Unlike the past, new battery tech and reductions in manufacturing costs are an arms race with huge incentives for the industry.
10 years ago, $30k bought you a Nissan Leaf with 80 miles of range.
Fast forward to today, and the same not-inflation-adjusted amount of money buys you a Chevy Bolt with around 240 miles of range.
I expect that within the next 10 years, a vehicle with the average new MSRP will get 400-500 miles of range on a charge. Even if that prediction doesn't pan out, we can almost guarantee that typical charging speeds will increase and charging networks will expand further, blowing past critical mass.
The energy density of the battery cells in the first leaf was the same as the chevy bolt today (to close approximation). The cost just got cheaper so they could add more.
Interestingly (to me), the main issue with the handling on my EV is the weight (it has 135 mile range at 4 miles / kWh, so it is very energy efficient).
The weight means cornering isn’t great. The vehicle only weighs 3133 lbs and ~ 800lbs of that is battery.
So, if you want something sportier with decent range, then you have to build something more efficient. I think battery weights have improved a bit since it was built, but not by much.
What I said about “sportiness” doesn’t apply to 0-60 mph times, but those are already uncomfortably brutal in high-end EVs. Show me how it performs on a winding road!
Which EV do you have now? Look at first generation Tesla roadster numbers for more range with lower weight in a sports car. This was also achieved by I3S but they went with super lightweight body, that was not so aerodynamic.
I agree putting the biggest battery you can in a car isn’t the right approach. It would be nice if people could experience an EV with a range like yours to calm their nerves.
I have to wonder if HN existed back in the early 1900s this discussion would be about how driving a car could never match the depth of the bond between horse and rider.
10 years ago, $30k bought you a Nissan Leaf with 80 miles of range.
Fast forward to today, and the same not-inflation-adjusted amount of money buys you a Chevy Bolt with around 240 miles of range.
I expect that within the next 10 years, a vehicle with the average new MSRP will get 400-500 miles of range on a charge. Even if that prediction doesn't pan out, we can almost guarantee that typical charging speeds will increase and charging networks will expand further, blowing past critical mass.