I really don't get why major automakers are so late to the EV game, and still do not have a foot in the door. Even this Sony concept car does not have any major automaker collaborators. Is it just because they are too big to innovate?
There's not any money in it. The money is in selling trucks and SUVs, at least in the states.
I've had a truck for over 13 years. Including purchase price, maintenance and gasoline, my cost over that period has been $243 per month. That was for a brand new truck. Even if electricity is free, and I bought a similar sized truck at today's prices, there's no way I'd come out ahead in an electric. If you factor in used truck prices of similar vehicles, you're 10's of thousands ahead financially. I recently paid $4500 for a 200k mileage truck, engine should last for another 150k before needing a rebuild, and I can get an entire new engine for $3700 (not including labor). How much are electric trucks going to cost to re-power?
I've done the math even for commuter cars. It never makes sense to buy electric when I can get a 40MPG car for 10-15k new. Batteries need to quadruple in efficiency and be cost competitive, or they're never going to catch on in the US.
I think cities could use good ebikes. Ones that can plug into the high-speed, high amp, chargers. Imagine charging an ebike in 3-5minutes and being able to go 70miles. People in cities would like to have an alternative to public transit and car ownership.
This is reality in Europe today. The fast charging is totally unnecessary, you just charge it at home/work where bikes are inevitably parked for many hours.
All of the major manufacturers are starting their EV rollout this year. Mercedes is starting with the EQC. Honda is launching their Urban E. Toyota is planning to rollout 6 models over the next 5 years.
This will likely be the decade of the EV where Tesla starts to see some real competition in the space.
