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> We’re already seeing sales for EVs decline, and I think one of the main reasons — if not the main reason — is the lack of charging infrastructure. I think co
by root_axis 2y ago
> We’re already seeing sales for EVs decline, and I think one of the main reasons — if not the main reason — is the lack of charging infrastructure.
I think cost and rage is the real problem. Electric motors are super fun to drive but the best among them can barley crack a 200 mile range under typical driving conditions whereas the best hybrids can triple that comfortably. The EV math just doesn't add up for most people.
- asadotzler 2y agoChinese EVs are coming out with 1000 km ranges this season. 500 miles in any weather will be available in mid and high end vehicle in a few years in the US. That's twice the distance I get in my $40K 2019 ICE vehicle. That CATL Shenxing PLUS 1000 km battery can charge for 375 miles in 10 minutes or the full 620 miles in 16.6 minutes. I spend about 3-4 minutes to fill up for about 200 miles in my Mazda once a week (live rural so always try to fill up at or above quarter tank) so for commuting, this is getting awful close to ICE levels of time spent fueling. I'd charge at home mostly, because home ownership is a luxury I possess, but even if I used fast chargers exclusively, I could charge for a month of commuting in two 15 minute sessions or I could gas refuel in four 3.5 minute stops. Stopping at all is a hassle and so the extra stops for the ICE vehicle would balance out the extra 15 minutes per month charging. But again, I'd use home charging most of the time and reserve the fast charging in town for rare cases and for long-haul trips. For regional trips, for example from the Bay Area to San Diego, Las Vegas, maybe even Portland, they can be done on a single charge. For longer trips, stop off at a 7-11 every 4-5 hours, take a piss, buy some snacks, and in 10 minutes you've got another 375 miles. You could go from San Francisco to New York City in 8 stops. That's a 3 day trip so two stops are at hotel stays and free leaving you with 6 stops of 10 minutes each to cross the country. I don't see any hardship there at all compared to ICE travel. This all depends on 205 Wh/kg batteries arriving for US EVs. Even if the CATL battery pack doesn't make it to US EVs, some other pack will within a few years I'm sure. By 2030, I think for mid-sized and above cars, range will not be an issue. For small cars, where the batteries cannot be as large, people living in apartments without charging at work will have a slightly less convenient experience than with ICE. By 2035 when ICE vehicles are phased out, I expect even compact cars to have enough range and fast enough charging that everyone will be covered pretty well.
- jader201 2y agoI agree, but I think this is a short term problem. I think battery tech is improving, and range has been improving with each generation it seems. I think it’s just a matter of time before EV range well exceeds range of ICE vehicles. But that’s if EVs don’t get crippled by lack of infrastructure first. Momentum is already starting to swing the other way, and now’s not the time for Tesla to play games with pulling out of improving charging infrastructure.
- asadotzler 2y ago>I think it’s just a matter of time before EV range well exceeds range of ICE vehicles. The CATL Shenxing PLUS LFP pack gets 205 Wh/kg which lets it go 621 miles on a 16.6 minute charge from the Shenxing Superfast Charging Network. A typical ICE mid-sized probably gets about 360 miles on a 4 minute gasoline fill-up so it's closing the gap with ICE in terms of time refueling even if you do zero at-home charging. If you have any at-home charging, you'll come out way ahead.
- gnicholas 2y agoIsn't range basically the same issue as infrastructure?
- creativeSlumber 2y ago> the best among them can barley crack a 200 mile How many people take 200 mile + road trips and how often? If there are enough DC fast charging infrastructure, where you can fill up say 40% of that range within a 15 minute rest stop, then that range is still not a problem. The issue currently is there isn't enough of those fast charging infrastructure.
- asadotzler 2y agoCATL Shenxing PLUS battery pack does 621 miles. It can do 375 miles with 10 minutes of charge time (on a CATL 4C charger).
- caf 2y agoThat's a bit out of date. The Model 3 LR will do 300 miles in the real world, and it's not the longest range out there.
- penjelly 2y agosaw a video the other day where plaid was used after 45k miles and i was 0.7 seconds slower than the advertised sale 0-60. If thats true, and it continues i imagine plaid drivers will be pissed