I’m asking this without bias. Just genuine curiosity. Cause I don’t understand (hence eli5 lol). Why are they being pushed right now when it’s known that almost all EVs have ranges that are quite low? Compared to the amount of miles one may get with a full tank of gas that is.
Surely they would focus more on increasing the amount of range per charge to match what you can get in terms of gas in a newer gas powered car (closer to 500). Instead of setting laws in place to phase gas out before electric is even fully developed.
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EV range being low is debatable. I mean the most popular car in the US is the Accord and the 2023 model have a fuel economy of 29miles per gallons in the city with a tank of 14.8 gallons so a range of 429 miles.
The Tesla Model S Long Range is 405miles. Chevrolet Bolt EV (about the same price as an Accord) have a range of 259miles. So yes the average EV model have a small range than the average ICE car, but not by much. The question is if the decrease in range is a significant negative.
The average commutes in the US is 41 miles per day (round trip to and from work), which is significantly less than the 259 miles of a Bolt EV. So for the average people the current range of an EV is doing the job. It’s only during long range trip or for people that work on the road regularly that the range could become an issues. For most people, just plugging your car everyday after work leave you with zero range issues.
We do focus on increase the amount of range per charge, but there is no reason for that amount to be exactly or similar to what ICE car are able to do. For some people the current range of EV are more than what they actually need so those people can make a decision if they want an EV or not. While other people are not satisfy by the range of EV because of their lifestyle or work and those people don’t buy EV.
People have a choice, there is no reason to make EV illegal to sell until the tech reach a very specific and arbitrary range. I also don’t know what you mean by fully developed. Technology is constantly developing, the ICE car is also currently being developed and improved. Usually what people mean when they say until fully developed, they mean ready to be sold have good enough that people are ready to buy it. This is clearly the case for current EV and have been for some time. It’s just that as the tech improve, EV are able to fill the need of more and more people.
I think your assumptions are wrong. I have a 22 model y. I get about 300 miles. If I do need to charge it takes about 15 minutes. That’s enough time for a quick bathroom break.
That being said it is very very rare I need to drive 300 miles straight but if I did there are sooooooo many chargers in our state (Colorado) that it doesn’t really matter.
Edit: one more thing to add. I used to have a keep grand Cherokee. I have a longer range in the Tesla than I did in my jeep. I loved that car but I can go further in the Tesla.
The last time I used the full range of the car I drive most often was 2017, driving to see the eclipse. Over 99% of the days I drive I’d be fine with 50 miles.
Something to factor in is that you can start every day with a full charge from plugging it in when you get home. Only need to stop for a charge on a road trip.
Sure, there are a lot of people that drive more than I do, but once the vehicle’s range exceeds your daily usage, yet more range isn’t much of a selling point.
My current ICE car only get ~325 in range, whereas my EV got 300. It’s not that big of a difference for a lot of cars.
But even granting that gas powered cars do have a range advantage, the reasons EVs are becoming more common (we have a long time until they are really “standard”) are:
* Convenience. It was really nice having a full battery every morning when I left for work, or being able to charge at a lot of different businesses or parking garages while I shopped or worked.
* Environment. While the environmental impact of an EV is not zero, multiple studies have shown it is far less of an impact than gas vehicles.
* Driving preference. While I am a pure commuter and not in any way a sports car person, one thing I really loved about my EV was just how fun it was to drive. You have absolutely instant acceleration.
* Lower gas and maintenance costs. Electricity costs less in most areas compared to gasoline costs. Another big thing though is you don’t need nearly as much maintenance as with a gas car. No oil changes. Very few other fluids to deal with. Fewer moving parts, belts, or bits that can break. I think I spent more in a quarter on maintenance in my gas car than in a year on my EV. Most also have regenerative braking, which means less wear and tear on your brakes. So those shouldn’t have to be changed as often either.
EV aren’t for everybody yet, but they are generally really good vehicles and frankly we’ll almost all be driving them in the next 20 years or less.
It has to do with having a planet on which drive 200 miles vs having no planet to live in and a car with a range of 400 as a coffin. We HAVE to go electric.
Batteries do weight a fair bit, given that you should rest every 2 hours of driving, there’s no big downside having just enough battery for 2 hours driving, then charge it at the station while you rest. This saves weight and make the car cheaper, and more efficient.
Normal countries should have a network of trains to move further than 200 miles. Train can also travel at 200mph, which is better than any EV and is way more comfortable inside.
The cost to add range is very high, as the battery pack uses lithium and other expensive materials. Most people do not need more range for daily driving (I use 15-20 miles in a day, my wife will go 45-50 visiting clients on the most extreme days). If you need more miles a hybrid is a better option.
Unless you want to go on a trip across states and/or tow something, then you don’t run out of a full “tank” of an EV in one-day.
You can charge it at home overnight (personal garage or parking garage for apartment complexes), you can charade it at work (if they have a charger), you can charge it while out shopping (if they have a charger), etc.
Range isn’t at all a primary feature for most car owners, especially when you can fill up the car by parking either at home, work, or when you’re out and about.
If you’re going more than 200 miles between cities, you’re also just gonna find it faster to fly, for almost all trips.
A different perspective. Because in the long run they don’t want us owning vehicles. They just want us to tap a few buttons on an app and a driverless car shows up and takes us where we need to go for $8.75…
Poor public education and microtransactions will enslave this generation.
Who gets 500 miles per tank? and who doesn’t stop somewhere after 2 or 3 hours of driving?
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