AgentR11 wrote:As long as an EV isn't sold or propagandized to someone as a way to save money, I'm all for them. Using an EV because you like the car, or the way it sounds, its shape, or just the bright-new tech feel, or whatever, is great. Telling Bob that he won't be able to afford to get to work when gas is $6 because he didn't buy an EV is misleading as can be. Anyone that can afford to buy a $30k vehicle won't be significantly influenced by gasoline cost until the $15-$20/gal range; at which point an EV certainly would save money, if electricity isn't also selling for $2/kwh or something. Conversely, anyone that would be in trouble for work commutes at $6/gal couldn't afford the $30k ev either.
Thats really the heart of my objection I think... Anyone that is seriously effected by $6 gas will be looking at the $15k car, not the $30k car. (as far as price goes)
The same argument was made against the Prius when it came out, who would pay more money for one just to save some gas? Apparently a lot of people, and they weren't poor people. Fact is that even people who can afford a $30K vehicle care about the price of fuel.
I do disagree with the notion of using the price point as the selection criteria though. I think a sum of comfort+range+capacity give a better selection criteria; then use the net costs of ownership to determine the economic comparison.
People buy vehicles, and all products, within a price range. No one jumps into a vehicle that's 50-100% more expensive for any reason, it has to be in their price range. If you only use comfort, range, and capacity as metrics for vehicles then no one would buy most sports cars, which cost more than most larger more practical cars. An EV will save you money compared to an ICE of similar price, and compared to a lesser priced ICE depending on fuel price and miles driven.