Why Americans don't buy Electric Vehicles

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Old Bear, Sep 22, 2019.

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  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they're not making any money
     
    #121 bisco, Oct 2, 2019
  2. Dimitrij

    Dimitrij Active Member

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    I think the CRV is a little too big for the current state of affairs in the battery tech. The HRV will likely be more viable, which is what I am proposing.

    For Tesla, their EV's are their main commercial product that they either manage to make and sell - long term - at a profit, or they go bust. At the same time for example for GM the Bolt has been a lot of different things: (1) a PR statement, (2) an attempt to appease the "powers that were", (3) a test bed for EV development, (4) a tech demonstrator, (5) a platform for their Maven program, (6) a platform for their Cruise program, (7) a compliance car ... just about anything other than a commercial product. Ironically, most of these purposes have not been met anyway, so they are stuck with a permanent loss-maker that is not available in the markets in which it should do well, and shows low and stagnant or decreasing sales in the markets in which it is available.
     
    #122 Dimitrij, Oct 2, 2019
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Tesla doesn't have to pay for an ICE drive train and all the emission costs that go with it.

    The electric supply to many Japanese homes is low power compared to other markets. So plug ins may not be a good idea for them.

    Unfortunately, Toyota and Honda are trying to export Japan's hydrogen car solution to other markets, where that isn't such a good idea, instead of adopting their offerings to the local market.

    Someone should let Ford and Toyota know before the Escape and Rav4 PHEVs come out.
     
    #123 Trollbait, Oct 2, 2019
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm not familiar with hrs, is it popular?
     
    #124 bisco, Oct 2, 2019
  5. Dimitrij

    Dimitrij Active Member

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    it's HRV ... not HRS, that's why you dont' know it :)
     
    #125 Dimitrij, Oct 2, 2019
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The HR-V is a size smaller than the CR-V. Its sales aren't even a quarter of its bigger brother.
    It is number 3 of the subcompact SUVs. The Encore and Trax are 1 and 2.
    It outsells the Prius.
     
    #126 Trollbait, Oct 2, 2019
    vvillovv and bisco like this.
  7. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    They’re making gobs of money on the cars.
    They are just spending even more on expansion.
     
    #127 Zythryn, Oct 2, 2019
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  8. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I watched one youtube comparing the Model 3 and the Bolt.
    That was enough for me.
     
    #128 vvillovv, Oct 2, 2019
  9. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Neither am I
     
    #129 vvillovv, Oct 2, 2019
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  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Here, the Prime is more popular than the Clarity. And the Model 3 is somewhere between a Camry and Corolla in popularity.

    The lower price is definitely helping sales (even though the Clarity gets the significantly bigger tax rebate because of the larger battery). I see more Outlander PHEVs than Claritys (and the Outlander PHEV is more expensive before and after tax rebates than the Clarity).

    The Prime starts at CAD$32,990 while the Clariry starts at CAD$40,100. The Prime tops at CAD$37,990 while the Clarity Touring is $44,100 (no power driver’s seat in Canada).

    $6,110 to $7,110 difference but the tax rebate is $4k so the real difference is $2-3k. Apparently that’s enough to sway buyers towards the Prime even though the Clarity is larger and had the longer AER.
     
    #130 Tideland Prius, Oct 3, 2019
  11. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Hasn't the Outlander been available for longer?

    Honda's hybrid reputation could still be recovering, and that has a bearing on sales.
     
    #131 Trollbait, Oct 3, 2019
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