Wheres the cheap EVs?
Discussion
So a good percetage of the population only drive 20/30 miles a day, so wheres the ev that can do 70 mph,only do 50 miles on a charge but only takes n hour to fully recharge? If it has smaller and fewer batteries surely this is possible?
Im seeing it as a 3 seater, 3dr , with a basic spec of electric windows, heater and a docking pod for your phone.
Something that for most people would be the 2nd school/train station.odd job car but for some people that only drive locally would be ok as the main car. Something that costs 10k new and can have the batteries changed for a similar price to say a cambelt change is now.
Im seeing it as a 3 seater, 3dr , with a basic spec of electric windows, heater and a docking pod for your phone.
Something that for most people would be the 2nd school/train station.odd job car but for some people that only drive locally would be ok as the main car. Something that costs 10k new and can have the batteries changed for a similar price to say a cambelt change is now.
You’ve (nearly!) described the Twizy, I think...
https://www.renault.co.uk/electric-vehicles/twizy....
One fewer seats, and perhaps more basic than you had in mind!
https://www.renault.co.uk/electric-vehicles/twizy....
One fewer seats, and perhaps more basic than you had in mind!
But if they made lots of them and stacked them high and sold them cheap then there must be a profit in it?
Nearly every house currently with a car would switch to something like this even if they kept one ice car for longer journeys.
The problem with the twizzy is getting a 60 yr old in the back seat and the battery lease is expensive otherwise id be all over it! Id like the Ami one but 30mph is just to slow.
Nearly every house currently with a car would switch to something like this even if they kept one ice car for longer journeys.
The problem with the twizzy is getting a 60 yr old in the back seat and the battery lease is expensive otherwise id be all over it! Id like the Ami one but 30mph is just to slow.
Mabbs9 said:
It's a good question. I think it's hard to make money on EV's. Even harder with cheaper models I suspect.
I imagine more learned responses to follow.
I think what the OP describes will happen if some of the Chinese manufacturers get approval to bring their cheap EVs to the UK. Not convinced there's much of a market for them though personally?I imagine more learned responses to follow.
Toaster Pilot said:
Because EVERYBODY* “needs x00 miles range for that one time a decade I need to tow a caravan from JOG to LE”
Even the Dacia Spring which looks like a very compelling package attracts that kind of “feedback”
This.Even the Dacia Spring which looks like a very compelling package attracts that kind of “feedback”
As Chris Harris tells us, anything with less than 150-200 miles of range is essentially useless..
I like the way all the big motorcycle manufacturers have agreed to use the same battery system so the battery can be swapped out en-route at any dealership or 'battery station' within 3 minutes no matter if your riding a Honda,Yamaha,Suzuki etc. Why cant the car people do something similar? if you have a small battery that can be exchanged for a fully charged one in minutes it dont matter if it can only 50 miles on a charge!
A500leroy said:
I like the way all the big motorcycle manufacturers have agreed to use the same battery system so the battery can be swapped out en-route at any dealership or 'battery station' within 3 minutes no matter if your riding a Honda,Yamaha,Suzuki etc. Why cant the car people do something similar? if you have a small battery that can be exchanged for a fully charged one in minutes it dont matter if it can only 50 miles on a charge!
Because people who actually own an EV have realized that battery swapping is a pointless waste of time and a logistical pain in the arse.It takes 30-40 minutes to charge, during which you can get lunch and go to the bathroom. That's it. If you want to swap the battery you now have the additional hassle of managing battery rentals, dealing with duff ones that get swapped out, and of course developing all the infrastructure needed to handle it. It's not like a charger where all you need is electricity and mobile service, which is basically everywhere already.
aestetix1 said:
A500leroy said:
I like the way all the big motorcycle manufacturers have agreed to use the same battery system so the battery can be swapped out en-route at any dealership or 'battery station' within 3 minutes no matter if your riding a Honda,Yamaha,Suzuki etc. Why cant the car people do something similar? if you have a small battery that can be exchanged for a fully charged one in minutes it dont matter if it can only 50 miles on a charge!
Because people who actually own an EV have realized that battery swapping is a pointless waste of time and a logistical pain in the arse.It takes 30-40 minutes to charge, during which you can get lunch and go to the bathroom. That's it. If you want to swap the battery you now have the additional hassle of managing battery rentals, dealing with duff ones that get swapped out, and of course developing all the infrastructure needed to handle it. It's not like a charger where all you need is electricity and mobile service, which is basically everywhere already.
MOBB said:
raspy said:
Cheap EVs can be found in China. Eventually, we will see much cheaper options here too.
I was going to post the same, some cracking small ev’s over there, cheap, good range. Odd looking some of them though Toaster Pilot said:
A500leroy said:
Dongfeng Renault City K-Ze , Bring this over now! Perfect.
Isn’t that what the Dacia Spring is based on? Launching in the rest of Europe shortly. No plans to bring it here yet though. SWoll said:
Mabbs9 said:
It's a good question. I think it's hard to make money on EV's. Even harder with cheaper models I suspect.
I imagine more learned responses to follow.
I think what the OP describes will happen if some of the Chinese manufacturers get approval to bring their cheap EVs to the UK. Not convinced there's much of a market for them though personally?I imagine more learned responses to follow.
Having lived in China, and visited umpteen times, every time we go back there are so many more electric cars.
We need to bring many of these electric Chinese cars to UK.
They represent great value, look at SAIC stuff.
Edited by Register1 on Sunday 4th April 11:30
SWoll said:
Toaster Pilot said:
Because EVERYBODY* “needs x00 miles range for that one time a decade I need to tow a caravan from JOG to LE”
Even the Dacia Spring which looks like a very compelling package attracts that kind of “feedback”
This.Even the Dacia Spring which looks like a very compelling package attracts that kind of “feedback”
As Chris Harris tells us, anything with less than 150-200 miles of range is essentially useless..
Wife does 2 miles each way, so 150 to 200 mile range not enough ?
aestetix1 said:
A500leroy said:
I like the way all the big motorcycle manufacturers have agreed to use the same battery system so the battery can be swapped out en-route at any dealership or 'battery station' within 3 minutes no matter if your riding a Honda,Yamaha,Suzuki etc. Why cant the car people do something similar? if you have a small battery that can be exchanged for a fully charged one in minutes it dont matter if it can only 50 miles on a charge!
Because people who actually own an EV have realized that battery swapping is a pointless waste of time and a logistical pain in the arse.It takes 30-40 minutes to charge, during which you can get lunch and go to the bathroom. That's it. If you want to swap the battery you now have the additional hassle of managing battery rentals, dealing with duff ones that get swapped out, and of course developing all the infrastructure needed to handle it. It's not like a charger where all you need is electricity and mobile service, which is basically everywhere already.
Busses pull into the bus garage, and between a docking station, the side pod doors open on hydraulic struts, both sides.
An extraction frame removes the flat battery to the left of the bus, and within seconds, an insertion frame pushes a new fully charged battery inplace from the right side.
The side pod doors close, and away.
Really, this is less than 7 minutes.
Edited by Register1 on Sunday 4th April 11:31
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