This has become a tit for tat thread. It’s getting absurd.
I guess Toyota had a point when they said EV discussion and dialogue needs to mature?
A couple of points:
Gill Pratt said his whole POV on this topic was his own experience owning a Model X which has over 300 miles of range, but the car is typically driven less than 30 miles a day, which means 90 percent of the battery is “dead weight”.
Does that mean he bought too much car, or does that mean the Model X, a near $100k EV is more status symbol then actual tool towards a cleaner greener future? In being the latter, has the dream of owning cleaner and greener vehicles today gotten out of the scope of the common man, whose budget is 1/4th of a Model X asking price?
In addressing the the “weight” type of argument, one can focus on this in the context of hybrid powertrains. A hybrid is most efficient in the city and stop and go traffic, but its moving around the lump of ICE. On a highway, a hybrid is essentially moving around the battery as "dead weight" (yes oversimplication they can work in tandem). That being said, in controlled real world experiences, the same driver comparing a hybrid powertrain usually scores higher in MPG then a similarly equipped a ICE platform. There was weight, but the efficiency of the overall powertrain package (I think toyota was at world record holding 40% efficiency hybrid ICE and the e powertrain efficiency is solid). Essentially that whole weight argument is moot, unless the battery or the ICE engine is speced improperly of course, or there are other powertrain losses (Parallel systems are usually an example of this so think the new Crown and anything from Honda).
Now in regards to the too much car or has the EV market stagnated towards high dollar offerings whose quantity of vehicles sold is minuscule in comparison to the everyday corolla accord. Yes, I think if we look at the market the Model 3 outsells the Corolla, but it costs 2x as much. Great for Tesla or any other car company, but terrible for the end customer. An everyday corolla buyer is essentially locked out of the EV market unless companies offer something better (which at this point is looking like a decade away) or they choose to increase their budget. Hybrids would offer a good fit, as a transitory powertrain option, and allowing the high volume new car, low price market to start contributing to the overall reduction in emissions.
Now I of course need to address the elephant in the room, who stands to defacto benefit from hybrid sales...Toyota. But still if we take the business interests to the side, they do have a point.
I would join you!
