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Hybrids once again totally undervalued. I don't know why the industry and the consumers are going so hard on pure EVs

blacksmith_tb 1y ago
Hmm, I drive a PHEV, but full EVs are extremely simple vehicles, as long as you work out charging, they'll need tires eventually, and brake pads (slowly, since they mostly have regen), and that's about it. No fluids (and leaks), no belts, no going to gas stations - pretty compelling for the motorist (and scary for dealerships and repair shops).
- RickJWagner 1y ago
  I don’t have an EV, but I think I would like one. Some days I repeat your ideas in my head and think the EV would be great. Other days, I consider the places I see ICE vehicles needing work—- suspension pieces, air conditioning, electronic bits, lights, etc and I think otherwise. Really, I haven’t had a problem with an ICE engine or transmission in a long time. ( Including my 20 year old crv, which just keeps running. The suspension is getting creaky, though. ) I wish there was more information available about early Teslas and how they’re doing today. I just don’t have a good feel for longevity.
WorldMaker 1y ago
Among other reasons, a lot of it is simply because everyone wants raw battery range and PHEVs are a huge compromise on battery range. Internal combustion engines and gas tanks eat a lot into the weight and volume budgets of a car. You can fit a lot of battery in that weight and volume. We've got to the point where battery density is getting strong enough that a hybrid can't make a combined range as good as a pure EV either in the same weight class. Another reason is that if you design for the strengths of pure EVs, you can shift all of that weight lower and out of cabin and storage space, including offering new perks such as "frunks" ("front trunks"). A hybrid can't compete on cabin/storage space with a pure EV designed to be a pure EV, and can't quite compete on battery range.

Hmm, I drive a PHEV, but full EVs are extremely simple vehicles, as long as you work out charging, they'll need tires eventually, and brake pads (slowly, since they mostly have regen), and that's about it. No fluids (and leaks), no belts, no going to gas stations - pretty compelling for the motorist (and scary for dealerships and repair shops).

RickJWagner 1y ago
I don’t have an EV, but I think I would like one. Some days I repeat your ideas in my head and think the EV would be great. Other days, I consider the places I see ICE vehicles needing work—- suspension pieces, air conditioning, electronic bits, lights, etc and I think otherwise. Really, I haven’t had a problem with an ICE engine or transmission in a long time. ( Including my 20 year old crv, which just keeps running. The suspension is getting creaky, though. ) I wish there was more information available about early Teslas and how they’re doing today. I just don’t have a good feel for longevity.

WorldMaker 1y ago

Among other reasons, a lot of it is simply because everyone wants raw battery range and PHEVs are a huge compromise on battery range. Internal combustion engines and gas tanks eat a lot into the weight and volume budgets of a car. You can fit a lot of battery in that weight and volume. We've got to the point where battery density is getting strong enough that a hybrid can't make a combined range as good as a pure EV either in the same weight class. Another reason is that if you design for the strengths of pure EVs, you can shift all of that weight lower and out of cabin and storage space, including offering new perks such as "frunks" ("front trunks"). A hybrid can't compete on cabin/storage space with a pure EV designed to be a pure EV, and can't quite compete on battery range.