Science

13562 readers

2 users here now

Subscribe to see new publications and popular science coverage of current research on your homepage

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

Electric Vehicles: What Is Really Stopping Them from Becoming Mainstream? (www.thedetechtor.com)

submitted 3 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

There is no doubt that electric vehicles are the future, as the way we get around and produce electricity is transitioning away from fossil fuels, and towards cleaner and greener alternatives. The entire transport sector accounts for 21% of total CO2 emissions and road travel alone accounts for 15% of total CO2 emissions so getting electric vehicles onto the roads is definitely a priority in tackling the climate crisis. However, they're not perfect, and they are faced with obstacles that are stopping them from becoming mainstream.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 years ago (1 children)

It's not just electric cars - it's everything.

Manufacturers want to sell as many as possible, with the lower costs. That means making something that everyone can use. Have you notices how clothing and bicycles come in much fewer sizes than they used to? Matches are 5 times the size they used to be, to fit the clumsiest fingers? How cars have lane assist and roll bars and other features most people don't want, but 1% of incompetent people need them to stay alive?

It's a form of cartel, where the number of manufacturers decreases, so it's easier to collude to reduce costs and quality. Especially, slightly niche things just disappear from the market.

[+] [email protected] 6 points 3 years ago (1 children)

[deleted]

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (1 children)

I can't drive new cars. They fight me. They ignore my instructions, do do things i never instructed, and they are always wrong and dangerous.

Yes it's terrible. And it's getting worse.

Everywhere, manufacturing processes are getting more complex and more expensive (partly but not only due to regulation). Only big companies can afford to survive. Fewer players means fewer options, a worse deal for consumers.

The only reason niche cars ever existed in the past, was because there were hundreds of manufacturers, all competing, trying to find a unique selling point. That will never happen again - the trend is for more regulation requiring a bigger investment from bigger car companies.