It's the fact big auto see selling a small light EV as them not being able to sell a higher profit one. Plus they want to prove EV's are too expensive so they can keep selling all those 20x's overpriced engiine/trans, etc repair parts they make a lot of their profit from.
Most of my custom EV's use 25-50 yr old E motors most of the time I just clean them up and put them in as they last near forever even with their brushes, their supposed bad feature. But that feature allows 66% savings in the controller too.
Not that any of big auto has spent much if any of their own money to build EV's but have received over $1b in grants so really they have no cost in them, only profit. Just another thing they don't bother mentioning along with how really cheap they are paying for the batteries they use, around $250/kwhr or less.
I got tired of waiting for them to do cost effective EV's so shortly I'll start selling plans so most anyone can have a good EV with some learning, sweat, build their own for under $2k.
While that is happening I'll set up production lines for my composite 2-3wh ones. The sad thing is why does it have to come down to someone like me to get the vehicles many want and need?
They are charging what they are Because they can as no other EV's are available except some older big auto 70's/80's/90's ones and conversions, about 60k on the road of these now.
Why almost no other company(Tesla has) has done it is the Fed DOT rules which cost about $10 in paperwork, lawyers to get through before you can start a 4wh production line. You need at least $100MM to start one.
Or go my way, make rather cool 3wh cars and aero cabin MC's from medium tech composites and forklift EV tech.
Many have tried like Aptera where VC's came in and stole the company from the founders then tried to use it to scam others. We'll see how I do.
I like both of those ideas as options for recharging. Retrofitting parking meters with EV charging outlets seems like a great idea. And the cities and towns (even my Smallville town of Newburyport has meters) could charge a premium price for those meters with charging capabilities and generate a little more tax revenue.
I would also think it would make sense to have these charging units packaged and priced as a simple extra on the total vehicle package. After all, who gets a phone or a tablet these days that doesn't come with a charging unit?
Good points Jerry. It looks like they're building EVs for the luxury market, and thus they have add-ons that drive the cost up. Are any of the car companies building a stripped-down EV designed for city use?
I agree that there needs to be more focus on how these vehicles can be used pratically in smallville USA. And I think that's where the future of inovation lies. Whether it be in replaceble batteries that you drop off and replace at the local gas station or plugins at every parking meter. The how to is still a little fuzzy in the electrical vehicle world.
These high cost'charging stations' are a complete rip off. They should have been just a standard RV outlet for $10 plus the box, post to put it in, on.
But no they have to make completely new expensive units that are completely unnessasary.
My EV's don't even need 240vac as they can charge from almost dead in 4 hrs from 120vac!!
That's the complete problem EV's we are getting have in a nutshell, too big, too heavy, too expensive when forklift EV drives and medium tech composites can do the same job for 50% or less!! There is no reason a great 2 seat commuter EV can't be made for under $10k in real mass production.
And no reason a 12.5kw charging station cost more than $200/vehicle and installation.
That's an excellent point, Beth. And the EV makers are aware of the potential problem, so Nissan and Sumitomo have partnered to deliver a charging station that costs $9,900. According to Nissan, that's about one third the cost of the charging stations that are currently on the market. Be that as it may, I think it makes sense that an EV producer would take action to try to make the infrastructure affordable.
One of the images that stood out to me in this slide show was the guy plugging his EV into an electric outlet somewhere in downtown SmallVille. We can talk all we want about EVs, but what about the charging infrastructure to make them a reality? I live in small town USA and I can tell you there are no charging stations. I'm assuming any one in this neck of the woods driving an EV has installed the proper power facilities at home. How much progress are we making on this important aspect of EV adoption?
Please keep in mind that the MPGe formula, now being used officially, is a pretense that heat engines that make the electricity are able to convert heat to electricity at a power plant and transmit to a plug without loss of energy.
Both of them Beth. Whatever they need, EV's when oil prices get high and gas/hybrid with lower oil prices.
The beauty of Ford's approach is it's low cost to impliment. Sadly they didn't pass that savings on to the customers from the price. They also had EV drive companies do most of the EV design parts, saving money. If they didn't change it, they also don't have REE in the motor either, made by Azure/Solectria.
One thing that isn't good is the extra weight they have to push because it's not built as an EV. Though it was designed from the start for an EV option with about 400lbs lighter and other features.
As for it being superior to the Leaf, not true. The Leaf was designed as an EV. All they need for faster charging is a bigger charger. And they Leaf once A Better Place gets going, will be able to swap battery packs in less time than filling up with gas. SF, Tokyo, Denmark and Isreal are getting then now. It's also a 5 passenger, not 4 like the Focus. And the $6k price difference Nissan is far better.
Any1 your needs can be served by any Ev conversions out there or convert a VW Bug of which there are many kits. For between $1-6k depending on how much you do, can be a very cost effective EV.
Interestingly if GM would just build it's Ultra-Lite showcar EV in medium tech composites could be built for under $15k using lead batteries and DC EV tech. The rear power pod could be swapped between EV and ICE as needed was a nice touch.
I do not understand in what way this FORD FOCUS is better than NISSAN LEAF, GM CHEVY VOLT AND MITSBUSHI ELECTRIC?.
Yes, you are correct. One can not have two cars, one for short trips and one for long trips. I own Chevy Volt # 3337. It is technologically advanced in many respects. With extended range and price GM could not sell much.
I like the car, but need to improve in many folds if GM wants to be the master and leader in PHV ( PLUG IN HYBRID VEHICLES).
As a present owner, EV AND PHV car makers, should improve the followoing:
1) EV Range minimum of 100 + miles,
2) Charging should not be more than 30 minutes. DC charges should be standard. And all GAS SATION MUST HAVE CHARGING STATIONS.
3) For Extended range like GM CHEVY VOLT, the MPG should be minimum 50+ per gallon.
4) It should be five seater.
5) Over and above all the price should be competetive and should not be prohibitive for general population.
If the car maker wants to really replace the PRESENT IC engines, they should consider the above otherwise they are wasing the capital or re-inventing the wheel.
One mor thing in COLD WEATHER THE RANGE GOES DOWN DRASTICALLY IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE IN COMFORT.
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