Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh
The EV is still in its prove-it-to-me phase, which is why Tesla and the other makers make models that can do 60 MPH in 3 seconds. But it's just not software key that unlocks the additional power. The high-power hardware has to be in the car in the first place. The motor(s) have to be sized for the power output, the cabling, the high-power electronics, a larger battery to handle the heat load. All of that has to be sized to make the power flow safely to achieve 60 MPH in 3 seconds. And it adds weight. It hardly different than high-powered ICE, the faster the goes, the more power it has, and the heavier it is. However, you can put a big engine in a small car; with EV, its not as easy to package the high-power EV hardware in a small chassis.
This is one of my gripes with EV. There is no 7-second EV hatchback econo car that gets 200 MPGe. It's all groin-enlarging Plaids that get the attention of most pretend car guys. If the EV is to save the planet, which is why they are here, then where are the slow(er), 50kWh super-efficient ones that cost $30K so everyone can afford EV?
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I get all that, and certainly in the near future there will be vehicles that are only built to perform at a certain performance level (think electric camry's and accords). But once OEMs have better tech and are more efficient at scaling EV production, it will be more cost effective and profitable to "overbuild" a vehicle with options hidden behind a paywall than it is to diversify your lineup and let people order options ala carte that drive unique hardware and components for each vehicle. Customization and non-standardized builds are the main drivers in manufacturing costs.
Also, the EVs are not here to save the planet. They are here because they are a more profitable business model and enough people seem to like them. The green aspect is just a convenient visage that makes government officials and CEOs seem more virtuous than they are.