Those problems are being fixed with newer vehicle designs though. The charging speed (the 800V systems seem to reach sub 20 minutes consistently by now), range (450+ km appear to become normal, the more fancy ones even got over 650km) and economics (battery packs become repairable and way more affordable even for a full replacement, especially given the savings in other expenses compared to ICE) seem to check out. The main problems are infrastructure, lack of affordable second-hand options… and honestly that stupid idea that cars should be our primary mode of transportation. Damn, we even got viable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries by now, that technology didn’t properly evolve for half a century or sth.
The data on battery longevity is also promising, they stay at usable capacities way longer than expected. Those first generation EVs just age really poorly given they’re, well… first generation. The technology is developing at breakneck speeds for the last decade.
On a sidenote, don’t let anyone tell you european EVs are somehow worse than chinese (they are not). They’re just more expensive due to a fortunate lack of slavery, and generally higher standards of everything in the production chain compared to China.
On a sidenote, don’t let anyone tell you european EVs are somehow worse than chinese (they are not). They’re just more expensive due to a fortunate lack of slavery, and generally higher standards of everything in the production chain compared to China.
You forget the lovely government subsidies of key industries in China, they subsidize goods for EXPORT. It’s why BYD can sell such high quality cars at such low prices.
I’m still rooting for European EVs, but ffs, Mercedes has completely ruined their exterior designs (interior is subjective - personally I don’t like so much screen real estate in a car interior, but other than that they still look nice inside), same for BMW. Audi has apparently somehow stayed just as unreliable with their EVs as their ICEs were. Volvo has the EX90 (bigger than I need and quite expensive) and the EX40 and 30 (both too small), but I did just learn that they’re going to start making an ES90, which is more my size. I’d prefer a wagon of course, we’ll see if they make an EV90 soon, but for now the ES90 is something to consider.
Edit: As much as I hate the front fascia, the i4 might be the car I should be looking at. I prefer lightly used to brand new and their prices are at a nice level now. Equipment is nice too.
Those problems are being fixed with newer vehicle designs though. The charging speed (the 800V systems seem to reach sub 20 minutes consistently by now), range (450+ km appear to become normal, the more fancy ones even got over 650km) and economics (battery packs become repairable and way more affordable even for a full replacement, especially given the savings in other expenses compared to ICE) seem to check out. The main problems are infrastructure, lack of affordable second-hand options… and honestly that stupid idea that cars should be our primary mode of transportation. Damn, we even got viable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries by now, that technology didn’t properly evolve for half a century or sth.
The data on battery longevity is also promising, they stay at usable capacities way longer than expected. Those first generation EVs just age really poorly given they’re, well… first generation. The technology is developing at breakneck speeds for the last decade.
On a sidenote, don’t let anyone tell you european EVs are somehow worse than chinese (they are not). They’re just more expensive due to a fortunate lack of slavery, and generally higher standards of everything in the production chain compared to China.
You forget the lovely government subsidies of key industries in China, they subsidize goods for EXPORT. It’s why BYD can sell such high quality cars at such low prices.
I’m still rooting for European EVs, but ffs, Mercedes has completely ruined their exterior designs (interior is subjective - personally I don’t like so much screen real estate in a car interior, but other than that they still look nice inside), same for BMW. Audi has apparently somehow stayed just as unreliable with their EVs as their ICEs were. Volvo has the EX90 (bigger than I need and quite expensive) and the EX40 and 30 (both too small), but I did just learn that they’re going to start making an ES90, which is more my size. I’d prefer a wagon of course, we’ll see if they make an EV90 soon, but for now the ES90 is something to consider.
Edit: As much as I hate the front fascia, the i4 might be the car I should be looking at. I prefer lightly used to brand new and their prices are at a nice level now. Equipment is nice too.