Toyota.
- Tostino 3y ago
  Honestly, a little 15-20hp generator would be all thats needed for the vast majority of passenger vehicles.
- ActorNightly 3y ago
  The issue is that you can't really do an engine in a car without having to go through all the certifications for emissions, engineered reliability, e.t.c, all of which raises the price. And most people don't need this.
Varriount 3y ago
> Most people wouldn't even bother with public charging, since they can just top up at home overnight. Unless, of course, you only make enough to live in an apartment.
- JohnFen 3y ago
  High-earners live in apartments, too.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

pixl97 3y ago

This is pretty much what Edison motors wants to do in the truck/semi side of the world.

al_borland 3y ago

If I need to drive longer distances I’m just going to get the ICE car, not an EV and an ICE car. There is no way I will save enough money driving an EV around town to make up the cost of having two vehicles. Not only is there the initial purchase price, but then also registration, insurance, and maintenance. There is also the more intangible cost of adding the complexity of 2 cars to one’s life. Every time there is somewhere to go it becomes a choice, car juggling in the driveway, managing maintenance schedules for both vehicles, etc. If an EV can’t do it all, it’s a non-starter for a signification portion of the population. They would be much better served, in terms of comfort, convenience, and financially, if they added those two car budgets together and got one ICE car for $15-20k (adding the two car budgets you listed together). Even charging at home is an issue for many people. A small battery may be easy to charge on 110v, but for those in apartments, condos, or any places that requires them to park in a parking lot or structure, it’s not as easy as using a plug in a garage one might find with a single family home. These living situations also make it harder for people to have multiple cars. The last place I lived required I park in a parking structure; I had to pay $1,200/year up front for a spot in that structure. Having 2 cars would double that cost. And while it did have some EV spots, it wasn’t a place an EV owner could simply park and leave their car for days, especially not with any reliability.

ActorNightly 3y ago
Most of the commuters (who are able to charge at home) would only go for the EV option considering 100 miles total range fits like the vast majority of the commute distance range. For the rest of the people, or for things like longer trips, this becomes a matter of convenience vs economics. The overall point isn't to solve EV with a cheap car, its to kickstart a widespread adoption so that the secondary markets start producing stuff to make the cars better because it would be profitable. And the secondary markets will solve all the problems, whether it be extended range batteries, or even a hard case you install in a truck that contains a gas engine that turns your car into a hybrid.

torginus 3y ago

Better yet, stick an 50hp gasoline engine in it as well, and it will carry you to the ends of the Earth, while operating 100% like a BEV for daily commutes.

nojvek 3y ago
This ^ Gimme a battery electric with 100 miles. Then a tiny generator and a 50L tank. If I go on a long drive, I fill up with gas. Otherwise home charging every night. I’m really hopping someone comes out with a dirt cheap hybrid car - fashionable and comfortable. They would take in so much money. Be the next Toyota.
Tostino 3y ago
Honestly, a little 15-20hp generator would be all thats needed for the vast majority of passenger vehicles.
ActorNightly 3y ago
The issue is that you can't really do an engine in a car without having to go through all the certifications for emissions, engineered reliability, e.t.c, all of which raises the price. And most people don't need this.

Varriount 3y ago

> Most people wouldn't even bother with public charging, since they can just top up at home overnight. Unless, of course, you only make enough to live in an apartment.

JohnFen 3y ago
High-earners live in apartments, too.