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Hybrid's are not an ideal solution. The additional vehicle complexity is unnecessary and it extends our reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure. It's all the dow

by pnw 2y ago

Hybrid's are not an ideal solution. The additional vehicle complexity is unnecessary and it extends our reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure. It's all the downsides of an ICE car with a slight boost in fuel efficiency. The reality is that most Americans would do fine with an EV but the inability of the incumbents to innovate on affordable EVs and the FUD in the marketplace is a big issue. The top issues in that survey you linked are basically price (fair), battery replacement (FUD) and then charging availability and range anxiety as equal third. Range anxiety is overblown given the vast majority of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day, yet somehow everyone seems to demand a vehicle capable of making 500 mile non-stop road trips.

HelloMcFly 2y ago
Until it's easier for me to charge my car, hybrids are indeed the ideal solution when accounting for the additional cost of installing an EV charger in the home. That's a huge "tax", especially when home charging is by far your only reliable option, especially so for the many, many of us with detached garages nowhere close to our home breaker box.
- pnw 2y ago
  Yes, that's an issue for 30% of people as shown in the survey.
foobarian 2y ago
I don't agree range anxiety is overblown. It's a real issue, having driven an EV for a year now. We may drive 50ish miles most days but not being able to go on long trips is a deal breaker; it forces us to keep a second car which is impractical for the vast majority of people.
- recursive 2y ago
  Why can't you go on long trips?
kube-system 2y ago
> The additional vehicle complexity is unnecessary The best selling hybrids on the market aren't simply ICE vehicles with extra stuff slapped on. Most series-parallel designs eliminate the need for many parts that an ICE car would have. For example, many hybrids don't have a starter, accessory belt, torque converter, or multi-ratio transmissions. Due to this, many hybrids have hundreds of fewer moving parts than comparable ICE vehicles.
- enragedcacti 2y ago
  On top of that the oomph of the electric motor lets hybrids get away with naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle engines. Efficiency focused ICE cars usually need a turbo and all it's associated complexity to make up for their small displacement.

by pnw 2y ago

HelloMcFly 2y ago

Until it's easier for me to charge my car, hybrids are indeed the ideal solution when accounting for the additional cost of installing an EV charger in the home. That's a huge "tax", especially when home charging is by far your only reliable option, especially so for the many, many of us with detached garages nowhere close to our home breaker box.

pnw 2y ago
Yes, that's an issue for 30% of people as shown in the survey.

foobarian 2y ago

I don't agree range anxiety is overblown. It's a real issue, having driven an EV for a year now. We may drive 50ish miles most days but not being able to go on long trips is a deal breaker; it forces us to keep a second car which is impractical for the vast majority of people.

recursive 2y ago
Why can't you go on long trips?

kube-system 2y ago

> The additional vehicle complexity is unnecessary The best selling hybrids on the market aren't simply ICE vehicles with extra stuff slapped on. Most series-parallel designs eliminate the need for many parts that an ICE car would have. For example, many hybrids don't have a starter, accessory belt, torque converter, or multi-ratio transmissions. Due to this, many hybrids have hundreds of fewer moving parts than comparable ICE vehicles.

enragedcacti 2y ago
On top of that the oomph of the electric motor lets hybrids get away with naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle engines. Efficiency focused ICE cars usually need a turbo and all it's associated complexity to make up for their small displacement.