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This is useful only in some cases when it's better to keep some of the old stuff. It doesn't make sense to convert a post-2000 car: it would be very inefficient

This is useful only in some cases when it's better to keep some of the old stuff. It doesn't make sense to convert a post-2000 car: it would be very inefficient regarding the space use (too much stuff already in, no place for large enough battery, ...), the electricity consumption (those cars have a lot of electronics/ACs not optimised for batteries), and price wise (most of those cars don't cost much today). It would be much more efficient to create cheap/light EVs: today's focus is mostly on expensive/large EVs with a huge lot of accessories/screens/... because that's where the money is for regular car brands. But if one make could build something like a Willys Jeep EV, or a least something like an early-90s small car that didn't have all of todays gadgets (Renault Twingo, Mini, Volkswagen Coccinelle, ...), they would be much more useful for those markets. Another problem is still electricity grid: in a lot of countries, it's not up-to a large scale EV deployment.

b112 2y ago
Agree but with the logic that "all types" need to be made. There is a very good market for a car for city dwellers, especially as a second car for them. Many families have two cars (get over it, that's reality), but I often see them buy that second car as an EV, keeping a gas guzzler to assuage range fears. This is an excellent opportunity for that small, 100km range, low tech as you say car. Just batteries, motor. Just for local jaunts. Perfect.
- devilbunny 2y ago
  I could do a commuter car with even a 50 km range, if it was cheap enough. But since I need a heater and air conditioner, and modern safety regulations are what they are, there’s very little chance that it can be made cheaply enough.
gandalfian 2y ago
"But if one make could build something like a Willys Jeep EV" Look up electric mini moke. Exactly what you are describing. Rich man's toy mind. If there's a Chinese knock off it could be very cheap though.
numpad0 2y ago
And here comes the transparent children of EVs: Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan LEAF. This phenomenon is not so surprising considering that the sole point of existence of Tesla was basically to give the middle finger to those and the Prius, but they exactly fit the criteria of mass market EVs precisely by the letters. Especially the i-MiEV(pronounced eye-meeve). It was a Kei car!
troyvit 2y ago
I can only say that I'd be a customer for this. I'd much rather electrify my old car than throw it away to buy a brand new car with a ton of features (and anti-features [1]) that I don't want. If somebody sold a cheap, mostly-analog electric car I'd probably buy it. But they probably never will in the US. [1] https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/ https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/article...

b112 2y ago

Agree but with the logic that "all types" need to be made. There is a very good market for a car for city dwellers, especially as a second car for them. Many families have two cars (get over it, that's reality), but I often see them buy that second car as an EV, keeping a gas guzzler to assuage range fears. This is an excellent opportunity for that small, 100km range, low tech as you say car. Just batteries, motor. Just for local jaunts. Perfect.

devilbunny 2y ago
I could do a commuter car with even a 50 km range, if it was cheap enough. But since I need a heater and air conditioner, and modern safety regulations are what they are, there’s very little chance that it can be made cheaply enough.

gandalfian 2y ago

"But if one make could build something like a Willys Jeep EV" Look up electric mini moke. Exactly what you are describing. Rich man's toy mind. If there's a Chinese knock off it could be very cheap though.

numpad0 2y ago

And here comes the transparent children of EVs: Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan LEAF. This phenomenon is not so surprising considering that the sole point of existence of Tesla was basically to give the middle finger to those and the Prius, but they exactly fit the criteria of mass market EVs precisely by the letters. Especially the i-MiEV(pronounced eye-meeve). It was a Kei car!

troyvit 2y ago

I can only say that I'd be a customer for this. I'd much rather electrify my old car than throw it away to buy a brand new car with a ton of features (and anti-features [1]) that I don't want. If somebody sold a cheap, mostly-analog electric car I'd probably buy it. But they probably never will in the US. [1] https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/ https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/article...