Mountain CatDec 2, 2023
Paul Knightly

Saying it louder for the people in the back of the room.

There's a very large segment of the population of potential EV buyers (myself included) who are sold on the idea. The issue isn't educating the consumer. The only roadblock is affordability.

Shift the focus from building premium SUV crossovers and build out models that at least pretend to be affordable for the average buyer.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/12/automakers-must-build-cheaper-smaller-evs-to-spur-adoption-report-says/

Automakers must build cheaper, smaller EVs to spur adoption, report says

16.5% of new car sales are compact crossovers, but only 6% of those are EVs.

Ars Technica
Dec 1, 2023 at 5:13pmWeb
Show threadTim N7KOMDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly 👏👏
Show threadbimmer HAS MOVEDDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly me looking for $75k in my couch cushions to no avail
Show threadVertandorDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly yup, where's the choice and reasonable price point in the Fiesta or Clio size cars?
We're pretty much 100% that our next car will be an EV, but phew are the prices etc a massive step up from the 2nd hand diesels we have/had, and a step down in range (I know it's a different refuelling strategy with an EV)
Show threadSamer FarhaDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly while it’s an “SUV”, it’s pretty compact,and the price is looking to be sub $40K, the new Volvo EX30 looks like a promising step in that direction. I personally would love to see much smaller cars brought over (the ID.3, the Honda e, even the Microlino) would be great in cities.
Show threadPrairie_DogDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly @suldrew The other thing that I think would help would be affordable plug-in hybrids. Many people want to go EV, but they need to make an occasional trip to an area that may not have as much EV infrastructure as they would be comfortable with. Plug in hybrids would also eliminate range anxiety for many people.
Show threadLorraine LeeDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly astoundingteam.com/wordpress/2…
Is there an EV in my future? – In Defense of Anagorism

Show threadJohn WilsonDec 1, 2023

@paulknightly Totally agree.

I am nursing my fleet of ICEs until something useful and less than my annual income is available.

‘75 Chevy K20 (ranch)
‘98 Subaru (town)
‘07 Grand Vitara (ski/fish)

450k miles total.

Show threadHenryDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly more affordable options are coming, and better batteries too. One option I’m looking forward to is the Fisker Pear https://www.fiskerinc.com/pear
Fisker PEAR

Affordable, agile and styled for all-electric city living.

Show threadDarwin WoodkaDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly or we could ditch the cars and build decent public transit
Show thread🚲Dec 1, 2023
@paulknightly Used Leafs are relatively cheap now, and serve that function adequately. I do think e-bikes are (rightly) stepping in to fill much of this gap.
Show threadKevin RussellDec 1, 2023

@paulknightly

I agree with you so much.

Yeah, this is "Oh you need a special car? It will cost you $100,000 dollars then, sucks to be you too bad, gimmee gimmee gimmee."

President Biden, smite them!

#Climate

Show threadBen FultonDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly Never buying another car. #ebikes and rentals will do me!
Show threadfreelunaDec 1, 2023
@paulknightly Agreed. Also, I don’t need a self-driving EV. An EV with manual steering and a medium sized battery are more than sufficient.
Show threadTom 🇨🇦Dec 1, 2023

@paulknightly

Ten years old at the end of September. So sad you can't buy these any more here

Show threadairdig_one 🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Dec 2, 2023

@paulknightly

As others here have pointed out, it’s not *just* cost of EVs. For me, the other big factor is lack of infrastructure. If I want to regularly venture out of town on a road trip, especially since I am a single car home, it’s too much of a risk to go “All-in” on electric. I don’t have the option of using a spouse’s ICE if I’m heading somewhere there is no charging, or no reliable charging.

1/

Show threadairdig_one 🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Dec 2, 2023

@paulknightly

But for many North American drivers, I think PHEVs are a good option for the immediate future.

3/

Show threadairdig_one 🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Dec 2, 2023

@paulknightly

That’s why I recently got a PHEV with 50 km electric range (after over a year on a wait list for delivery!). I’m lucky enough to be able to charge at home, so it’s very economical. The 50 km range is more than enough for everyday use, and after 3 months, > 98% of my mileage has been on electric only. I haven’t actually bought gas yet since I got the car! Big road trip coming up at the end of the month though, so that will shift my stats.

2/

Show threadPicture The SouthDec 2, 2023
@paulknightly With MUCH better range! 500+ miles, with rapid charge capability (almost) everywhere.
Show threadBrian GrinterDec 2, 2023
@paulknightly waiting for something the size of my Ford Focus and affordable, I don’t want a wankpanzer
Ford stopped making small cars - mental.
Show threadEdelruth, PBS Passport HolderDec 2, 2023

@paulknightly

We need the Toyota Camry of EVs.

But, really, we need electric bikes and safe streets to ride them on.

We need local access to stores, work, healthcare, and community centers.

We need to redesign how we live.

Let's all start attending our City & county supervisor meetings and their planning committee meetings, too.

#2024
#NewYearsResolutions

Show threadHawkmoonDec 2, 2023

@paulknightly

https://www.motortrend.com/news/pickman-xr-electric-mini-truck/

$18,000

Show threadzillaDec 2, 2023
@paulknightly I agree with your sentiments.
Show threadFinal Round Player 😷🇪🇺🍸Dec 2, 2023

@paulknightly Hate to say this because it's not very green, but the future is multiple vehicles. And then choosing the one with the smallest footprint for the task.

- Utility E-Bicycle (with a detachable trailer)
- Solo Commuter E-Scooter/Moped
- Electric runabout car, 2+2 seats plus enough space for a weekly costco shop or collecting kids
- PHEV touring car for those occasional trips to see parents, grown up children or the weekend break

Using an SUV to get a pint of milk is ridiculous.

Show threadMartin Vermeer (not Jesus)Dec 2, 2023
@paulknightly This is somewhat true. Our XC40 feels like a mini-SUV, and would have been too expensive to outright buy. Fortunately Volvo offers the leasing option. In our case we had personal reasons for getting a biggish car (limited mobility requires a big boot).
Show threadDavid Tanner 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Dec 2, 2023
@paulknightly Still out of my price range, but are you not getting the cheaper Chinese cars in the US? MG etc
Show threadJohn M  Dec 2, 2023
@paulknightly I just want more infrastructure to support them
Show threadGreg SullivanDec 4, 2023
@paulknightly I’m in my second decade of EV ownership. I’ve had my car serviced ONCE in that time. Same car. All I’ve done is bought tires. I won’t buy another IC car if I can help it. The cost of ownership is incomparable.