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Has electric car adoption been slow? Au contraire mon fraire

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From Slashdot:

“The electric car challenge is what insiders call “getting butts in seats” — and a lot of butts today still belong to humans who are not yet buying electric cars. The big question is: Why? Surveys show drivers are interested in electric cars–and that they love them once they drive them. EVs also cost less to maintain (though more to buy in the first place) and many experts say they’re simply nicer to drive. So what’s the problem? Disinterested dealers, uneven distribution, limited supplies, and media bias are some potential challenges. Or maybe it’s just lousy marketing–casting electric cars as a moral imperative or a duty, like medicine you have to take.

Sometimes we don’t realize when we are right in the middle of a revolution. Even 3 years ago, who could have imagined we’d be where we are now. Almost every automaker has an EV option and more are on the way. Tesla’s Model S is the top luxury car in a lot of progressive markets. It has won just about every mainstream award out there.

While Tesla is building out its own N. American and European Supercharger infrastructure, many private organizations and governments are joining in for the broader EV market as prices come down. Then add the folks who put solar on their roofs and have access to their own cheap/free electricity – their cost per mile of travel goes from $4 gas to $1 Electric toward free.

This is practically the definition of the ‘network effect’. Every available charger increases the value of the ecosystem.

Even now, take the Chevy Spark. The car, after US Federal Tax refund, is under $20K and can be leased for $199/month. If you save $200/month in fuel charges (@$3 savings/gallon your break even point is 67 gallons/month – meaning “free car”) , it changes the whole game.

I see a lot of parallels with the digital camera market as they eventually replaced all but a few film cameras. The advantages are just too great for electric cars and nothing except a Oil Lobby takeover of the government can stop the tide. They are cheaper/easier to maintain, faster/more powerful, cleaner, more spacious because of the smaller drivetrain, can drive indoors, don’t require as much maintenance, etc etc.

So don’t worry about “butts in seats”. Worry about Oil money.

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Avatar for Seth Weintraub Seth Weintraub

Publisher and Editorial Director of the 9to5/Electrek sites. Tesla Model 3, X and Chevy Bolt owner…5 ebikes and counting