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Why Electric Vehicles Aren't More Popular

Posted by Soulskill on from the different-is-scary dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Ars takes a look at a recent report from the National Academy of Sciences into the reasons why more people aren't driving electric vehicles. Of course infrastructure issues are a part of it — until charging stations are ubiquitous, the convenience factor for using a gas-powered car will weigh heavily on consumers's minds. (This despite the prevalence of outlets at home and work, where the vast majority of charging will be done even with better infrastructure.) But other reasons are much more tractable. Simply giving somebody experience with an EV tends to make the fog of mystery surrounding them dissipate, and the design of the car counts for a lot, too. It turns out car buyers don't want their EVs to look different from regular cars.

9 of 688 comments (clear)

  1. The reason is more simple by ArcadeMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Electric vehicles are expensive and most people only buy a new vehicle every X years while electric vehicles have only been (easily) available for the last few years.

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    1. Re:The reason is more simple by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Informative

      That's one of two major factors, and yeah, even if one is solved, the other has to be to.

      My next vehicle would be an electric except:

      1. Price, as you mention. New - yeah, I guess the lowest end electrics compare to mid-priced vehicles, when subsidized, but it's still a price difference measured in many, many, thousands. But used? Forget it. And I'll be honest, I'm a used car buyer. I can't afford tens of thousands of dollars for a new vehicle.

      2. There's a good chance the vehicle that'll need replacing will be the minivan. There are no electric minivans.

      We need both a wide range of useful vehicles, and prices to be reasonable. It's hard to believe that it's not practical to build an electric vehicle with a 100 mile range for a price comparable to a gasoline powered vehicle of similar specification.

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    2. Re:The reason is more simple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Maybe cheap compared to new cars, but a lot of people can't afford to pay that much. Most people I know buy used, and there aren't very many used electrics (or hybrids) for sale that don't have expensive battery problems.

    3. Re:The reason is more simple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      I have an honest question for you.

      Why is it when you do these calculations you seem to assume electricity is free?

      My neighbor has a Nissan Leaf. He claims that it's okay for going to work, and back and doing the bit of driving around town, but really only has a 40-50 mile range, which he pretty much uses every day. Per day, the electricity costs him about $2.50 to keep charged. He also says he had to install a 240V socket it in his garage because apparently though you can charge it on 120V in a pinch, apparently it can cause damage to the batteries. That's according to Nissan.

    4. Re:The reason is more simple by naughtynaughty · · Score: 5, Informative

      EV's don't deep cycle their batteries, they are very good at managing useage to meet the 10 yr/100k mile warranty requirement for the battery pack. No need to give you an 8yr/100k battery warranty because there is no good reason to purchase an EV when you can lease them at more advantageous terms right now. If you are worried about being at 60% battery capacity after 3 years, don't be. The Nissan Leaf is guaranteeing "9 bars" (presumably 90%) for 5 years and 60,000 miles.

  2. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  3. HOME ownership is key by faway · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Think about it: If a person doesn't have the security of a home to charge a vehicle at, why would they take a risk on the unlikely chance that they can charge a vehicle when they are out and about like at Whole Foods or IKEA. Furthermore homeowners don't have to relocate to find new jobs, and if you own electric car it's a hassle to move it across country or even across the state. Finally renters don't have the sense of security that allows them to take foolish risks like owning a vehicle that is severely limited in range.

    But then consider homeowners: They are strapped with debts and many of them cannot afford luxuries because they bought homes at inflated prices due to speculation in the housing market.

  4. Infrastructure or the lack thereof by spaceyhackerlady · · Score: 5, Informative

    A middle-of-the-road EV like a Nissan Leaf would cover 98% of my driving. I can afford one easily. I could afford a Model S if I put my mind to it. I've even looked in to buying an old banger and converting it myself.

    The problem is I have nowhere to plug one in. I live in an apartment building and there is no wiring in the parkade. Nor is there any requirement (or incentive) to retrofit the building. I've talked to the building management, but we've never come up with any answers.

    New buildings must have EV support. Old ones don't.

    ...laura

  5. They aren't economical. by GoodNewsJimDotCom · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Right now you could have the choice between a 20,000$ electric vehicle or a 11,000$ gas vehicle. Lets say the gas vehicle gets 33 mpg, and gasoline costs 3$. Then for 9,000$, you get 3000 gallons of gasoline, and at 33mpg, you get nearly 100,000 miles of free fuel. The price point where electric vehicles start to even make sense for an economical sense is somewhere around $15,000.

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