Electric cars

[SHRED]

There is so much less that goes into manufacturing an electric vehicle than an internal combustion vehicle.

I'm wondering when the prices are going to start reflecting this?

[Voltaire2]

1. Battery production scale.

The costs are driven by the battery. The investment in mass production vehicle battery factories is where the action is now. The companies that can drive down production costs will own the market.

[Quemado]

3. Agreed - battery cost is the key

Nt

[justhanginon]

2. I can't speak to the economics of it but this weekend I

was parked next to a black Tesla 900 and that is one good looking set of wheels. As I was walking back to my rust bucket of a car it was leaving and seemed really weird as it drove away in absolute dead silence. My only consolation was that my car was paid for and I wasn't looking at the payments for a $90,000 automobile. I would love to have an all electric car but I do not drive enough to justify the initial cost and am too old at 82 to wait for the pay back on investment for even the Model 3. Now if I can win the lottery I would most likely change my mind.

[Lulu KC]

8. If your car dies--

As ours just did, there are used EVs like the Leaf that are adorable and quiet and quite inexpensive. I'm in the middle of the shopping experience. It's kind of fun--haven't done this in 10 years, but our 15 year old just died. I am looking at prices in the $10,000 range.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. How much less? You save the cost of an internal combustion engine, but still have to...

build an electric engine. And get batteries.

Everything else on the car-- lights, chassis, body, seats... is pretty much the same.

[SHRED]

5. The drivetrain

So much simpler.
No transmission and electric motors are way less complicated.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. The question I asked is how much cheaper? Replace the engine and fuel system with...

motors and batteries, then add regenerative braking, charging system, new A/C and heating systems...

How much do you really save?

[Auggie]

7. Manufacturers have to recoup upfront production costs.

All that design and tooling has be paid for. And don't neglect the most important thing: returns for fucking stockholders.



They're cashing in from early adopters too. Marketing 101.

Prices will come down, just like high-def TVs have.